Spare Car Key Chelsea Keys and Remotes Programmed
A spare car key from us is cut and programmed at your car in Chelsea while you still have a working original, for £50 to £90 with no call out fee, and we can usually book you in the same day or reach you within 30 minutes in SW3 and SW10. That compares with £75 to £140 once every key is gone. We also replace key fobs and remotes that have stopped working. Call 07520 643913 with the registration so we can confirm the key type and price first.
- DBS checked locksmith
- Public liability insured
- Over 5 years working in Chelsea
- Price agreed before work
- No call out fee
Why a spare car key costs less while you still have one
With a working key in hand we copy what is already there: the blade profile, the chip type and the remote frequency. The car is open, the immobiliser already trusts your existing key, and the job is shorter. That is why a spare is £50 to £90.
Once the last key is gone the work changes. We have to open the car, cut a blade from the lock code rather than copying it, and register a new key from scratch, sometimes with a security code read from the car. That is the lost car key replacement job at £75 to £140, and on some newer models it can only be done by the dealer, which costs more again.
The one key household
Plenty of cars in Chelsea are bought second hand with a single key, or one key goes missing during a house move or a split. If that is you, the cheapest time to fix it is now, before the remaining key goes through a washing machine or drops through a drain grate on the King's Road.
Key fob replacement: when the remote stops working
A fob that no longer locks the car is not always a dead key. Work through these before you pay for anything:
| Symptom | Likely cause | What usually fixes it | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Range gets shorter over weeks | Weak coin cell battery | New battery of the type shown in your handbook | Just the battery |
| Dead after a battery change | Remote lost its pairing, or battery fitted upside down | Check the battery; some cars need the remote re-synced | Priced on the phone |
| One button has stopped | Worn rubber pad or a cracked contact on the circuit board | Board moved into a new case, or a new remote | Priced on the phone |
| Case split, blade loose | Broken hinge or clip on a flip key | Electronics moved into a new shell | Priced on the phone |
| Key turns but engine will not start | Transponder chip damaged or lost | New key coded to the car | £50 to £90 |
We look at the cheap fixes first. If a battery solves it, we tell you, and you have not paid for a new key you did not need.
Spare car key and remote prices
The exact price is agreed on the phone before we travel, with no call out fee.
| Job | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Spare car key cut and programmed Copied from your key, chip and remote coded, both keys tested | £50 to £90 |
| Remote button, case or re-sync Depends on the key and the fault | Priced on the phone before we set off |
| All car keys lost, new key made What the same job costs once no key is left | £75 to £140 |
Prices include parts and labour. The lower figure is a standard daytime job, the higher figure covers nights, weekends and high security parts. Your exact price is confirmed on the phone before we travel, with no call out fee. See the full Chelsea price list.
What you get with a spare car key from us
A cut blade
Copied from your key, or from the code if your key is very worn, so the new one turns smoothly in old door barrels.
A coded chip
Registered with the immobiliser alongside your existing key, which keeps working as before.
Working remote buttons
Lock, unlock and boot release paired to the central locking where the key has a remote.
Smart key where possible
Proximity keys for push button start on many models; a few are dealer only and we tell you which.
Before we leave, both keys are tested: engine started on each, every door and the boot locked and unlocked from each remote.
Booking a spare car key in Chelsea and nearby
Because you are not stuck, a spare key is usually a booked job rather than an emergency. Tell us when the car is outside your home, on a residents' bay, in a mews or at your office, and we arrive at a time that suits you, evenings and weekends included. Daytime bookings sit at the lower end of the price range.
We cover cars in Chelsea, Belgravia, Kensington and the wider area listed on our areas covered page. You will need the V5C or a lease agreement and photo ID, the same as for any key we make.
Will a high street key copy start my car?
Usually not. A shoe repair counter or key kiosk can often copy the metal blade, and that copy may open the driver's door. But almost every car built since the late 1990s has an immobiliser, and it will only let the engine run when it reads a chip it recognises. A plain cut blade has no chip, or a blank one the car has never been told about, so the engine cranks and cuts out or does not turn over at all.
Some kiosks offer chip cloning for older keys. It can work on certain older models, but it does not add a remote, and on most modern cars the immobiliser needs the key properly registered rather than copied. A coded spare from us is registered with the car itself, the remote buttons are paired, and we prove it works by starting the engine before you pay.
If all you need is a door key for the garage or the house, our mobile key cutting handles that on the same visit.
Who in Chelsea most often needs a second key
- Families sharing one car. Two drivers and one key means the key is always in the wrong coat.
- Owners of second hand cars. Many are sold with only one key, and buyers do not notice until later.
- Short let and rental hosts. If a guest or a driver uses the car, a separate key means yours stays with you.
- Anyone with a nanny, housekeeper or driver. Giving them their own key avoids handing yours over every morning.
- People who keep a classic or weekend car. An older car with a worn single key is one snap away from being stranded.
Where to keep the spare once you have it
A spare is only useful if you can reach it and a thief cannot. Avoid the hook by the front door: keyless keys near the door can be targeted, and a visible key rack tells a burglar exactly where to look. A drawer away from the entrance is better, and a signal blocking pouch helps for smart keys. Our guide on protecting a keyless car covers this in detail.
If someone needs access to a house key while you are away, a police preferred key safe is the right place for that, but never leave a car key in one by the road.
For all other vehicle jobs see our auto locksmith page, and for homes and businesses the full list of our locksmith services. Every price is on our price list.
Common questions
How much is a spare car key in London?
Ours cost £50 to £90 cut and programmed at your car in Chelsea and nearby areas, with no call out fee. The figure depends on the key type and whether it is a daytime or evening booking, and is agreed on the phone.
Is it cheaper to get a spare car key from a locksmith or the dealer?
For most cars a locksmith is cheaper and comes to you. A few newer models with locked key systems can only get keys through the dealer, and we will tell you that when you give us the registration.
Will my original key still work after you add a spare?
Yes. The new key is added alongside your existing one, and both are tested on the car before we leave. Only a lost key job involves removing keys from the car's memory.
My key fob stopped working after I changed the battery, what now?
Check the battery type and that it sits the right way up. Some cars also need the remote re-synced after a change. If it still fails, call us; we check the simple causes before suggesting a new key.
Can you put my key into a new case?
Often yes. If the circuit board and chip are fine, we move them into a new shell so the key looks and feels new without being reprogrammed. We price it on the phone once we know the key.
Do I need the car with me to get a spare key cut?
Yes. The new chip and remote have to be coded to the car itself, so we come to wherever it is parked, along with your existing key, the V5C and photo ID.
Related pages
Only one key left?
Call 07520 643913 with your registration and book a spare before the last one goes missing.