What does it mean when all your car keys are lost?
Losing the only key to your car is stressful. Losing every key, with no spare in a drawer and nothing to copy from, is a different problem from losing one of two. When you still have a working key, a locksmith can duplicate it or clone it. When you have none, the key has to be created from information about the vehicle itself. That is what lost car key replacement is: a new key, built from scratch, that your car will accept.
People often assume this means towing the car to a dealership and waiting. Sometimes that is the right call, and we will tell you plainly when it is. But for many vehicles a mobile locksmith can cut the key and program it right where the car is parked, in a driveway, a work lot, or a street space. You do not need the original key, and you do not need a spare.
This page is about the all-keys-lost situation specifically. If you still have one working key and just want another, that is a simpler job, covered under car key replacement. If you are locked out but know where your keys are, that is a car lockout, which is usually the quicker and lighter-cost fix.
How do we make a replacement car key without the original?
The process has a few distinct stages, and each one exists for a reason. Here is how a typical job goes, from your first call to driving away.
- 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. Someone answers around the clock, any day of the year.
- We ask for the VIN, which is visible on the driver-side dashboard near the windshield and on your registration and insurance card. The VIN lets us confirm what kind of key your vehicle uses and what it takes to make one.
- Before any key is made, we verify that you own or are authorized to use the vehicle. Expect to show a photo ID and registration or title that matches. This protects you, because the same skills that help you could help a thief.
- We cut the key blade from the vehicle's key code or by working from the lock itself, depending on the vehicle. Cutting from code is the cleaner route when the code is obtainable for your car.
- If your vehicle needs it, we program the new key or smart key so the car's immobilizer recognizes it. Then we test it: door locks, ignition or push-button start, and remote functions where they apply.
- We hand you the working key and ask you to try it a few times before we leave. If you want a second key made while we are there, that is the best moment to do it.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366What should you have ready when you call?
A little preparation saves time and avoids a wasted trip. None of this is difficult, and if you are missing something, tell us anyway. We will work out what is possible.
- The year, make, and model of the vehicle, and trim level if you know it.
- The VIN, from the dashboard plate, your registration, or your insurance card.
- A photo ID, and a registration or title in the same name, to show when we arrive.
- The exact location of the vehicle, including the cross street or parking lot, and whether it is on private property.
- Whether the car has a push-button start or a traditional key slot.
- Anything you know about the keys, such as whether the old one had a remote or a plastic head.
Will your car need a transponder key, a smart key, or just a metal key?
It depends on the vehicle, and we will not guess. Some cars accept a simple cut key. Many others use a key with an electronic chip that the car has to recognize before the engine will run, and some use a proximity smart key with push-button start. The make, model, and year decide which one you have, and we confirm by VIN and in person rather than trusting a general rule.
We do not quote one-size-fits-all statements about particular makes over the phone. Programming requirements vary, and some details differ even between model years of the same car. If something about your vehicle is unclear to us, we say so and verify it before starting work, so you are not told one thing on the phone and another at the curb.
There are also honest limits. Some vehicles may be dealer-only for certain key types or for particular programming steps, and in those cases a locksmith cannot complete the job on site. If yours turns out to be one of them, we will tell you directly instead of leaving you to find out after a wasted visit, and we will explain what the dealer will need from you.
If your project is mainly about the electronics, see our pages on transponder key programming and key fob replacement, which go deeper on those parts.
How much does lost car key replacement cost in La Mirada?
We do not give a flat number over the phone, because a fair quote depends on your actual vehicle. Anyone who gives you a firm figure without asking what car you drive is guessing. Here is what moves the cost up or down:
- The type of key. A basic cut key, a transponder key, and a smart key are different products with different parts and different programming work.
- The vehicle's make, model, and year, which determine the equipment and software the job requires.
- Whether the key can be cut from a code or has to be worked out from the lock, which changes how much labor is involved.
- The time of day. Night, weekend, and holiday calls take us out of normal hours, and that is reflected in the quote.
- Where the car is. A car in a driveway is straightforward; one in a difficult spot can take longer to reach and work on.
- How many keys you want. Making a second key during the same visit is usually the more economical route compared with calling us back later.
- Whether anything else is wrong, such as a worn ignition or a damaged lock, which may need separate repair.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366What lost-key situations come up around La Mirada?
La Mirada is a car-dependent city of single-story tract streets, shopping centers, and a university campus, so a lost key can happen almost anywhere. Some patterns are worth describing, with the caveat that every call is different.
Around the Biola University area, student housing and rentals mean a lot of people living in shared spaces, often with one set of keys passed between roommates. A key that disappears there can mean a car with no remaining key at all. If you are a student or a parent trying to sort this out from a distance, you can send us the VIN and ownership documents ahead of time so the visit goes smoothly.
The Imperial Highway corridor and the retail centers nearby are where many drivers park for long stretches while shopping or working. A key lost in a store, a restaurant, or a shopping cart leaves you with a car in a lot and nothing to open it. We come to the car, and the parking lot is a workable place to do the job when conditions allow.
