A dealership will replace your car key, usually after you tow the vehicle to them and wait. We come to the vehicle, cut and program the key where it sits, and you drive away. For most makes and years we do it in under an hour, and it typically costs considerably less.
Typical range: $140–$650 CAD. Ranges are typical for the GTA and depend on the door, the hardware and the time of day. We confirm the price before dispatching.
Key types and what each involves
- Mechanical keys — pre-1995 vehicles with no electronics. Cut by code or from the existing key. The simplest and cheapest job we do.
- Transponder keys — a chip in the head communicates with the immobiliser. Cutting alone is not enough; the chip must be programmed to the vehicle or it will turn the ignition and not start the engine.
- Remote head keys — the transponder key and the remote fob combined in one unit. Cut, programmed to the immobiliser, and paired to the remote receiver.
- Flip keys — a folding blade, mechanically identical to a remote head key. Blades can often be replaced separately if only the blade has snapped.
- Proximity and smart keys — push-to-start vehicles where the key stays in your pocket. Programming requires equipment that can talk to the vehicle's security module, which is where most non-specialists stop.
- Valet and emergency blades — the mechanical blade inside a smart key, for when the battery dies.
Why cutting alone does not work
Nearly every vehicle built since the late 1990s has an immobiliser. The chip in the key exchanges a coded signal with the vehicle, and without that exchange the engine will crank and not start, even with a perfectly cut key.
This is why a key cut at a hardware store or a kiosk will open the door and turn the ignition and go no further. The cutting is the easy half; programming to the immobiliser is the part that needs the equipment and the access.
What we need from you
Proof of ownership and photo identification. This is not bureaucracy — making a working key to a vehicle is exactly the capability a thief needs, and any locksmith who will program a key without checking ownership is one you should be wary of. Vehicle registration or ownership documents plus a driver's licence is standard.
The vehicle itself, with the VIN accessible. For some makes we can pull key codes from the VIN through authorised channels, which is what allows us to cut a key when every key is lost.
Mobile service across the GTA
We come to the vehicle. That matters most in the situation where it matters most — you are in a parking garage at Square One, or a lot off Highway 7, and the car cannot be driven anywhere because you have no key.
Our equipment travels with us: key cutting machines, programming tools and blank stock for common makes. For less common vehicles we confirm availability before dispatching rather than arriving and discovering we cannot complete the job.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a replacement car key cost?
It depends almost entirely on the key type. A basic mechanical key for an older vehicle is at the very low end. A transponder or remote head key is mid-range. A proximity smart key for a recent luxury vehicle is at the top, because the blank itself is expensive and the programming takes longer. In nearly all cases we come in below dealership pricing, and we can quote accurately on the phone if you give us the year, make and model.
Can you make a car key without the original?
Yes. This is an all-keys-lost job, and it is routine work for us. Depending on the vehicle we either originate the key from the VIN through authorised code channels or decode the lock directly, then cut and program to the immobiliser. It takes longer than duplicating an existing key and costs more, but it does not require a tow to the dealer.
Is a locksmith cheaper than the dealership for car keys?
Usually noticeably so, and there are two reasons. Dealer pricing on key blanks carries a substantial markup, and the dealer route generally means towing the vehicle there and leaving it. We come to the car, which removes the tow entirely. On common makes the saving is significant; on some very recent vehicles with tightly controlled security access the gap narrows.
How long does it take to make a new car key?
For most vehicles, thirty to sixty minutes on site, including cutting and programming. All-keys-lost situations take longer because the key has to be originated rather than copied, and some makes require a security wait period imposed by the vehicle itself, which can add anywhere from ten minutes to an hour. We will tell you which applies when you call with the year, make and model.
Do you need the car to be at your shop?
No. We work at the vehicle, wherever it is — driveway, street, parking garage, workplace lot, roadside. The vehicle has to be present because programming requires connecting to it, but it does not have to move.
Car Key Replacement across the GTA
We provide car key replacement throughout the Greater Toronto Area. Pick your city for local detail, or call and we will tell you straight away whether you are in range.
Related services
Key Fob Programming
Remotes and proximity fobs programmed, replaced and repaired — including fobs you bought yourself online.
Transponder Keys
Chip keys cut and programmed to the vehicle immobiliser — the step that turns a cut key into one that actually starts the engine.
All Keys Lost
Every key gone and no original to copy — key originated from the vehicle itself, on site, without a tow.
Car Lockout
Vehicles opened without damage, 7 days a week, anywhere in the GTA.
Spare Car Keys
A second key made while you still have the first — dramatically cheaper than an all-keys-lost call later.