Car key replacement in South Bend, IN
The only key is gone, the fob has stopped working, or the ignition will not turn. Call with the make, model and year and we will tell you what a replacement involves.
- Keys and key fobs
- Cut and programmed
- Ignition problems
A car key is two things
Most modern car keys are a metal blade that turns a lock and a small chip inside the head that the car reads before it will start. A new key needs both: the blade has to be cut to fit, and the chip has to be programmed so the car accepts it.
That is why a copy from a hardware kiosk does not always work, and why a lost key is a different job from a lockout. Tell us what you have, and we will say what your car needs.
- The only key was lost or stolen
- A key or fob that has stopped working
- A key broken in the ignition or the door
- An ignition that will not turn
- A spare key you have never had made
What you get with Car key replacement
We come to the car
The work is done where the vehicle is, so it does not have to be towed to a shop to get a key.
Cut and programmed
The new key is cut to fit and its chip is set up so the car recognizes it, then tried in the lock and the ignition.
Say what you have
Make, model and year are enough to start. We tell you what is involved before any work is done.
Fobs and transponder keys
Key fobs and transponder keys are both things we are asked for. Ignition trouble can be looked at on the same visit.
What to tell us on the call
A few details let us say what is needed before we drive out.
- The make, model and year of the vehicle
- Whether you have any working key at all
- Whether the car is locked, and where it is parked
- Whether the problem is the key or the ignition
Proof of ownership
Expect to be asked to show that the vehicle is yours, with ID and a document that matches the car. It protects you, because it is what stops anyone else from getting a key to your vehicle.
Car key replacement questions
Can you make a car key if I have no original?
In many cases yes, a key can be made without an original, using the vehicle details. How it is done depends on the make, so give us the make, model and year and we will say what is possible.
Do you program key fobs as well as cut keys?
Yes. A fob is programmed so that the car accepts it, and a key with a chip is programmed the same way. Tell us whether you have a fob, a chip key or a plain metal key.
Why does my car not start with a copy of the key?
Most modern cars read a chip in the key head. A copy that has been cut but not programmed turns the lock and still does not start the engine, so it has to be both cut and programmed.
What if the key is stuck or broken in the ignition?
Say so when you call. A broken key piece has to be taken out first, and the ignition then checked, before a new key is made to work with it.
Need a new car key?
Tell us what is locked, leave your number, and we call you back. If it is an emergency, call instead.