Valley guide
Dealer or locksmith for a car key?
Kelley Blue Book figures a locksmith saves 10% to 25% on a replacement key compared with the dealer, and a mobile locksmith drives to the car. The dealer still wins on some newer and luxury models that only its own system can key.
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How the two compare
| Mobile locksmith | Dealer service desk | |
|---|---|---|
| What you pay | Kelley Blue Book: often 10% to 25% below the dealer | Factory part at list, plus a programming charge |
| Where it happens | Wherever the car sits: driveway, office garage, trailhead lot | At the dealership, so a car with no key gets towed there |
| Which cars | Most makes, depending on the tools in the van | Every model the brand sells |
| Survey | Work | National price band |
|---|---|---|
| Fixr cost guide, 1/2025 | Replacement car key | $70 to $250 |
| KBB, 7/2025 | Chip (transponder) key | $125 to $250 Key and programming together |
| KBB, 7/2025 | Flip key with folding blade | $150 to $300 |
| KBB, 7/2025 | Push-button smart key | $200 to $400 |
Cars that go to the dealer anyway
A few recent models, several luxury brands and keys that must be registered through the automaker's own online system are dealer-only. Text the year, make and model to whoever you are calling. A locksmith who can't do your car will usually say so in one reply, which spares you a wasted trip fee. If it is dealer-only and the car won't start, ask your roadside plan about the tow.
Questions people in Phoenix ask
Will a locksmith key void my warranty?
A key that is correctly programmed doesn't void the car's warranty. If you want certainty, ask your dealer's service desk before the work.