What happens when you lose all your car keys?
Losing one key is an annoyance. Losing all of your car keys is a different problem, because there is no spare to copy and nothing to start from. A simple duplicating machine can't help you here. The car has to be told to accept a new key, and in many cases the key itself has to be cut fresh from the vehicle's information instead of from a sample in your hand.
People usually call us in one of a few situations. The last key fell out of a pocket somewhere between a parking spot and home. A valet, a friend or an ex never gave one back. A bag was stolen with the keys inside. Or the spare you were certain was in a kitchen drawer turns out not to exist. Each of these changes what we do first. If the keys were stolen along with something that shows where you live, we'll tell you plainly that the house locks deserve a thought too, since the person holding your keys may know both the car and the address.
Whatever happened, the goal is the same: put a working key in your hand and leave you with fewer loose ends than you started with. Whether the lost keys can be erased from the car's memory depends on the vehicle and its system, so we check that against your VIN instead of assuming.
Can you get a replacement car key without the original?
In many cases, yes. A replacement car key without the original is not a copy of anything. It is a new key built from the vehicle's identity: the VIN, proof that you own the car, and the lock and key information that goes with that vehicle. The key is cut to match, and if the car uses an electronic key, that key is then programmed so the vehicle recognizes it.
We want to be straight about the limits. Some vehicles are dealer-only for this kind of work, meaning the manufacturer controls the data or the equipment needed and an independent locksmith can't complete it. Others are possible for us but only after we confirm details in person. Because the facts differ from one make, model and year to the next, we confirm by VIN before any work starts and tell you right then if your car falls on the dealer side. You should never pay for a van visit that couldn't have succeeded.
If your car uses a push-button start or a smart fob instead of a traditional blade, the job is different again. Our pages on transponder key programming and key fob replacement explain those key types in more detail. For a lost-everything situation, the short version is that we sort out the key type first and the plan second.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366How we replace a lost car key, step by step
Here is how a typical all-keys-lost job goes. The exact order can shift depending on the vehicle, but nothing here is filler.
- You call (213) 577-1366. A person answers at any hour, any day. Tell us the year, make and model, where the car is, and whether it is locked or open.
- We ask for the VIN, usually visible through the windshield on the driver's side dash or printed on your registration or insurance card. With it, we work out what kind of key the car needs and whether it is something we can do or something that needs a dealer.
- If the news is that your vehicle is dealer-only, we say so on the phone and point you in the right direction instead of sending a van anyway.
- A mobile van comes to the car. If the car has been towed to Westwood or another spot convenient for you, we can also work with it there. The storefront is at 10740 Wilshire Blvd.
- On arrival, we check your ID against the registration or title. This is not an insult, it is how a reputable locksmith keeps cars from being driven off by the wrong person.
- If the car is locked, we get you inside without damaging the door or window. Our car lockout page explains how that part works.
- We cut the new key from the vehicle's information, then program it to the car if the vehicle requires it.
- We test the key properly: door locks, trunk, ignition or push-button start, and any remote buttons. We don't hand it over until everything works.
- Before we leave, we talk about a spare. Having two keys is what keeps you from ever repeating this day.
What should you have ready when you call?
Most delays on all-keys-lost jobs come from missing paperwork, not from the work itself. A little preparation helps the visit go smoothly.
- Your driver's license or other photo ID.
- Proof the car is yours: registration, title, or an insurance card showing your name and the vehicle.
- The VIN. If you can't find a document, a photo of the VIN plate at the base of the windshield works.
- The exact year, make, model and trim, if you know it.
- The car's location, including the level and space number if it is in a garage, plus any gate or access instructions.
- Whether the car is locked, and whether a key was ever cut for it besides the ones you lost.
- If the car is leased or financed, the contact for the lessor, in case something about the key needs their approval.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366How much does lost car key replacement cost in Los Angeles?
We don't quote prices on a web page because the honest answer depends on your car, and a number that is right for one vehicle would be wrong for the next. What we can do is tell you what actually moves the cost, so a quote makes sense when you hear it.
The biggest factor is the type of key. A plain metal key with no electronics is a very different job from a key with a chip, and both are different from a smart fob for a push-button start car. The vehicle's year, make and model matter next, because security systems vary a lot and some take far more time and equipment to program than others.
Other factors include whether the car is locked and needs entry first, whether the ignition or lock is damaged and needs ignition repair work along with the key, how many keys you want made, and where the car is sitting. Time of day can matter too, since a late-night call involves a different arrangement than a weekday visit.
Our practice is to give you a clear figure after we have the VIN and know the key type, and before work begins. If anything changes once we're on site, we tell you first. You decide whether to proceed.
Locksmith or dealer: which route makes sense?
For some vehicles the dealer is the only option, and we'll say so. For many others, a mobile automotive locksmith is the practical route, mainly because the work happens where the car is. With a dealer, a car with no working key often has to be towed first, you wait for an appointment, and the key may need to be ordered by VIN. Skipping the tow and the wait is why a locksmith visit is usually the more economical route, though not in every case.
