What counts as a key fob, and which kind do you have?
People use "key fob" for a few different things, and the difference matters because it changes what we have to do. The first kind is a remote head key or a separate remote: you have a metal blade that starts the car, and buttons that lock, unlock or open the trunk. The second kind is a smart key, also called a proximity key. You keep it in a pocket or bag, the car senses it nearby, and you start the engine with a button on the dash. That is the push to start key or push button start key most newer cars use.
Both kinds hold electronics that have to be matched to your specific vehicle. A new fob out of the box does nothing until it is programmed to your car, and in many cases the old fob has to be dealt with too, so a lost one cannot keep working. That programming step is the real work of key fob replacement. Cutting a blade, where there is one, is the easy part.
If you are not sure which type you have, that is fine. Look at the car: a start button usually means a smart key, and a keyhole in the column usually means a remote head key or a blade with a separate remote. When you call, we will ask the year, make and model and sort out the rest from there.
What happens when a key fob dies, breaks or goes missing?
Most fob problems fall into a few groups. The fob is lost and you have no other key. The fob still works but the buttons are worn, cracked or intermittent. The case has broken apart. The car no longer recognizes the fob after a battery change or a long period sitting unused. Or you have one working fob and want a spare before it becomes a bigger problem.
These are not the same situation, and the right fix is different for each. A weak battery is a small fix and sometimes just needs a new cell. A fob that is physically damaged may need a new shell or a full replacement. A fob that is completely lost is the more involved case, because the car has to be told to accept a new key, and often to stop accepting the missing one.
If you are locked out as well, with the lost fob inside the car, that is a separate job from replacement. Our car lockout service gets you back in without damage, and we can then look at whether the fob needs attention. If you have lost your only key altogether, our lost car key replacement page explains that process in more detail.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366How does mobile key fob programming work, step by step?
Our vans carry cutting and programming equipment, so for most vehicles the work is done where the car is parked. You do not have to arrange a tow or get the car to a shop first. Here is how a typical visit goes.
- You call (213) 577-1366 and tell us the year, make and model, and whether the car uses a key or a start button. We ask whether you have any working key at all, because that changes the approach.
- We confirm the details that matter, including the VIN. Fob compatibility is not always obvious from the model name alone, and we would rather verify than guess.
- A technician drives to your location in Reseda with the equipment for your vehicle type. We check the car and confirm in person that we can do the job before any work begins.
- We prepare the new fob or key, cutting the emergency blade when the key has one.
- We program the new fob to the vehicle. If you are replacing a lost fob, we also deal with the missing one where the vehicle allows it, so it cannot be used to open or start the car.
- We test every function: lock, unlock, trunk, panic where fitted, and starting the car. For smart keys, we check that the car recognizes the fob inside the cabin.
- We go over what you have, suggest a spare if you only have one working fob, and give you the final cost before you pay.
What affects the cost of key fob replacement?
We do not publish flat numbers for fobs, because the same-sounding job can be very different depending on the car. These are the factors that actually move the cost:
- The vehicle itself. Year, make and model determine what kind of fob is needed and how the car accepts a new one.
- Type of fob. A basic remote is a different part from a smart proximity key, and a remote head key with a cut blade has more components than either.
- Whether you have a working key. Adding a spare when you still have a fob is generally a simpler job than starting from nothing after every key is lost.
- Original or aftermarket parts. Some vehicles accept quality aftermarket fobs, and others work reliably only with original-equipment parts. We tell you which applies to your car.
- Where and when. A scheduled visit costs differently from an emergency call-out in the middle of the night, and distance plays a part.
- Extra work. If the ignition, lock cylinder or door lock is damaged or worn, that is separate work on top of the fob.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Should I go to the dealer or call a locksmith?
The dealer is a legitimate option and sometimes the only one. Some makes and models, and some newer systems, are restricted so that only the manufacturer's dealership can supply or program a key. We do not hide that. If your car falls in that group, we say so on the phone or when we see the vehicle, and we will not take your money for a job we cannot do.
What we cannot do is promise a single answer for every car from here, because compatibility depends on the specific vehicle. We confirm by VIN and in person rather than quoting from a general chart. If we can do it, you get a technician who comes to you. If we cannot, you will know before we begin.
The practical difference for most people is logistics. A dealer visit usually means getting the car there, which is a real problem when you have no working key. A mobile visit avoids that. If you are weighing both, call us first and ask whether your car is one we can handle. It costs nothing to find out.
For a broader look at how we deal with vehicle keys of all types, see our automotive locksmith page and our car key replacement page.
Why get a spare key fob before you lose the last one?
The cost difference between adding a spare and replacing after total loss is one of the most common things people wish they had known. With a working fob in hand, programming a second one is typically more straightforward. With none, the work usually involves more steps, and the car may be stuck where it is until it is sorted.
