Lost every key, or lost one and want it locked out of the car? New Forest Auto Locksmith makes a new key at your vehicle, cut to its locks and programmed to its immobiliser, anywhere across the New Forest, with no recovery truck and no dealer wait.
Yes. A replacement car key without the original is made in two stages at the vehicle: the blade is cut by decoding the lock, then a new transponder or smart key is programmed to the car's immobiliser. Where the security system allows, the missing keys are deleted at the same visit so they can no longer start the engine.
That's the short answer. The method behind it varies a great deal between makes, models and security generations, and that's where experience matters.
With no key to copy, the cuts are read from the lock itself. A specialist decoding tool is used in the driver's door lock to identify the depth of each cut, and the blade is then cut to that pattern in the van. This works for traditional edge-cut keys and for the laser-cut, high-security profiles fitted to most modern cars.
Cutting the blade only gets you into the car. The engine won't run until the immobiliser recognises the new key's transponder chip. When all car keys are lost, there's no working key to help authorise the new one, so the programming has to establish a new key from scratch. On many vehicles, that's done through the diagnostic socket under the dashboard, following the manufacturer's procedure. Some makes require a security PIN first, which our equipment can retrieve from the vehicle in most cases.
Some vehicles don't allow a key to be added through the diagnostic socket when no key is present. Where key data is held in a dedicated security module, that module is read directly to prepare the new key:
Occasionally, the module's memory chip, the EEPROM, has to be read on the bench. The original data is always backed up first. Most vehicles don't need this, but having the capability means the awkward ones can still be done at the roadside.
The new key is checked for locking, unlocking, starting and, where fitted, keyless entry and push-button start. We also confirm which keys the car now accepts, so you know any missing key has been dealt with.
Lost car key replacement covers two jobs that sound alike but are handled differently.
If you've lost every key, a new car key has to be built from the lock and programmed without any existing key to help. It's the most involved key job there is, and it's what the process above describes. It is still routinely done at the vehicle, on a driveway, in a car park or at the roadside.
If a key has gone missing but a spare still works, the job is simpler: a new key is copied from the spare and added to the car. The important extra step is to delete the lost key from the car's memory, so whoever finds it can't drive away in your car. If you just want an extra key while you still have two, see Spare Car Keys.
We replace lost car keys for most makes, from older transponder keys to the latest proximity systems. Keyless models get a new proximity key paired for both keyless entry and push-button start, with the hidden emergency blade cut too. Imported Toyota and Nissan models are covered in many cases. Vans have their own page: see Van Key Replacement. A small number of very recent models are still dealer-only, and we'll confirm that before travelling.
"I've lost my car keys" usually comes with a story, and the story shapes the job.
Keys dropped on open heath, in woodland or on the shingle are rarely found. The car is usually in a car park miles from home, which is exactly where a mobile locksmith is most useful. We work in Forest car parks and on the coast, from Lyndhurst to Lymington.
A lost only car key that has vanished somewhere in the house is a common call. If a thorough search doesn't turn it up, a new key can be made on the driveway. It's worth getting a second key at the same time, so it doesn't happen again.
If the key went with a stolen bag, assume someone may try it on the car. Report the theft to the police, tell your insurer, and make sure the stolen key is deleted from the car's memory when the replacement is programmed.
With every key gone, the biggest practical difference is whether the car has to travel.
| Factor | Mobile auto locksmith | Main dealer |
|---|---|---|
| Comes to the vehicle | Yes | Usually not |
| Recovery needed | Usually not | Often, as the car can't be driven |
| Blade cutting | At the car | In the workshop |
| Programming | At the car for most vehicles | In the workshop |
| Lost key deleted | Yes, where the system allows | Yes |
| Typical timescale | Same day or next day | Depends on workshop and parts |
For most vehicles, a mobile auto locksmith is the faster and more convenient route. The exception is the small number of very new models that only the dealer can key.
There's no single price for replacing lost car keys, because the vehicle, the key type and the programming method all change the work involved. An older car with a basic transponder key sits at the lower end, while a recent premium car with a smart key and module-level programming sits at the higher end. You get a fixed quote before work starts.
With a working key, the blade can be copied and the car often allows a simpler programming routine. With every key gone, the lock has to be decoded and the security system accessed more deeply, which takes more time and sometimes more equipment.
The price is confirmed before any work starts, with no upfront payment and no hidden extras. If we find the vehicle needs a different procedure from the one described, you'll get the revised price before we go further, with no obligation and no call-out charge if you decline.
If the key is visible inside the locked car, it isn't lost. See Locked Keys In Car, which is quicker and cheaper. If the key is still in your hand but the car won't recognise it, see Car Key Programming, and if the key won't turn at all, the ignition may be at fault: see Ignition Repair. For urgent help within our hours, see Emergency Auto Locksmith. All our key services are listed on the Services page.
This Toyota Hatchback in Lymington no longer had a usable working key, so a complete mobile replacement was needed at the vehicle.
View job
This Peugeot 2008 in New Milton no longer had a usable working key, so a complete mobile replacement was needed at the vehicle.
View job
This MINI Cooper in Burley no longer had a usable working key, so a complete mobile replacement was needed at the vehicle.
View jobA lost car key locksmith can only quote accurately with the right details, so it helps to have these to hand.
We cover the whole New Forest, from Hythe and the Waterside to Ringwood and the Avon valley. You can also contact us online.
Send your details and we'll come back to you with a price. For anything urgent, calling is quickest.
Call with the registration and tell us whether any key still works. We'll confirm the likely key type, price and current arrival estimate before travelling.