On the residential side, someone in the Hillsborough area or on a tract street off Foster Road who loses a key at home is usually dealing with a driveway job, which is the easiest kind. The same goes for the Creek Park area and the Santa Gertrudes Avenue corridor. For condo and townhome communities, such as the La Mirada Landmark adult community, a gated or controlled-access entry can change how we reach you, so tell us about the gate and guest parking when you call.
Visits to the Civic Center and the La Mirada Theatre area, or to La Mirada Regional Park, are the kind of outing where keys slip out of a pocket or bag. All of La Mirada shares ZIP code 90638, and we serve the whole city, including the adjacent unincorporated area of East La Mirada.
Our storefront is in Westwood, roughly 29 miles from La Mirada, and our mobile vans are what actually bring the work to you. You do not need to tow the car to us. If the vehicle is in a safe spot, we come to it.
What should you check before assuming every key is gone?
We would rather you not pay for a new key you did not need. Before you call, a few quick checks are worth the effort, especially if the key has only gone missing recently.
Retrace your steps and check the places keys really end up: coat pockets, the bottom of a bag, couch cushions, the car seat or floor if you can see inside, the front desk or lost-and-found of wherever you were. Call the last place you visited. Ask a roommate or family member whether they picked up a spare. If you rent, ask your landlord whether a spare was left on file. If you bought the car used, ask whether the previous owner kept one.
Check for a second key that you forgot about. Many people have a spare tucked into a kitchen drawer or a hidden box they set up years ago. If you find one, you may only need a duplicate. Our key duplication page covers that situation.
If you can see your keys inside the locked car, you do not need a new key at all. You need a lockout service. And if a key snapped off in the door or ignition, that is a separate job handled by broken key extraction, not a replacement.
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 are one company, not a call center that hands your job to whoever is available. The person you speak with is part of the same operation that sends the van. We have a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Los Angeles, and mobile vans that go out across 140 cities in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work.
We answer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year, because lost keys do not follow business hours. Many of these calls come late at night or after a long day, and a plain answer and a straight explanation help more than a sales pitch. We will tell you what your vehicle needs, what we can do on site, and what might be better handled by a dealer.
One more thing worth knowing: California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license, and you should ask any locksmith for it before they work on your car or your home. That includes us. Asking is a normal part of hiring someone who will be making keys to your vehicle.
If you want to talk through your situation before committing to anything, the mobile locksmith page explains how our vans work, and our contact page has other ways to reach us.
What happens after you have the new key?
Once your new key works, a few follow-up steps are worth taking. If your old keys might be in someone else's hands, such as lost in a public place, taken in a bag, or left at a house you no longer have access to, ask us whether the lost keys can be removed from the vehicle's memory. Whether that is possible depends on the vehicle, and we will tell you plainly what applies to yours.
Get a spare made while we are already there. It is much simpler to make two keys in one visit than to repeat the whole process later after losing the next one. Keep that spare somewhere safe and separate from your daily key, and not in the car.
If the ignition felt rough or the key did not turn smoothly during testing, mention it. A worn ignition can damage new keys over time, and our ignition repair service can address that. We would rather flag it than have you back in the same situation in a few months.
Frequently asked questions
Can you make a car key if I have lost all of my keys?
In many cases, yes. We create a new key from the vehicle's information, so no original is needed. We confirm the key type by VIN and in person. Some vehicles may be dealer-only for certain key types, and if yours is one of them, we will tell you honestly before doing any work.
Do I need to tow my car to get a replacement key?
Often not. Our mobile vans come to the car, whether it is in a driveway, a parking lot, or on the street. Towing to a dealer becomes necessary only when a vehicle cannot be completed on site, and we will say so clearly if that applies.
What proof do I need to show that the car is mine?
Bring a photo ID and a registration or title that matches your name. We also use the VIN to confirm the vehicle. We ask for this on every job because making a key for a car is not something we do for anyone who simply asks.
How long will it take to replace a lost car key?
It depends on the vehicle and key type. A simple cut key is quicker than a smart key that needs programming. We explain the steps for your specific car when you call, and we do not promise a time we cannot verify until we see the vehicle.
How much does a replacement car key cost?
We do not quote numbers without knowing your car. Cost depends on the key type, the make, model, and year, the time of day, where the car is, how many keys you want, and whether anything else needs repair. We give you a clear quote once we know the details.
Is it cheaper to go to the dealership or call a locksmith?
It varies by vehicle. A mobile locksmith is often the more economical route because there is no towing and no waiting for a service appointment, but that is not true for every car. We will tell you honestly if your vehicle is better served by the dealer.
Can you replace a key fob or smart key, not just a metal key?
Many vehicles use fobs or proximity keys, and we confirm what yours uses by VIN. For details on the electronic side, see our key fob replacement page. As with any vehicle, we verify what is possible before starting.
Will the old lost keys still start my car?
That depends on the vehicle. In some cases the lost keys can be removed from the car's memory when we program the new ones, so they no longer work. Ask us when you call, and we will tell you what applies to your car.
Do you come out at night or on weekends in La Mirada?
Yes. We answer the phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year, at (213) 577-1366. Night, weekend, and holiday calls can affect the quote, and we explain that up front.
More locksmith help in La Mirada
Lost Car Key Replacement near La Mirada
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.