AFFORDABLE LOW COST SPARE OR REPLACEMENT CAR LOCKSMITH SERVICE
How much is the cost of a replacement car key… and more information about Car Key Replacement.
Years ago, the car key replacement process used to be simple and any car key shop that offered shoe repairs (and other not very comprehensive domestic accessories repairs) could do it pretty easily. Over the years, car manufacturers have changed things so that car keys are now comprehensive electronic devices – which affects the cost of the overall key replacement.
Creating a new replacement car key process has several stages:
- Sourcing the correct key itself (whether manual, remote, or keyless)
- Cutting the blade
- Immobiliser codes
- Programming of the Key
With the above formula in mind, there’s several factors that have an impact on replacement car key cost:
- The vehicle make
- The vehicle model
- The year of manufacture
- The vehicle specification
The cost of replacement car keys differs from one vehicle make to another.
Comparing a Ford Focus 2012 with flip type remote blade key will cost £217, and a VW Golf with same remote key type manufactured in same year will cost £257.
The cost of the replacement car key is also affected by year of manufacture on most vehicles – for example, a 2012 Vauxhall Corsa key costs £235, while the same model with same type remote key produced in 2017 will cost £264.
An interesting fact is that Nissan has priced most replacement remote keys on a fix price of £360.
Another aspect that could influence the car key replacement cost is the vehicle specification – as new keyless technology is now used more often. For example, a 2015 Ford Fiesta can be equipped with either a flip remote key blade or a keyless technology remote and so the price will vary with a higher cost for the keyless remote key.
It’s also important to take into consideration that most main dealers are franchises and so the price of a replacement car key may vary from one to another. The geographic location of the dealer could also impact the price, with dealers located around big cities more likely to be more expensive compared with ones located further out as this is can be a direct reflection with cost of living in the area.
It’s important to know that main dealers in the UK do not provide a mobile service for car key replacement, so should you lose your only car key, you will need to budget for the cost of recovery. Or if you have one key only, you will have to drive your vehicle to their workshop for the service to be provided by them.
With some vehicles, the key number and immobiliser code may be needed and the dealer could possibly charge an extra fee for supplying those.
Another aspect that will affect the cost is whether there is another key present or no – if all keys are lost, the procedure is sometimes more difficult and other parts may need replacement too.
Below are approximate dealer prices to replace a key when all keys have been lost on various vehicle models (model/year/wait time):
We have called around main dealers to find out costs for this situation, and occasionally it took 2 days to get an estimate.
| Ford Fiesta 2013 | £272.00 | 2-5 days for booking |
| Volkswagen Golf 2014 – | £256.00 | 7-10 day, key is special order |
| Nissan Qashqai 2013 – | £300.00 | 2-5 days for booking |
| Ford Focus 2013 – | £217.00 | 2-5 days for booking |
| Vauxhall Corsa 2013 – | £250.00 | 2-5 days for booking |
| Volkswagen Polo 2013 – | £260.00 | 7-10 days, key is special order |
| Mini Cooper 2013 – | £245.00 | 2-5 days, key is special order |
| Ford Kuga 2013 – | £248.00 | 2-5 days for booking |
| Mercedes A-Class 2013 – | £330.00 | 7-10 days, key is special order |
| Ford Transit Custom 201 – | £950.00 | 2-5 days for booking |
| Toyota Yaris (blade) 2018 – | £2000.00 | 3-5 days for parts + key |
| Toyota Prius keyless 2018 – | £2500.00 | 3-5 days for parts + key |
| Volvo xc 90 2018 – | £345.00 | 2-5 days for booking |
| Lexus RX 450h 2016 – | £3000.00 | 5-10 days for parts |
| Audi A1 Lockset replacement 2018 – | £1040.00 | 5-10 days for booking |
| Land Rover Range Rover Sport 2018 – | £1900.00 | 2 weeks for booking |
Why are some keys so expensive to replace?
Studies reveal that there is a 6% chance for a vehicle owner to lose a car key, and if it’s the first time, they are shocked to discover the cost of a replacement car key. While older keys were less complicated and easier to program, the newer the vehicle is and more premium the vehicle brand is, the more likely is that cost of the replacement car key it will be higher. Unlike domestic house keys or car keys used 25 years ago, today car keys are sophisticated electronic devices that contain a comprehensive electronic board, transponder chip and battery.
