Car Key Replacement Gold Coast | Cut & Programmed On Site

Which situation are you in?

I've got a working key and want a spare

The cheapest time to deal with car keys, by a wide margin. Ian copies and programs a second key off the one you've got.

Worth doing now rather than later, because the price gap between “spare while you still have one” and “all keys lost” is significant on nearly every vehicle.

I've lost one key but still have another

Still straightforward. Ian cuts and programs a replacement — and while he's there he can delete the lost key from the car's memory, so if it turns up in someone else's hands it won't start the car.

That last part is the bit people forget. A replacement key without deleting the lost one leaves a working key out in the world.

I've lost every key

No original, nothing to copy from. Ian cuts to code from the vehicle's own data and programs the new key to the immobiliser from scratch.

Doable on most vehicles in the one visit. On a specific group of older Toyota, Lexus and Honda models, this route needs an ECU reflash instead.

See if yours is on the list →

0414 841 152

What kind of key have you got?

Price depends almost entirely on this. If you're not sure, that's fine — describe it on the phone or send a photo.

Type	What it looks like	What's involved
Basic mechanical	Plain metal key, no plastic head, no buttons. Mostly pre-1995.	Cut only. Cheapest.
Transponder	Plastic head, no buttons. Chip hidden inside the head.	Cut and programmed to the car's immobiliser.
Remote head / flip key	Buttons built into the key head.	Cut, programmed, plus the remote coded to the central locking.
Separate key + remote fob	Key on the ring, separate remote.	Both, and they're often priced separately.
Proximity / push-button start	No blade in normal use. Key stays in your pocket.	Programmed to the car; usually the dearest.

Why the $6 copy doesn't work

People do this and then ring a locksmith anyway, so it's worth explaining once.

A key kiosk or hardware store cuts the blade — the metal part that turns the lock. On any car built from roughly 1995 onwards, that's only half the key.

The other half is a transponder chip in the plastic head, which has to identify itself to the car's immobiliser before the engine will start. A cut-only copy will unlock the door and turn in the ignition, and the car still won't start.

That's not a fault. That's the immobiliser working exactly as designed.

More on transponder keys and immobilisers →

You don't have to go to the dealer

	Dealership	City2Surf
Getting there	Car has to be towed in without a key	Ian comes to the car
Wait	Commonly one to two weeks	Usually the same visit
After hours	No	Yes
Tow cost	On top	None

If the car's under warranty and the dealer's covering it, use the dealer. Every other situation, it costs a phone call to find out.

Makes covered: Holden, Ford, Toyota, Subaru, Lexus, Mazda, Mitsubishi and most other common makes. Cars, vans, utes, trucks and motorbikes.

Confirm: any makes NOT covered — European, push-button start

Car key pricing

Spare key cut + programmedConfirm: price
One key lost, replacement + delete old keyConfirm: price
All keys lost — cut + programmedConfirm: price
Remote head / flip keyConfirm: price
Proximity / push-button keyConfirm: price
Broken key extractionConfirm: price
ECU reflash (affected models)Confirm: price

Key prices vary more by vehicle than any other job Ian does. Give him the make, model and year and he'll give you the actual number rather than a range.

Ranges include the call-out. After-hours quoted before he leaves.

Confirm: payment methods accepted

What to have ready when you ring

Speeds the whole thing up and gets you an accurate price on the first call.

1.Make, model and year — off the rego papers if you're not sure
2.Where the car is — suburb, and whether it's somewhere he can park
3.How many keys you've got left — none, one, or a working one you want copied
4.Photo ID and proof it's your car — licence plus rego papers or something linking you to the vehicle

That last one isn't optional. A locksmith who'll cut a key to a car without checking it's yours would do it for anyone else who rang about your rego, too.

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Locals rate us

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“Absolutely brilliant service. Had our spare car keys stolen — they chased up replacements in quick time, then travelled outside their normal service area to reach us on holidays. Cannot recommend highly enough.”

Jamie O'Neil

“Absolute legend! Genuinely helped me over the phone without making a cent for himself — saving me a potential $500. Will definitely recommend to anyone in need.”

Mick Barnao

“Highly recommend this business. Excellent customer service, excellent knowledge and excellent work. Professional manner matches his high-quality work.”

Sara Bonham

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Not an emergency

Get a price on a car key

Make, model and year gets you a real number instead of a range.

Locked out right now? Do not use this form.

0414 841 152 Text instead

Car key questions

Can you make a car key with no original?

Yes, on most vehicles. Ian cuts to code from the vehicle's own data and programs the chip to the immobiliser. On a specific group of older Toyota, Lexus and Honda models it needs an ECU reflash instead — he does that too.

How long does it take?

Usually the one visit. Some vehicles need a blank or a part ordered in; Ian will tell you which when you give him the make, model and year.

Is it cheaper than the dealer?

Usually, and the bigger saving is often the tow you don't pay for and the two weeks you don't wait. Get both prices — it's a phone call.

Can you delete a lost key so it won't start the car?

Yes, on most vehicles. Worth doing any time a key goes missing rather than just adding a new one.

Do I have to be there?

Yes — Ian needs to verify the car is yours before he cuts anything.

Do you do motorbikes?

Yes.

Can you come to a car park or the side of the road?

Yes, that's most of the work. Tell him where it is when you ring.

Car Key Replacement — Gold Coast