The easiest way is to have a spare made while you still have a working key. A locksmith or a dealer cuts the new key and, if it has a chip or a remote, programs it to the car alongside your existing key. You’ll need the year, make and model and proof that the car is yours (registration and photo ID); if no working key is left, the VIN lets the key be cut to the car’s key code. Some newer systems can only be programmed by the dealer, so confirm before you book.
Here are 4 steps on how to get a second key for your car.
1. Get the Vehicle Identification Number of your car
If no working key is left, the first thing you need is your car’s Vehicle Identification Number, also known as the VIN; if you still have a working key, the locksmith can usually work from that key instead. It’s like a code given to your car upon production. This series of numbers and letters work like your personal details such as name, birth date, and the names of your parents that give identity to you. VIN contains information such as when is your car made, who made it, and where it is made.
You can find the VIN of your car on the lower left of the windshield, on a plate you can read from outside the car; it is also on your registration card and may be shown on your insurance card (NHTSA). Still can’t find it? Look at the vehicle certification label on the driver’s door edge or the door pillar next to it (49 CFR 567.4). Check that you have all 17 characters.
2. Prepare proof of ownership
Before you contact a local locksmith around your area you will need other documents other than your car’s VIN. A reputable locksmith will ask for documents showing that you own the vehicle and will not make the key without them. Diamondback checks your registration and ID before making the key.
The automotive locksmith will ask for your VIN, the model of your car, car registration, insurance card, title, and other proof that you really own the car. If those documents are locked inside your car, say so when you call so the locksmith can plan for it.
3. Contact a locksmith to make the key
Often the easiest way to get a second key is to contact a locksmith around your area. A mobile locksmith comes to the car, which helps most when no working key is left and the car would otherwise have to be towed to a dealer. Diamondback’s emergency callouts run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Prices vary by car and key, so ask the locksmith and the dealer for a price for your year, make and model before you decide.
However, in order for your automotive locksmith to accept the job, he will need documents to proceed. This is where the VIN and other proof of ownership will come into the picture.
4. Contact dealership to program the key (if needed)
If after the assessment of your local locksmith and he said he cannot complete the key replacement process you can now contact the dealership. Automotive locksmiths with the right equipment cut and program keys for many modern cars, including transponder keys, remote-head keys and smart fobs, but some newer systems can only be programmed by the dealer. A locksmith who does programming replacement keys will tell you, once they know your year, make and model, whether the dealer is your only option.
The dealer may have to order the key from the manufacturer, so ask how long that will take and what it will cost. If your key is faulty rather than lost, ask the dealer whether the vehicle warranty covers it.
Getting a second car key to replace your lost key or just to serve as a spare key need not be troublesome and stressful. Calm down for there are many ways to get you a second car key. Who do you usually call when you need a key? Yes, you call a locksmith! Search for a locksmith near your area and there, problem solved.
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Sources
- NHTSA: Check for Recalls (where to find your VIN) (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)
- 49 CFR 567.4, the vehicle certification label (Cornell Legal Information Institute)