Drivers who lose car keys with no spare retrace the last steps, secure the car and call an auto locksmith with the registration, the V5C and photo ID.
Lost car keys turn up in pockets, bags and shops more often than drivers expect, so a short search comes first. The locksmith needs the registration, proof of ownership and the exact location. An auto locksmith makes a new key from the lock or the key code and programmes the key at the car. ADC uses one visit to replace lost car keys on the same day.
Programming deletes the lost key, so a finder never starts the car. New locks only matter when the keys went missing with the home address or a theft looks likely.
The price of a replacement car key, key replacement cover, the time a new key takes, lost key access and dealer keys raise five further questions.
The list below gives four key takeaways on lost car keys with no spare.
- A short search of pockets, bags and recent stops comes before any call.
- An auto locksmith makes a new key at the car with no original key.
- The registration, the V5C and photo ID prove ownership for the new key.
- Programming removes the lost key, so the old key stops starting the car.
What comes first after losing the keys?
The first moves after losing car keys are a calm search, a check with the last places visited and a locked car. The list below gives four first actions.
- Search pockets, bags, the car interior through the windows and the route back to the car.
- Call the shops, the gym or the venue from the last few hours, since staff hand in lost keys.
- Keep the car locked and parked legally until the locksmith arrives.
- Report keys stolen with a bag or a wallet to the police and note the crime number.
Ten minutes of searching saves the cost of a new key in many cases.
What does the locksmith need from drivers?
The locksmith needs the registration, the V5C logbook and photo ID, plus the location and the key type. The list below gives five items to have ready.
- The registration number, which identifies the make, the model and the key the car takes.
- The V5C logbook or a photo of the logbook, which shows the registered keeper.
- Photo ID with a name matching the V5C, such as a driving licence.
- The exact location of the car, a postcode or a nearby landmark.
- A description of the lost key, remote, flip, keyless or plain blade.
A V5C locked inside the car still works as proof once the locksmith opens the door.
How do locksmiths make keys with no original?
Locksmiths make a key with no original by decoding a door lock, cutting a fresh blade and programming the key through the diagnostic port. The list below gives the four steps.
- The locksmith opens the car without damage and reads the key code from the lock or the make records.
- A key machine cuts a fresh blade to the code, so the key turns the lock and the ignition.
- Diagnostic equipment in the car port adds the new key to the immobiliser.
- The same equipment deletes the lost key, so the old key no longer starts the car.
The whole job happens at the car, so a mobile visit to replace lost car keys avoids a tow to a main dealer.
What happens to the lost key afterwards?
The lost key stops starting the car once the locksmith deletes the key from the immobiliser.
Remote locking for the old key goes too on most cars. The metal blade still turns the door lock on older cars, which is the one reason to think about the locks.
When do the locks need changing?
The locks need changing only when the keys went missing with the address, the car details or signs of theft. The list below gives three situations that call for new locks.
- Keys taken in a burglary or a bag theft along with a document showing the address.
- Keys lost near the car on an older model where the blade still opens the doors.
- A key tag or fob carrying the registration or the home postcode.
Deleting the lost key from the immobiliser keeps the car secure without new locks in most other cases.
What else do drivers ask after losing keys?
Price, insurance, timing, lost key access and dealer keys raise five further questions about lost car keys. The five questions below answer each topic.
Frequently asked questions
What does a replacement car key cost?
A replacement car key costs about £150 to £300 when every key is gone, and more for keyless and premium cars.
The price of a replacement car key moves with the key type, the make and the time of day.
Does key replacement cover pay for lost keys?
Yes, key replacement cover pays for lost keys up to the policy limit, often with no excess.
A standard policy without key replacement cover often leaves the driver paying the excess on a key claim.
How long does a new key take?
A new key takes 30 minutes to two hours at the car once the locksmith arrives.
Keyless and premium cars sit at the long end, and a main dealer takes several days to order a key.
Does a found lost key still work?
No, a found lost key no longer starts the car once deleted from the immobiliser.
The blade still turns the door lock on older cars, so a lost key found near the car on an older model calls for a lock check.
Do dealers make keys with no original?
Yes, main dealers make keys with no original, but order the key from the factory and take several days.
An auto locksmith replaces lost car keys with no spare at the car on the same day.
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