What does it cost to get replacement car keys?

For someone who never had to get spare or replacement car keys for their vehicle the cost of getting a new key, a remote, or a smart fob might be surprising. Another surprising side of getting replacement car keys is how price can be significantly different depending on the make, model and year of your vehicle. It’s very hard to give a narrow estimate due to the fact that every car model can have its own price point. In general we can say that replacement keys for American cars such as Ford and Chevy that use transponder keys and remotes can cost between 95 – 225 dollars depending on the exact model and year. On the other hand luxury cars such as Mercedes Benz and BMW which costs between 150 – 385 dollars per key. The prices given above are if you are going through a local automotive locksmiths instead of a dealership. You can add between 25% to 70% increase on the prices given if you are going through the dealership because their service prices are much higher and you will also end up paying to get your car towed to them. On this blog we will talk about some things you can do to reduce the cost of getting replacement keys for your car.

Cost of Key and Remote Blanks

When people find out that they have lost their last car key they often get online and start looking for a key they can purchase. A common misconception is that a key that’s purchased online will work on the car without the proper cutting and programming. Unfortunately there are cases of scams as well where the person thinks they are getting a remote for their car, but it ends up being just the shell without the chip inside therefore its money wasted. Finally another misconception is that people think that getting parts required through the locksmith will end up costing them more money. This is simply wrong because most locksmiths do not upcharge the parts they have, in fact it usually ends up costing less for customers because locksmiths buy parts in bulk therefore they receive great discounts. Key blank that you buy online might be 25-50 dollars which is most likely the same if not less than what a locksmith would add charge you. Safest way is to get parts from the locksmith because they guarantee their parts and will replace it if there are any issues with the parts. However as a locksmith company we have had situations where customers would have a key blank from a friend or something they have from before therefore they obtained that key for free and it can end up saving them 20-50 dollars on the over cost! A locksmith will never refuse to use the parts you provide as long as its the correct part and its in good shape.

Where You Get Replacement Car Keys Matters

The main two options you have for key replacement services are the dealership and a local automotive locksmith. Keep in mind that typically it takes 3-10 days to get replacement car keys from a dealer because they have to order the parts from the factory using your VIN number. During this wait time you will either have to borrow a family members car, if its an option, or pay for a rental car or public transportation. We have already mentioned the other downsides of going through the dealership for replacement keys so we suggest that you use a locksmith if there is an option to use a locksmith. On the other hand keep in mind that there are many locksmiths available within a reasonable distance from you, especially if you live in a big city. What you should do is call a few locksmiths in your area and get a price quote as well as the earliest time they can get to you and make a new key. We highly recommend that you take into consideration the Google reviews of the company you are wanting to work with because nothing tells you more about how good or bad a company is then the real customers who leave a review for that company. Once you have made your choice go ahead and schedule an appointment for a professional locksmith to come to the location of the car and make a new key.

Be Proactive and Reduce the Cost of Replacement Keys

Thinking outside of the box will save you a lot of time and money on pretty much anything you do in life including any locksmith needs you may have. Spending a little bit of time to get the best possible price for the quality of work offered is one way to accomplish this. Another great way to reduce your car key replacement cost is to get a spare key made. All locksmiths will give you a considerable amount of discount if you get a spare key made through them at the time of getting a new key made because making a spare key is much easier. Even if you have your original keys, but no spare then you should consider getting spare keys made because getting a spare made can be up to 50% cheaper than getting a new key made when you have lost all your car keys. Ask your locksmith for a spare key when they are already at your location making a key and you will save on the cost of the key as well as avoid paying trip fee which all mobile locksmiths charge!