If a dealer cannot make a key for my vehicle, can a locksmith make it?

If you are driving a car that is no longer in production you might be wondering who can make you a spare key or a key from scratch if you lose all your keys. Most people think that car dealers are the only place they can get keys made for their car. This is not true and in fact you should be glad it’s not true because there is a much faster and cheaper option! Locksmiths can make care key for almost all car makes and models from all years. In fact locksmiths can make car keys that are no longer in production. Car dealerships cannot make car keys for car models that are out of production, but an automotive car locksmith can make keys for all models from most years.

Locksmith Key Replacement vs. Car Dealer Key Replacement

Car dealer’s main job is to sell cars to customer and they provide basic maintenance services. If you have used a car dealership for maintenance or any repair work then you have probably experienced a long wait time. If you have experienced getting new car keys through the dealer then you know it takes about a week and you must take your car to them in order to get the key programmed. This doesn’t mean that car dealers are bad, but all it means that making replacement car keys is not their first job. Therefore it takes the car dealerships extra long time to order and schedule your car key programming appointment. Dealers do not keep a stock of car key blanks and remotes and they order using the VIN number therefore it costs more.

Locksmiths on the other hand are focused on only making keys and they have made keys for thousands of cars. An experienced locksmith makes keys for 3-5 cars on average therefore they are always ready for new jobs and have a huge stock of keys. Automotive locksmith are 100% mobile and they can come to the location of the car regardless where the car is located. This is a huge benefit because you will not have to go through the headache of towing your car anywhere and paying extra money. Locksmiths do not make keys by using the VIN number therefore they do not have to spend the time to wait for the manufacturer to ship out a cut key. They use their own high tech cay key programmers and precision laser cutters to make keys that are no different than original keys. A professional automotive locksmith can cut and program car keys as well as remove any existing keys in your cars system so if someone else finds your old car keys they will not be able to start your car!

Overall it is safe to say that using an automotive locksmith instead of a car dealership for your car key replacement will be much cheaper and faster. Car dealerships are focused on selling cars as their number one priority and they take much longer to get the parts delivered. Locksmiths are fully equipped with a huge stock of car keys available to provide mobile same day service because that’s their one and only focus. It should not be surprising that some car dealership rather call a locksmith to make keys for their customers cars instead of doing it themselves. Many local locksmiths receive a good amount of their work volume from car dealerships that hire them to make a car key for their customers. Make sure to get a price quote from a car dealer and a locksmith before you decide who you will hire for replacement car keys.