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Replacing Your Car Key
13 November 2022

Replacing Your Car Key

Ever had that sinking feeling when you find you’ve lost your car keys? They’re not in the usual place you keep them, and you go hunting around your house to find the last place you remember seeing them. Most of the time, you’ll find them, but what if it turns out you’ve completely misplaced them? Then you need to get a replacement car key, but how do you go about doing this?

How to replace a car key

Every car key is unique to the car it's been made for, and has been cut in a particular way for your car. Because of this, if you lose your main car key and spare car key, you’ll need a complete replacement. But what’s the quickest and cheapest way of doing so?

How to replace a car key
Call a locksmith

1. Call a locksmith

Car locksmiths are experts at cutting and reprogramming a new key for your car, even if you don’t have the original, and are usually the quickest solution for replacing your car keys as they have all the up to date equipment to replace your car keys, and also often come to you!
If you decide to call a locksmith if you’ve lost your car keys and need them replacing, you’ll need the following:

  • Make and model of your vehicle
  • Registration number of your vehicle
  • Vehicle identification number ( found on your V5C document – see your vehicles log book )
  • Type of key you need replacing (either a remote keyfob or transponder a.k.a non remote key)
  • Personal identification ( documentation showing name, photo, address to help confirm ownership of the vehicle ) for when they visit.
  • Postcode of where you are, should you require an emergency locksmith to come to you.

The other good thing about using a locksmith if you need to get a new key for your car, is that they may be able to reconfigure the existing locks on your car, meaning you don’t have to get them changed, or can programme out your remote control key which can stop anyone else using them.

2. Your car insurance provider

Check your car insurance policy to see if key replacement is a part of your cover. Some insurance companies include car key cover in their policies, while others have it as an optional extra, so it’s worth checking if you have this.  It’s worth noting that you may have to pay an excess amount, and it could affect your no claims bonus too if you choose this route. 

3. Go to a franchised dealership

Another option is to go to a franchised car dealership, however this could be expensive. They may also not have all the necessary diagnostic equipment to cut and programme you a new key, which can mean you’ll have to wait longer before you get your new replacement key.

4. Breakdown service

You could always resort to contacting a breakdown service such as the RAC or AA if you need to replace your car keys. Depending on the type of car key you need replacing, this can be a bit of a slower option, as breakdown recovery workers aren’t experts in car key replacement, and may also not have all the necessary equipment on hand. 

5. Your local car garage

Your local garage may be able to help you if you’ve lost your car keys and you need a replacement, however they’ll likely charge you quite a bit for the use of their diagnostic equipment. Not all garages offer car key replacement either, as it’s a very specialist area, so this could actually end up being a more time consuming version in the long run.

Breakdown service

In conclusion, losing your car keys can be a frustrating experience, but there are several options available for replacing them. Assessing these choices will help you determine the most efficient and suitable method to obtain a replacement car key and get you back on the road in no time.