Vehicles · Kenner, LA
Automotive Locksmith in Kenner
Car lockouts, replacement keys, fob programming and all-keys-lost — at your vehicle, usually for less than the dealer.
An automotive locksmith in Kenner costs $89 to $150 for a daytime car lockout, $125 to $250 for a transponder key cut and programmed, and $200 to $400 for a push-to-start smart key. All keys lost runs $225 to $595. We come to the vehicle and program on site — no tow.
Prices
Automotive prices in Kenner
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Car lockout (daytime) | $89–$150 |
| Car lockout (after hours) | $95–$195 |
| Basic mechanical key cut | $5–$15 |
| Transponder key, cut and programmed | $125–$250 |
| Switchblade / flip fob | $150–$300 |
| Smart key / push-to-start | $200–$400 |
| All keys lost | $225–$595 |
| Key fob battery and reprogram | $35–$85 |
| Broken key out of the ignition | $95–$185 |
| Ignition repair or replacement | $185–$495 |
| Child or pet locked in vehicle | Free |
For an independent reference point: platform data covering 105 completed car key replacement jobs in Metairie put the local average at $140 to $201, with the full spread running $47 to $333. That is ten minutes from Kenner and it lines up with what we see.
The real comparison
Locksmith vs dealership vs kiosk
| Key type | Parts | Programming | Locksmith total | Dealer total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plain mechanical | $5–$15 | — | $5–$15 | $40–$120 |
| Transponder | $50–$100 | $75–$150 | $125–$250 | $180–$400 |
| Switchblade fob | $75–$150 | $75–$150 | $150–$300 | $220–$450 |
| Smart / push-to-start | $125–$250 | $75–$150 | $200–$400 | $300–$600 |
| All keys lost | Varies | Varies | $225–$595 | $300–$600 + tow |
The dealer difference is not only price — it is that a dealer generally needs the vehicle brought to them. With no working key, that means a tow on top. We come to the car.
Where the Walmart kiosk wins: a plain spare brass key. It cannot help with transponders, smart keys or anything requiring programming.
Bring this
What we need from you
- Photo identification.
- Proof the vehicle is yours — title, registration or an insurance card. If it is in the glovebox we can open the door first and verify after.
- Year, make and model, and whether it is push-to-start or a turn key. This determines the price more than anything else.
- Whether you have any working key at all. One working key means duplication. No working key means origination, which is a different job at a different price.
Any automotive locksmith who does not ask for proof of ownership is one you should not want anywhere near your vehicle.
A note on Kenner and vehicle theft
Kenner has one of the higher motor vehicle theft rates in the country — roughly a 1-in-372 annual chance. That is why, on any all-keys-lost job, we delete the lost key from the vehicle memory rather than simply adding a new one. If we did not, whoever finds the old key could still start the car. Not every operator does this step. Ask.
MSY
Locked out at Louis Armstrong International
The airport is inside Kenner city limits — 1 Terminal Drive, Kenner, LA 70062 — and 12.4 million passengers came through in 2025. Returning travellers who lost keys in transit are a regular call for us, particularly on late arrivals when the dealer network is closed.
Tell us which lot you are in and we will tell you precisely where to meet:
- Short Term Garage — around 2,200 spaces, closest to the terminal
- Long Term Garage — the usual one for trips over three days
- Economy / MSY Express Garage
- Surface Lot
- Valet — you will need to involve the valet desk as well
- Cell Phone Waiting Lot — Airline Drive at Hollandey Street
Allow 15 to 25 minutes. If it is an all-keys-lost situation on a push-to-start vehicle, tell us the year and model when you call — we will bring the right equipment the first time.
Reviews
Reviews from Kenner customers
We do not write our own reviews. When Kenner Lock & Key was set up, we made a deliberate call not to publish testimonials until they came from real customers who had approved them. That has not changed. A wall of five-star reviews posted in the same week is one of the clearest warning signs in this trade, and we are not going to be another site that does it.
Reviews will appear here as customers leave them. In the meantime, three recent jobs from around Kenner are written up in full below — real problems, real numbers, real outcomes.
Had a job done? Leave us a review.
Google Business Profile is the one that matters most. It takes about a minute and it helps other Kenner residents find an honest locksmith rather than the $19 sites.
Something not right? Tell us first.
Complaints come straight to the owner rather than a ticket system. We would far rather fix it than read about it later.
Questions
Automotive locksmith questions
How much does an automotive locksmith cost in Kenner?
A car lockout is $89 to $150 daytime and $95 to $195 after hours. A transponder key cut and programmed is $125 to $250. A push-to-start smart key is $200 to $400. All keys lost runs $225 to $595 depending on the vehicle.
Is a locksmith cheaper than the dealership for car keys?
Usually, and often by $200 to $400. Dealerships charge $150 to $600 for programming and generally want the vehicle brought in, which can mean a tow. We come to the vehicle and program on site.
Why do newer cars cost more for a key?
Anything from roughly 2015 onward needs a scan tool connected to the OBD-II port to pair the new key with the vehicle immobiliser. Older vehicles were mechanical or used simpler transponders. It is the key technology, not the badge on the car.
What does “all keys lost” mean?
You have no working key at all, so there is nothing to clone. The key has to be originated from the vehicle VIN and programmed from scratch. It takes longer and needs more equipment — $225 to $595. We also delete the lost key from the vehicle memory so it can no longer start the car.
Can you make a car key from the VIN?
Yes. We cut to code from the VIN and program on site. You will need photo ID and proof of ownership — title, registration or an insurance card. We are required to confirm the vehicle is yours before doing anything.
My key fob works sometimes. Is it the battery?
Usually, and a battery plus reprogram is $35 to $85. If a fresh battery does not fix it, the next suspects are corroded contacts inside the fob — common in this climate — or a failing receiver in the vehicle.
My car will not start but the key turns. What is wrong?
Most often a transponder or immobiliser fault. The vehicle is turning over mechanically but not recognising the chip in the key, so it refuses to fire. That is diagnosable and often reprogrammable without a dealer visit.
My key broke off in the ignition. Can you fix it?
Yes, $95 to $185 for extraction from the ignition. Do not try to drive the fragment further in or turn it with pliers. If the ignition cylinder itself is worn, replacement runs $185 to $495.
Can you get into a locked car without damaging it?
Yes. We use an air wedge and long-reach tools. We do not use coat hangers — on any vehicle from roughly the last twenty years that risks side-curtain airbag wiring and the door control module, which is a far more expensive problem than the lockout.
I am locked out at the airport. Can you come there?
Yes — Louis Armstrong International is inside Kenner city limits, at 1 Terminal Drive, Kenner LA 70062. Allow 15 to 25 minutes. Tell us which lot you are in (Short Term, Long Term, Economy, Surface or Valet) and we will tell you exactly where to meet.
What if I only have one key left?
Get a spare made before you lose it. Duplicating an existing key is far cheaper than an all-keys-lost job — $125 to $250 versus $225 to $595 — and it turns a potential emergency into a planned appointment.
Locked out of your car, or lost the only key?
We come to the vehicle and program on site. No tow, and a total before we move.
Kenner Lock & Key · Louisiana State Fire Marshal licensed · Insured and bonded
Kenner 70062 · 70063 · 70064 · 70065