What happens when you have lost all your car keys?
Losing your only key is a different problem from losing one of two. With a spare in hand, a replacement is a copy job. With nothing in hand, there is no key to copy, no chip to clone, and no fob to match. The new key has to be created from information about the vehicle itself, and the car's computer has to be taught to accept it.
That sounds more dramatic than it is. Making a car key without the original is routine work for an automotive locksmith, and it is something we have done since 1987. But it does take the right equipment, the right software, and a careful check that the person asking for the key is the person entitled to it. Anyone willing to make a key for your car without asking who you are is not someone you want working on your car.
Most people who call us about lost all car keys are in one of three spots. The keys fell out of a pocket somewhere and are gone for good. The keys are locked inside the car with no spare, which is really a lockout first and a key problem second. Or the car has been sitting for a while and the only key has been missing since before anyone noticed. Each of these starts the same way: you tell us the year, make, and model, and where the car is, and we work out what the job involves.
If your keys are simply locked inside and you do still own them, you do not need a new key at all. That is a car lockout, which is quicker and lighter on cost. Tell us on the phone which situation you are in, and we will say so honestly if you do not need replacement.
How does replacement car key work without an original?
The exact method depends on the vehicle, but the sequence is consistent. We would rather you know it before we arrive than feel like it is a mystery performed in your driveway.
- You call (213) 577-1366 and give us the year, make, and model, plus where the car is parked. We tell you what kind of key the vehicle is likely to use and whether anything about it looks unusual.
- We send a mobile van to the vehicle. If the car cannot be reached or moved, we work where it sits, whether that is a driveway, a street, or a parking structure.
- We confirm ownership. You show ID and proof the vehicle is yours, and we match the VIN on the car to your paperwork.
- We determine the key information. Depending on the vehicle, that may come from the VIN, from the door or ignition lock itself, or from both. This is the step that replaces the missing original.
- We cut the new key to match the locks. For keys that also carry a transponder chip, we prepare the blade and chip together.
- We program the key to the vehicle. The car's computer has to recognize the new key before the engine will start, so this step is not optional on chipped keys.
- You test everything: door locks, trunk, ignition, and any remote buttons. We do not leave until the key does what it should.
- If the vehicle is one we cannot complete on site, we tell you directly and explain your options rather than leaving you guessing.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366What do we need from you to make a new key?
We ask for proof of ownership on every automotive key job. It protects you, because it means nobody can walk up to your car with a story and drive away with a key made by us. It also keeps us on the right side of how this trade is supposed to work.
- A government-issued photo ID.
- Proof the vehicle is yours, such as the registration or title. If the vehicle is leased or company-owned, paperwork showing you are authorized to have a key made.
- Access to the VIN on the car, usually visible at the base of the windshield on the driver side or on the door jamb sticker.
- The year, make, and model, and the trim level if you know it, since some trims use different key systems.
- Any information about the key you lost, if you remember it: whether it had a remote on it, a push-button start, or was a plain metal key.
What affects the cost of lost car key replacement?
We do not quote numbers on a web page, because the honest answer depends on your car. What we can do is tell you exactly what moves the cost up or down, so that when we quote you on the phone, the figure makes sense.
The type of key matters first. A basic metal key with no chip is a simple job. A chipped transponder key takes more work. A smart key or push-button start fob, which communicates with the car wirelessly, takes more still, and some vehicles ask for more specialized equipment than others.
The vehicle itself matters second. Different manufacturers handle key programming differently. Some are straightforward for an independent locksmith, some require extra procedures, and some limit certain work to the dealer. We confirm by VIN and in person rather than assume.
- Key type: metal-only, transponder, remote-head, or smart key with push-button start.
- Make, model, and year, since programming access varies between manufacturers and even between model years.
- Whether any working key remains. With no key at all, the job takes more steps than copying one that exists.
- Where the vehicle is and what it takes to reach it. A mobile call to your location is a service, and distance and conditions play a part.
