How to replace a lost car key without paying dealership prices
Car dealerships charge hundreds of dollars for a single replacement key, forcing drivers to choose between steep bills and being stranded without transportation. Affordable alternatives like buying blanks online and finding a local locksmith to cut and program them can significantly lower the cost.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Finding the key code on the vehicle, taking a blank to a locksmith to cut cheaper, and performing a passlock relearn sequence yourself.Did this help you?
- 2Ordering keys online to bring to a shopDid this help you?
- 3Going to an official car dealershipDid this help you?
- 4Looking for online programming tutorialsDid this help you?
- 5Considering purchasing replacement shells or keys onlineDid this help you?
- 6Looking under the dash on the driver's side for the module box and brand name to search for a manual and replacement remote on eBayDid this help you?
- 7Turning the key to the on position before hooking up the negative battery terminal to stop the alarm from going offDid this help you?
- 8Using a key duplication service or Home Depot to clone the old key instead of programming a new one directly into the car's computer.Did this help you?
- 9Having all keys present during the programming process to add them back simultaneously.Did this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I need to replace a key fob or at least replace the shell.”source ↗
“I've tried prying it open but it doesn't seem easy to do and I don't want to damage it beyond use.”source ↗
“I haven't purchased a replacement yet because I don't want to spend $25 on a key and then have to take it to the dealership and spend another $500 or whatever to program it.”source ↗
“I have a Honda civic 2007 and just realized that I’ve lost my primary car key 🤦♀️ I have a spare but need to have two since my parents often use my car when I’m away with my key.”source ↗
“would they have spare keys? or would I order it online and bring it to them?”source ↗
“would they be able to cut they key too? idk if that’s the proper term lol it’s a key where I need to put it in the car and turn it to turn on the car, but I can lock/unlock it by pressing the key buttons”source ↗
“Hey all, the remote to my 1991 Grand Marquis (on which the previous owner installed an aftermarket remote start/unlock/lock/alarm system) broke off and I lost it about 2 hours from my house when helping a friend pick up a car.”source ↗
“While it's not necessary, the remote start in the window would be nice. Is there a way I can find the frequencies and program a random key at an Advanced Auto?”source ↗
“Also every single time I disconnect and re-connect the battery the alarm goes off and it's starting to piss me off”source ↗
Where this came up
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