Staring into your Subaru through a snowy window in a LoDo parking garage, holding an empty keyring, is about as frustrating as Denver gets. But losing your car key doesn’t automatically mean an expensive tow or days without your car.
Many drivers call the dealership first, assuming it’s the only option for modern keys. In practice, a mobile locksmith can come to wherever the car is parked, cut the key and program its chip on the spot. Here’s how to figure out what kind of key you have, what to have ready, and when you can handle it yourself. For a full rundown of our service, see car key replacement.
What kind of key do you have?
A spare used to mean a quick trip to the hardware store. Today most cars use security technology, so a plain metal copy often won’t start the engine.
The reason is the transponder: a tiny chip in the key that works like a password. When you turn the ignition, the car and the key do a “digital handshake.” If the code doesn’t match, the engine stays immobilized, even if the blade fits the lock perfectly.
Check which type you have before you call:
- Mechanical key: a plain metal blade with no electronics, common on cars from before about 2000.
- Transponder key: a metal blade with a thick plastic or rubber head that hides a chip.
- Smart key: a proximity fob for push-to-start cars, like newer Subarus and Jeeps.
Knowing the type tells you whether you need a simple copy or a key that has to be programmed, which is the biggest factor in the cost.
Why a mobile locksmith often beats the dealership
When you’ve lost your only key, you have two main choices: the dealership or a locksmith.
The dealership route usually means paying for a tow to get the car to their service bay, then waiting for a programming appointment. That can take days, and dealer key prices tend to be higher.
A mobile automotive locksmith works out of a van equipped with professional key cutting and programming equipment. They come to your home, your office or the parking garage, make the key and program it to your car where it sits. No tow, no service lounge.
What to have ready when you call
A few details let the locksmith bring the right key blank or fob and give you an accurate quote:
- Year, make, model and trim. A base Subaru and a fully loaded one can use different keys.
- Your 17-digit VIN, found on the lower driver-side dashboard through the windshield, or on your registration.
- Whether you have any working key. Copying a working key is simpler than making one from scratch.
Before making a key, a reputable locksmith must confirm the car is yours. Have these ready:
- A valid driver’s license or photo ID
- Your vehicle registration or title, with a name that matches your ID
With the VIN, a locksmith can look up your key’s cut code and make a key that matches your car’s locks.
Not every “dead key” is a lost key
Dead fob battery
Denver’s cold drains batteries. If your fob stops unlocking the car, try a new coin battery first; it’s often all it needs. If the dashboard still shows a security light afterward, the transponder chip may have failed and the key needs to be replaced or reprogrammed.
Broken key
Older keys get brittle in the cold and can snap off in the door or ignition. Don’t dig for the piece with tweezers; that pushes it deeper and can damage the lock. A locksmith uses a thin extraction tool to remove the fragment, then cuts a new key.
Key or ignition?
Sometimes the key is fine and the ignition is worn out. Here’s how to tell:
- Likely the ignition: the key slides in easily but won’t turn, even though the steering wheel isn’t locked.
- Likely the key: the blade is visibly bent or worn, or the dashboard keeps showing a security warning.
A locksmith can diagnose which it is and repair or replace the ignition cylinder if needed.
Can you program a key fob yourself?
Some older cars support on-board programming: you sync a new remote by doing a sequence with the ignition and door locks. If your car supports it, buying a fob and programming it yourself can save money.
To check:
- Look in your owner’s manual for a remote or key programming procedure.
- Search for the exact steps for your car’s make, model and year.
- Make sure you have at least one working key; most procedures require it.
Most newer cars need programming through the OBD-II port under the dashboard, using professional software. Cheap online tools can fail or lock up the immobilizer, which turns a key problem into a much bigger one. For those cars, and for laser-cut keys, a locksmith is the safer route.
Get a spare before you need one
Waiting until your only key disappears is the expensive way to do this. With no working key, a locksmith has to make a key from scratch using your VIN and program it to the car. With a working key, they simply copy its cuts and its code, which is faster and costs far less.
Once you have a spare, keep it somewhere safe at home or with someone you trust, not in the car.
Your action plan for a lost car key
- Write down your VIN today and keep it in your phone.
- Figure out which type of key you have using the list above.
- Get a spare made while you still have a working key.
- If the key is already lost, gather your ID and registration and call a mobile locksmith before calling a tow truck.
Lost your car key in Denver or Aurora? Call or text Lucky Lock at 720-453-7334 with your year, make and model for a quote.
