You’ll know how awful it feels if you’ve ever lost a car key. Having a spare key at home is a lifesaver, and I’ve bought a spare for every vehicle I’ve ever owned just to avoid that sinking feeling of doom. Buying a replacement car key can be a financial drain if you go directly to a dealership. Luckily, you can find car key replacement services online that offer the exact same thing for way less cash.
But how can you tell if the quality will be good? How can you get a car key to work with your car? And what key features should you look for when buying a replacement car key?
I’ve used these services before, and I’ll answer all those questions, giving you my top recommendations for car key replacement services.
Table of Contents
The Bottom Line Up Front
If I had to choose one, I’d recommend Car and Truck Remotes. It has excellent pricing, a massive range of car and truck keys, and a good warranty/returns policy. You could save a good chunk of money by shopping here.
However, if you want a car key that will arrive already cut, I’d recommend looking at Car Keys Express, which allows you to send a photo of your current key, and then sit back and relax while your new key is delivered, ready to go.
Visit CarAndTruckRemotes.com to find backup or replacement key fobs for any vehicle. Since 2003, they have been the go-to source for replacement key fobs, transponder keys, and keyless entry remotes at up to 75% savings.
Best Car Key Replacement Services at a Glance
- Car and Truck Remotes – a convenient, low-cost service offering a wide range of keys for different models.
- Car Keys Express – a super convenient service offering photo key cutting and other local services.
- Insta Car Key– a service offering ready-programmed keys for specific brands, as well as mobile car key replacement.
- Tom’s Key Company – has a wide range of third-party key fobs available for low prices.
- The Keyless Shop – offers a small range of replacement key fobs and great local services.
What to Look for in a Car Key Replacement Service
What should you look for when choosing a car key replacement service? Here are a few key points:
Selection
Some websites offer more key fobs than others! You’ll find replacement car keys for your vehicle somewhere online, but if you’ve got a rarer vehicle, it may be a little trickier.
This is also the case if you have an older vehicle. Finding what you’re looking for may take a little more searching.
It’s always essential to check that the model and year of your car match both the product name and the product description. Sometimes a universal remote will fit several models, and it can be confusing to know whether your vehicle will work with that key fob.
Pricing
Pricing can vary when it comes to replacement car keys.
If you want to go for an official factory key – which will look and work the same as a key you would get from a dealership – you’ll have to pay a little more. Still, these tend to be high-quality key fobs that should last a long time, and they still work out cheaper than buying one from your local dealership.
If you don’t care about branding and you just want a decent spare key that works, it’s worth checking out third-party aftermarket key fobs. Sometimes these key fobs can work with several different models, and they will have all the buttons you need.
These key fobs won’t have the branding you’d get from an official factory key, but they will be a lot cheaper to buy!
Services
Some car key replacement services offer key programming and cutting online or via local stores.
For example, you may see photo key cutting being offered: this means you can send photos of your current key, and you’ll get a brand-new key delivered ready to work right out of the box.
This saves you time visiting an auto locksmith and works out cheaply, so it may be worth doing just for ease.
You may also see local services being offered, like small local locksmiths or pickup locations for newly programmed car keys.
Programming
Your new car key will need to be programmed. This is difficult to do remotely, so you’ll need to do it in person.
A good replacement service will either walk you through the process step-by-step (by offering a special tool or tutorial videos) or they’ll link you up with a local locksmith.
This doesn’t apply if you’re looking for an emergency key that will simply allow you to get into the car, but if you want to use the electronics, you’ll have to consider the programming.
Returns Policy/Warranty
Sometimes mistakes happen: you may order the wrong key by accident, or perhaps the key won’t work with your vehicle for some reason. Look for a service with a good returns policy (30 days at a minimum) so you’ll have time to test it out.
You may also be able to purchase an additional warranty for your car key, which is useful if you’re spending a lot.
Customer Support
Customer service is always key! Look for a replacement service with an approachable customer service team and multiple ways to contact them (via email and phone, for example), so you can easily get hold of them if something goes wrong.
Top 5 Car Key Replacement Services
Here are five suggestions for car key replacement services. I’ve chosen websites that offer various services, from buying a blank key fob to photo key cutting. Pricing can vary between these sites, but they all work out cheaper than going direct to a dealership.
