Replacing a key you still have
This page is for the key that is still in your hand but should not be. If your only key has gone missing entirely, the lost car key replacement page covers that job instead.
People put up with a bad key for far too long. The blade wears round, the plastic cracks across the middle, the buttons stop responding, or it has been dropped in the sink often enough that the electronics are living on borrowed time. It works, until the morning it does not, and by then it is an emergency rather than a planned job.
The keys we replace
| Key type | What it means |
|---|---|
| Transponder key | Traditional blade with a chip in the head, needs cutting and coding |
| Remote flip key | Blade folds into the fob, buttons for lock, unlock and boot |
| Smart or proximity key | Stays in your pocket, car starts on a button |
| Separate remote | Fob and blade as two items, common on older vehicles |
We supply and code all of these. Where a key is available in an aftermarket version that performs as well as the original, we will offer it, because the saving is real and the result is the same. Where only a genuine key will do the job properly, we say that too.
Cut from code, not copied from a worn key
Here is the detail that matters, and the one most people never hear. A key copied from an original that is already worn is a copy of the wear. It goes in slightly wrong from day one and it puts that same load through the barrel every time you turn it.
We cut from the vehicle's key code, which produces a blade to the profile the car was built with. It costs no more and it is the difference between a key that lasts a decade and one that snaps in the ignition next winter, which then becomes a broken key extraction.
Programming and why it matters
Cutting is only half of it. The chip inside the key has to be programmed to the immobiliser so the car recognises it, and on models with rolling code remotes the fob has to be paired as well. Without that the key will turn but the engine will refuse to start, or it will start and cut out after a couple of seconds.
We carry dealer level programming equipment, so cutting, coding and testing happen in the same visit. See car key programming for the detail on what that involves.
Booked in, not an emergency
Most replacement key jobs are planned, which means you choose the time and place. We meet people at home in Horsforth before work, at business parks around Rothwell during the day, and on driveways in Alwoodley at the weekend. The car does not move and you do not lose a day.
Fleet and van operators, tell us how many vehicles you have. Doing several in one visit is cheaper per key than calling us out one vehicle at a time.
What it costs, and what moves the price
We will not quote a single number on a web page, because a key for a 2006 Fiesta and a key for a 2022 Land Rover are not the same job. The honest version is this: the vehicle, the key type, whether the car needs opening first and whether you already have a working key are the four things that move the price.
Tell us the make, model and year on the phone and you get the actual figure before we set off, with no call-out fee on top.
How long it takes
Most replacement keys are done inside an hour, including cutting, programming and testing. Smart keys can take a little longer because of the pairing procedure, and a handful of vehicles have a security delay built in by the manufacturer.
If your key needs something beyond a straight replacement, such as a fob that is physically fine but electronically confused, that is key fob repair and it is often cheaper than a new key.
Questions about replacement car keys
Do I have to bring the car to you?
No. We are fully mobile and come to your home, your workplace or wherever the car is parked across Leeds.
Can you replace a key for a keyless car?
Yes. We supply and program proximity smart keys for most keyless vehicles.
Is an aftermarket key as good as the dealer one?
For many vehicles, yes, and it costs less. Where only a genuine key performs properly we tell you rather than selling you something that will disappoint.
Can you replace just the plastic case?
Often, yes. If the electronics are healthy and only the casing has cracked, a recase is much cheaper than a whole new key.
How long does it take?
Usually under an hour at the vehicle, including cutting, programming and testing.
Do you replace van keys?
Yes, including Transit, Sprinter, Vivaro, Transporter and most other commercial vehicles.
Can I get two made at once?
Yes, and it is much cheaper than coming back for a second one later, because the programming session is already open.