How much does a spare car key cost in Milwaukee?
From $25 for a plain mechanical key, from $49 for a transponder key, from $79 for a remote head key, from $129 for a push-to-start smart key and from $199 for most European models. Those figures are for the work, with a call-out from $29 quoted alongside depending on the day, time and distance.
Why is a spare key so much cheaper than a replacement?
Because the car already knows a good key. The new one is copied from what exists and added to the list the vehicle keeps, so no cutting code has to be pulled from the VIN and the immobiliser does not have to be persuaded to accept a stranger. Those two steps are what make an all-keys-lost job cost more and take longer.
Can you make a spare car key without the original?
Yes, but that is a different and more expensive job — see car key replacement. The prices on this page all assume you still have a key that works, which is precisely what keeps them low.
Will making a spare stop my current key working?
No. Adding a key leaves every existing key in place. Keys are only cleared from a vehicle deliberately, which is what happens in an all-keys-lost job, and for good reason — a key nobody can account for should not still start the car.
How long does it take to cut a spare car key?
Fifteen to twenty-five minutes for a transponder key and twenty to thirty-five for a smart key, at your vehicle. Because there is no urgency, it is normally booked for a time that suits you rather than fitted around an emergency.
Is a spare from the dealership better quality?
No. The key is cut to the same code and programmed to the same immobiliser. What differs is that a dealership charges more, requires the car on their lot during service hours, and often has to order the blank in first.
Can I buy a blank online and have you cut it?
Often yes, and it can work out cheaper. Send a photo of the part number before buying so it can be checked against your vehicle. What causes trouble is the wrong chip type, the wrong frequency, or a used key already married to another car.
I have two keys but one is worn out. Should I replace it?
Worth doing, and it is cheap while the good key still works. A worn blade eventually stops turning a worn cylinder, and at that point you are dealing with the ignition rather than the key. Cutting to code produces a spare that often turns better than the original you have been using.
Do you cut spare keys in Wauwatosa, Brookfield and the other suburbs?
Yes. The service area runs roughly thirty miles around downtown Milwaukee, covering Wauwatosa, West Allis, Greenfield, Oak Creek, Brookfield, Waukesha, New Berlin, Franklin, Glendale, Brown Deer, Cudahy, Shorewood, Whitefish Bay and the surrounding communities.
Can you do several vehicles at once?
Yes, and it is cheaper per vehicle because there is only one call-out. Fleet and trade pricing is available for work vans, company cars and dealer lots — message with how many vehicles and what they are.
Where should I keep a spare car key?
Somewhere indoors that the first key never is: a drawer at home, a hook by the door, or with someone you trust. Not in the glovebox, which solves nothing when the doors are locked, and not in a magnetic box under the vehicle, which is an invitation.
I just bought a used car with one key. Is that normal?
Very. Second-hand vehicles frequently arrive with a single key because the previous owner kept or lost the other one. If you have never physically seen a second key for the car, assume there isn't one — and getting a spare made now costs a fraction of what it will the day that key goes missing.