Hardware Store, Dealer or Locksmith for a Car Key

2026-10-09

Step One. Know Your Key

Car keys come in a few types. Your price and your choices depend on which one you have.

• Plain metal key. No chip. Common on older vehicles and sometimes on door only keys.
• Chip key. The plastic head holds a tiny chip that talks to the car. Without the right chip, the engine will not run. Most cars built since the late 1990s use one.
• Remote head key. A chip key with lock and unlock buttons built into the head.
• Proximity fob. A smart key for push button start cars. It may not have a metal blade you use every day.

Our page on how car keys have changed shows how these types came about.

What a Hardware Store Can Do

Hardware stores are great for house keys. They also copy some car keys. A copy of a plain metal key is often simple. The trouble starts with chips. A copy that opens the door will not necessarily start the car, because the chip also has to be paired with the vehicle. Some stores use key kiosks that cover a list of popular models, and that list varies. Others cannot touch chip keys at all.

That is why one store may tell you yes and the one down the road may say no. Do not drive across town on a guess. Call, give the year, make and model, and ask two things. Can you make this key, and does the price include programming?

What a Dealer Can Do

A dealer has access to the factory tools and codes for its brand, so it can usually make a new key even when you have lost all of them. The tradeoffs are time and logistics. You may need an appointment, and if the car cannot run you may need a tow. Dealers also tend to cost more than independents, so get a quote and compare. Our car key cost guide shows how to think about that choice.

What an Automotive Locksmith Can Do

An automotive locksmith carries cutting and programming tools in a van and comes to the car. For a lost key that saves a tow, and for a spare it saves a trip. Not every locksmith works on every make, so ask before you book. The questions are the same as for any other job. Get the total price in advance, ask for the business name and check it matches the van.

The BBB warns that locksmith scams often start with a very low advertised price. Do not pick the cheapest voice on the phone. Pick the one that gives you one clear total.

What About Do It Yourself Kits?

You will see key kits sold online and in stores that promise to let you program a key at home. Some work for some cars. Others do not, and a key bought for the wrong car is money lost. If you try one, check the kit lists your exact year, make and model, and read the return policy first. If you are not sure, a spare programmed by a professional is the safer way to go.

Have This Ready Before You Call

1. Year, make and model of the car.
2. Whether the car starts with a key or a push button.
3. The vehicle identification number, which is on the dashboard near the windshield and on your registration.
4. Photo ID and proof you own the car, such as your registration or title.
5. How many working keys you have left, if any.

A real shop will ask for proof of ownership. That is a good sign, not an annoyance. See what a locksmith will ask you to prove for more.

A Simple Way to Decide

• You have a working key and a plain metal blade. Try the hardware store.
• You have a working chip key and want a spare. Call a hardware store, an automotive locksmith and the dealer. Compare totals.
• You have no keys at all. Call an automotive locksmith or the dealer. Read what happens when you lose every car key.

Sources

• minutekey.com
• bbb.org