Can a locksmith make a car key without the original?

How can a car key be made without the original?

A car key has two jobs, and each one can be rebuilt without the old key.

The cut. The pattern of the blade is not random. Every lock is built to a code, and that code can be worked out in a few ways: from the vehicle's records using the VIN, or by reading the lock itself, often the door cylinder. From the code, a key machine cuts a fresh blade that turns the locks and the ignition.

The chip. Most cars on the road today have an immobilizer. A small transponder chip in the key head talks to the car, and if the car doesn't recognise the chip, the engine won't run even with a perfectly cut key. So the new key, or new fob, has to be programmed into the car using diagnostic equipment plugged into the car's port.

Both steps happen at the car. There's no need to tow it anywhere.

What should I have ready?

Having these on hand speeds things up and is the part of the process that protects you:

• Photo ID with your name.
• Proof you own the car or are authorised to use it, such as the registration or insurance papers. If those are locked inside the car, tell us when you call.
• The VIN. It's on your registration, and on a small plate where the dashboard meets the windshield on the driver's side, readable from outside.
• Year, make, model and trim, and whether it's push-to-start or a turn key.

A locksmith who will make a key to a car without checking who owns it is a locksmith who would do the same for a thief. The checks are there for you.

Why must a car key be programmed, not just cut?

Because the cut only gets the key into the lock. The chip is what tells the engine computer the key is genuine. A key cut at a hardware kiosk from a photo might open the door, but the car won't start.

There are three common types, and each is programmed a little differently:

Smart keys usually also hide an emergency blade inside, which gets cut too, so you can still open the door when the battery dies. If your fob simply stops responding in the cold, that's a different problem with a simpler fix: see key fob not working in cold weather.

What makes some cars harder than others?

Most everyday vehicles are routine. A few things add steps:

• Newer security systems. Some recent models need extra security access or a specific procedure to add a key.
• All keys lost versus adding a spare. Making a key when none exist can take longer than copying a working one, because the car has to be put into a learning mode without a working key.
• Steering column or ignition damage from a theft attempt, which may need repair before a new key will work.

That's why we ask for the year, make, model and trim on the phone. It lets us tell you what your particular car involves before we head out.

Lost every key? What should I do first?

Before the new key, a few minutes of the right steps:

1. Retrace and ask. Check pockets, bags, the last store or restaurant, and the bus or cab if you used one.
2. Make sure the car is locked. If the keys were lost near the car, don't leave it open for someone who found them.
3. Think about the house keys too. If the car keys were on a ring with house keys or a garage remote, and anything on the ring could lead someone to your address, that's a bigger concern. Read should I change locks after losing keys.
4. If they were stolen, report it and call your insurer before anything else.
5. Erase the lost key. When the new key is programmed, on many cars the lost one can be removed from the car's memory, so it no longer starts the engine even if someone finds it.

And once you have a working key, get a spare made. A second key is far simpler to produce from a working one than a first key from nothing, and in a Winnipeg winter a lost key at minus thirty is a long wait outside.

If your key is fine but the lock is frozen solid, see frozen car lock: what to do.

Can a locksmith come to the car?

Yes, that's the point of a mobile service. The cutting machine and programming equipment travel with our technician, so the key is made and tested at the car, whether it's in your driveway, a parkade or a lot. For booking, see car key replacement.