March 5, 2026 6 min readBy Tim, Open Sesame Lock & Key
Losing your only car key turns into three separate costs: the key itself, the programming, and getting the car to whoever does the work. A mobile locksmith removes the third one entirely.
The three kinds of car key
- Basic mechanical key. Older vehicles with no chip. Cheapest to duplicate or originate.
- Transponder key. A chip in the head of the key talks to the immobilizer. The blade must be cut and the chip must be programmed to the vehicle.
- Remote head key and proximity fob. Adds remote lock, unlock, and push-button start. More electronics, more programming, higher cost.
Where the money goes
- Towing. If you have no working key, a dealer visit generally means a tow. That's often the single biggest line on the bill, and it's the one a mobile locksmith deletes.
- Parts markup. Dealers sell OEM keys at OEM prices. A locksmith can offer OEM or quality aftermarket, and will tell you the difference honestly.
- Labor and timing. Dealer service departments schedule you in; a mobile locksmith works around your day and finishes at the vehicle.
When the dealer is genuinely the right call
- A small number of newer makes lock replacement keys behind manufacturer-only systems. If yours is one of them, we'll say so on the phone rather than waste your time and money.
- Vehicles still under a warranty or service plan that covers key replacement.
Protect yourself from the next one
- Have a spare made while you still have a working key — originating a key from nothing always costs more than duplicating one.
- If a key was stolen, ask for the lost key to be deleted from the vehicle's memory so it can no longer start the car.