2003 Honda Accord Key Replacement

The 2003–2007 Accord uses the same key setup, so everything on this page applies to those years too. The full picture is on the Honda Accord key guide.

2003 Honda Accord: key facts

Key type: Transponder chip key
Push-to-start: No
Transponder chip: ID46 (PCF7936, Hitag 2)
Programming: OBD
All keys lost: We can originate new keys on site

Key plus separate remote fob in this generation (HON66 blade).

What kind of key does a 2003 Honda Accord use?

The 2003 Accord is a transponder-key car, and it does not have push-to-start. The key is a metal blade (HON66) with a chip sealed in the head. That chip is in the ID46 family (PCF7936, Hitag 2), and we have this verified against transpondery.com. The car will not run unless the chip in the key is one it has been taught to recognize.

On this generation the remote fob is a separate piece. It is not built into the key head. That matters because you may be dealing with two different problems: a key that starts the car and a remote that locks and unlocks it. Losing or breaking one does not mean you have lost the other, and each is replaced on its own terms. A mechanical backup key also exists for this setup.

These are the problems we see called out for this year:

Worn ignition lock wafers on high-mileage cars, which can make a good key feel sticky or refuse to turn.
Lost or broken separate remote fobs.
Non-transponder hardware-store copies, which may look right but will not start the car.

Spare key or all keys lost: how the job differs

If you still have a working key, making a duplicate is the simpler job. For this Accord, the original key needs to be present for duplication. We cut a new HON66 blade and program the new chip to the car through the OBD port. Programming on this year does not require NASTF SDRM access, so it is not a job that has to be routed through a dealer.

If every key is gone, replacement is still possible. It takes more steps than a duplicate because we have no existing key to work from, so the new key has to be set up from scratch and then programmed to the car. If you can get the car to us or we can reach it, we can usually handle it in one visit, but we confirm what the specific car needs by VIN first.

Do not have a hardware-store shop cut a blade without a chip and call it done. It might fit the ignition, but the immobilizer will not accept it. If you are having trouble starting the car with a key you already own, tell us before you order anything. A worn ignition can look like a bad key, and replacing the key will not fix a worn lock.

How we handle a 2003 Accord key

The process is straightforward, and we can do most of it at your car or at our storefront.

Call (213) 577-1366 and tell us the year, model, and what you have: one working key, a broken key, or none.
We confirm the details by VIN and make sure you can show the car is yours.
We cut the HON66 blade for the new key.
We program the ID46 chip to the car through the OBD port.
We test that the key starts the car and turns smoothly in the ignition. If you also need a remote, we deal with the separate fob as its own item.

Locked out or need a locksmith now?

We answer around the clock, every day of the year.

Call (213) 577-1366

What affects the price of a 2003 Accord key?

We do not quote numbers on a web page because the job changes depending on your situation. These are the things that move the cost up or down:

Whether you have a working key to copy from, or all keys are lost.
Whether you need only a key, only a remote fob, or both, since they are separate parts on this car.
How many keys you want made in one visit.
Whether the ignition is worn enough to cause trouble and needs attention beyond key work.
Whether you come to our Westwood storefront or we send a mobile van to the car, and what time of day you call.

One honest note, and why call us

The chip family and OBD programming method for this year are verified, and the data does not point to a dealer-only requirement. Even so, we confirm by VIN before cutting or programming anything. Cars change over their lifetimes, and a previous owner may have had parts replaced. We would rather check than waste your time with the wrong part.

Wilshire Lock & Key has been in business since 1987. Our storefront is at 10740 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024, and our mobile vans cover 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties. You get one company, not a dispatcher passing your call to a stranger, and David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work. Phones are answered around the clock, every day of the year.

California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license, and you should ask any locksmith for it before they start work. If you are comparing options, see our Honda key replacement overview or the full Honda Accord key guide. For other vehicles, start at car key services, or contact us directly.

Frequently asked questions

Does a 2003 Honda Accord have push-to-start?

No. It uses a transponder key with a metal HON66 blade, and the chip in the head must be programmed to the car. The remote fob is a separate piece.

Will a hardware-store copy start my 2003 Accord?

No. A non-transponder copy may be cut to fit, but without the programmed ID46 chip the car will not start.

Can you make a key if I lost all of my 2003 Accord keys?

Yes. All-keys-lost replacement is possible for this setup. We confirm by VIN first, then cut the blade and program the chip through the OBD port.

Do I need the original key to get a duplicate?

For this year, yes, the original key needs to be present for duplication. If you no longer have one, we treat the job as all keys lost.

Do I have to go to the dealer for a 2003 Accord key?

Based on our verified data, no. Programming is done through the OBD port and does not require NASTF SDRM access. We still confirm the specifics by VIN.

My remote stopped working. Is the key the problem?

Probably not. The remote fob is a separate part from the key on this car, so a lost or broken fob is its own repair and does not affect whether the key starts the car.

My key feels worn or sticks in the ignition. Is a new key enough?

Not always. High-mileage Accords can have worn ignition lock wafers, and a new key will not cure a worn lock. Tell us what you are noticing when you call.

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Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.

Last updated 2026-10-11.