Losing the only key feels like the car is stuck for good. It is not. A new key can be made for almost any vehicle without the original.
Step 1: Look properly
Check the ignition, the door lock, the trunk lid, yesterday’s pockets and the last place you paid for something. Call the last store or restaurant you visited.
Step 2: Gather what proves the car is yours
- Photo ID.
- Registration or insurance card in your name. If it is in the glove box, that is fine; it is checked once the car is open.
- The VIN, visible through the windshield on the driver’s side.
Step 3: Know your car
Make, model, year, and whether it starts with a key or a button. That tells the locksmith which key and tools to bring.
Step 4: Call a mobile car locksmith
The locksmith opens the car if needed, works out the cut from the lock or a key code, cuts the key, and programs it to the car on the spot. No tow.
Step 5: Ask for the lost keys to be erased
On most cars the missing keys can be removed from the car’s memory, so a found or stolen key will no longer start it. Ask for this if the keys may have been taken.
Step 6: Get a spare
While the locksmith is there, a second key costs far less than doing this again.
Related: car key replacement, car key programming, spare car key.
Need help now? Call (888) 804-8930, 24/7, and we will connect you with a local car locksmith. See locations and how it works.