Spare Car Keys
The easiest version of this job is the one you do before you need it.
Call (408) 418-0044
Duplicating a car key while you still have a working one is a fundamentally easier job than replacing a lost one. The cutting data comes from the key in your hand, the car already trusts a key so programming is simpler, and no ownership investigation is needed beyond the obvious.
The gap between those two jobs is the strongest argument for getting a spare made on an ordinary Tuesday rather than at the roadside. A one-key household is one pocket away from the harder version.
Why a spare is worth having
- Duplication uses the existing key as the source — no origination step.
- Programming a second key to a car that already has a working one is usually the shorter procedure.
- It removes the scenario where a single failure — a lost key, a drowned fob, a snapped blade — takes the vehicle off the road.
- A worn original can be cut to factory specification rather than copied with its wear, which often fixes a key that has become fussy in the ignition.
- Some vehicles need two keys present to complete certain programming procedures, which is easier to satisfy before you are down to one.
Have this ready
- The working key — all of them, if you have more than one.
- Year, make and model.
- Registration or title, since ownership is still checked.
- Whether you want a plain spare or a full remote with buttons.
- Where the vehicle is, as programming happens at the car.
If your only key is already gone, this is the harder job and it is worth reading about first. see lost car key replacement.
Common questions
Is a spare less work than a replacement?
Generally, because the work is shorter — no origination, and simpler programming. The key blank itself costs what it costs regardless, so the saving is in labour rather than parts.
Can I get a plain key without the remote to save money?
Often, yes. A basic transponder key that starts the car but has no buttons is a common choice for an emergency spare kept at home. It will not unlock the doors remotely, which for a spare is usually acceptable.
My original key is worn and sticks. Should I copy it?
Copy the specification, not the key. A key cut from the vehicle's original data rather than traced from a worn key will fit better than the one you are currently using, and often solves the sticking.
Related locksmith services
Describe the lock or key problem
A short description of what happened gets the right tools on the vehicle.
Call (408) 418-0044