What happens when you've lost all your car keys?
Losing one car key is an annoyance. Losing all of them is a different problem, because there is nothing left to copy. A basic duplicate starts from an existing key. When every key is gone, the new one has to be created from the car itself. That is what lost car key replacement means, and it is a core part of what a full automotive locksmith does.
Most people end up here the same few ways. The keys fell out of a pocket on a walk, went into a bag that never came home, or stayed in a jacket left somewhere. Sometimes the only spare was already worn or cracked and nobody noticed until the other key disappeared. However it happened, the situation is the same: the car is parked, it won't start, and you need to know whether this is a quick fix or a tow to the dealer.
Our short answer is that for many vehicles it is neither a tow nor a long wait. We can often make a replacement car key without the original, on site, by working from the vehicle's identification number and the car's own electronics. For some makes and models that isn't possible, and we tell you so up front. The section on dealer-only cases below explains where that line falls.
How do we make a replacement car key without the original?
The process is the same whether you call at noon or at three in the morning. Here is what actually happens, in order.
- You call (213) 577-1366. Someone answers, whatever the hour. Tell us the year, make and model, and exactly where the car is parked.
- We tell you what we can and can't do for that vehicle before anyone drives out. If the information on the phone leaves open questions, we say so and confirm by VIN once we are at the car.
- A technician comes to you in one of our mobile service vans. The work happens where the car sits, so you don't pay for a tow just to start a key job.
- We confirm that the car is yours. We explain below what we ask to see, and we don't skip it, because making a working key for someone else's vehicle is exactly what a responsible locksmith has to prevent.
- We read the VIN and work out the correct key blank and cutting information for that specific vehicle. No original key is needed for this step.
- We cut the key. If your car uses a chip or a push-button fob, the new key then has to be programmed so the car recognizes it. Transponder key programming is its own piece of the job, and whether your vehicle needs it is something we confirm by VIN.
- We test everything before we leave: starting the engine, turning the key in the door, locking and unlocking, and any remote functions that apply. If the job calls for a second key, we make and test that too.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366What do you need to show before we make a new key?
Anyone can say a car is theirs, and a locksmith who cuts keys without asking is a risk to every car owner. So we ask for proof of ownership and a matching ID. It is a short check and it protects you as much as anyone.
- A photo ID that matches the name on the vehicle paperwork.
- Registration or title showing you as the owner, or other paperwork that ties you to the vehicle.
- For a leased or company vehicle, documentation showing you are authorized to have a key made. Call us first and we'll tell you what applies.
- Access to the car and its VIN. The VIN is normally visible at the base of the windshield on the driver's side, and it also appears on your registration and insurance card.
What affects the cost of lost car key replacement?
We don't quote numbers in an article, because a fair price depends on your specific car, and anyone naming a figure before knowing the vehicle is guessing. What we can do is explain what moves the cost so the quote you get on the phone makes sense.
One more point on honesty: replacing a key from scratch is more involved than copying one you already have, so it usually costs more than a duplicate. If you still have any working key, even a worn one, key duplication is usually the more economical route, and you should do it before the last one disappears.
- Type of key. A plain metal key, a key with a chip, a flip key and a push-button smart key are very different amounts of work and materials.
- Make, model and year. Some vehicles are straightforward to key without the original. Others need specialized steps or equipment, and a few can only be handled through the dealer.
- Programming. If the car needs to learn the new key, that adds time and equipment compared with a cut-only key.
- How many keys you want. Making a second key during the same visit is usually more efficient than coming back later for a spare.
- Whether lost keys need to be dealt with in the car. Whether a missing key can be removed from the car's memory depends on the vehicle, and we confirm that in person.
- Time and place. A middle-of-the-night call and a daytime appointment don't take the same resources, and we explain any difference when you call.
- Condition of the car. A damaged ignition or door lock changes the scope. In that case it may become ignition repair work on top of the key itself.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Can every lost car key be replaced by a locksmith?
No, and anyone who says yes to every car isn't being straight with you. Many vehicles can be keyed by a qualified automotive locksmith without the dealer. Some cannot, because the manufacturer restricts the information or equipment needed to authorize a new key to its own network.
When your vehicle falls into that group, we say so on the phone or at the car, and we don't charge you to find out something we could have told you earlier. If it is a dealer-only case, the practical path is usually to have the car taken to the dealer. We would rather send you in the right direction than start a job we can't finish.
Because chip and programming details vary so much, we don't give blanket claims such as 'we can do any Honda' or 'any push-button car is fine.' We confirm by VIN or in person, and that is the answer you get. If you are curious about the fob side specifically, our page on key fob replacement covers how that works. Our general car key replacement page is a good starting point if you haven't lost every key yet.
Lost car key replacement in South Pasadena
South Pasadena is a small city with ZIP code 91030, and the way people lose keys here follows the way people live here. Many of the homes in the Marengo neighborhood and the Mission West district are Craftsman, Victorian and period-revival houses from the 1890s to the 1930s, and the old street parking and driveways around them mean the car is often parked a little way from the front door. A key ring that slips out of a pocket between the car and the porch may never turn up again.
Apartments and condos cluster near the Fair Oaks Avenue corridor and on Raymond Hill, and those are places where car keys and home keys often share one ring. Condo lockouts on Raymond Hill are a scenario we know well. When someone is locked out and the car key is on the same lost ring, there are two problems at once, and it helps to tell us both when you call. We can handle the car side, and if the building door or unit also needs attention, our lock rekey service covers the home side, so you aren't dealing with two companies.
