Spare Car Keys in Kirkland, WA

Why get a spare now

With a working key in hand, a new one can usually be matched to it. Without one, a key has to be made from your vehicle’s details and programmed from scratch, which takes more steps. A spare turns a future emergency into a minor inconvenience.

You bought a used car that came with only one key
Two or more people in your household drive the same car
Your current key is starting to wear, crack or act up
You simply don’t want to deal with a lost key later

A copy isn’t always a working spare

Most cars from the late 1990s on use a transponder chip in the key. A hardware-store copy can match the cuts on the blade, so it opens the doors, but without a programmed chip the engine won’t start. A useful spare matches both: the blade and the chip.

For remotes and push-to-start keys, a spare also needs its buttons or proximity function programmed. See key fobs and smart keys.

Kiosk, dealership or mobile locksmith?

Each option fits a different situation:

Self-service kiosk or key counter. Convenient when you bring a working key to copy. What it can handle depends on the machine and your vehicle, so check before relying on it for a chipped or smart key.
Dealership. Supplies keys for the brands it sells, usually through the parts or service department. Ask whether the key is in stock and whether the car needs to come in.
Mobile automotive locksmith. Comes to the car, which helps when the new key has to be programmed to the vehicle. What can be done on site depends on your vehicle.

Not sure which fits your key? Call with your year, make and model and ask.

Where to keep your spare

At home, somewhere you’ll remember, away from the front door
With someone you trust who lives or works nearby
Not in the car, and not in a magnetic box under it

What we’ll ask

Your year, make and model, the kind of key you have now, and how many spares you want. If your current key is worn or damaged, mention it; you may want a replacement rather than a copy of a worn key. If it has also become hard to turn in the ignition, see ignition and broken keys.

Common questions

Is a spare really worth it if I’m careful?

Keys get lost by careful people too, and replacing the only key you have takes more steps than adding a second one while you still have a working key. A spare also helps households where more than one person drives the car.

Should I bring all my keys when adding a spare?

Yes, bring every key you want to keep using. On some vehicles, programming a new key can affect keys that aren’t present, so it’s simplest to have them all with you.

Can I get a spare for a smart key?

Often, yes, depending on the vehicle. Call or request a quote with your year, make and model and the kind of key you have.

Should I hide a spare on the car?

We don’t recommend it. Magnetic boxes under the bumper are among the first places a thief looks, and a key left in the car gives it away entirely.

What affects the cost of a spare car key?

Mainly the type of key, your vehicle’s year, make and model, and whether the spare needs programming to start the car. A key copy that only opens the doors is a simpler job than a programmed spare, but it won’t start most modern cars. Call or request a quote.

Add a second key while you have the first

Call, or send a quote request with your year, make and model and the kind of key you have now. A technician usually arrives within 30 minutes in Kirkland.

Open 24 hours, 7 days a week

You send the requestYour vehicle and what you need.

We call you backA few questions, then your options.

We come to your carIf you decide to go ahead.

Spare car keys in Kirkland