What does it mean when all your car keys are lost?
Losing one key is an annoyance. Losing every key is a different job. When you still have a spare, a locksmith can copy it or teach the car to accept a new key from it. When there is no key at all, there is nothing to copy, so the new key has to be made from scratch. The blade, if your key has one, is cut to match the lock using information tied to your vehicle. If the car uses a chip or a smart key, the car's computer then has to be told to accept the new one. That whole process is what people mean by lost car key replacement, and it is what we do when you call about a replacement car key without the original.
Many vehicles built in recent decades use a transponder chip or a smart key, and those need programming on top of cutting. Some older vehicles use a plain mechanical key that only needs to be cut. Which one yours is, and what it takes, is something we confirm by VIN and by looking at the vehicle, not something we guess over the phone. If a make or model turns out to be dealer-only for the type of key you need, we tell you straight away instead of letting you wait for a visit that cannot finish the job.
If you only need a spare for a key you still have, that is a simpler request and a different page. Our car key replacement service covers the wider range of key jobs. This page is for the harder situation where the last key is gone.
What should you do right now if you have lost all your car keys?
Before you call anyone, a few minutes of checking can save you a service call, and a few things are worth avoiding.
- Retrace your steps once, calmly. Check pockets, bags, jacket linings, the car's seat gaps if you can get in, and the place you last parked.
- If the keys may be inside the locked car, that is a lockout, not a lost-key job. See our car lockout service, because getting in without damage is a separate and often quicker fix.
- Do not try to start the car with a screwdriver or force the ignition. It can damage the ignition and the steering lock and turn a key job into a repair job.
- Have your vehicle ready to identify: the VIN is usually visible at the base of the windshield on the driver's side and on the registration.
- Find proof that the car is yours, such as your registration or title, and your photo ID. We will need to see them.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366How do we make a replacement car key without the original?
Every vehicle is a little different, but the work follows the same order. We do the work at your vehicle, so you do not have to tow it anywhere for a straightforward job.
- You call (213) 577-1366 and tell us the year, make and model, where the car is, and whether you have any key at all. The line is answered 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
- We ask about the key type you remember: a metal key with a plastic head, a push-button start, a flip key, or a fob. That helps us bring the right equipment on the van.
- We come to the vehicle. Before any work starts, we check your ID and your proof of ownership and match the VIN to the paperwork.
- We identify the lock and the key system by VIN and in person. If something about the vehicle conflicts with what we expected, we say so and explain what it changes.
- We cut the new key to fit, using the vehicle's key information rather than an original blade.
- If the vehicle needs it, we program the new key to the car. Our transponder key programming page explains what that involves in more detail.
- We test the key in the door, the ignition or start button, and any buttons on the head, and we do not leave until you have seen it work.
What will we ask you for, and why?
Making a working key for a car is something that should not happen for just anyone who stands next to it, and an honest locksmith will ask who you are. We ask for these every time, and it protects you as much as it protects us.
- A government photo ID.
- Proof the vehicle is yours, such as the registration or title.
- The VIN, which we match to the paperwork and to the vehicle itself.
- A clear account of how many keys you have had and whether any might still be out there.
What affects the cost of lost car key replacement?
We do not quote a number in a web page because the honest answer depends on the vehicle. After you give us the details on the phone, we explain what applies to your case before we drive out. These are the real factors.
The first is the key type. A plain mechanical key, a chipped key, a flip key and a smart key each involve different parts and different work. The second is the vehicle itself, because some makes and models need more steps to program than others, and some limit what can be done outside a dealer. The third is whether the car also needs something else, such as a damaged ignition addressed or an extra key added, and our ignition repair service handles that side if it turns up.
The fourth is the time and place. A call in the middle of the night, or to a hard-to-reach spot, is a different job from a daytime visit to a driveway. The fifth is the number of keys. Making two keys at the same visit is usually the more economical route than coming back later for a spare, because most of the setup work is already done.
One honest note on comparing quotes: California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license, and you should ask any locksmith you are considering for it. Ask what the price covers, including the trip, the key, the cutting and the programming, so you can compare like with like.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366When is the dealer the only option?
A mobile locksmith can handle many vehicles, but not every one. For some makes, models or model years, the equipment or the access needed to program a new key is controlled by the manufacturer, and only the dealer can complete the job. When that is the case for your car, we will say so after we check the VIN, before you have paid for a visit that cannot finish the work.
Where information about a particular vehicle is unclear or conflicting, we do not pretend to know. We confirm by VIN and in person. In some cases that means telling you honestly that the dealer or a tow to the dealer is the right route, and we would rather say that on the first call than waste your evening.
If the car cannot be driven and the dealer is the answer, you can still call us for the pieces that are ours to do, such as getting into the vehicle. Our automotive locksmith page lists the full range of vehicle work we handle.
What does lost car key replacement look like in La Cañada Flintridge?
