Car key cutting costs £80 to £220 for a spare key that is cut and programmed, and £80 to £180 for most vehicles. A blade key with no chip costs the least. A modern car key needs the blade cut and the chip programmed, so a cut key alone does not start the car.
Car Key Cutting Cost Finder
Pick the key type.
A blade key with no chip costs the least. The blade is cut to the profile of the lock with no programming.
A transponder key costs £100 to £280, cut and programmed.
A spare flip key costs £80 to £220. The blade is cut to the lock and the remote is programmed to the car.
A spare smart key costs up to £220, programmed at the car.
With every key lost the blade is cut to the lock and a new key is created from the VIN, for £150 to £400 or more.
Not sure of the key type? Call 07830249408 with the registration.
Need a key cut today? Call 07830249408 in Devon, Dorset or Somerset. I cut and program the key at the car and confirm the price before work.
The sections below give the car key cutting cost by key type, the reason a cut key needs programming, the 2 ways a key is cut, the time and the 3 places that cut car keys.
Car key cutting costs £80 to £220 for a spare, cut and programmed, and £150 to £400 or more with every key lost. The job takes 30 to 60 minutes from arrival.
What Does Car Key Cutting Cost by Key Type?
Car key cutting costs the least by key type for a blade key with no chip, and £80 to £220 for a spare key that is cut and programmed. The table below lists the 5 key types.
| Key Type | What Is Cut and Programmed | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Blade key with no chip | The blade is cut to the profile of the lock, with no programming | The lowest price, quoted by phone |
| Transponder key | The blade is cut and the chip is programmed | £100 to £280 |
| Remote flip key | The blade is cut to the lock and the remote is programmed to the car | £80 to £220 as a spare |
| Smart key or premium make | The emergency blade is cut and the smart key is programmed | Up to £220 as a spare |
| Any key, every key lost | The blade is cut to the lock and a new key is created from the VIN | £150 to £400 or more |
Most spare keys cost £80 to £180, cut and programmed. Cutting a blade alone, with no programming, costs about £9 to £14 at a key cutting shop, on price lists read on 7 October 2026. DB Car Keys charges a call out fee of £0 and confirms the price before work.
Why Does a Cut Car Key Need Programming?
A cut car key needs programming because the blade only turns the lock, and the chip in the key is what the immobiliser reads before the engine starts. A key that is cut and not programmed opens the door and does not start the car. The price of car key cutting therefore includes the programming on every car with an immobiliser.
How Is a Car Key Cut?
A car key is cut in 1 of 2 ways, which are a copy of the original blade or a blade cut to the lock when no key is left.
- Copied from the original. The original is the pattern for the blade, and the original keeps working throughout.
- Cut to the lock. With every key lost, the lock is read and the blade is cut to its code.
Mobile car key cutting is done on a machine in the van, at home, at work or at the roadside.
How Long Does Car Key Cutting Take?
Car key cutting and programming take 30 to 60 minutes from arrival for most spare keys. The blade is cut in a few minutes, and the programming takes the rest of the visit.
Where Can a Car Key Be Cut?
A car key can be cut at 3 places, which are at the car by a mobile auto locksmith, at a key cutting shop and at a main dealer.
| Place | What Happens | Wait |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile auto locksmith | The key is cut and programmed at the car | 30 to 60 minutes from arrival |
| Key cutting shop | The blade alone is cut at the counter for about £9 to £14, and the car goes to the shop for programming | Set by the shop |
| Main dealer | The key is ordered and the vehicle goes to the workshop. A spare costs £150 to £350. | 5 to 14 days |
Mobile car key cutting covers transponder, smart, flip and card keys across Devon, Dorset and Somerset.
Which Documents Does Car Key Cutting Need?
Car key cutting needs proof of ownership, which is the V5C logbook, the insurance documents or a DVLA record, and a photo ID. The ownership check is the standard security step before a vehicle key is duplicated.
What Are the 3 Ways to Pay Less for Car Key Cutting?
The 3 ways to pay less for car key cutting are a spare cut while 1 key still works, a visit in working hours and 1 price confirmed before work.
- Cut a spare while 1 key works. A spare costs £80 to £220, against £150 to £400 or more after every key is lost.
- Book in working hours. A spare key made in working hours on a weekday is the cheapest, and nights, weekends and bank holidays add 20 to 50 percent.
- Confirm 1 price. Ask for 1 figure that covers the key, the cutting and the programming.
Frequently Asked Questions About Car Key Cutting Cost
It costs £80 to £220 to cut a car key in the UK as a spare, with the programming included, and £80 to £180 for most vehicles.
Yes, a car key without the original is cut to the lock and created from the VIN. A key without the original costs £150 to £400 or more.
Yes, a key cutting shop cuts car key blades at the counter, for about £9 to £14 a blade. The car goes to the shop for any programming, and the shop does not come to the car.
Car key programming costs £30 to £200 after cutting when it is priced on its own, and the cost to reprogram follows the key type and the make. The guide to the cost to reprogram a car key lists each band.
A van key is cut and programmed for £80 to £220 as a spare. A commercial van key with every key lost costs £180 to £320.
Yes, a duplicate car key is the same as a spare. A duplicate is a copy for a second driver, cut from the working key and programmed to the car.
A replacement car key costs £80 to £400 in full for most cars. The guide to the replacement car key cost in the UK gives the price by job and by vehicle type.
Dean answers in plain words
Do I have to bring the car to you?
No. I come to your home, your workplace or the roadside. No towing and no booking in.
How do I get a price?
Call with the make, model and year. The quote is free and you get it before I travel.
Based in Honiton. Working since 2009. Dealer level programming equipment on the van.
Free upfront quote. Available 24 hours a day.