Car key replacement in Toronto starts with one phone call. Tell us the make, model and year, and we quote the price for your exact key before anyone is sent. A local technician then comes to the car, cuts the blade, programs the chip or remote to the car's computer and tests the key in the door and the ignition. No tow truck, and no waiting while a dealer orders a key from the factory.
The jobs we see every day: a spare from your last working key, a lost key fob, a push-to-start smart key that went through the wash, and the hardest one, every key lost with nothing to copy.
Which key do you have?
| Key type | How to tell | What the job involves |
|---|---|---|
| Standard metal key | All metal or a plain plastic head, mostly cars from before the late 1990s | Cutting only, from the old key, the key code or the lock |
| Transponder (chip) key | Plastic head, no buttons, a security light on the dash | Cutting plus programming the chip to the car |
| Remote head or flip key | Blade and lock buttons in one piece; some fold out | Cutting, chip programming and remote programming |
| Separate remote fob | Buttons on a fob, with a plain or chip key on the ring | Programming the remote, and the key if needed |
| Push-to-start smart key | The car starts with a button while the key stays in your pocket | Programming at the car, plus cutting the hidden emergency blade |
What happened to your key?
What should you have ready before you call?
- Make, model and year. Your ownership (the vehicle permit) shows all three if you are not sure.
- The VIN, the 17-character vehicle number. It is on the ownership, on the dashboard at the bottom of the windshield on the driver's side, and on the driver's door frame.
- Photo ID and the ownership. The technician checks both before cutting a key, and the names have to match.
- The exact spot: street address, or the garage level and stall number.
- Whether any working key is left, even a damaged one. It makes the job quicker.
- If you bought a fob online, the part number or FCC ID printed on its back or on the box.
How does a new key get made at the car?
- You call. We ask about the car, the key and where it is parked, then quote the price before anyone is sent.
- The technician arrives, checks your ID against the ownership and reads the VIN on the car.
- The blade is cut on a mobile key machine: from your old key, from the key code, or by reading the lock.
- The new key is programmed through the car's diagnostic port, then tested on the doors, the trunk and the ignition.
How much does car key replacement cost in Toronto?
The price is quoted on the phone from your make, model and year, before anyone is sent. We do not publish one starting price for every key, because a metal key for an older car and a smart key for a new SUV are very different jobs.
What moves the price: the key type, whether you still have a working key, the cost of the blank or fob, and how much security the car has. All keys lost: from $280, final price depends on vehicle, confirmed by phone.
How long does it take?
A local technician is usually 20 to 30 minutes away. Copying a working key is the quickest job once the technician is at the car. All keys lost, or a car that needs a security code before it accepts a new key, takes longer, often an hour or more on site. You get a realistic time for your car when you call.
When is the dealer the better choice?
For most makes, a mobile car locksmith is faster because the key is made where the car sits. A few newer models only accept keys ordered through the dealer, and some European brands keep key programming with the manufacturer. If yours is one of them, we say so on the phone instead of sending someone out.
Car key replacement by area
Quick answers about new car keys
Can you replace a car key without the original?
Yes. That is an all keys lost job. The technician cuts a key from the key code or by reading the lock, then programs it to the car. You need photo ID and the ownership.
Will my lost key still start the car?
On most cars the technician can erase lost keys from the car's memory while programming the new one, so a found key no longer starts it. We confirm this for your model when you call.
Do I need to tow the car anywhere?
No. The key is cut and programmed where the car is parked: a driveway, the street, a workplace lot or a condo garage.
Is a locksmith key as good as a dealer key?
It does the same job: it opens the doors, starts the car and works the remote. Ask whether your key will be original-brand or a quality aftermarket key; both are programmed the same way.
My key snapped in the lock. Can you help?
Yes, as part of making a new key. The technician removes the broken piece from the door or ignition, cuts a replacement and programs it if it has a chip.
Need a new car key today?
Call (416) 555-0150 with your make, model and year. Lines are open daily from 7am to 10:30pm.