Practical answers to the questions that come up most often on the phone. No guaranteed timings and no invented prices — just how car keys actually work and what your options are.
With nothing left to copy, the new key is built from the vehicle's own data.
An all keys lost job starts with proving the vehicle is yours, then identifying the exact key it takes from the registration. A blade is cut to the vehicle's key code and the key is programmed so the immobiliser accepts it.
Old keys are normally deleted from the vehicle's memory at the same time, which matters if the originals were stolen rather than mislaid.
On many vehicles, yes — the car itself holds the information needed.
Key codes can often be obtained against proof of ownership, so a key can be cut and programmed with nothing to copy. Support varies by make, model and year, and a small number of newer vehicles are restricted to franchised dealers.
One replaces something missing; the other is cut while a working key is in your hand.
A spare is a planned second key. A replacement is what you need when the original has been lost or destroyed, and the job is usually more involved because the vehicle has to be worked from rather than copied.
Common on keyless vehicles, and often something simple.
A flat key battery is the usual cause. Interference from another fob or a phone in the same pocket can also stop the car seeing the key, as can water damage inside the case. Most vehicles have a backup start method described in the handbook.
If the message persists with a fresh battery, the key or its aerial circuit may have failed.
Battery, buttons, or the electronics behind them.
Start with the battery, then look at the rubber pads — worn contacts are a frequent cause of a fob that needs several presses. Dropped or soaked keys can suffer cracked solder joints, which is where a repair or replacement is needed.
Many keyless systems are supported.
Smart and proximity keys are programmed to the vehicle in much the same way as a transponder key, with extra steps for the keyless entry side. Vehicle support is checked from the registration first.
Not for most vehicles.
An auto locksmith can cut and program keys at the roadside for a wide range of makes, which avoids recovering the vehicle to a dealership. Some very recent models are still dealer-only, and that is checked before booking.
A key with a chip the car has to recognise.
The transponder sits in the key head and answers the vehicle's immobiliser when the key is in the ignition. If the chip is missing or unprogrammed, the car may crank but will not run.
Often, provided the electronics survived.
A broken blade can usually be replaced and the original transponder and remote board transferred across. If part of the key is stuck in a lock or ignition, leave it in place — pushing it further in makes the job harder.
Five things cover almost every enquiry.
Registration, make and model, approximate year, whether any working key remains, and where the vehicle is. Photographs of the existing key help when the key type is unclear.
It depends entirely on the vehicle.
Some vehicles accept a new key quickly; others need considerably longer, particularly where no working key exists. Rather than quote a time that may not hold, the expected duration for your specific vehicle is discussed when you ring.
STILL NOT SURE WHAT YOUR CAR NEEDS?
Call 02393 092406 with the registration and it can be worked out from there.