Car and Truck Remotes
Car and Truck Remotes is an excellent service. They have a huge range of car keys, covering all major brands, from Audi to Ford to Volvo. You can get anything from an official Mazda smart key fob with the logo included to emergency aftermarket keys to have at home in case you lose your keys.
As well as a vast range of keys, they sell all the accessories you may need, like batteries, remote covers, and remote cases. You can also pick up garage keys, too.
In terms of pricing, they’re pretty good. Some of the official factory keys are a little more expensive. However, it still works out far cheaper to buy them here rather than going straight to a dealership. If you want to save money, you can go for their aftermarket options or buy official keys second-hand.
The quality is good – all key fobs are tested before they’re sent out, which is reassuring because you’ll know that even if you’ve gone for a second-hand model, it will still work when it gets to you.
The downside is that they don’t offer many extra services. They do have a series of locksmiths they can recommend if you want to search in your local area, however.
If something goes wrong, or you’ve accidentally ordered the wrong key, you can send it back using their 90-day returns policy. You can also purchase a 1,2, or 3-year warranty for an extra cost, which may be worth doing if you’re paying a couple of hundred dollars for an official key fob.
Pros
- Excellent pricing
- Good returns policy/extra warranties available
- Offers a wide range of factory official or aftermarket keys
- All key fobs are tested before dispatch
Cons
- They don’t offer many extra services
Visit CarAndTruckRemotes.com to find backup or replacement key fobs for any vehicle. Since 2003, they have been the go-to source for replacement key fobs, transponder keys, and keyless entry remotes at up to 75% savings.
Car Keys Express
Car Keys Express is a great service offering key cutting, on-site installation, and home delivery.
They have many regular car keys and smart keys to choose from, covering all major makes. You do have to input your zip code, the model of your car, and the specific year of manufacture to bring up any results; this is because they offer some local services, but you should be able to have most keys delivered to you if you want to get your keys cut elsewhere.
They offer key cutting via photo, which saves you a ton of effort trying to get it cut elsewhere. You just have to take a photo of your key, and they’ll ship a key that is already cut. This costs extra (around $99 altogether), but it also includes an EZ Installer for you to program the electronics at home, as well as a 4-year extended warranty.
The above service only works for select cars, but still, it’s pretty cool (and ideal if you don’t want to deal with the hassle of taking your key to a dealership or locksmith service).
As well as photo key cutting, they offer on-site installation depending on your location. The pricing is possibly a downside: compared to other sites, some of their keys are quite pricey. For example, a key for the 2020 Kia Soul is a full $100 more here than Car and Truck Remotes. You may decide that the pricing is worth the convenience of having it cut remotely, however!
They offer a 30-day returns policy; you can buy a longer warranty if you want extra protection.
Pros
- Very convenient photo key cutting for certain models
- EZ Installer makes it super simple to program the electronics instead
- A wide range of official replacement keys is available
- Lots of local services available across the US
Cons
- More expensive than some of the others on this list
Insta Car Key
Insta Car Key is a service offering replacement car keys. They’ll do the programming for you, shipping new keys directly to you without you having to put in any effort.
They don’t have the same choice as others on this list; instead, they’re more focused on offering services like key fob programming, ECU repair, and diagnostic computers for various brands.
They also offer other services like mobile car key replacement. If you live in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, they’ll drive to your location and cut/program your new keys.
The pricing is pretty good. They claim that you’ll save 50-80% if you go to Insta Car Key rather than going to a dealership, which is obviously a huge saving. However, you won’t be able to just order a car key and have it cut at home; you’ll need to have it cut/programmed by them, so they’re not as flexible.
I’d say it’s worth checking out Insta Car Key if you want a key programmed and delivered to you or if you have a specific electronics problem that needs repair.
Pros
- Offers diagnostics/repair for various car electronics
- Can save a lot of money compared to visiting a dealership
- Offers mobile car key replacement in certain areas
Cons
- Not as much choice as some of the others on this list
- Less flexible in terms of programming/key-cutting options
Tom’s Key Company
Tom’s Key Company offers low-cost third-party car remotes for various makes and models. It’s an excellent place to go for a bargain key fob replacement!
