How much does a spare car key cost in 2026?

This is the question I get asked more than any other. Someone is down to one key, they know they should sort a spare, and they want to know what it will cost before they pick up the phone. So here it is, plainly, with 2026 prices.

The short version is that a spare car key usually costs between £70 and £350 depending on the type of key your car uses. That price includes the key itself, the cutting, the programming and me coming to you. There is no call out fee and no VAT on top.

Spare car key prices in 2026

Recent spare key jobs

Prices are easier to trust when you can see the work behind them. Here are recent spare key jobs I have cut and programmed at the customer's location across Durham, Tyne and Wear, Darlington and the wider North East.

What changes the price

Two cars sitting side by side can need very different work, and the key I supply is just as important as the car itself. Here is what moves the price.

• The key type. A basic chipped key is a much simpler job than a proximity fob for a keyless car.
• The make, model and year. Newer vehicles hold their key data behind manufacturer security, which takes longer to access properly.
• Whether you still have a working key. If you do, I can often program from it, which keeps the cost down.
• Whether the key needs ordering in. Most common keys I carry in the van, so the job is done in one visit.
• The key I supply. I can source OEM keys, quality aftermarket keys and some universal keys. I do not stock or fit the cheapest low quality keys sold by many sellers on Amazon or eBay, so if the lowest price is your only concern I am not the right locksmith for you.

Give me your registration on the phone or by WhatsApp and I will tell you the exact price for your car before I set off. No guessing at the roadside and no price creeping up once I am there.

Why a spare now is cheaper than a replacement later

This is the part most drivers only find out the hard way. When you still have one working key, I can usually clone or program the spare from it. When that last key is lost, snapped or water damaged, the job becomes an all keys lost job. That means wiping every key from the immobiliser and generating fresh key data from scratch, which takes longer and costs considerably more.

It is also a lot more disruptive. An all keys lost car is going nowhere until it is sorted, whereas a spare key is something you book in at a time that suits you. If you rely on a van for work, the difference is a normal day versus a lost one.

How long does a spare key take?

Most spare keys take under an hour at your home or workplace. I cut the new key, program it to your vehicle, then test locking, unlocking and starting with both keys before I leave. Your original key carries on working exactly as it did.

There is more detail on the whole process on my spare car keys and repairs page, including the key types I cover and the repairs I can do on a tired key.

Dealer or auto locksmith?

A main dealer can supply a spare, but you usually need to get the car to them, the key often has to be ordered in, and the price tends to be higher. I come to you, most jobs are same day, and because I am SERMI registered I can access the same manufacturer level security data for newer vehicles.

If you want the fuller comparison, I have written about the cost of car keys across the North East and five ways to get replacement car keys.

Getting a spare key sorted

I cover Durham, Newcastle, Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, Darlington and the wider North East, Monday to Saturday.

Call 07464 070776 or message me on WhatsApp with your registration and I will give you a firm price for a spare key today.