Car Key Duplication

The economics are compelling. Emergency key replacement costs roughly double what planned duplication costs. Beyond price, emergencies add stress, wasted time, and missed commitments. That important meeting doesn't wait because your key is locked in your car at the Domain parking garage.

Modern car keys also take time to source. We stock blanks for common vehicles, but less common models may require ordering specific blanks. When you're stranded, that wait is painful. When you're planning ahead, it's just a minor delay in getting your spare.

Spare keys also provide practical daily convenience. Give one to your spouse so you can share vehicles easily. Keep one at home as backup. Leave one with a trusted neighbor for emergencies. Having options means never being completely stuck.

For families with teenage drivers, spare keys are essential. Keys get lost, forgotten in lockers, dropped in stadium bleachers. Having a backup at home means a minor inconvenience rather than an expensive emergency call.

Austin's active outdoor culture creates specific risks. Keys fall out of pockets on hiking trails. They get buried in bags at Barton Springs. They disappear into boat cushions at Lake Travis. If outdoor activities are part of your lifestyle, a spare key at home is insurance against Texas-sized adventures going sideways.

When you schedule a key copy, we come to you. No need to leave your car somewhere - we work in your driveway, your office parking lot, or wherever is convenient. You just need to have the car and a working key present.

First, we verify your key type and ensure we have the right blank. For common vehicles - Toyota, Honda, Ford, Chevrolet - we stock blanks on every truck. For less common vehicles, we may need to check our inventory or order a specific blank, which could add a day to the timeline.

Key cutting takes about five minutes using precision machinery. We cut from your original key (or from your lock's code if the original is too worn). The result is an exact physical duplicate.

For transponder keys, we then connect to your car's diagnostic port and program the new key's chip. This adds the key to your car's approved list - most vehicles accept 4-8 keys simultaneously. Programming takes 10-20 minutes depending on your car's security system.

We test both keys before leaving - the original should work exactly as before, and the new key should work identically. You'll notice which is which only by any differences in the physical key head, not by function.

Key duplication pricing depends primarily on key type. Basic metal keys are cheapest. Transponder keys cost more because of chip programming. Smart keys cost the most because of complex electronics and expensive blanks.

Vehicle make affects price too. Domestic and Japanese vehicles typically use standardized systems with readily available blanks. European luxury brands - Mercedes, BMW, Audi - use proprietary systems with expensive blanks and complex programming. A Honda spare might cost $100; a BMW spare might cost $250.

The best time to get a spare is when you buy a used car. If the previous owner gave you only one key, budget for a spare immediately. The dealership charges $300-500 for the same key we provide for $150-250. This is often negotiable as part of the purchase.

Some insurance policies cover key replacement. Check your auto insurance and any credit cards you used to purchase the vehicle. Even if coverage requires a deductible, knowing your options in advance saves scrambling during emergencies.

Consider which family vehicles actually need spares. Your daily driver parked at the Arboretum office? Definitely needs a spare. The weekend project car that never leaves the garage? Maybe not a priority. Prioritize based on how often you use the vehicle and where.