Pricing
Real ranges, and why they're ranges.
A single number for “a car key” would be a lie — a 2009 Civic and a 2023 Range Rover are different jobs by an order of magnitude. So here are honest ranges, plus exactly what moves you within them. You get a firm number on the phone before anyone is dispatched.
How our pricing works
- The quote you get on the phone is the total — call-out, parts, cutting, and programming included.
- It does not change when we arrive. If the job turns out to be genuinely different from what was described, we re-quote before touching anything and you can decline.
- Erasing previously issued keys is included, not an add-on.
- Cutting the emergency blade on a smart key is included.
- Overnight, Sunday, and holiday calls carry a surcharge — quoted upfront, never added at the end.
- Outlying areas cost more because of drive time. We tell you before dispatch.
- A second key programmed in the same visit is substantially cheaper than a separate call.
- Payment after the work is done and tested. Card, contactless, or cash.
By service
Ranges reflect the spread between a simple older vehicle and a current European platform.
| Service | Typical range | Time on site |
|---|---|---|
| Car Key Replacement | $145 – $550 | 20–60 minutes on most vehicles |
| Key Fob Replacement & Programming | $165 – $650 | 20–45 minutes |
| ECM / ECU Programming | $250 – $900 | 1–3 hours depending on platform |
| Emergency Car Lockout | $65 – $145 | Usually under 5 minutes on site |
| Transponder Key Programming | $120 – $320 | 20–45 minutes |
| Smart Key & Push-to-Start Programming | $220 – $650 | 30–60 minutes |
| Immobilizer Programming & Repair | $180 – $700 | 1–2 hours |
| European Vehicle Key Specialists | $320 – $950 | 1–3 hours |
| Ignition Repair & Replacement | $180 – $520 | 1–2 hours |
| Broken Key Extraction | $85 – $220 | 15–45 minutes |
| Spare Key Service | $95 – $420 | 15–30 minutes |
| Push-to-Start System Repair | $160 – $680 | 1–2 hours |
| Trunk & Glovebox Lockout | $75 – $195 | 15–40 minutes |
| 24/7 Roadside Key Service | $95 – $260 | Response typically 30–60 minutes |
| Fleet & dealer accounts | Account pricing | Scheduled to your operation |
By vehicle
Make matters more than anything except whether you still have a working key.
European
$280 – $980
Higher because the fob hardware costs more and the programming frequently needs module-level access.
Asian
$155 – $480
Well supported across the range. Note that many Toyota, Lexus, Honda and Acura systems erase all keys during programming.
Domestic
$145 – $420
Ford, GM and Stellantis platforms across trucks, SUVs and cars.
The single biggest saving available to you
Adding a spare while you still have a working key costs a fraction of generating one from nothing. On domestic vehicles it’s roughly half. On European platforms it can be less than a third.
Spare, key in hand
$95 – $520
All keys lost
$220 – $950
What we won’t do
Some of what makes pricing honest is being clear about the edges.
- We won’t quote blind. A price offered before we know your vehicle isn’t a price, it’s a lure. We ask for year, make, model.
- We won’t sell you a fob you don’t need. If your fob problem is a $4 battery or a worn button pad, that’s what we’ll tell you.
- We won’t charge for Tesla key cards. You pair those yourself through the car’s screen in a minute. We’ll walk you through it free.
- We won’t take the job if the dealer is your only option. A few very recent models are genuinely dealer-locked. We say so on the phone.
Pricing questions
Why can't you give me an exact price before you see the car?
We usually can — that's what the VIN is for. With your year, make, model, and VIN we can identify the exact key type and programming path and quote a firm number over the phone. What we can't do is quote a car key blind, because a 2012 Corolla and a 2022 Range Rover are different jobs by an order of magnitude.
Do you charge a call-out fee if I decide not to go ahead?
If we've quoted you a firm price on the phone and you change your mind after we arrive, there's a service call fee that covers the trip. We tell you that number upfront. If we arrive and discover the job is different from what was described — a different key type, or a fault that isn't what you thought — we re-quote before doing anything, and you're free to decline with only the service call owing.
How do you take payment?
Card, contactless, or cash, at the vehicle after the work is done and tested. We don't ask for payment upfront and we don't ask for a deposit for standard work.
Is a locksmith really cheaper than the dealership?
For key and programming work, generally yes, and the saving is usually 30 to 50 percent before you count the tow. The dealer route on a vehicle that won't start means a tow bill plus a service appointment that may be days out. That said, there are cases where the dealer is the right answer — a very recent model with genuinely restricted programming, for instance — and we'll tell you when that's true rather than take your money to find out.
Do you offer discounts for more than one key?
Yes. Programming a second key during the same visit is significantly cheaper than a separate call, because the programming session is already open. If you want two, get them together.
Get your actual number.
Ranges are useful. A firm quote is better. Call with your year, make, and model.
Answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week — including holidays.