- Time of day. Nights, weekends, and holidays are real hours for a locksmith who answers the phone around the clock, and that can affect the quote.
- Extra work discovered at the car, such as a damaged ignition or a lock that has been tampered with. We tell you before we do anything beyond the quoted job.
- How many keys you want. Making a second key during the same visit is usually the more economical route than coming back later.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Locksmith or dealer: which route is right for lost car keys?
There are two realistic options when all your keys are lost, and we would rather you choose with open eyes than choose us by default.
The dealer can make keys for the brand it sells. The usual drawbacks are practical: the car generally has to be brought to the dealer, which is a real obstacle when you have no key and the car may not be drivable or even movable without a tow. Appointments and parts ordering can also stretch the timeline. For some vehicles, particularly certain makes and newer models, the dealer may be the only place able to complete the work. When that is the case for your car, we will say so, and we will not pretend otherwise to win the job.
A mobile locksmith comes to the vehicle, which removes the towing step in many cases, and can cut and program keys on site for a wide range of vehicles. Which ones depends on year, make, and model, and we confirm by VIN and in person before promising anything. Our storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood backs up the vans, so if a job needs shop equipment, it does not get handed to someone else.
Whichever route you pick, ask about the process. A reputable provider will explain how the key is made, ask for proof of ownership, and tell you what it will cost before work begins. If that is not happening, keep looking.
Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for a lost car key?
We have been in business since 1987, and the work has changed a lot in that time. Car keys that used to be a blade and a file are now small computers, and we have kept up with that shift because customers came to us with the cars they actually drive.
When you call (213) 577-1366, you reach us, not a national call center that sells the job to whoever is available. We run a storefront and our own mobile vans, so the company that answers is the company that shows up. That matters in a lost key situation, because the details you give on the phone are the details the technician needs at the car.
David, the owner and lead technician, oversees how we work. That does not mean he is at every call. It means the standards for how we verify ownership, explain a job, and quote a price come from one person who has to stand behind them.
A note on credentials: California requires locksmith companies to hold a license from the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, known as a BSIS LCO license. It is fair and smart to ask any locksmith for their license number before work starts, including us. Be wary of anyone who dodges the question.
Our line is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round. A lost key does not keep business hours, so neither do we.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Lost all your car keys in Claremont: where and when it happens
Claremont is about 44 miles from our Westwood base, and we serve the city by mobile van across ZIP code 91711. Because we come to you, what matters is where your car is parked and what the surroundings are like.
Near Claremont Village, a lost key often means a car parked on a street or in a lot while you were shopping, eating, or running errands. Without keys, you cannot drive it anywhere, and moving it is a problem. A mobile service that works where the car sits avoids a tow in many cases. The same applies in the Claremont Colleges area, where students and staff park all day and a lost key can turn into a stranded vehicle until someone makes a new one.
Commuters who leave a car at the Claremont Depot Metrolink park-and-ride face a version of this problem. The car sits there for the workday, and if the key is gone when you return, the situation is the sort of thing we handle on location. If you still have a key and are simply locked out, that is a car lockout rather than a replacement. Tell us which it is when you call, and we will point you the right way.
In hillside areas such as Claraboya, a car parked on a steep driveway or narrow street can be harder to tow than one on a flat lot. That is one more reason many people prefer a locksmith who works on the car where it is, when the vehicle is one we can do on site. We confirm that on the phone.
Claremont's foothill position means hot, dry summers. Sitting beside a car you cannot start in that weather is unpleasant, and it is worth telling us when you call if anyone, a child or a pet, is waiting with the vehicle, so we can account for it. Strong Santa Ana wind events are also part of life here, and wind-blown debris is one reason keys can vanish outdoors, in a yard, a trailhead lot, or a park.
