COMPETITIVE COST OF CAR KEY REPLACEMENT, SPARE CAR KEY AND AUTO LOCKSMITH SERVICE
What is the cost of a replacement car key… and more information about Car Key Replacement.
The cost of car key replacement years ago was much lower due to the simplicity of the car keys. The services of cutting new car keys were also offered by any home improvement store since there were no technicalities involved.
Over the years, car manufacturers have boosted the security of the vehicles. With that, the car keys have changed as well which are now comprehensive electronic devices. All the changes in the car manufacturing along with the security boost into the car keys has driven the cost of car key replacement up.
The process of creating a new replacement car key has several stages:
With the above formula in mind, there’s several factors that have an impact on cost for replacement car key:
THE COST OF REPLACEMENT CAR KEYS DIFFERS FROM ONE VEHICLE MAKE AND MODEL TO ANOTHER.
As an example, the cost for a Ford car key replacement 2012 with flip-type remote blade key will cost £217 where a VW replacement key cost with same remote key type manufactured in the same year will cost £257.
The cost of the car key replacement is also affected by the 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 at a fixed 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 cost of a car key replacement 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 the 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 may drive the cost up 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, the 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, the key is special order
- Mini Cooper 2013 £245.00 – 2-5 days, the key is special order
- Ford Kuga 2013 £248.00 – 2-5 days for booking
- Mercedes A-Class 2013 £330.00 – 7-10 days, the 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 a 6% chance for a vehicle owner to lose a car key; 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 and the more premium the brand, the more likely the cost of the replacement car key will be higher. Unlike domestic house keys or car keys used 25 years ago, today's car keys are sophisticated electronic devices with a comprehensive electronic board, transponder chip, and battery.
Unfortunately, many motorists realise too late why the cost of a replacement key is so high. For many vehicles, if all keys are lost, the procedure of creating a new key is extensive, as the alarm and immobiliser modules also need to be replaced. A good example is the 2018 Toyota Prius, for which a spare keyless remote key costs over £450. However, when no key is available, the cost of programming a new key and replacing some electronic control units will reach a whopping £ 3,000! With this in mind, we cannot stress enough how important it is always to have 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 with 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 the cost of car key replacement should be? Probably more than you would expect, but not so much after you read and understand how sophisticated a car key actually is, and the mechanism of creating a new one.
AFFORDABLE COST-EFFICIENT SPARE OF REPLACEMENT CAR LOCKSMITH SERVICE
Use Car Keys Solutions Auto Locksmith for cost-effective Car Key Replacement.
Contact us on 020 3733 7857
As the UK’s most reviewed and trusted car locksmith, our fleet of experienced technicians is always on call to assist with 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 a 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 at one of our local workshops.
Having a spare car key is always a good idea as it can save money and inconvenience. With Car Keys Solutions, you are not only getting spare key services but you also gain on cost and time. Below are the prices for spare car keys on different car makes and models done at our key shop.
WARRANTY
New car keys have a warranty of 12 months, whether in the field or at one of our shops. Car keys repaired have a warranty of 3 months in the field and an additional 3 months at one of our shops.
Not covered under warranty:
- Abuse of the remote
- Battery
NOTE:
When booking an appointment with us, if the issue presented to us does not match what our technician will find once he is with the vehicle, a call-out charge of £120 will apply.
Example: The issue may seem to be key-related, but after testing, it can be car or battery-related. There may be other issues that are not key-related.
OUR LOCATIONS
142-144 East End Road, East Finchley, London, N2 0RZ
220-222 Portland Road, South Norwood SE25 4QB
479 Ongar Rd, Pilgrims Hatch, Brentwood CM15 9JG
Contact us on 020 3944 9356
We can also program electronic remote key fobs and get you back into your vehicle in the event of an emergency. We service all makes and models. 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)
- 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 much more. It’s very easy for an inexperienced locksmith to corrupt a body control module using cheap non-genuine tools.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM CAR KEYS SOLUTIONS SERVICES
- 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 020 3797 0826.
OUR LOCATIONS
It couldn’t be easier to arrange an appointment for a time and location that suits you, between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. every day, anywhere in London and the Home Counties. You’re also more than welcome to visit one of our London workshops to have your key duplicated.
