Chevrolet car key replacement, every model and year

Chevrolet models in the guide

• Colorado
• Cruze
• Equinox
• Impala
• Malibu
• Silverado
• Suburban
• Tahoe
• Traverse

How have Chevrolet keys changed over the years?

Chevrolet doesn't have one key system. It has four, and which one your vehicle uses depends on the model and the model year, not just the badge. A 2003 Silverado and a 2023 Colorado both say Chevrolet on the key, but underneath they have almost nothing in common. Knowing which era you're in tells us what the key is, how it gets programmed, and whether we can finish the job at the curb.

The first era is Passlock. Through the mid-2000s, most Chevrolets used GM's Passlock system: the GMT800 Silverado, Tahoe and Suburban (2000-2006), Impala (2000-2005), Malibu (2000-2003), first-generation Equinox (2005-2006) and first-generation Colorado (2004-2012). There is no chip in these keys. The security sensor sits in the ignition lock cylinder, so a correctly cut key starts the vehicle without any programming.

The second era is the PK3+ key, often called the 'circle-plus' key, which carries an ID46 (Philips/NXP Hitag2) transponder. It arrived at different times depending on the model: Malibu in 2004, Impala in 2006, the GMT900 trucks and SUVs in 2007, and Equinox in 2007. From this point on, a key that is only cut, and never paired with the vehicle, will not start the engine.

The third era runs from roughly 2010 to 2015, when Global A platform vehicles moved to Hitag2 Extended '46E' chips. These show up in remote-head keys, flip keys and the first proximity fobs. Examples include the Cruze in 2011, Malibu in 2013, Silverado in 2014, Tahoe and Suburban in 2015, and Colorado in 2015.

The fourth era starts in 2021, with the redesigned Global B vehicles: Tahoe and Suburban in 2021, Colorado in 2023 and Traverse in 2024. These use NXP ID49 (Hitag Pro/AES) smart fobs. The newest 2025-and-later redesigns, such as the Equinox, are cataloged by one source with Megamos AES ID88 keys. Catalogs disagree about that, so we treat it as unconfirmed. Several 2021-2024 changeover years are also disputed between catalogs, and we'd rather say so than guess.

Which key era is your Chevrolet in?

Use this as a starting point, then let us confirm by VIN. The VIN settles questions that the model year alone can't, especially around the boundaries. Each model has its own page with more detail.

• Silverado: four generations, from Passlock through ID46 and 46E to a split fob and keyed lineup. There's a full breakdown further down this page.
• Tahoe and Suburban: Passlock for 2000-2006, ID46 from 2007, 46E-era keys from 2015, and ID49 smart fobs from 2021.
• Malibu: Passlock for 2000-2003, ID46 from 2004, and 46E-era keys from 2013.
• Impala: Passlock for 2000-2005, then ID46 from 2006.
• Equinox: Passlock for the 2005-2006 first generation, ID46 from 2007, and an unconfirmed ID88 listing for the newest 2025+ redesign.
• Cruze: 46E-era keys from the 2011 model year.
• Colorado: Passlock for the first generation (2004-2012), 46E-era keys from 2015, and ID49 smart fobs from 2023.
• Traverse: ID49 smart fobs on the 2024 redesign. For other Traverse years we confirm the key type by VIN.

What does key replacement involve for each era?

The work differs more than most people expect. Here is what actually happens for each key system.

• Passlock era (no chip): we cut a key by code to match your lock. There is no transponder and no pairing step. If the key turns and the vehicle starts, the job is done. The well-known 30-minute relearn (three 10-minute cycles) only applies after an ignition cylinder or module has been replaced, not for an ordinary key replacement.
• PK3+ circle-plus era (ID46): the key needs a transponder and has to be cut and then paired with the vehicle. We program through the OBD-II port with professional equipment. These vehicles also support an onboard 30-minute relearn for all-keys-lost that needs no special tools, but professional programming is much faster.
• Global A era (46E, roughly 2010-2020): remote-head keys, flip keys and early proximity fobs, programmed through the OBD-II port with professional tools. Aftermarket all-keys-lost coverage is mature here, which is why this era is usually smooth to handle on site.
• Global B era (ID49, 2021 and later): smart fobs, with programming increasingly validated through GM's servers (ACDelco SPS2). Adding a spare when you still have a working key is a different job from replacing every key, and we confirm current tool coverage for each vehicle before promising anything.
• Newest redesigns (2025 and later, reported ID88): aftermarket support is still immature and these vehicles may be dealer-only or specialist-only for now. If that's your vehicle, we'll tell you on the phone instead of sending a van for nothing.

How does a Chevrolet key job go with us?

There's no mystery to it. This is the sequence, and the first two steps are where most of the useful work happens.

1. You call (213) 577-1366, any hour. Tell us the model, the year, and whether you have any working key at all.
2. We confirm the key type from the year and VIN. If your vehicle sits on a disputed boundary, or the tooling question is open, we say so and explain what we need to check.
3. We come to you with the van, or you can come to our Westwood storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd if the vehicle can be driven. We'll ask you to show the vehicle is yours before we make a key.
4. We cut the key, by code where the lock allows it, or from the vehicle's lock when needed.
5. If the vehicle needs programming, we pair the new key and test it: door, ignition, starting the engine, and any remote functions.
6. You leave with keys that work, or, if your vehicle needs dealer-level service, with a straight explanation of why and what to ask for.

What if you've lost every Chevrolet key?

All-keys-lost is where the era matters most. On a Passlock vehicle it's about as easy as a lost key gets: we cut a new key by code and the vehicle starts, with no programming. On a PK3+ ID46 vehicle, the same 30-minute onboard relearn exists without special tools, though programming with professional equipment through the OBD-II port is much faster. On Global A 46E vehicles, all-keys-lost is routine for a locksmith with the right tools, because aftermarket coverage there is mature.

