Why the Dealership Costs More
The key itself is only part of it. The rest is everything that has to happen around it.
Your car does not have a key, so it cannot be driven anywhere. That means a tow to the dealership, which is a separate bill before any work starts. Then you wait for an appointment, because the service department books days out, and a key job is not an emergency to them.
Once it is in, you are paying dealer labor rates for a job that takes a fraction of the time you are billed for, plus a genuine manufacturer key at a genuine manufacturer price.
Add it up, and the tow and the wait often cost more than the key.
What a Mobile Locksmith Does Differently
We come to the car, so the tow disappears entirely.
Our vans carry key blanks, a cutting machine, and programming equipment. We cut the key from your vehicle identification number, pull the security data from the car's own computer, and program the key to the immobilizer so the engine starts. You get the same result, whether we do it in your driveway or wherever the car is parked.
Our car keys run from $95 to $225, depending on whether you still have a working key and what the vehicle needs. That range covers most cars on the road here.
Is a Locksmith Key the Same Quality?
This is the question worth asking, and the honest answer has some nuance in it.
The key we cut is programmed to your car's immobilizer using the same security data the dealer would use. It starts the engine, it works the locks, and the buttons do what they should. Functionally it is the same key.
The blank itself may be aftermarket rather than manufacturer-branded. Good aftermarket blanks perform identically, and we back every key we make for up to six months. If you specifically want a manufacturer-branded blank, tell us when you call, and we will let you know what is possible.
When the Dealership Is Actually the Right Call
There are cases where we will tell you to go to them, and we would rather say so on the phone than after we arrive.
Your car is under warranty, and the key is covered. If the manufacturer is paying, use them.
Very recent models with locked systems. A handful of manufacturers restrict key programming to dealer-only equipment for the first year or two of a model run. Tell us the year and make and we will tell you straight away.
Some European vehicles. Certain makes require proprietary equipment we do not carry.
For anything outside those three, a mobile locksmith is almost always faster and cheaper.
Questions to Ask Before You Book Either One
- What is the total, including the trip or the tow?
- How soon can you actually do it?
- Does the price change if the job turns out to be all keys lost?
- Is the key warrantied, and for how long?
Ask the dealer and ask us. The answers will tell you which route makes sense for your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a locksmith cheaper than the dealership for a car key?
Usually yes, and often by a wide margin once the tow and the wait are counted. Our car keys run from $95 to $225 depending on the vehicle and whether a working key still exists, and there is no tow because we come to the car.
Can a locksmith make a car key without the original?
Yes. We cut the key from your vehicle identification number, pull the security data from the car's computer, and program it to the immobilizer so the engine starts. No dealership appointment and no tow needed.
Is an aftermarket car key as good as a dealer key?
For most vehicles, yes. The key is programmed to your car's immobilizer using the same security data and it performs identically. We back every key we make for up to six months.
How long does the dealership take to make a car key?
It varies, but the appointment is usually the bottleneck rather than the work. Service departments book out, and a key job rarely jumps the queue. A mobile locksmith is generally same day.
Does my insurance cover a lost car key?
Sometimes. Some full coverage policies and some roadside assistance plans include key replacement, and it is worth a quick call to check before you pay out of pocket either way.