2020 Toyota 4Runner Key Replacement in Los Angeles, CA

The 2020–2024 4Runner uses the same key setup, so everything on this page applies to those years too. The full picture is on the Toyota 4Runner key guide.

2020 Toyota 4Runner: key facts

Key type: Remote-head key
Push-to-start: No
Transponder chip: H (128-bit DST-AES)
Programming: OBD
All keys lost: We can originate new keys on site

HYQ12BEL remote-head key with the 128-bit H chip on key-start trucks (OEM key listings explicitly cover 2020-2021 production, transpondery.com carries the H chip through 2024, and no catalog shows a return to the older G key — we still check the H stamp on the blade); smart-key trims use 8A fobs (HYQ14FLA listings cover 2021-2023). For all-keys-lost on 2020+ smart-key vehicles, US jobs generally require Toyota server codes with credentialed (LSID/NASTF VSP) TIS access — Toyota's reset bulletin T-SB-0013-24 covers the 2022-2024 4Runner.

What key does a 2020 Toyota 4Runner use?

On key-start 2020 trucks, the key is a remote-head type: a metal blade with the lock, unlock and panic buttons built into the plastic head. Inside the head is a transponder chip from the H family (128-bit DST-AES). The truck will not start unless it recognizes that chip. The part number we look for is the HYQ12BEL, and OEM listings explicitly cover 2020 and 2021 production.

This 4Runner does not use push-to-start, so there is no proximity fob to deal with on this setup. There is also a mechanical backup key, which matters if the remote battery dies or the remote stops working. The blade still opens the door and turns the ignition as long as the chip inside is a match.

The problems we hear about most with this key are predictable:

Cracked remote-head shells and worn-through buttons
Remote battery failure
Hardware-store copies that cut the door and turn the lock but have no transponder chip, so the engine will not start

Duplicate a key or replace after all keys are lost?

These are two different jobs. If you still have one working key, duplication is the simpler route: the original key is needed, we cut a new blade, and we program the new key's chip and remote to the truck. Having a spare made while you still hold a working key is almost always less involved than starting from nothing.

If every key is gone, replacement is still possible for this truck. We cut a key by code or from the lock, then program a new key to the vehicle over the OBD port. That programming step is tied to NASTF SDRM-registered access, which is why this is not a job for someone with only a cheap handheld cloner.

Either way, we need proof you own the vehicle before we make a key. Bring your ID and registration or title. If the 4Runner is stuck somewhere, tell us when you call and we can plan whether to bring a van to you or have you come to our Westwood storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd.

Call (213) 577-1366 and tell us the year, the trim, and whether you have any working key.
We confirm the key type, using your VIN when needed, and check the H stamp on the blade or chip.
You show ID and proof of ownership.
We cut the blade, program the chip and remote through the OBD port, and test every function before you leave.

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 4Runner key?

We do not quote numbers in an article because the real cost depends on your situation. The main factors are listed below.

The lighter-cost route is usually a duplicate made while you still have a working key, since it skips the all-keys-lost work.

Whether you have a working key to copy or all keys are lost
Which key your truck actually uses, remote-head or smart-key fob
How many keys you want programmed in the same visit
Whether we come to you with the mobile van or you come to the storefront
Time of day, because we answer around the clock and night calls involve different logistics
Whether the remote buttons and shell are worth saving or the whole head needs replacing

What we confirm by VIN before cutting anything

Our data on this year is solid for the key-start truck: the HYQ12BEL with the H chip. Smart-key trims are a different story. They use 8A fobs, and the HYQ14FLA listings we can point to cover 2021 through 2023, not 2020. So if your 2020 4Runner has push-button start, we confirm the exact fob by VIN and in person rather than assume.

One more honest note: all-keys-lost on newer smart-key Toyotas generally requires Toyota server codes through credentialed access. Toyota's reset bulletin we know of covers the 2022-2024 4Runner, not your year. If your truck falls into that smart-key category, we will tell you plainly what it needs before any work starts.

Why call us for a 4Runner key

Wilshire Lock & Key has been in business since 1987, with a storefront in Westwood and mobile vans across 140 cities in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. You reach one company, not a dispatch middleman, and David oversees the work. Phones are answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license, and you should ask any locksmith for it before they start on your vehicle. For broader information, see our car key services, the Toyota key overview, or the 4Runner key page. To book directly, use our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Does a 2020 Toyota 4Runner have a push-to-start key?

Not on the key-start trucks our data covers. Those use a remote-head key. If yours has a start button, it is a smart-key trim and we confirm the fob by VIN.

Will a hardware-store copy start my 4Runner?

No. A copy without the transponder chip may turn the locks but the engine will not start. The truck needs the correct H-family chip programmed to it.

Can you make a key if I lost every key?

Yes, all-keys-lost is possible for this setup. We cut a key and program it over the OBD port, and we need proof of ownership first.

Do you need my original key to make a copy?

For duplication, yes, an original key is needed. If you have none, the job becomes an all-keys-lost replacement.

Is the remote battery the reason my key stopped working?

Often, for the remote functions. A weak battery can stop the buttons from working, but the mechanical backup key and chip can still start the truck. If the truck will not start at all, the chip is the likelier issue.

Can you come to me, or do I need to visit the shop?

Both are options. We run mobile vans and also have a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood. Call (213) 577-1366 and we will work out which fits.

We cover all these cities

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

Last updated 2026-10-11.