The honest limits are on newer vehicles. On 2021-and-later Global B vehicles, such as the Tahoe and Suburban from 2021, Colorado from 2023 and Traverse from 2024, key programming increasingly goes through GM's servers. Depending on the tool, all-keys-lost may require NASTF VSP-credentialed tooling, or it may need to go to the dealer. We confirm current tool coverage for your exact vehicle before we say yes. The same applies to disputed-boundary 2022-and-later cars, where catalogs disagree about what's in the fob.

For the newest Megamos AES (ID88) systems on 2025-and-later redesigns, aftermarket support is still immature. If you've lost every key on one of those, the dealer or a specialist may be the only route for now. We'd rather tell you that in the first call than have you wait on a van.

How does the Silverado fit the picture?

The Silverado is a good example of how one nameplate can span every key type, and it's the Chevrolet we're asked about most. Here's how its generations break down.

The GMT800 (1999-2007) is Passlock. There's no chip in the key, and the security sensor sits in the ignition cylinder. The carry-over 'Silverado Classic' kept this body, and Passlock, through 2007 alongside the new truck. The GMT900 (2007-2013) brought the transponder to the pickups: PK3+ circle-plus ID46 (Hitag2) keys in the B111-PT family, with a separate remote fob.

The K2XX (2014-2018) uses a flip key, the B119-PT with an HU100 blade, carrying the Hitag2 Extended 46E chip. There was no push-button start in this generation, and the K2XX-based 'Silverado LD' carried over into 2019.

The T1XX (2019-2026) is a split lineup. WT and Custom trims keep a keyed ignition with a 46E-family flip key. LT and above use proximity fobs (HYQ1EA/HYQ1ES, later YG0G21TB2) with push-button start. Catalogs disagree on when the fob chip moved from 46E to NXP Hitag Pro, around the 2022 interior refresh, so for a 2022-and-later fob truck we confirm by VIN before ordering anything. More detail is on our Silverado key page.

What are the most common Chevrolet key problems?

These are the problems that come up repeatedly, and most of them aren't a lost key at all.

• Failed Passlock sensors on 2000s models. The security light stays on, or the engine starts and then stalls, even with a perfectly good key. The key isn't the fault here, so a new key won't fix it.
• Worn ignition lock wafers on high-mileage trucks and sedans. The key sticks or stops turning. Sometimes a fresh key cut to code helps, and sometimes the cylinder itself is the real problem.
• Hardware-store copies cut for transponder-era cars with no chip. They open the doors but won't start the engine. This catches many owners of PK3+ and later vehicles.
• Broken flip-key hinges and cracked remote-head or fob shells. Often the electronics inside are fine, and what you need is the right replacement, programmed correctly.
• Dead smart-fob batteries. The dash reports 'no remote detected', but the hidden emergency blade still opens the door. Try a fresh battery before assuming the fob is dead.
• Low-quality cloned or aftermarket chips that fail intermittently. The key works for weeks and then doesn't. A properly programmed key is a better fix than another copy of a bad copy.

What affects the cost of a Chevrolet key?

We don't quote numbers on a web page, because the honest answer depends on your vehicle, and a figure on a page would mislead you more often than it helped. These are the factors that actually move the cost:

The key type is the biggest one. A cut-only Passlock key is a fundamentally simpler job than a flip key with a 46E chip, and a smart fob is a different category again. Whether you're adding a spare or replacing every key matters too, because all-keys-lost usually takes more work and, on newer vehicles, more tooling.

Programming method matters. OBD-II programming with professional tools is one thing. Server-validated programming on a 2021-and-later vehicle may involve additional access and steps. If a vehicle needs the ignition cylinder or a module addressed, that's added work, and we'll explain it before we start.

The fob itself also counts: an original-equipment fob and a quality aftermarket one aren't the same product, and we'll tell you which you're getting. Finally, the time and place of the call play a part. A van at the curb in the middle of the night is a different service from a daytime visit to our Westwood storefront. Ask us on the phone and we'll walk through what applies to your vehicle, usually the more economical route first.

Mobile locksmith or dealer: which is right for your Chevrolet?

For a lot of Chevrolets, a mobile locksmith is the more convenient route. We come to you, so a vehicle that won't start doesn't need a tow or a ride to a service department. On Passlock, PK3+ and Global A vehicles, the tooling is mature, and we cut and program on site in one visit.

The dealer is the right answer in some cases, and we'll say so. On the newest Global B vehicles, where programming runs through GM's servers, and on the 2025-and-later redesigns where aftermarket support is still immature, the dealer may be the only dependable option. It's also the right call if the problem turns out to be something other than the key, such as a failed module, or if you want a key replaced as part of other work the dealer is already doing.

When you call, we'll tell you which category your vehicle falls in. If it's dealer territory, we'll say so and, where we can, tell you what to ask them for. If it's ours, we'll book the visit.

Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for your Chevrolet?

We've been in business since 1987, with a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood plus mobile service vans, and we serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties. The person who answers the phone works for the same company that sends the van. There's no dispatch middleman between you and the technician. David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work.

Phones are answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round, at (213) 577-1366. That matters for key problems, because they rarely happen at a convenient hour.

One more thing worth knowing: California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license. Ask any locksmith you're considering for their license number before work begins. It's a reasonable question, and a legitimate company will have an answer.

If you're not sure what kind of key your Chevrolet uses, start with our car keys overview, look at the model pages above, or contact us with the year and model. You can also start from our homepage to see everything we do.