Unfortunately many motorists realise too late why the cost of a replacement key is higher at the time of creating the key is created for the vehicle – with many vehicles, if all keys are lost then the procedure of creating a new key is much more comprehensive sine the alarm and immobiliser modules also have to be replaced. A good example is the 2018 Toyota Prius that requires a spare keyless remote key which will cost in excess of £450. However, when there is no key available the cost of programming a new key and replacement of some electronic control units will reach a whopping £3000! With this in mind, we cannot stress enough how important is to have always a spare key and how this can save you hundreds or even thousands of pounds.
Programming tools for programming and coding a new key can cost tens of thousands to initially purchase, with extra ongoing costs associated for licensing and installing new software. Also, certain procedures involved in cutting and programming a new car key replacement can be very comprehensive and time consuming for a qualified auto locksmith engineer Again, using the 2018 Toyota Prius as an example – if all keys are lost, then the entire dashboard has to be removed in order to access the control units required for replacement, with an approximate labour time of 8 hours.
When you take all these factors into consideration and remember that whoever is supplying the key will also need to make a profit, the price of a replacement car key is often justified. So to answer the question of how much do replacement car keys cost? Probably more than you would expect, but not so much after you read and understand how sophisticated a car key actually is, and mechanics of creating a new one.
Replacement of Car Keys costs UK drivers millions
An interesting survey by RAC in 2018 on 2000 UK motorists revealed the following:
- 16 million of UK drivers (44%) often forget where they have left their car keys, temporarily.
- 6% of motorists confess to permanently losing their car keys.
- 19 million of motorists who permanently lose their car keys do not have a spare and purchase a replacement
- More than £180 million is spent in the UK on replacing car keys.
Another report from Which? claims that around 10% of drivers do not keep a second car key. This is old data and we now estimate this figure has increased significantly. The increasing cost of replacing car keys could be a reason for an increasing number of motorists failing to invest in a spare car key – in addition to drivers not thinking to protect themselves in the event of a situation whereby the only car key has gone missing or is faulty.
Affordable cost efficient spare of replacement car locksmith service
Use Car Keys Solutions Auto Locksmith for cost effective Car Key Replacement
Contact us on CALL US ON 020 8952 1634
As the UK’s most reviewed and trusted car locksmith, our fleet of experienced technicians is always on call to assist to your enquiry. We can provide spare car keys, replacement car keys, and help you access your vehicle in the event of lost or stolen keys – all by the roadside. Car Keys Solutions will offer the convenient and cost/effective solution over the alternative of the main dealer option and will save you time and money on booking, recovering or driving your vehicle to their workshop. We offer same day service 7 days/week and also offer a 15% for car key replacement at our Newell Glass & Locks – 17 North Parade Mollison Way, Edgware HA8 5QH Contact us on CALL US ON 020 8952 1634
We can also program electronic remote key fobs and get you back into your vehicle in the event of an emergency. And we can service all makes and model of vehicle – a full list can be found here. Our pricing depends on your vehicle, the type of service you require, and whether you can come to our service centre or if you require one of our mobile technicians to come to you on the roadside.
- Lost keys start from £139.00 (Ford Fiesta – price applies to manual key and as an example)
- Spare keys start from £89.00 ( Toyota Yaris- price applicable for spare manual key may differ according with your vehicle)
- Roadside vehicle unlocking starts from £99.00 (depending on vehicle)
- For an accurate, no obligation quote – talk to one of our advisers now.
We pledge the best customer service experience when it comes to car key replacement and auto locksmith services, and we have testimonials from thousands of customers that you can read here.
Cheap vs Quality
The cheapest option is not always the best option! It is always cheaper to do the job right the first time.
You can buy a new TV for £70 but it won’t have the same picture quality as a slightly more expensive trusted brand option. The same is true with auto locksmiths – if you spend long enough calling around you can probably find a lower price, but trying to save £10 on a new key could end up costing you up to £1000. It’s very easy for an inexperienced locksmith to corrupt a body control module using cheap non genuine tools.
What to expect from Newell Glass & Locks
- Highly trained technicians
- Same day service
- A Fair Price
- A top quality key
- 1 YEAR Warranty
- A great level of customer service
- A Reliable service
Contact us on CALL US ON 020 8952 1634