Yes, a dealership sells a used car without a spare key legally in the UK, because no UK law requires a used car to come with two keys.
The Consumer Rights Act 2015 creates one exception for a car advertised with two keys. A buyer promised two keys has four remedies, and private sellers fall outside the Act. Dealerships sell cars with one key for five common reasons, while new cars come with two keys. A car with one key carries five risks, from an all keys lost bill to repairs to a key fob that fails. Four checks before signing reduce the risks.
Spare car keys cost least while the first key works, and car key replacement without the original costs more.
The list below gives four key takeaways on buying a car without a spare key.
- No UK law requires a dealership to supply a spare key with a used car.
- The Consumer Rights Act 2015 entitles a buyer to two keys when the advert promised two keys.
- The previous owner’s missing key still starts the car until a locksmith erases the key.
- A spare key made from a working original costs less than an all keys lost job.
What does UK law say on spare keys?
UK law allows a dealership to sell a used car with one key, because the Consumer Rights Act 2015 sets no minimum number of keys.
The Act requires “satisfactory quality”, “fit for purpose” and “as described“. A single key breaks the “as described” standard only when the advert, the listing or the salesperson promised two keys. Information from the dealer before the sale forms part of the contract.
What can buyers do about promised second keys?
A buyer promised two keys has four remedies under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. The list below gives the four steps in order.
- Keep the advert, the listing and the order form as evidence.
- Ask the dealer in writing to supply and code the second key.
- Reject the car for a full refund within 30 days of collection, using the short-term right to reject.
- Request a price reduction that covers a second key, when the dealer fails to supply the key.
How does the rule differ for private sellers?
The Consumer Rights Act 2015 covers cars bought from a trader, not from a private seller.
A private seller still has a duty to describe the car accurately, so a private advert that promised two keys gives the buyer a claim for the second key.
Why do dealerships sell cars with one key?
Dealerships sell used cars with only one key because part-exchange, auction and finance cars often arrive with one key. The list below gives the five common reasons, from the most frequent.
- The car arrived as a part-exchange after the owner lost the second key.
- The car came through an auction, where one key is common.
- The car returned from a finance or lease agreement with one key.
- The dealer judged a second key too costly for the profit on the car.
- The second key stayed behind at the previous owner’s house.
How many keys come with a new car?
A new car comes with two keys as standard from the manufacturer.
A new car handed over with one key has a fault to raise before collection, while one key on a used car stays legal.
What risks come with no spare key?
Buying a car with no spare key carries five risks, led by the higher cost of an all keys lost job. The list below gives the five risks in order of cost.
- The cost of losing the only key rises, since the job becomes an all keys lost job.
- The previous owner’s missing key still starts the car until a locksmith erases the key.
- The insurer asks for every key after a theft claim.
- The resale value drops, since buyers offer less for a car with one key.
- The single key leaves no backup when the key fails.
A single key that fails often needs only repairs to a key fob, which cost less than an all keys lost job.
What should buyers check with only one key?
A buyer checks the key count, the key function, the second key and the erase history before buying a car with one key. The list below gives the four checks in order.
- Ask the dealer to write the number of keys on the order form.
- Test the key for locking, unlocking and starting.
- Ask for a second key before collection or a price cut by the cost of one.
- Ask for a receipt showing the missing key erased from the car.
What does a missing spare key cost?
A missing spare key costs £120 to £250 to replace with a mobile auto locksmith while the original key works. The five questions below cover each cost.
Frequently asked questions
How much less do spare car keys cost?
Spare car keys cost less than an all keys lost replacement, because a working original saves decoding the lock. The table below compares the work for three key types.
| Key type | Spare from a working key | All keys lost |
|---|---|---|
| Transponder key | Cut and coded | Lock decoded, then cut and coded |
| Remote key | Cut, paired and coded | Decoded, cut, coded, lost key erased |
| Keyless smart key | New fob coded | New fob coded, lost fob erased |
Both jobs end with a key coded to the immobiliser, and a mobile auto locksmith finishes both at the car in one visit. The all keys lost job adds lock decoding and erasing the lost key, which raises the price.
Typical UK prices for a remote or keyless spare run from £120 to £250 with a mobile auto locksmith, against £200 to £400 or more at a main dealer. ADC Locksmith Liverpool gives a fixed price from the registration, and spare car keys cost least while the first key works.
Does one key lower a trade-in offer?
Yes, trading in a car with one key lowers the offer by the cost of a second key.
Dealers and car buyers deduct the spare key cost from the valuation.
Does car insurance cover a missing spare key?
Yes, car insurance pays for a spare key only when the policy includes key cover.
Key cover often comes as a policy add-on.
Can a dealership make keys from the VIN?
Yes, a franchised dealership orders a spare key by the VIN with the V5C logbook as proof of ownership.
An auto locksmith codes a key at the car from the same proof, without the wait for a factory key.
Does car key replacement work with no original?
Yes, car key replacement works without the original or a spare key.
The locksmith decodes the lock, then cuts and codes a new key. ADC Locksmith Liverpool handles car key replacement at the roadside for cars bought from a dealership with one key.
Based in Liverpool and still stuck?
ADC Locksmith Liverpool repairs, programs and replaces car keys at the roadside across Liverpool and Merseyside, usually on the same day. Craig Evans holds SERMI approval and a 5.0 rating from 341 Google reviews. A call to 07731 544220 brings a fixed price before Craig travels.
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