What should you do first when you've lost all your car keys?
Losing your only key, or the last of several, feels worse than losing one of a pair, because there is nothing to copy. That is the part most people get stuck on. A copy needs an original. A replacement key made from scratch does not. Your vehicle's identity, its VIN and the lock itself carry enough information for a trained locksmith to cut and program a brand-new key without anything in your hand.
Before you call anyone, take a few minutes to rule out the easy explanations. Check the coat or bag you wore last, the seat cushions at home, the place where you last parked, and any shared spot where a family member or roommate might have set the keys down. If you used a rideshare, a shop or a gym, a quick call is worth it. If you have a spare key somewhere, even an old one that does not start the car, mention it when you call, because it can change the approach.
If the search comes up empty, stop looking and call. Searching for another hour rarely turns anything up, and the longer you wait, the longer you stay without a working vehicle. You can reach us at (213) 577-1366 at any hour, and a person answers, every day of the year.
One more point worth saying plainly: if you think the keys were stolen rather than lost, especially if your address or registration was in the car, tell us. That changes what we recommend afterward, and we cover it below.
How does a replacement car key without the original get made?
The process is the same whether you are parked on a quiet residential street or in a busy lot. We come to the vehicle with the equipment on the van, so you are not paying to tow a car to a shop just to get a key. Here is how a typical job goes.
The exact method depends on the make, model and year. Some vehicles take a cut metal key plus a programmed chip. Others use a push-button or proximity key with no traditional blade you would recognize. Some older vehicles use a plain mechanical key with no electronics at all. We do not guess which one yours is. We confirm it by VIN and by looking at the vehicle in person.
- You call (213) 577-1366 and tell us the make, model, year and where the car is. If you have the VIN from a registration card, insurance card or a photo, read it to us. If you do not, we can read it from the vehicle when we arrive.
- We confirm what kind of key system your car uses and whether it is something we can do on site. If it is a case where only the dealer can help, we say so on the phone or on arrival, not after you have waited.
- We verify you are the person entitled to the vehicle. Expect to show a photo ID and proof of ownership, such as the registration or title, that matches the car.
- We cut a new key from the vehicle's key code or by working from the lock, then program it so the car recognizes it.
- We test the key in the door, the ignition and any remote functions, and confirm everything works before you pay.
- If you want a spare while we are there, we can make one in the same visit, which is far easier now than after you lose the next key.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366What affects the cost of lost car key replacement in Canoga Park?
We do not quote numbers on a web page, because two lost-key jobs that sound identical can be very different once the vehicle is identified. What we can do is tell you exactly what moves the cost, so a quote over the phone makes sense to you.
The biggest factor is the type of key. A basic mechanical key is a much lighter job than a smart key with a proximity chip and a remote. A transponder key sits in the middle: it needs both the cut and the programming. For more on how those chips are matched to a vehicle, see our page on transponder key programming.
- Key type: mechanical, transponder, remote-head, flip key or push-to-start smart key.
- Vehicle make, model and year, since some manufacturers make the programming step much more involved than others.
- Whether any key still works. Having one working key left can make a job simpler, while having none requires programming from scratch.
- Whether the ignition or door lock is also damaged, which turns a key job into a repair job.
- Where the vehicle is and what time you call. Late-night and holiday calls are real labor at inconvenient hours, and we explain that on the phone.
- How many keys you need. A spare made during the same visit is usually the more economical route than coming back for one later.
Can a locksmith always do it, or do you need the dealer?
Honest answer: usually a locksmith can, but not always. Some vehicles, particularly certain newer models and some European brands, lock key programming behind manufacturer-only tools or codes. In those cases a locksmith may be unable to finish the job at all, and it would be wrong for us to pretend otherwise.
Because data on specific models changes with each model year, and sources do not always agree, we do not publish a list of which cars are in or out. We check by VIN and in person, and if your car is a dealer-only case, we tell you before any work starts. In that situation we can still help with the parts of the problem that are ours, such as getting you into the car if it is locked. See car lockout service for that.
If your vehicle is a dealer-only case and has to be towed, we will say so plainly. You will not be charged for work we could not complete as promised. Telling you the truth early saves you more time than any other thing we do.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366What do you need to have ready before we arrive?
Having the right items on hand speeds things up, and it protects you. A reputable locksmith will not make a key for a car until the person asking has shown they have the right to it. We ask for the same things regardless of how urgent the call sounds.
If you cannot find the registration, do not panic. Your insurance card or a phone photo of the VIN plate at the base of the windshield can help, and we can talk through what else may work. Do not leave a car on a public street with the registration inside it if you are worried about theft; take it with you.
- A photo ID with your name on it.
- Registration or title matching the vehicle and your name, or other proof you are the owner or authorized driver.
- The VIN, if you can find it. It is on the registration, the insurance card and the plate at the base of the windshield.
- Any spare, old or non-working key, in case it helps.
- Clear access to the vehicle. If it is in a gated lot or garage, let us know who can get us in.