A spare is also useful in ordinary life: a second driver in the household, a fob kept at home rather than in a bag, or a backup when a daily fob is getting worn. If your current fob is cracked, sticky or only works some of the time, treat that as the signal. Replace or add before it quits.
Some cars use a conventional key blade and a separate transponder chip rather than a full remote. For those, transponder key programming is the relevant service. If the car sometimes will not turn the key or the key will not come out, that points at the ignition rather than the fob, and ignition repair is the page to read.
Key fob service around Reseda
Reseda sits in ZIP code 91335, in the Los Angeles side of the San Fernando Valley, and our storefront is about 17 miles away on Wilshire Boulevard in Westwood. That is why we work from vans: the technician and the equipment come to you rather than the other way round.
Where you park tells you a lot about how a fob problem plays out. Older apartment buildings line Sherman Way, Vanowen and Saticoy, and residents there often park in shared or gated areas. A lost fob can mean a car sitting in a building's lot with the owner locked out of their own transport. We can meet you at the car, wherever it is, and do the programming there. If the same situation also involves being shut out of your unit, our apartment lockout service handles that side.
In Downtown Reseda, around Sherman Way and Reseda Boulevard, a lot of people are in and out of their cars all day for work and errands, and the fob lives in a pocket or bag. That is exactly the situation where a smart key gets dropped, left behind or worn out. The same applies on the Reseda Boulevard, Victory Boulevard and Tampa Avenue corridors, where cars are in daily use rather than sitting still.
Over in Reseda Ranch, the Reseda Park and LA River area and the single-story tract streets nearby, we are more often asked for a spare fob so a second driver in the household has one. That is a calm, scheduled job, and it is the lighter-cost way to deal with the problem compared with replacing after every key is gone.
You do not have to be in a specific part of Reseda to call. If the car is within our service area, a technician can come. Our mobile locksmith page covers how those visits work more generally.
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 key fob?
We have been in business since 1987, and we serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties. That is a long time and a lot of ground, and it means vehicle keys are not something we are working out as we go.
We are one company, with a storefront on Wilshire Boulevard and our own mobile vans. We do not hand your call to a dispatch middleman who then finds someone else to send. The person who answers works for the same company as the person who arrives.
David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work. That matters most on the difficult jobs: the unusual car, the lost-everything situation, the case where the honest answer is that the dealer is the right route.
We are available around the clock, every day of the year. A dead fob does not pick a convenient hour, so neither do we. You can reach us any time at (213) 577-1366, or use our contact page if you want to describe the car in writing first.
How do you check that a locksmith is legitimate?
California requires locksmith companies to hold a license from the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, known as a BSIS LCO license. When you hire any locksmith, ask for that license number before work starts. A real company will give it to you without fuss.
Beyond that, watch for a few signs. Be wary of anyone who will not discuss what the work involves until they arrive. Be wary of a quote that changes sharply on the doorstep with no explanation. Vehicle key work in particular should involve questions about your car and ownership. We will ask you to show that the car is yours, because programming a key to a vehicle is not something anyone should do for a stranger without checking.
Frequently asked questions
Can you replace a key fob if I have lost every key to the car?
In many cases yes. It is the more involved version of the job, and the details depend on the vehicle. We confirm by VIN and in person whether we can do it, and we tell you straight away if your car is one that only a dealer can handle.
Is a smart key the same as a push to start key?
Usually, yes. A smart key or proximity key lets the car detect the fob nearby so you can start it with a button. People also call these push button start keys. They hold electronics that must be programmed to the car.
Do you come to me in Reseda, or do I bring the car in?
We come to you. Our mobile vans carry the equipment, so most programming happens where the car is parked, whether that is a driveway, a street or a shared lot. That is especially useful when you have no working key to drive with.
Can you just add a spare key fob if I still have one that works?
Yes, and it is usually the simpler route. Having a working fob generally makes programming a second one more straightforward than starting from nothing. If your current fob is worn or unreliable, adding a spare soon is sensible.
How much does key fob replacement cost?
It depends on the vehicle, the type of fob, whether you have a working key, original or aftermarket parts, the time of day and the distance. We explain the factors on the phone and give you the final cost before any work begins.
Will the old fob still work after you program a new one?
For a lost fob, we deal with the missing one where the vehicle allows it, so it cannot be used to open or start the car. The exact options depend on the make and model, and we confirm them when we see the vehicle.
Is it ever better to go to the dealer?
Sometimes. A few vehicles and systems are dealer-only for keys, and we say so honestly if yours is one of them. If we can do the job, mobile service avoids having to get the car to a dealership without a key.
Do I need to prove the car is mine?
Yes. Programming a key to a vehicle is a security-sensitive job, so we ask you to show that you own the car or are authorized to have a key made for it. It protects you as much as anyone.
Can you help at night or on weekends?
Yes. We answer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year. Call (213) 577-1366 whenever the problem comes up and we will talk through your vehicle and next steps.
More locksmith help in Reseda
Key Fob Replacement near Reseda
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.