The 2006–2008 IS uses the same key setup, so everything on this page applies to those years too. The full picture is on the Lexus IS key guide.

2008 Lexus IS: key facts

Key type: Smart / proximity key
Push-to-start: Yes
Transponder chip: Varies by trim — we confirm by VIN
Programming: OBD
All keys lost: We can originate new keys on site

IS250/IS350: SmartAccess push-button start standard from launch. Catalogs confirm the HYQ14AAB fob (board 0140) but rarely name the chip (one catalog lists the 4D-71 smart chip); this first-generation smart system is DST40-based by industry convention, so we leave it unverified. All-keys-lost on early Lexus smart systems historically meant resetting or replacing the smart ECU or a dealer visit; current professional tools usually reset the smart code via OBD — coverage confirmed per vehicle.

Same key system as the 2006–2008 IS

Lexus kept the IS's key system unchanged across 2006–2008, so everything about replacing a 2008 key — blanks, programming, and what happens if every key is lost — matches the rest of that run. The full year-by-year breakdown lives in our Lexus IS key guide.

What drives the price is the key type, whether you still have a working key, and where the car is parked. There's more on Lexus programming in general on our Lexus key page.

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

Last updated 2026-10-11.

2008 Lexus IS key replacement

2008 Lexus IS: key facts

Same key system as the 2006–2008 IS

We cover all these cities