Car Key Replacement in San Fernando, CA

What does car key replacement in San Fernando actually involve?

A replacement car key is not just a piece of metal cut to a pattern. On many vehicles on the road today, the car also has to recognize the key before the engine will run. That means cutting and programming are two separate jobs, and both have to go right. Wilshire Lock & Key does both at your vehicle, so you are not towing a car to a shop just to get a key made.

Most people call us in one of three situations. They have lost the only key. They have one working key and want a spare before it is too late. Or they have a key that is worn, cracked or partly broken and is starting to fail. The work is different in each case, and so is the cost, so the first thing we do is sort out which one you are in.

This page is about cutting, duplicating and replacing keys for cars in San Fernando. If your problem is a locked car with the key sitting inside, that is a different job, and it is covered on our car lockout page.

Lost key, spare key or duplicate: which one do you need?

These sound similar on the phone, but they are not the same job, and knowing which one you need saves you time and money.

A duplicate or spare car key is the easier case. You still have a working key, and having it in hand generally makes the job simpler. It is usually the more economical route, and it is the one we encourage people to do before there is an emergency. Exactly what your vehicle allows is something we confirm by VIN rather than assume.

If every key is gone, the job has more steps, because there is nothing to copy from. Depending on the vehicle, we work out the cut another way, make the key, and then program it to the car. We cover that situation in more detail on our lost car key replacement page.

• Spare or duplicate car key: you have at least one working key and want another.
• Replacement key: the key is lost, stolen or too damaged to use, and a new one has to be made.
• Worn key: the cuts are rounded off and the key drags or sticks, so a fresh key cut to the car is the fix.
• Remote or fob problem only: the metal key works but the buttons do not, which is a key fob replacement question.

How we replace a car key, step by step

Every vehicle is a little different, but the process on a normal job looks like this.

1. You call (213) 577-1366 at any hour. We ask for the year, make and model, exactly where the car is parked, and whether you have any working key.
2. We ask for the VIN, which you can usually read through the windshield at the base of the dashboard or on the sticker in the driver's door jamb. We use it to confirm what your car needs. Where the information is unclear, we say so and confirm in person.
3. A technician comes to the car in one of our vans. We ask to see ID and proof that the car is yours, such as the registration or title. This protects you as much as it protects us.
4. We check the door lock and ignition before cutting anything. A key cut perfectly for a badly worn lock will not solve your problem.
5. We cut the key to fit your car, then program it so the vehicle accepts it.
6. We test everything before we leave: door locks, trunk, ignition, starting the engine, and any remote buttons. If you had old keys, we test those too and tell you what we found.

What kind of key does your car use?

Cars come with a range of key styles: plain metal keys, keys with a built-in chip, keys with a remote on the head, thicker keys cut along the sides rather than the edges, and push-button start fobs. Which one your car uses depends on its make, model and year. We do not guess from the model name. We confirm by VIN and by looking at the car.

That is also why we are careful about what we promise on the phone. Programming rules differ from one vehicle to the next. Where the details are unverified or conflicting, we tell you plainly that we need to check in person before we say yes.

We will also be honest when a vehicle is a dealer-only case. A small number of cars keep their programming behind equipment or codes that only the dealer can get. If yours is one of them, we will tell you that on the spot instead of sending a van out for nothing. Our transponder key programming page and our overview of automotive locksmith work explain more about how this works.

How much does car key replacement cost in San Fernando?

We do not quote a flat figure here because the honest answer is that it depends on your car. These are the things that move the cost.

Once we know your vehicle and your situation, we talk through the cost for your car before we start cutting.

• The vehicle: make, model and year decide which key blank and which programming method apply.
• The key style: a plain metal key is a different job from a key with a chip, a remote head or a push-button fob.
• Whether you have a working key: a spare is usually the lighter-cost option, while an all-keys-lost job takes more steps.
• How many keys you want made: making two at once is generally more efficient than making one now and one later.
• Condition of the lock and ignition: a worn ignition can make a new key work poorly, and repair is a separate item.
• Time and place: after-hours calls and the distance to the car are part of the picture, since our storefront is in Westwood, about 23 miles from San Fernando.
• Dealer involvement: if a vehicle needs a part or code from the dealer, that can change both the cost and the timeline.

Car key replacement around San Fernando, from the Mall to the Metrolink station

San Fernando is a compact city of about 2.4 square miles, all within ZIP code 91340, and we come to the car wherever it is. That might be downtown near the San Fernando Mall, along the Maclay Avenue corridor, on the Truman Street and San Fernando Road corridor, around the Civic Center, or near Las Palmas Park, Recreation Park or Pioneer Park.

One scenario we see in this area is the commuter who rides Metrolink. If you parked near the Sylmar/San Fernando station, took the train, and came back to find your key gone, you need someone who comes to the car rather than a tow to a shop. Tell us where the car is, and bring your ID and registration. If you are not sure the key is lost, check your bag and jacket pockets before you call. A key lost on a platform or a train can sometimes turn up.

The same applies at home. Many San Fernando homes are early-1900s bungalows and postwar houses on small lots, and cars get parked right outside. We cut and program the key where the car sits, whether you are by Las Palmas Park or near City Hall. If you run a small business on Maclay Avenue or San Fernando Road and want spare keys for a work vehicle, the process is the same.

Hot northeast-Valley summers and Santa Ana wind days put dust into exterior lock cylinders around town. That same grit can gum up a worn car door lock or ignition. If your key has started to stick or drag, mention it when you call.

Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for a car key?

We have been in business since 1987, and David, the owner and lead technician, oversees how we approach this work. We run a real storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood and mobile service vans. You are dealing with one company, not a call center that passes your job to whichever contractor picks it up. Our mobile locksmith service is how we bring the shop to your car.

The phone line is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year. We serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, and San Fernando is one of them. More about the city is on our San Fernando locksmith page.

One more thing worth knowing: California requires locksmith companies to hold a license from the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS), called an LCO license. Ask any locksmith you are considering for their license number before work begins. That is a fair question, and a straight company will answer it.

What to have ready when you call

A few details make the first call faster and help us bring the right equipment.

• Year, make and model of the car, plus the VIN if you can read it.
• Your exact location in San Fernando, such as a street, a cross street or a landmark.
• Whether you have any working key, a broken key or only a fob.
• Your ID and the registration or title, so we can confirm the car is yours.
• Anything odd about the ignition or doors, such as a key that sticks or an ignition that feels loose.

When the problem is not the key

Sometimes a new key does not fix the issue. If the key goes into the ignition but will not turn, or turns only with force, the ignition may be worn, and replacing the ignition cylinder is a different job. See our page on ignition repair. The same goes for a key broken off inside the lock: the broken piece has to come out first.

If you only want to ask whether your key is worn or whether an ignition key replacement makes sense, call us anyway. We will tell you what we see and what you need, and we will say so if the answer is nothing at all.

More locksmith help in San Fernando

• Automotive Locksmith in San Fernando
• Ignition Repair in San Fernando
• Key Fob Replacement in San Fernando
• Lost Car Key Replacement in San Fernando
• Transponder Key Programming in San Fernando
• 24 Hour Locksmith in San Fernando
• All services in San Fernando

Car Key Replacement near San Fernando

• Sylmar
• Mission Hills
• Pacoima
• Arleta
• North Hills
• Granada Hills