A surprising number of "lost all keys" callers end up paying a small fortune to a main dealer because they assume that's the only option. It almost never is. A qualified mobile auto locksmith can generate a fresh key for most vehicles directly at the roadside, typically for 30-50% less than the dealer route, and on the same day rather than the following week.
Step 1 - Confirm the keys are actually lost
Roughly one in five "lost all keys" calls end up resolved by finding a key partway through the search. Before committing to a full replacement, do a thorough sweep: recently worn coat pockets, the bottom of bags, between sofa cushions, the kitchen counter, and the area immediately around your front door. Check whether a partner, flatmate or family member borrowed the spare and forgot to mention it.
If the keys may have been stolen (handbag taken, keys missing along with a wallet, break-in at the house), this matters - it changes what your locksmith should do at step 4.
Step 2 - Gather your vehicle details
The auto locksmith needs three things to confirm they can do the job and prepare the right equipment:
- Make, model and year - e.g. "2019 Ford Fiesta Titanium"
- VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) - 17 characters, visible on the driver-side dashboard through the windscreen, on a sticker inside the driver door frame, and on the V5C logbook
- Where the car is parked - exact street, any access constraints (CPZ, gated estate, basement car park)
Having the VIN ready saves a lot of phone time. Without it, the locksmith may need to travel to the car just to read it, then book a return visit with the right blank and programming kit.
Step 3 - Call a qualified mobile auto locksmith
Look for a locksmith who is either Master Locksmiths Association registered or has a verifiable independent presence (own website, real Google reviews under their actual name, traceable address). Avoid the top paid Google search results for locksmith terms - these are dominated by call-centre operations that subcontract jobs to whoever is closest, with no quality control on pricing or workmanship.
A reputable auto locksmith will:
- Ask for vehicle details before quoting
- Quote a fixed price (not "from £X")
- Tell you whether the job is on-site or whether the car needs to come to them
- Give a realistic time on site (most all-keys-lost jobs are 60-90 minutes)
- Be willing to put it in writing before attending
Step 4 - The locksmith generates a new key
The actual process varies by manufacturer but the pattern is consistent:
- Read the immobiliser data. The locksmith connects to the vehicle's OBD port (or, on some marques, accesses the immobiliser module directly) and reads the security data needed to generate a new key paired to the car.
- Cut the mechanical blade. Most modern keys still have a metal blade that operates the door and ignition lock cylinders. The locksmith decodes the lock (either by reading the door lock or by looking up codes from the VIN) and cuts a fresh blade on a precision key-cutting machine in the van.
- Programme the transponder or proximity chip. The new key contains a transponder chip (or, for keyless-entry vehicles, a proximity fob with rolling-code radio). The locksmith programmes this to the vehicle's immobiliser using manufacturer-grade tooling - the same kit used by main dealers.
- Test all functions. Door locking and unlocking, boot release, ignition, engine start, and any remote alarm functions are tested before the key is signed off.
If the keys may have been stolen rather than lost, ask the locksmith to wipe the old keys from the immobiliser. On most modern vehicles this is a simple step that invalidates any missing keys so they cannot be used to start the car. This is important for theft prevention - and most insurers expect it after a key-theft incident.
How long does it take?
Common UK makes (Ford, Vauxhall, Volkswagen, Toyota, Hyundai, Kia, Peugeot) generally take 30-60 minutes from arrival to a working key. Premium marques (BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Land Rover) typically take 60-90 minutes because of longer immobiliser handshakes and additional security on newer generations. An older 2000s vehicle without proximity entry is usually at the faster end; a 2024 keyless-entry vehicle is at the slower end.
What does it cost?
See the full pricing guide for ranges. Headline figures for the all-keys-lost situation specifically:
- Common UK makes (transponder key): £200-£300 typical
- Premium marques (proximity smart key): £300-£500 typical
- Latest-generation keyless-entry on prestige cars: £400-£700 typical
Compared with the dealer route (vehicle-recovery tow + main dealer key + 3-7 day wait, often £600-£1200+ all-in), the auto locksmith approach is faster and cheaper for the vast majority of vehicles.
When the dealer actually is the right call
Auto locksmiths handle the overwhelming majority of all-keys-lost cases, but a few edge cases genuinely need a dealer:
- Some very recent (post-2023) Tesla, Porsche and high-end Mercedes models with proprietary key systems that haven't yet been broken into independent tooling
- Vehicles with documented immobiliser ECU faults that need replacing rather than re-programming
- Cars under finance / lease where the lease company specifies dealer-only servicing
A reputable locksmith will tell you up-front if your vehicle falls into one of these categories. If they pretend they can do it and turn up unable to complete the job, you are dealing with a chancer rather than a professional.
Avoiding it next time
Once you have a working key again, get a spare cut and programmed at the same visit. A second key on the same job is significantly cheaper than calling out again later - typically £80-£150 extra rather than the full call-out cost. Keep the spare in the house, not in the same coat or bag as the primary.
For high-value cars, a Faraday pouch for the proximity fob blocks relay-attack signal theft - a £10 measure that prevents one of the most common theft routes for keyless- entry vehicles in London.