2013 Lexus ES Key Replacement

The 2013–2025 ES uses the same key setup, so everything on this page applies to those years too. The full picture is on the Lexus ES key guide.

2013 Lexus ES: key facts

Key type: Smart / proximity key
Push-to-start: Yes
Transponder chip: 8A (128-bit DST-AES)
Programming: OBD
All keys lost: We can originate new keys on site

HYQ14FBA smart fob (G board 0020), 8A chip. Add-a-key over OBD is routine; all-keys-lost uses a DST-AES emulator with professional tools.

What kind of key does a 2013 Lexus ES use?

The 2013 ES is a smart-proximity car. There is no key to turn in an ignition. You carry the fob, the car senses it, and you start the engine with the push-button. The fob we work with for this year is the HYQ14FBA, with a G board marked 0020, and it carries an 8A chip, which is the 128-bit DST-AES family.

What that means for you: a plain cut blade will not start this car. The car has to recognize the chip in the fob, so every replacement fob has to be programmed to the vehicle, not just copied. The fob also holds a mechanical backup key for the door lock, which is worth knowing about if the fob battery ever dies.

Key type: smart-proximity fob with push-to-start
Chip family: 8A (128-bit DST-AES)
Fob reference: HYQ14FBA, G board 0020
Mechanical backup key: yes
Programming method: through the OBD port

Spare fob or all keys lost: what is different?

If you still have a working fob, adding another is the routine job. Duplication on this car needs an original key present, and the new fob is programmed in over the OBD port. Our data shows this does not require NASTF SDRM access, so it is not a job that has to go to the dealer.

If every fob is gone, it can still be done. All-keys-lost on this setup is handled with a DST-AES emulator and professional tools. It takes more work than adding a spare, which is why the two situations are not priced alike. In both cases, tell us up front which one you are in.

Call (213) 577-1366 and tell us the year, model, and whether you have any working fob.
We confirm the car by VIN and check what fob hardware you have or need.
We confirm you are the owner or authorized to have the key made.
We program the new fob over OBD, using the all-keys-lost process if no key remains.
We test starting, locking, and the mechanical backup key before we finish.

What goes wrong with 2013 ES fobs?

Three problems show up in our data for this year. The first is a dead fob battery, where the car reports that the key is not detected. Mention that on the phone. If the fob is otherwise healthy, you may not need a new one at all.

The second is cost. Replacing a lost smart fob costs more than replacing a bladed key, and that difference is real, not a markup. The third is physical damage: fobs that went through the wash, got soaked, or were crushed. A damaged fob may not read at all, and we would then treat it as a replacement job.

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 2013 Lexus ES key?

We will not quote numbers on a web page, because the honest answer depends on your situation. Here is what moves the cost:

Whether you have a working key. Adding a spare is lighter work than an all-keys-lost job.
The fob itself. A smart fob costs more than a bladed key, and that is part of the total.
How many fobs you need programmed.
Whether the old fob is simply a dead battery, which may change the whole job.
Whether we come to you with a mobile van or you bring the car to our Westwood storefront.

What do we confirm by VIN, and why call us?

The data we hold for this year is verified: the HYQ14FBA fob, the 8A chip, and OBD programming. Even so, we confirm by VIN and by looking at your fob in person before we order or program anything. If your car turns out to differ from what we expect, we will tell you plainly rather than guess.

California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license, and you should ask any locksmith for that number before work starts. Wilshire Lock & Key has been in business since 1987, with a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood and mobile service vans. You deal with one company, not a dispatch middleman, and David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work. We answer the phone around the clock at (213) 577-1366 and serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

For more on other model years, see our Lexus ES key pages, the wider Lexus key replacement section, or all car key services. If you would rather write to us, use the contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Can you make a 2013 Lexus ES key if I lost every fob?

Yes. All-keys-lost is possible on this car. We use a DST-AES emulator and professional tools, and we confirm the details by VIN first.

Do I need the dealer to program a 2013 ES fob?

Not according to our data for this year. Programming is done over the OBD port and does not require NASTF SDRM access, so we can do it ourselves.

Does the 2013 ES smart fob have a physical key inside?

Yes. It has a mechanical backup key for the door lock. The car itself still starts with the push-button, and it needs a programmed fob to do that.

My car says key not detected. Do I need a new fob?

Not necessarily. A dead fob battery is a common cause of that message on this model. If the fob works otherwise, a battery may solve it. If it has water damage or has been crushed, replacement is more likely.

Do you need my original key to make a copy?

For a spare, yes, an original working key needs to be present. If you have no key at all, we use the all-keys-lost process instead.

Why is a smart fob costlier to replace than an older bladed key?

The fob is an electronic part with an 8A chip that must be programmed to your car, not just cut. That adds hardware and programming work to the job.

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

Last updated 2026-10-11.