Where to Find a Locksmith Who Makes Car Keys Near Me?
If you lose or break your car key, you may have to go to a locksmith to get a new one. Fortunately, there are many places where you can get keys made near you. The most expensive place to get a new key is at your car dealership, but there are also a few other options.
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Ace Hardware
If your car key is a basic metal key that doesn’t have any special features or isn’t attached to a remote or fob, you can usually get it made at any Ace Hardware store for about $5 or less. They can make mailbox keys, office keys, and other types of keys as well.
Automotive Locksmiths
If you’ve lost a chipped or transponder car key, you can often get it copied for less at a local locksmith. This is typically the best option if you don’t have a remote key since they’re more likely to have the equipment to cut and program your vehicle’s key chip.
Automotive locksmiths specialize in making replacement and duplicate keys for cars and can also cut other types of car keys, including remote-headed and switchblade keys. They can even program your keys to work with remote locking systems.
They’re also the experts on high-security keys, which are a step up from standard transponder keys and have a computer chip inside that must be programmed to unlock your car.
These high-security car keys require a special key cutter that cuts tracks into or on the outside of the key, rather than along the sides. They’re more expensive to cut than regular metal car keys and can take a bit longer to get done, but they’re worth the price for peace of mind that your key will never be stolen.
Decorative keys
If you have a key that’s decorated with a pattern or other design, it can be more difficult to copy than a simple key. It may need to be painted or machined, and it might also need to be licensed with a cartoon character or sports team logo.
You might be able to find a home improvement store or box store that will cut your key for you, but these can be quite expensive and aren’t as reliable. They’re also much more difficult to replace than standard house or apartment keys, so it might be a better idea to pay a locksmith to do the job for you.
The cost to replace a basic metal car key, including programming, is around $50 to $175, but that can vary significantly by the make and model of your vehicle. Some high-end models require special keys that are only sold by your dealer, and they can cost over $1,000 to replace.
It’s possible to buy a replacement car key online for less than you’d pay to get it copied at your dealer. Just be sure to check that the online service is reputable and will ship your key to you.
You can also get a copy of your key from a local locksmith, but that’s not a great option if you’re locked out of your car or don’t have any cash on hand. You can typically get a duplicate car key from a locksmith for $1 or less, which is usually cheaper than replacing the original key at your dealership.