Lost all your car keys in Canoga Park: where we come out
Canoga Park is about 21 miles from our Westwood storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd, which is why the mobile vans matter. You are not driving to us. We come to wherever the vehicle is parked, in ZIP 91303 or 91304 and beyond, and we do the work at the curb or in the lot. For how that works in general, see our mobile locksmith service.
Many of the lost-key calls that fit this area are about where people actually park. Along the Sherman Way corridor and downtown Canoga Park, there are dense apartment corridors where residents park on the street or in shared lots, and where a lost key often turns out to be a key left in a jacket, a bag or a visitor's car. Shared-entry buildings also mean the car key often lives on the same ring as the building key, so losing one means losing both. If that is your case, tell us. We can handle the car now, and you can sort out the building side separately through apartment lockout help or a rekey if you want the old keys out of circulation.
Other places that come up are the Westfield Topanga area, where a long shopping trip is easy to end with keys in the wrong place, and the Canoga Metro G Line Station area, where people park and leave the car for hours. If you are stranded in either, give us the nearest cross street or the level and section of the structure so we can find you without wasted time.
The weather is a real part of this, too. The far West Valley has long, hot summers with frequent triple-digit stretches. Waiting by a parked car in that heat is miserable and, for children or pets, unsafe. If someone is in the car or the heat is serious, say so at the start of the call. Do not wait in a hot vehicle while you try to sort out a key.
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-key job?
We have been in business since 1987, and David, the owner and lead technician, oversees how our work is done. That matters on a lost-all-keys job, where the difference between a clean programming session and a damaged immobilizer system is usually experience.
We are one company, with a storefront on Wilshire Boulevard and our own mobile vans, serving 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties. When you call (213) 577-1366, you are not routed to a call center that sends the job to whoever is closest. That cuts down on the swapped technician, the changed quote and the confusion about who is actually coming.
California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license. Ask any locksmith for it before they start work on your car, and expect a straight answer. That is a fair question and one you should never feel awkward asking.
For the full set of vehicle services, our automotive locksmith page lays out what we handle and where.
What should you do after you get a new key?
Once you have a working key, think about the old one. If it was merely misplaced at home, it will probably turn up and you may not need to do anything. If it was lost in public or stolen, ask us about having the lost key removed from the car's memory, where that is possible on your vehicle, so a found key cannot start it. That depends on the vehicle, and we confirm it when we program.
Get a spare made now. A second key cut while we are already there is almost always the lighter-cost move compared with another all-keys-lost call later. Once a working key exists, further copies are simpler, and our key duplication page explains how that works. If your key is a remote or smart key and you need a separate fob, look at key fob replacement.
If the key you lost was stuck or broke off in the ignition rather than vanishing, or if the ignition turns roughly with the new key, that is a different problem and may point to a worn ignition. Read about ignition repair. For the general overview of our car-key work in the area, see car key replacement in Canoga Park.
Frequently asked questions
Can you make a car key if I have lost all of them?
In most cases, yes. We work from the VIN and the vehicle itself, so no original key is needed. Some vehicles, mainly certain newer models and some European makes, are dealer-only for programming. We confirm that by VIN and in person, and tell you honestly before we start.
Do I need to tow my car to you?
Usually not. Our vans come to you in Canoga Park, and we cut and program the key at the vehicle. The exception is a dealer-only vehicle, where the work cannot be done on site. We say so up front rather than after you have waited.
What do I need to prove the car is mine?
A photo ID and proof of ownership that matches the vehicle, such as the registration or title. The VIN helps too. We ask for this on every job because making a key for a car without confirming ownership would put your neighbors' vehicles, and yours, at risk.
How much will a lost car key replacement cost?
It depends on the key type, the make, model and year, how many keys you need, whether any working key remains, and the time of day. We do not post numbers online, but if you call (213) 577-1366 with your vehicle details we can explain what applies to your car.
Is it cheaper than going to the dealer?
Often a mobile locksmith is the more economical route, partly because you skip the tow and the trip. It is not true for every vehicle, and some cars can only be done by the dealer. We tell you which situation you are in rather than promising a result.
What if I think my keys were stolen?
Tell us when you call. If your registration or address was in the car, a thief may know where you live. We can make a new key and, where your vehicle allows, remove the lost key from the car's memory. You may also want to rekey your home locks, which we cover under lock rekeying.
Can you help if I am locked out and have no keys at all?
Yes. Getting into a locked car is a separate step from making a key, and we can do both in one visit. For a lockout without a key problem, see our car lockout service. Tell us on the call that you are dealing with both.
Will the new key work with my remote and push-to-start?
If the vehicle uses a remote or smart key, we make that type of key and test the lock, ignition and remote functions before we leave. Which features we can restore depends on the vehicle, and we confirm it by VIN before starting.
Do you come out at night and on weekends?
Yes. Our line at (213) 577-1366 is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all year, including holidays. Call, tell us where the car is and what it is, and we take it from there.
More locksmith help in Canoga Park
Lost Car Key Replacement near Canoga Park
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.