La Cañada Flintridge is almost entirely single-family housing, with large-lot mid-century ranch homes in places like Alta Canyada, custom hillside houses, and older estates in Flintridge. That affects how a lost-key call plays out. A lot of cars here sit on long driveways, in detached garages, or behind estate gates. When we come to a car in 91011, the first practical question is often simply how we reach it. Tell us if there is a gate code, a gate that needs opening, or a driveway that is steep or narrow, so the van can get close and we can work at the vehicle.
Gates also raise a related question. If your car keys and your gate access were on the same ring, the gate may need attention too, and our gate lock repair service covers that. We keep it separate from the car key job so each gets done properly.
Another common situation is a ring that held both car and house keys. If you are locked out of the house near the Foothill Boulevard town center or elsewhere in town, you may need a house lockout visit first, and we can often handle the car and the house in the same trip if you tell us up front.
Where you lost the key matters too. If it may have fallen out somewhere along the Angeles Crest Highway corridor, near the Descanso Gardens area, around Memorial Park, or in a lot near Flintridge Preparatory School or JPL, it is worth a call to the place before you assume the key is gone for good. Whatever you find, we can come to the vehicle wherever it is parked.
The climate matters a little as well. The foothills run hotter and windier than the basin during Santa Ana events, and winter storms can hit the canyon edges hard. If you are stranded outside in either, tell us so we can treat it as urgent. Our base is at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood, about 22 miles from La Cañada Flintridge, and our mobile vans do the traveling so that you do not have to. For a wider picture of what we do here, see our La Cañada Flintridge locksmith page.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for a lost car key?
We have been in business since 1987, and we have a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024, as well as mobile service vans. We serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, and La Cañada Flintridge is one of them. That combination matters. The van brings the work to you, and the shop behind it holds the stock and know-how for harder jobs.
You are dealing with one company, not a dispatch middleman who passes your call to whoever is closest. The people who answer the phone are the people who stand behind the work, and David, the owner and lead technician, oversees how jobs are done. That is a plain advantage when your night is already going badly.
We will not rush you into a decision. If the best answer for your car is the dealer, we say so. If you would be better off waiting until morning for a lower-cost visit, we say that too, and the line is still open if you change your mind. For night calls and urgent situations, see our emergency locksmith service, and for a general look at how we work on the road, our mobile locksmith page.
What should you do after you have a new key?
Once the car starts, the job is not quite finished. Ask for a spare to be made at the same visit if the vehicle allows it, because having two keys means you never face an all-keys-lost situation again. Keep the spare somewhere other than your car, your usual bag or the key hook by the same door.
If any old key might still turn up, tell us, because the car may need to be told to stop trusting the lost key. A key that is missing could be in someone else's hands, and that is worth taking seriously. We can explain the options for your specific vehicle.
If you want a hard-copy backup of a non-chip key, our key duplication page covers it. And if your fob has been damaged rather than lost, our key fob replacement service is the closer fit. When you are ready to talk, you can also reach us through our contact page or by phone at (213) 577-1366.
Frequently asked questions
Can you make a car key if I have lost all of them?
In many cases, yes. We cut and, where needed, program a new key from scratch, with no original needed. Some vehicles are limited to the dealer for this work, and we tell you honestly if yours is one of them after we confirm the vehicle by VIN.
What do I need to show you before you make a replacement car key?
We ask for a government photo ID and proof the vehicle is yours, such as the registration or title. We also match the VIN to the paperwork and the car. It is a routine step that protects you.
Do you come to La Cañada Flintridge, or do I need to bring the car in?
We come to you. Our mobile vans serve La Cañada Flintridge, and we work at the vehicle in a driveway, on the street or in a lot. If your car is behind a gate or on a long driveway, tell us when you call.
Is it more economical to use a locksmith or the dealer?
It depends on the vehicle and the key type. A locksmith often avoids a tow and works where the car is, which is usually the more economical route when the car is in your driveway. For some vehicles only the dealer can finish the job, and we tell you if that applies.
How long will it take to replace my lost car key?
It depends on the vehicle, the key type and whether programming is needed. We give you an honest picture on the phone and again at the vehicle once we have confirmed the VIN, rather than promising a figure we cannot be sure of.
Will the old lost key still start my car after you make a new one?
Not always unless it is dealt with. If a lost key might be in someone else's hands, tell us. We can explain what is possible for your specific vehicle to stop the old key being trusted.
What if my car key and house key were on the same ring?
Tell us when you call. If you are locked out of your home as well, we can look at the house and the car together. Our house lockout service is separate from the car key work, but they can often be handled in one trip.
How do I know a locksmith is legitimate?
California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license, and you can ask any locksmith for it before they start. Ask them also for a clear explanation of what is included in the quote.
Can you make a spare key at the same visit?
Often yes, depending on the vehicle. Making a second key during the same visit is usually the more economical route than a separate visit later, and it protects you from facing the same problem again.
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Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.