Car key replacement in Burbank, CA
We make replacement keys at your vehicle when a key is lost, broken or worn out, or when you want a spare. The work depends on the key your car uses: some only need a blade cut, most need the new key registered to the car as well.
What car key replacement covers
Replacement means producing a new key that opens and starts your vehicle. That can be a first spare while you still have a working key, a second key after one goes missing, or a full replacement when every key is gone.
We cut the blade to your vehicle and, where the car uses an electronic key, register the new key to it. Year, make, model, trim and security system all change what is involved, so we confirm the exact key from your VIN before a technician is dispatched.
The four kinds of car key we replace
Mechanical keys
A plain metal blade with no chip. Common on older vehicles. Only the cut matters, so the key can be made from a key code or by decoding a lock.
Transponder keys
A metal key with a chip in the head. The blade turns the ignition, but the engine only runs once the car recognizes the chip, so the key has to be registered as well as cut.
Remote-head keys
The blade, chip and lock/unlock buttons in one piece, in fixed or flip designs. Both the chip and the remote functions are set up for your car.
Smart and proximity keys
A fob that stays in your pocket on push-button start vehicles, usually with a small emergency blade inside. The fob is registered to the vehicle and the emergency blade is cut separately.
Why a cut key may not start the car
Cutting shapes the metal blade so it turns the door lock and ignition. Programming registers the key’s electronics with the car so the immobilizer allows the engine to run.
On most vehicles built from the late 1990s onward, a freshly cut key without programming will unlock the door but will not start the engine. Hardware-store copies often fail for this reason. If your issue is only the electronic side, such as a fob the car no longer detects, see smart key & transponder programming.
When people call for a replacement key
- Every key to the vehicle is lost, and the car is parked at home, at work or in a structure.
- You have one working key and want a spare before that one goes missing too.
- A key blade is bent, cracked or snapped, or the key head has broken apart.
- A worn key only turns the ignition on some tries.
- You bought a used vehicle that came with one key.
- A key was lost or stolen and you want it to stop working as well as having a new one made; see lost-key deletion.
Guides for specific key problems
Lost car keys
Every key is gone and you need the vehicle running again. What we need from you and how the key is made.
Lost car keysNo spare key
Making a key when there is no existing key to copy or to authorize the new one.
Replacing a key with no spareKey recognized but car won’t start
If a correct key still won’t start the car, the problem may be key authorization rather than the key itself.
Immobilizer reset & reprogrammingWhat to expect
Tell us about the vehicle
Year, make, model and VIN, whether it is push-button start, and whether any working key remains.
We confirm the key and quote
We identify the key system from the VIN and tell you the price before dispatch. If your vehicle needs dealer involvement, we say so up front.
Cut and register at the vehicle
The technician checks ID and ownership papers, cuts the blade, registers the key and tests it in the door and ignition before leaving.
Information that speeds up a quote
VIN
The 17-character number on the registration, insurance card or lower windshield.
Ignition type
Turn-key ignition or push-button start.
A photo of a key
Any key you still have, working or not. If none, a photo of the ignition or start button.
Where the vehicle is
Address or cross streets, plus garage level and space number if it is in a structure.
Procedures vary by make and year
Two cars from the same brand and year can use different keys depending on trim and build date. Our brand guides show how key systems changed over time, for example Toyota, Honda, Ford and Chevrolet. Every brand is listed in the car brand index.
Frequently asked questions
Can you make a key if I have lost all of them?
For many vehicles, yes. The key is cut from vehicle information and registered without an existing key. It usually takes longer than adding a spare. No spare key explains the difference.
Do I need to tow the car to a dealer?
Often not; we do the work where the car is parked. A small number of vehicles need dealer-level access, and we tell you before dispatch if yours is one of them.
What do I need to show the technician?
A government-issued photo ID and a document tying you to the vehicle, such as the registration or title. We don’t make keys without it.
Will the old lost key still work?
On many vehicles a missing key can be removed from the car’s memory while the new one is added. See lost-key deletion & automotive rekeying.
Where we make replacement keys
We are based in Burbank and make keys at homes, offices, studio lots and parking structures across the city. We also regularly travel to Glendale and North Hollywood for key replacement. If you are elsewhere in the east San Fernando Valley, call and we will tell you whether we can reach you.
Related automotive services
A working spare or a mobile appointment
A current registration or title and matching government-issued photo identification must be verified before automotive key, lock, or immobilizer service is performed.
Get a price for a replacement key
Call
Speak with dispatch and have your VIN ready.
Text
Send your VIN, a photo of any key you have, and where the car is parked.