What do you do when you've lost all your car keys?
Losing every key to your car is a bad moment, but it is a solvable one. There is no spare in a drawer and nothing to copy, so the new key has to be built from nothing. That is a different job from making a duplicate. A duplicate starts with a key that already works. A replacement without the original starts with your car, your vehicle identification number (VIN), and proof that the car is yours.
The work usually has two halves. First, a key blade or key has to be cut so it fits your locks and ignition. Second, on many newer vehicles, the key has to be electronically introduced to the car so the engine will actually start. Older vehicles may only need the first half. Newer ones, especially those with push-button start, can involve both. We do not guess which applies from a phone description. We confirm by VIN and by looking at the car in person.
This page covers the all-keys-lost situation specifically. If you still have one working key, you are in a simpler and usually lighter-cost position, and we will point you to the right page for that further down. For the full range of what we do on vehicles, see our automotive locksmith service in Burbank.
One piece of advice before anything else: do not force the door, pry at the ignition, or try to hotwire the car. Damage to a lock cylinder, door frame, or steering column can turn a key problem into a repair problem, and that costs more time and money than the key itself.
How does replacement without an original key work, step by step?
Every vehicle is a little different, but the sequence is consistent. Here is how a lost-all-keys call usually goes with us.
- You call (213) 577-1366. A person answers at any hour, any day. Tell us the make, model, and year, plus exactly where the car is parked and whether it is locked.
- We ask for the VIN, which is on the dashboard near the windshield and on your registration. The VIN tells us a great deal about what your car was built with.
- We tell you what we can and cannot do for your specific vehicle before we drive out. If your car is one that needs the dealer, you hear that early, not after we arrive.
- A technician comes to you in a mobile van. Before any key is made, we verify that you are the owner or authorized user of the vehicle.
- We identify the key type your car uses by checking the vehicle itself, then cut the new key to fit your locks.
- Where your car requires it, we pair the new key to the vehicle so it will start the engine. Then we test everything: door locks, ignition, trunk, and any remote buttons.
- We talk through the lost keys. Ask us whether the missing key can be shut out of the car's system on your vehicle. The answer depends on the car, and we will tell you plainly what is and isn't possible.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366What proof of ownership will we ask for?
Anyone can say a car is theirs, and a locksmith who makes keys for a vehicle with no questions asked is a risk to every car owner, including you. So we ask. It protects you and it protects us.
Expect to be asked for a couple of items, and be ready to show them at the vehicle:
- A government-issued photo ID that matches the name on the vehicle paperwork.
- The registration or title for the car, ideally with a VIN that matches the one on the dashboard.
- For leased, company, or borrowed vehicles, whatever paperwork shows you are authorized to have the car, such as a lease agreement or a letter from the owner.
Will my car need the dealer instead?
Sometimes, yes, and we would rather say so than waste your time. Vehicle security varies a lot by manufacturer and model year. For some cars, a locksmith can cut and program a key on the spot. For others, the process is restricted in ways that make the dealer the only practical route, or a route with extra steps.
We do not make blanket promises about a brand over the phone. We confirm by VIN and in person what your specific vehicle requires. If it turns out to be a dealer-only case, we say so plainly and early, so you can plan for it. That plan may include having the car transported, since a car with no key often cannot be driven there.
If we can do it, we do it where the car sits. That is the whole point of having mobile vans: you do not have to move a car that cannot be started in the first place.
What affects the cost of lost car key replacement?
We do not quote prices on a web page because the honest answer depends on your car. Here is what actually moves the cost up or down, so you can understand a quote when you get one.
Ask for the whole picture before work begins, including what is included and what is not. A reasonable locksmith will walk you through it without hurrying you.
- Make, model, and year. Security systems differ widely, and that changes the tools and time involved.
- Key type. A basic mechanical key, a key with a transponder chip, a remote-head key, and a push-button smart key are very different items. If your car uses a smart key or a remote, see our page on key fob replacement in Burbank.
- How many keys you want. Making a spare during the same visit is usually the more economical route compared with calling us back later for a second key.
- Time and place. A middle-of-the-night call is different from a daytime appointment, and a car in a hard-to-reach spot may take longer to work on.
- Condition of the locks and ignition. If a worn or damaged ignition is part of why the car won't accept a key, that is a repair, and you can read about it under ignition repair.
- Dealer-only vehicles. If your car falls into this category, the cost picture includes transport and dealer work, which is outside our hands. We tell you that up front.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Lost all your car keys in Burbank: where it tends to happen
We work across all of Burbank, including ZIP codes 91501, 91502, 91504, 91505, and 91506. Our storefront is at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood, about 16 miles away, and our mobile vans do the actual work at your vehicle. For more on how that works, see our mobile locksmith service in Burbank.
One scenario we know well is the traveler at Hollywood Burbank Airport. You park the car, fly out, and at some point the keys go missing, in a bag, a hotel, or a rental car return. You land with a car in the lot and no way to start it. If that is you, call from the terminal if it helps. Tell us the lot, the level, and the make and model of the car, and carry your photo ID and registration with you. In Burbank's summer valley heat, waiting around an asphalt lot is miserable, so find some shade or a cool spot while we get to you.
