Replacement Car Key Cost in the UK by Key Type and Make
A replacement car key in the UK costs from about £20 for a plain metal key to more than £450 for a smart key, and the price depends mostly on the key type, the make of the car and whether a working key is left. Locked Out Auto Locksmith replaces a spare key from £80 and every lost key from £135, with no VAT added.
Main dealer prices for the same key commonly run from about £250 to more than £400, before any recovery cost to get the car to the dealership. This guide sets out the price of each key type, what changes the price by make, why losing every key costs more than a spare, and how a mobile locksmith compares with a dealer.
How Much Does Each Type of Car Key Cost?
The type of car key sets the starting point of the price, because each type needs a different blank, a different cut and a different level of programming. The table below gives the typical UK price range for the five common key types, from the cheapest to the dearest.
| Key type | How it works | Typical UK price | Programming |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plain metal key | Metal blade with no chip, found only on older cars | £20 to £60 | None |
| Transponder key | Blade plus a passive chip that the immobiliser reads | £60 to £200 | Chip paired with the immobiliser |
| Remote key | Transponder key with lock and unlock buttons on a fixed blade | £100 to £260 | Chip and remote both paired |
| Flip key | Remote key with a blade that folds into the fob | £100 to £260 | Chip and remote both paired |
| Smart key | Keyless fob that stays in a pocket, push button start | £200 to more than £450 | Paired through the diagnostic port or on the bench |
Most cars on UK roads use a transponder, remote or flip key, so most replacements fall between £60 and £260. Smart keys cost the most because the fob carries more electronics and the programming takes longer.
Estimate the Cost of Your Replacement Key
The cost estimator below gives the Locked Out starting price for your situation and the typical UK range for your key type, so you can see both numbers before you call.
Starting prices are for Locked Out Auto Locksmith with no VAT. The typical UK range is what drivers commonly pay across dealers, high street shops and locksmiths for that key type. Call 07900 885231 with the make, model and year for an exact price.
What Does Locked Out Charge for Each Job?
Locked Out Auto Locksmith charges a starting price for each job and adds no VAT, because the business is not VAT registered. The final price is confirmed on the phone once the make, model and year are known.
| Job | Starting price | What moves the price |
|---|---|---|
| Spare key cut from a working key | From £80 | Key type, make and model |
| New key when every key is lost | From £135 | Key type, make, lock decoding, programming method |
| Entry when keys are locked in the car | From £80 | Make and the lock type |
| New ignition barrel | From £120 | Make and model, keys coded to the new barrel |
| Broken key extraction | Quoted per job | Where the key snapped, door lock or ignition, whether a new key is needed |
Every price is for the work done at the car, at home, at work or at the roadside, between 6:00 AM and 8:30 PM.
Why Does Losing Every Key Cost More?
Losing every key costs more than a spare because the locksmith has no working key to copy. The door lock has to be decoded to find the cut of the blade, the immobiliser has to accept a key with no working key present, and the lost keys have to be erased so they no longer start the car.
A spare is a copy job by comparison. The working key gives the cut and, on most cars, lets the new key be added to the immobiliser in a few steps, which is why a spare starts from £80 and all keys lost starts from £135. The steps to take before booking are in the guide on replacing a lost or broken car key.
How Does the Car Make Change the Price?
The make of the car changes the price because each manufacturer uses its own key system, and some systems need the immobiliser data read on the bench before a key can be added. Car makes fall into three price bands.
- Everyday makes such as Ford, Vauxhall, Peugeot, Citroen, Nissan and Toyota sit at the lower end, because most keys are added through the diagnostic port with common key blanks.
- Volkswagen group makes such as Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda and Seat sit in the middle, because newer models need the key data prepared before programming.
- Premium makes such as BMW, Mercedes and Land Rover sit at the higher end, because many models need the immobiliser module read on the bench and the smart key blanks cost more.
The model and the year matter as much as the badge. A ten year old Ford with a flip key costs far less to replace than a new Ford with a smart key and push button start.
Is a Main Dealer Dearer Than a Locksmith?
Yes, a main dealer is dearer than an auto locksmith for most replacement keys. Dealer prices commonly run from about £250 to more than £400 for a remote or smart key, and premium makes can pass £500.
Three costs are added on top of the dealer key price. Dealer prices include VAT at 20 percent, the car has to reach the dealership, which means a recovery truck when no key is left, and the key is often ordered from the manufacturer, which takes from a few days to a few weeks. A mobile locksmith cuts and programmes the key at the car, usually in one visit.
What Else Changes the Final Price?
Five factors move the final price of a replacement car key beyond the key type and the make.
- A working key left or not, which decides between a spare from £80 and all keys lost from £135.
- The age of the car, because newer cars more often use smart keys and protected immobiliser systems.
- The key blank, because a blank in stock in the van avoids an order and a second visit.
- The lock condition, because a worn or damaged lock takes longer to decode.
- Extra keys, because each additional key needs its own blank and its own programming.
More Questions About Car Key Costs
Is Car Key Replacement Cheaper at Your Car?
Yes, replacement at the car is cheaper when no key is left, because no recovery truck is needed and the price carries no VAT. Car key replacement covers the cutting, the programming and the removal of the lost keys in one visit.
How Is a Spare Key Price Different From Lost Keys?
A spare key is copied from a working key, so spare car keys start from £80, while lost car key replacement starts from £135 because the lock has to be decoded and the lost keys erased.
Does Insurance Pay for a Replacement Key?
Insurance pays for a replacement key only when the policy includes key cover, and a claim may affect the no claims discount. Check the limit and the excess against a starting price of £135 before you claim.
Why Do Smart Keys Cost More Than Flip Keys?
Smart keys cost more than flip keys because the fob holds more electronics, the blank costs more, and the programming often takes longer. The guide to the types of car keys explains how to tell a smart key from a flip key.
Car Key Cost FAQs
How Much Is a Spare Car Key?
A spare car key with Locked Out Auto Locksmith starts from £80 with no VAT, and the final price depends on the key type, the make and the model.
How Much Is a Car Key With No Spare?
A new car key when no spare is left starts from £135 with Locked Out Auto Locksmith, because the lock is decoded, a key is programmed from nothing and the lost keys are erased.
Does the Price Include Programming?
Yes, every Locked Out key price includes cutting the blade and programming the chip and remote to the car, so no separate programming fee is added.
Is VAT Added to the Price?
No, VAT is not added to any Locked Out price, because the business is not VAT registered. Main dealer prices include VAT at 20 percent.
Ring me before you pay a dealer for a key. Give me the make, model and year and I will give you a price on the phone.
If you still have one key that works, get the spare done now. It is the cheapest key you will ever buy for that car.