People also lose keys when they are out and about. Someone who parks near Garfield Park, walks the Arroyo Seco Golf Course, catches a show at the Rialto Theatre, spends time at the South Pasadena Public Library, or leaves the car near Mission Station on the Metro A Line and comes back to find the keys gone is in a bind that comes down to the same fix: the car has to be keyed from scratch, and it has to happen where the car is.
That is why the mobile side matters here. Our storefront is at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood, about 20 miles from South Pasadena, so we don't pretend to be around the corner. What we have is vans that go to the car, a phone that is answered at every hour, and a company that has been serving Los Angeles County since 1987. The weather isn't usually the issue in South Pasadena, since the inland climate is mild and weather-related wear on locks is modest, so most lost-key calls here come down to plain misplacement rather than a key damaged by the elements.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366What should you do before you call?
A few minutes of looking can save you a service call, and a few things can make the job go smoother if it turns out you do need one.
- Retrace your steps once more, including the car itself. Check seat folds, door pockets and under the seats before assuming the keys are gone.
- Look for a spare. A forgotten valet key, a spare in a drawer or one with a family member is the lighter-cost option if it exists.
- Gather your ID and registration, or know where they are. If the registration is in the car, tell us, since we may be able to retrieve it once the car is open.
- Find the VIN. A photo of your registration or insurance card will do.
- Don't keep trying to start the car or force the ignition. That can turn a key problem into a lock or ignition repair.
- If the car is also locked, mention it. Getting inside is a separate step from making the key, and our car lockout service handles it without harming the door.
Why call Wilshire Lock & Key?
Lost-key jobs are stressful, and people want to know who they are letting near their car. Here is what we can honestly say about ourselves.
- In business since 1987. Key work on cars has changed a great deal since then, and we have worked through those changes.
- A storefront and mobile vans. We have a real location at 10740 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024, and vans that come to you.
- One company, no dispatch middlemen. When you call (213) 577-1366, you are talking to us, not a call center that sends your job to whoever is free.
- David's oversight. David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work. It isn't handed to strangers and forgotten.
- Open all hours. The phone is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year-round.
- Straight answers on what we can't do. If your car is a dealer-only case, we say so.
- Wide coverage. We serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, South Pasadena included.
A note on checking any locksmith's credentials
California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license, issued through the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services. Ask any locksmith you are considering for that license number before they touch your car. It is a reasonable question, and a company that is proud of its work won't mind answering it. Also ask for a clear description of the job and what affects the quote, and be cautious of anyone who won't discuss it until they arrive.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366What to do once the new key works
Once you have a working key, the first thing to do is make a spare. Having two keys is what keeps a single loss from becoming a full lost-all-keys situation again. A spare made now, while a key exists, is a copy job, which is usually the more economical route compared with a from-scratch replacement. Keep the spare somewhere other than your regular ring, away from the car.
If your lost keys were on a ring with house or building keys, think about whether the old ones still pose a risk. A lost ring is a security question as much as an inconvenience, particularly for older homes with original hardware, where the lock may be the same one used for decades. Our automotive locksmith page covers the vehicle side, and you can reach us through the contact page if you want to talk through the rest.
Frequently asked questions
Can you really make a car key if I have no original at all?
In many cases, yes. We work from the vehicle's VIN and the car itself, so no original key is needed. Some vehicles are dealer-only, and we confirm by VIN or in person before we start rather than promising it over the phone.
Do I need to tow my car to you?
Usually not. Our mobile vans come to the car wherever it is parked in South Pasadena, so the work is done on site. If your car turns out to be one that only the dealer can key, then a tow to the dealer would be the practical path, and we will tell you that early.
What do I need to prove the car is mine?
A photo ID that matches the vehicle paperwork, plus registration, title or similar documents tying you to the car. For leased or company vehicles, call us first and we'll explain what authorization we need. We do this on every job, since it protects owners from unauthorized keys.
How much will it cost to replace all my car keys?
It depends on the key type, the make, model and year, whether programming is needed, how many keys you want, and when and where the work happens. We don't print prices in articles, but when you call (213) 577-1366 with your vehicle details we can explain what applies to your case.
Is it more economical to replace lost keys with a locksmith or the dealer?
It depends on the vehicle. Many cars can be keyed by a locksmith on site, which saves the cost and hassle of towing. Others are restricted to the dealer. We would rather tell you honestly which group your car falls into than push you one way.
Will the old lost keys still start my car?
That depends on the vehicle. On some cars, lost keys can be removed from the car's memory when a new key is programmed, and on others it isn't straightforward. We confirm what is possible for your car in person. If the keys were lost somewhere you're worried about, tell us so we can plan around it.
Can you make a spare at the same time?
Yes, and we suggest it. Making a second key during the same visit is more efficient than returning later, and it means one lost key won't leave you stranded again. Tell us when you call so we plan for two.
What if I'm also locked out of the car?
Tell us when you call. Getting into the car is a separate step from making the key, and we handle it without harming the door or lock. If the lock or ignition is also damaged, we'll let you know before doing any extra work.
Do you work at night and on weekends in South Pasadena?
Yes. Our phone at (213) 577-1366 is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year-round, and our vans serve South Pasadena and 139 other cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
More locksmith help in South Pasadena
Lost Car Key Replacement near South Pasadena
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.