It is also worth a quick check of whether your insurance policy or a roadside membership covers key replacement. Some do, some don't. We can't speak for your policy, but it is a five-minute question for your provider that could change how you approach the day.
Either way, avoid buying a random fob online and hoping it works. Keys that aren't matched to your exact vehicle can fail to program, and you've paid for something that can't be returned to service.
Lost car key replacement around Westwood, Koreatown and Downtown
Los Angeles is home turf for us. Our storefront sits in Westwood at 10740 Wilshire Blvd, ZIP 90024, and the vans work out from there across the central and west side of the city. A lost-keys call looks different depending on where the car is parked.
Around UCLA and Westwood Village, a lot of people live in student housing and apartments, and a lost car key often means a car sitting in a shared garage or on a street where it can't just stay. Along the Wilshire Corridor, the HOA-managed high-rise condominiums usually have controlled garage access. If your car is stuck in one, tell us the building and the space, and mention it to your management office so our van can get in.
Renters outnumber owners across most of central Los Angeles, and in Koreatown, Palms and Sawtelle the apartment buildings often have controlled-access entries and intercoms. It is common for a car key to share a ring with a building key or fob. If the whole ring is gone, we deal with the car side and can point you toward the right help for the building.
Further east, in Downtown Los Angeles around ZIP codes 90014, 90012 and 90017, the problem tends to come after a long day or night out. If you realize your keys are gone after an evening at Crypto.com Arena or L.A. Live, call us from wherever you are. In Century City, ZIP 90067, a lost key at the end of a workday is the same story, and the same VIN-first process applies.
We also reach Mid-Wilshire, Hollywood, Brentwood, Mar Vista and Rancho Park. If you're not sure we cover your block, call (213) 577-1366 and we'll tell you.
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 lost car keys?
We've been in business since 1987. That is a long time to be handling people's worst-day calls, and it shapes how we work: we tell you what is possible, what isn't, and what to expect before anything starts.
We are a storefront and a fleet of mobile vans, one company. When you call, you don't get routed through a dispatch middleman who passes the job to whoever is closest. The person who answers is part of the same operation as the technician who shows up. David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work.
The phone is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round, including holidays, which matters because keys rarely go missing during business hours. We serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, so if you're far from the city when this happens, we're still a reasonable call.
One more thing worth knowing: California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license. Ask any locksmith for it before they start work on your car. A company that dodges that question is telling you something.
What to do (and not do) right after you lose your keys
Before calling anyone, a few minutes of calm checking can save a visit. After that, a few things to avoid.
- Retrace your steps and check pockets, bags, jackets and the car's seats. Keys turn up more than people expect.
- Call places you've been, since a business may be holding them.
- If the keys were stolen, treat the car and anything with your address as at risk. Mention that when you call us.
- Don't pry at the door, window or ignition. Damage costs more than the key.
- Don't leave the car unattended and unlocked if you can help it.
- Find the VIN and your ownership paperwork while you wait, so the visit goes in one trip.
- Call (213) 577-1366 at any hour. We'd rather talk through your situation than have you guess.
Frequently asked questions
Can you make a car key if I've lost every key?
In many cases, yes. We build a new key from the vehicle's identity instead of copying an existing one. Some vehicles are dealer-only, so we confirm by VIN before work begins and tell you honestly if yours needs the dealer.
Do you need the original key to make a replacement?
No. The service exists for situations where there is no original. We use the VIN, proof of ownership and the vehicle's lock information to cut and, where required, program a new key.
What proof do I need to show you?
A photo ID plus something connecting you to the car, such as a registration, title or insurance card. We check these on site. It protects owners from anyone trying to get a key to a car that isn't theirs.
Can you come to my car, or do I have to bring it in?
Our mobile vans come to the car. If the car has been towed somewhere convenient, we can work there too, and our storefront is at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood.
How long does it take to replace a lost car key?
It depends on the key type and the car, so we won't promise a number. We'll tell you what to expect once we have your VIN and know whether the job is a plain key, a chipped key or a smart fob.
How much will it cost?
It depends on the key type, your vehicle's year, make and model, whether the car needs to be unlocked first, how many keys you want and where the car is. We give a clear figure after the VIN check and before work starts.
Will the lost keys still start my car?
That depends on the vehicle and its system. On some vehicles the old keys can be removed from the car's memory when a new one is programmed. We check what is possible for your VIN and tell you, so you aren't left guessing.
Is it better to call a locksmith or go to the dealer?
For some vehicles the dealer is the only option, and we'll say so. For many others a mobile locksmith avoids a tow and a wait, which is usually the more economical route. A VIN check settles it quickly.
Do you handle lost keys at night and on weekends?
Yes. Our phone at (213) 577-1366 is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round, including holidays.
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Lost Car Key Replacement near Los Angeles
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.