Lost All Your Car Keys? · What to Do Next

You Usually Don't Need a Tow or the Dealer

When every key is gone, most people think the car has to be towed to the dealership. For most vehicles that isn't necessary. A mobile automotive locksmith can come to the car, make a new key from the VIN or by reading the lock, and program it to the car right there. You will need the VIN and proof that you own the vehicle. Some newer European vehicles need a quick system check first, and a few still need the dealer.

Step 1: Make Sure the Key Is Really Gone

It sounds obvious, but a short search can save you money:

• ✓Retrace your steps and call the last places you visited: stores, the gym, your workplace.
• ✓Look inside the car through the windows. Keys often end up on the floor, between the seats or in the trunk. If the key is locked inside, that is a car lockout, which is faster and costs less than making a new key.
• ✓Ask family members whether anyone has a spare. Even an old spare that only opens the doors can make the job simpler.

Step 2: Have This Ready Before You Call

• ✓Year, make and model of the vehicle, and whether it has a push-to-start button or a key you turn.
• ✓The VIN. It is on the dashboard at the bottom of the windshield (driver's side) and on the driver door jamb. It is also on your registration and insurance card.
• ✓Proof of ownership: the title or registration, plus a photo ID with a matching name. A legitimate locksmith will always ask for it before making a key.
• ✓Where the car is. Driveway, parking lot, street parking or a garage with a low ceiling all matter when we plan the visit.

Step 3: Dealer or Mobile Locksmith?

Both can make a key for most vehicles. The difference is how you get there:

• ✓Dealer. With no working key, the car usually has to get to the dealership, which often means a tow. Some keys have to be ordered first, so the car may wait there.
• ✓Mobile locksmith. We come to the car, cut the key and program it on the spot with professional equipment, then test the doors, the remote and the ignition before we leave.

Before you decide, check your auto insurance or roadside assistance plan. Some policies cover part of the cost of key replacement.

Why It Costs More Than a Spare

Copying a key you still have is the easiest job. When every key is lost, there is nothing to copy: the key has to be cut from the code or from the lock, and the car has to accept a brand-new key into its immobilizer. That takes more time and equipment, so all-keys-lost jobs are priced individually and quoted by phone. This is also why the best time to make a spare car key is while you still have one that works.

Step 4: Make Sure the Lost Key Can't Start the Car

If your keys were stolen, or you lost them somewhere with your address nearby, think about security. When we program the new key we can erase the lost keys from the car's memory, so they no longer start the engine. Just ask when you call. If you bought a used car and are not sure how many keys exist, see our used-car key security check.

How We Handle It in the Portland Area

Quick Lock & Key is a mobile-only car locksmith. Alex, the owner, is an Oregon Certified Locksmith (#7050OCLS), and the business holds Oregon CCB #263757 and $1,000,000 liability insurance. Here is how an all-keys-lost visit works:

1. Call or text with your year, make and model and where the car is.
2. We tell you the price by phone before driving out. A mobile service fee based on distance is added.
3. At the car we check your ownership documents, make the key and program it.
4. We test the doors, remote and ignition, and erase lost keys if you ask.

We work with most domestic and Asian makes. For European vehicles we confirm by phone first and price the job after checking the key system. Hours are Monday–Saturday 8 AM–7 PM; after 7 PM there is an extra $50, and we are closed on Sunday. Read more on our lost car keys service page, see car keys by make, or, if you only need a remote programmed, read whether an auto parts store can do it.