A spare car key comes from an auto locksmith, a key cutting shop or a main dealer, which cuts the blade and codes the chip from the working key.
An auto locksmith handles every key type at the car, a key shop copies common keys and a main dealer orders a key in. The chip inside a spare talks to the immobiliser, so the spare needs cloning or programming before the engine starts. The working key, the car, the V5C and photo ID make the job quick.
Getting a spare car key made takes four short steps from the call to the test. The best moment for a spare is while the working key still works, above all after buying a used car with one key.
Keyless copies, the car at the job, lost key replacement prices, the rules that let a dealership sell a car with one key and key numbers raise five further questions.
The list below gives four key takeaways on getting a spare car key.
- A spare car key comes from an auto locksmith, a key shop or a main dealer.
- A spare needs the chip cloned or programmed before the engine starts.
- The working key, the car, the V5C and photo ID speed up the job.
- A spare made while one key works costs far less than an all keys lost job.
Which places make a spare car key?
Three places make a spare car key, an auto locksmith, a key cutting shop and a main dealer, and an online blank still needs one of the three. The table below compares four routes to a spare.
| Route | What the route covers | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Auto locksmith | Every key type, cut and programmed at the car | Same day, often under an hour |
| Key cutting shop | Common blades and chip clones from a working key | While the customer waits, for supported keys |
| Main dealer | A factory key ordered and programmed at the dealership | Several days |
| Online blank | A shell or fob with no cut or code | Delivery time plus a locksmith visit |
Every route in the table starts from the working key, which keeps a spare cheaper than a lost key job.
Why does a spare key need coding?
A spare key needs coding because the immobiliser starts the engine only for a chip the car recognises.
Cloning copies the chip data from the working key onto a new chip. Programming adds the spare to the car memory through the diagnostic port, the route keyless fobs and many newer cars take.
What does the locksmith need for a spare?
The locksmith needs the working key, the car, the V5C and photo ID for a spare. The list below gives four items to have ready.
- The working key, which gives the blade profile and the chip data for the spare.
- The car, since programming for most spares runs through the diagnostic port.
- The V5C logbook, which shows the registered keeper of the car.
- Photo ID with a name matching the V5C, such as a driving licence.
Keepers who bought the car recently and still wait for the V5C bring the sale invoice and the green new keeper slip.
How do you get a spare key made?
To get a spare key made, book a locksmith with the registration, then let the locksmith cut, code and test the spare at the car. The list below gives the four steps.
- Call with the registration and the key type for a fixed spare price.
- Meet the locksmith at the car with the working key, the V5C and photo ID.
- Watch the blade cut and the chip coding, which take under an hour for most cars.
- Test the spare on the doors, the boot and the ignition before the locksmith leaves.
ADC Locksmith Liverpool gets a spare car key made at the car, so the car never leaves the drive.
When is the right time for a spare?
The right time for a spare is while the working key still works. The list below gives three moments when a spare pays off most.
- Straight after buying a used car that came with one key.
- The moment the only key shows wear, a cracked case or a sticky button.
- Ahead of a long trip or a holiday, far from the usual locksmith.
A spare made at any of the three moments costs a fraction of an all keys lost job.
What else do owners ask about spare keys?
Keyless copies, the car at the job, lost key prices, dealer sales and key numbers raise five further questions about a spare car key. The five questions below answer each topic.
Frequently asked questions
Can a key shop copy a keyless fob?
No, most key shops copy blades and simple chips but not keyless fobs.
A keyless spare needs programming to the car, which an auto locksmith or a main dealer carries out.
Does a spare need the car there?
Yes, most spares need the car present for programming through the diagnostic port.
A locksmith sometimes cuts a plain blade or clones a chip key away from the car, but a test at the car still follows.
Is a spare cheaper than lost key replacement?
Yes, a spare costs far less than replacing every lost key, often half the price or less.
Prices for a spare and for lost key replacement differ because no lock decoding or key deletion takes place.
Can dealerships sell a car with one key?
Yes, a dealership sells a used car with one key and no spare legally in the UK.
Buyers check the rules that let a dealership sell a car with one key, which leave room to ask for a spare or a lower price.
How many keys does a car need?
A car needs two keys, the working key and a spare, and most new cars leave the factory with two.
A spare car key kept at home turns a lost working key into a short call rather than an auto locksmith job with no original.
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.
Call 07731 544220