Car key replacement cost calculator
We are proud to bring you the first ever car key replacement cost calculator.
We spoke with more than 120 locksmiths and dealers across the county to provide you with the most accurate calculator for car keys replacement cost.
In addition to that, we spoke with tow truck companies in different cities and states to see how much they charge in case you need to tow your car to a local dealership.
We also discussed the different factors with our affiliated locksmiths to make sure our calculator truly represents the actual costs.
Key Replacement Cost
How to use the calculator and what factors were taken into consideration?
There are many factors to consider when you try to calculate the cost of a replacement key.
Some of them are obvious like the year make and model of your car, and some of them are less obvious for someone who isn’t a professional locksmith.
Here is a simple example of why sometimes it may be a little tricky to calculate an exact price:
Split year models:
Some makes and models (like Chrysler, Jeep, Ford and more) have what locksmiths call: split year models.
That’s means that for a certain year can be 2 different types of keys. Usually it happens in those years (around 2000) when car manufacturers started to use transponder chip keys.
Therefore, for the same year, one customer has a non transponder and the other one has a transponder.
As a result, there may be a huge price difference as transponder keys require programming while non transponder key don’t.
Here is another example that may cause a confusion even with newer models.
Type of ignition:
Many car manufactures offer 2 options to start the car. One is the push to start option(use a key fob) and the other one is the old one with a key(which involves a transponder chip key).
That means that for the same year make and model, we have 2 different options that one (key fob) is much more expensive, especially when a customer wants an original OEM key and not an aftermarket key(which are much cheaper but less of a quality).
The examples above are just two examples that professional locksmiths are facing every day when asked for a quote by customers.
In addition to those not so familiar situations there are additional variants that can substantially affect the total price.
Here is a short list of cost factors:
- Where you get a replacement key
- time of day when you need service
- you location
- number of service providers around you
- whether or not you have an insurance
- Original ignition or not
- How old your car is (10 years or older model)
- How soon you need the service
And many more factors.
The good news is,
that we took all of these factors into consideration when we created our calculator.
Of course, we always highly recommend you check and ask for a quote from at least 3 providers in your area as the prices can vary.
We hope you find this calculator useful.
Here are a few things to remember about the price shown:
- Its only an estimate. ALWAYS! call around and ask for a quote from a few locksmiths or dealers.
- High security models, such as Audi, Volvo, BMW, Mercedes etc prices are usually, about 1.5 times higher than the prices shown here.
The reason is because most locksmiths can’t do some of those models as they require a special coding machine specifically for those makes and not a general coding machine used for most makes. - Last year makes (usually last 1 or 2 years) – Prices may not be available because locksmiths may not have access to coding information. Usually after a year or so a new software is available and then locksmiths can have access to the coding program.
- Prices shown in this calculator are for U.S. MAKES AND MODELS. While the prices may be relevant to Canada and other countries as well, the information that was used to determine the estimated cost is based on prices in different US states.
- Prices, coding procedures, rates and costs always change. We will keep updating our calculator. We ask you kindly to use this information as an estimate only.
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