2006 Honda Civic Key Replacement

The 2006–2013 Civic uses the same key setup, so everything on this page applies to those years too. The full picture is on the Honda Civic key guide.

2006 Honda Civic: key facts

Key type: Remote-head key
Push-to-start: No
Transponder chip: ID46 (PCF7936/7961, Hitag 2)
Programming: OBD
All keys lost: We can originate new keys on site

MLBHLIK-1T remote-head key on most trims; base DX used a plain transponder key without remote buttons.

What key does a 2006 Honda Civic use?

Most 2006 Civics came with a remote-head key, listed as MLBHLIK-1T. That is one piece: a metal blade, a transponder chip inside the plastic head, and lock, unlock and panic buttons built into the same head. The chip belongs to the ID46 family (PCF7936/7961, Hitag 2). The car will not start unless the chip in the key is recognized by the immobilizer.

The base DX is the exception. It used a plain transponder key with no remote buttons. It still has the chip, so it still needs programming, but there is no remote to pair.

This is not a push-to-start car. You turn a key in the ignition, and that matters for the owner in a few practical ways:

A hardware-store copy that is only cut, with no chip, will open the door and turn in the lock but will not start the engine.
The remote and the chip are separate functions. A key can start the car and have dead buttons, or the other way around.
The car has a mechanical backup key, so a failed remote or dead battery does not leave you locked out.

Duplicate a key or replace all keys lost?

These are two different jobs on this Civic, and the difference is mostly about whether you still have a working key.

If you have one original key, duplicating is the simpler route. We cut the blade to match and program the new chip to the car. For this setup, an original key is needed for duplication. If a key has gone missing and you have nothing in hand, you are in the all-keys-lost category.

All keys lost is possible on this model. We cut a new key from the lock or the car's information, then program it through the OBD port under the dash. No NASTF SDRM access is required for the programming method listed for this year, so it is not a job that has to go to a dealer.

One thing that helps in either case is bringing proof of ownership. Any reputable locksmith should ask for it before making a key to a car.

How we handle a 2006 Civic key job

The process is the same whether you come to our Westwood storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd or we come to you with a mobile van.

Confirm the car: year, trim, and whether it is a remote-head car or a DX with a plain transponder key.
Check ownership and identification.
Look at what you have: one working key, a damaged key, or none.
Cut the blade and test it in the door and ignition.
Program the transponder through the OBD port, then pair the remote buttons if the key has them.
Test every function before you leave: start, lock, unlock, and panic.

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 2006 Civic key?

We do not quote numbers on a web page because the job decides the cost. The main factors are:

Whether you need a remote-head key or the plain transponder key. The remote version has more parts.
Duplicating from an existing key or starting from nothing in an all-keys-lost situation. Starting from nothing takes more work.
Whether the job is at our storefront or a mobile visit to your car, since travel is part of a mobile call.
How many keys you want made at once.
Condition of the ignition. On high-mileage cars, worn wafers in the ignition lock can make a new key hard to turn, and that may need separate attention.
Whether the remote shell or buttons are the only problem. A cracked shell or worn buttons can sometimes be a lighter-cost fix than a full new key, depending on the key's state.

What we confirm before we cut anything

The data we hold for this year is verified, and the chip family is confirmed from multiple parts references. Even so, Honda built a few different key setups under one model year, and the DX difference is a good example. So we confirm by VIN or in person before ordering or cutting a key. That avoids you paying for a remote you do not need or missing one you do.

We are one company, not a dispatch service. Wilshire Lock & Key has been in business since 1987, and David oversees the work. Call (213) 577-1366 any hour. California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license, and you should ask any locksmith for theirs.

For other years and models, see our Honda key pages, the Civic overview, or all car key services. You can also use our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Will a regular copy from a hardware store start my 2006 Civic?

No. A non-transponder copy can turn in the lock but will not start the car, because the immobilizer needs a programmed ID46 chip.

Can you make a key if I lost every key?

Yes. All keys lost is possible on this Civic. We program a new key through the OBD port, and no NASTF SDRM access is needed for this year.

Does my Civic have remote buttons on the key?

Most trims do, with the MLBHLIK-1T remote-head key. The base DX used a plain transponder key without remote buttons. We confirm by VIN.

My key is hard to turn in the ignition. Is it the key?

It can be the ignition. Worn lock wafers are a known issue on high-mileage cars of this age. We check the key and the ignition before replacing anything.

My remote stopped working but the car still starts. What now?

Start with the remote battery. If that does not help, the buttons or shell may be worn or cracked, and the chip can keep working while the remote fails.

Do I need to go to a Honda dealer?

Not for this year. The programming method listed is OBD with no NASTF SDRM requirement. Call (213) 577-1366 and we will confirm for your VIN.

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

Last updated 2026-10-11.