What Car Key Do I Have?
Up to three questions about the key in your hand. Ten seconds later you know the type, the typical cost, and what a replacement runs.
Every car key on the road is one of five types, and the type sets the replacement price. Answer the questions below with the key in your hand; the identifier walks the same decision tree our dispatchers use on the phone.
Question 1 of up to 3
How does your engine start?
Prefer to read instead of click? The car key types guide explains all five formats with the tell-tale signs, era timelines, and typical keys by manufacturer. Already weighing the dealership? See the locksmith vs dealer comparison.
Quick questions
Why does the key type matter?
It decides nearly everything about replacement: the cost, whether a hardware store can copy it, and how long programming takes. A plain metal key is a five-minute cut; a proximity fob is an electronic device that has to be registered with the car.
What if my key looks like none of these?
Some brands use insert-style fobs and other odd formats that blur the categories. Call with the year, make, and model and we name the key in seconds; the identifier covers the five formats that account for nearly every car on the road.
I know my type. What now?
Call with your year, make, and model for a flat total: spares from $75, full replacement from $189, programming from $99. The number quoted on the phone is the number you pay at the car.