All Keys Lost — What Happens Next
Losing your only car key means the vehicle cannot be started with a key at all until a replacement is cut and programmed as the vehicle’s sole valid key — a longer process than adding a spare, typically 45 to 90 minutes depending on the make. It is more expensive than a spare-key job, but it is a routine one for a mobile locksmith.
The moment people realise there is no second key anywhere, the situation feels bigger than it is. It is a longer job, not a harder problem.
Why all-keys-lost costs more than a spare
| Spare key job | All-keys-lost job |
|---|---|
| Existing key confirms the vehicle is yours | Ownership must be verified another way — registration, ID, title |
| New key just needs to be added to the system | New key must be registered as the only valid key, erasing any old key from memory |
| 30–45 minutes typical | 45–90 minutes typical, sometimes longer on newer smart-key vehicles |
What you need to have ready
- Photo ID matching the name on the registration
- Vehicle registration or title showing you as the owner
- The VIN, if you have it handy — speeds up ordering the correct blank
Why this cannot be rushed
Skipping the ownership verification step is exactly the kind of shortcut a bad-faith operator takes. A legitimate locksmith checks before programming any all-keys-lost job, because doing otherwise means anyone could get a working key made for a car that is not theirs.
What happens to any old keys
If a lost key turns up later, it will not work — registering the new key as the only valid one erases the old key’s access completely. That is the point: it closes the risk of a lost key being used by someone else.
Booking an all-keys-lost job
Tell us the make, model, year, and have your ID and registration ready. Brand-specific detail is on the Toyota, Honda, Ford, Chevy, Nissan and Hyundai/Kia pages. Ranges are on the prices page.