The other places are more ordinary. A car on the street in Magnolia Park, where older bungalow blocks have limited off-street parking. A vehicle in the controlled-access garage of a large apartment complex near Downtown Burbank, where we may need the property manager or a resident to let us in. A car on a bigger lot in the Rancho District, or on a driveway up in the Hillside district above Glenoaks Boulevard. And cars parked near the Media District, where people leave vehicles for long shifts and keys sometimes go astray in the day.
Wherever you are, give us the cross street or complex name, any gate code or access instructions, and a phone number we can reach you on. The more precisely we know where the car is, the less time is spent searching for it.
What should you check before you call?
A few quick checks can change what you need from us. None of this should take long, and none of it is a substitute for calling if you are stuck.
- Retrace the last place you remember having the keys, and check coats, bags, and car seats at home.
- Ask anyone else who drives the car whether they have a spare. A forgotten spare saves you a lot.
- If you do have one working key, stop and copy it before it also disappears. A copy from an existing key is a simpler job; see our page on car key replacement in Burbank for that situation, and key duplication for straightforward copies.
- If your keys are visible inside the locked car, that is a lockout, not a lost-key problem, and you may not need a new key at all. Read about car lockout service.
- Find your VIN and registration so they are ready when you call. If the car is at the airport or a garage, note the level and space.
- If your key is a transponder-style key and you have only had it a short time, mention it. Details like that help us prepare, and our page on transponder key programming explains what that involves.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for a lost car key?
We have been in business since 1987. That is long enough to have seen most of what can go wrong with a key, a lock, or an ignition, and long enough to have learned how to tell a customer the truth about it.
We are one company. We have a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024, plus our own mobile vans. When you call (213) 577-1366, you are not routed through a dispatch middleman who passes your job to whoever is free. The phone is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round, and the owner and lead technician, David, oversees the work. We serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, and Burbank is one of them.
Whoever you hire, ask for their license. California requires locksmith companies to hold a Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS) locksmith company license, known as an LCO license. Ask to see it before work starts, and check it yourself. A legitimate company will not mind being asked. Be careful of anyone who will not give a straight answer about who they are, who is coming, or what the job involves.
After you have new keys
Once the car starts and the new key works, the best next step is a spare. Making one at the same visit, while the technician is already working with your vehicle, is usually the more economical route compared with calling out again later.
Keep the spare somewhere other than your main key ring and not in the car. A spare at home, or with a trusted family member, is the difference between a short inconvenience and a repeat of this whole situation. If your lost keys were misplaced rather than stolen, ask us what options your vehicle has. If you think they may have been stolen along with your address or other identification, say so, because that changes what else you may want to secure.
Frequently asked questions
Can you make a new car key if I've lost all of my keys?
Yes, in many cases. We build a new key from scratch using your vehicle information, and we do not need the original. The exact process depends on the car, so we confirm by VIN and in person. If your vehicle turns out to be dealer-only, we tell you so plainly and early.
Do I need to have the original key to get a replacement?
No. This service exists for the case where every key is gone. We cut and, where your car requires it, pair a new key to your vehicle. Having a working key is simpler, and in that case you may want our page on car key replacement or key duplication instead.
Will my car need to be towed?
Often not, because our mobile vans come to wherever the car is parked in Burbank. The exception is a vehicle that can only be handled by the dealer. If that is your situation, we tell you early, and you may need the car transported.
What do I need to show you to prove the car is mine?
A government-issued photo ID that matches the vehicle paperwork, plus the registration or title showing the VIN. For leased, company, or borrowed cars, bring whatever shows you are authorized to have it. We will not make a key for a vehicle without verifying this.
Can you help if my car is at Hollywood Burbank Airport?
Yes. Airport parking is one of the common Burbank situations for lost keys. Call (213) 577-1366 and tell us the lot, level, and your car's make, model, and year. Bring your photo ID and registration to the car so we can verify ownership.
How much will a replacement key cost?
We do not give a number on this page because it depends on your vehicle, the type of key it uses, how many keys you want, the time and location, and whether any ignition or lock damage is involved. Call us with the make, model, year, and VIN and we will walk you through what applies.
Will the lost key still be able to start my car?
It depends on the vehicle. On some cars, programming can be set so a lost key no longer works. On others, that is not possible. Ask us when we are working on your car, and we will tell you plainly what your vehicle allows.
How long does it take to replace a lost car key?
The time varies with the vehicle and the key type, so we will not promise a figure over the phone. Once we know your car's VIN and have seen it in person, we can tell you what to expect before we begin.
What if my keys are locked inside the car instead of lost?
Then you probably need a lockout service rather than a new key. We can open the car without making a replacement. If you also have no other key, we can make a spare during the same visit.
More locksmith help in Burbank
Lost Car Key Replacement near Burbank
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.