If your car is parked near Claremont Hills Wilderness Park or the California Botanic Garden and the key is gone, the same process applies. You give us the vehicle details and location, and we work out the rest. Whether you live in Padua Hills, near the Village, or close to the colleges, the call is the same: (213) 577-1366.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366What should you do while you wait for a new key?
There are a few simple things that can make the job smoother and prevent a second problem.
- Look in the obvious places once more, including jacket pockets, bags, and the last place you parked. Keys are found more often than people expect, and finding one saves you the replacement.
- Locate your registration or title and your ID. Having them in hand when we arrive saves time at the car.
- Write down the VIN or be near enough to read it from the windshield. It confirms the vehicle details we quote on.
- Do not try to force the door or ignition. Damaging a lock can add repair work to what would otherwise be a key job. If it already has happened, tell us.
- If you think the keys were stolen rather than lost, tell us on the phone. We can talk through the situation, and you may want to have the old keys removed from the vehicle's memory during programming, depending on the car.
- If the car is in a public lot, let the property or parking operator know it will be there while you arrange a key.
After the new key: spares, fobs, and related repairs
Once you have a working key, the best time to make a spare is right then, while the technician is already set up and the vehicle is programmed. A duplicate made from a working key is usually the lighter-cost way to avoid another emergency. If you only need a plain copy later, key duplication is the service for that, though chipped keys still need programming.
If your car uses a remote fob, see our pages on key fob replacement and transponder key programming for how those jobs work. If the ignition itself is worn or damaged, which can happen after years of a loose or heavily used key, ignition repair is a separate job we will flag if we see it.
Our broader automotive locksmith page covers everything we do for vehicles. For a lost key where the vehicle can be reached by van, our mobile locksmith service is how we get to you. And if you want a general overview of replacing a key when you do have the old one, see car key replacement.
Frequently asked questions
Can you make a car key if I have lost all my keys?
Yes, for a wide range of vehicles. We create the key from vehicle information rather than from an original, then program it to the car. Whether we can complete it on site depends on the year, make, and model, and we confirm by VIN and in person. If your vehicle turns out to be dealer-only, we tell you so plainly.
Do I need the original key to get a replacement car key?
No. A replacement car key without the original is exactly what this service is for. We do need proof that the car is yours, such as ID and registration or title, and access to the VIN on the vehicle.
Can you come to me in Claremont, or do I have to tow the car?
We send a mobile van to the vehicle in most cases, so a tow is often avoidable. We serve Claremont and ZIP code 91711 from our Westwood base. Tell us the vehicle and its location when you call (213) 577-1366, and we will confirm what can be done on site.
How much does it cost to replace lost car keys?
We do not post prices because the cost depends on your car. The main factors are the type of key (basic, transponder, or smart key), the make, model, and year, where the vehicle is, the time of day, and whether you want a spare made. We give you a quote on the phone before work starts.
Is it cheaper to go to the dealer or a locksmith?
It depends on the vehicle. A mobile locksmith is often the more economical route because it can avoid towing and extra trips, but we cannot promise that for every car. For some vehicles the dealer is the only option, and we will tell you if yours is one of them.
What proof of ownership do you need?
A government photo ID and proof the vehicle is yours, such as registration or title. We also match the VIN on the car to your paperwork. For leased or company vehicles, we need documentation showing you are authorized to have a key made.
Will the lost key still start my car after you make a new one?
On many vehicles, programming a new key can remove old keys from the car's memory so a lost key will not start it. This depends on the vehicle, and it is worth asking us about if you think your keys were stolen. We explain what is possible for your car.
Should I make a spare key at the same time?
Usually yes. Making a second key during the same visit is typically the more economical route compared with another emergency call later. Ask us when you call so we bring what is needed for both.
Do you answer the phone at night and on weekends?
Yes. Our line at (213) 577-1366 is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round, so a lost key at night or on a holiday still reaches us.
More locksmith help in Claremont
Lost Car Key Replacement near Claremont
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.