There is less choice here than on Car and Truck Remotes. However, they offer universal remotes for brands including Ford, Nissan, Mazda, Hyundai, and more. These are aftermarket key fobs, meaning they don’t have the branding you would get on official factory key fobs.
The quality is still good, however, and the lack of branding is reflected in the pricing. You can grab a key fob for as little as $70, which is excellent if you’re trying to save a little cash.
Tom’s Key Company, similarly to Car Keys Express, offers key cutting and programming services, too. Their Key By Photo service is very useful: you’ll get a working key delivered to your door with barely any effort.
In terms of programming electronics, Tom’s Key Company has a selection of video tutorials to make this process easier. The customer service team is available if your particular model isn’t included, and they’re very responsive and helpful, which is great.
Overall, I’d recommend checking out Tom’s Key Company for low-priced, third-party key fobs. You may be able to get a lower price here than anywhere else – but they might not have your particular model, as the selection isn’t as extensive.
Pros
- Low-priced third-party key fobs are available
- Offers key cutting by photo
- Good range of tutorials for programming key fobs at home
- Helpful customer support team
Cons
- Not as much choice as some of the others on this list
The Keyless Shop
The Keyless Shop offers a small range of third-party replacement keys for certain vehicles. It’s a good place to go for a cheap replacement!
Their selection is pretty limited: they have universal keys for Honda, Toyota, Ford, Nissan, and more, but they don’t have as much choice as services like Car and Truck Remotes or Car Keys Express.
Their pricing is pretty good: you can get a replacement key for as little as $75, and in some cases, this includes programming (if you happen to have a Keyless Shop location near you). They have premises in eight states, and the staff there are friendly and helpful.
In terms of extra services, they’ll link you to a local locksmith if needed. They also offer replacement file cabinet keys, in case you’re prone to losing those!
They also offer a remote repair service for key fobs, which is interesting. You just have to email a photo of your broken key to them, and they’ll make a new case to fit.
Pros
- Good pricing
- Excellent local services
- Remote repair service available
Cons
- Not as much choice
FAQs
Question: How can I program my car key at home?
Answer: You can program your key at home if you can find instructions. Some newer car keys can’t be programmed at home, so you’ll need to take them to a dealership or an automotive locksmith. However, in many cases, you can do it yourself.
Your car key replacement service should come with instructions for programming at home or, in some cases, a special tool to make it easier. If not, you’ll probably be able to find specific instructions on YouTube.
I’ve programmed car keys before, and it’s a pretty good skill to learn, and it’s easier than you may think!
Question: Do I need an official factory remote, or can I use a universal key fob?
Answer: No, you definitely don’t have to buy an official factory remote. A third-party aftermarket key fob will work just as well. It just won’t have the logo included. Some third-party key fobs are lower in quality and may not last as long. But if you just want a spare key to have around the house in case of emergencies, going for a universal key fob could work out well.
Question: Where do I go to have my new key cut?
Answer: You will need to visit your local dealership or an automotive locksmith to have your key cut unless your car key replacement service offers photo key cutting (in that case you won’t have to engage the services of a commercial locksmith at all).
The cost of this process can vary depending on the model of your car.
Question: What happens if I can’t get into my car at all?
Answer: You can still buy a replacement online, but if you need a broken key extraction, or you have a lost car key situation, you’ll need to call an automotive emergency service to help. (like a mobile locksmith/emergency locksmith).
They can deal with the broken key, and then after that, you can arrange for a second key cutting or replacement key to be delivered.
My Final Verdict
I recommend Car and Truck Remotes. Firstly, the number of models is huge; it offers car keys for vehicles from the late ’90s to the present day, so you should be able to find something you’re looking for.
I also like how they offer both official factory key fobs and aftermarket key fobs. You can also pick up second-hand models if you want to save money. I think you could save a lot of money buying from Car and Truck Remotes rather than going direct to a dealership.
If you want to save time, Car Keys Express is great. They have a good selection, and you can send a photo of your current key to have a fully working key delivered to your door. The pricing is higher, but this is a convenient service that will save you time visiting an automotive locksmith or dealership.
Visit CarAndTruckRemotes.com to find backup or replacement key fobs for any vehicle. Since 2003, they have been the go-to source for replacement key fobs, transponder keys, and keyless entry remotes at up to 75% savings.
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