Jennifer L.
★★★★★
“Got me back in my car with extra keys in just over an hour!”
September 2026 · via Google
Get a Spare Car Key Before You Need One
One key isn't a key plan — it's a countdown. A spare made at your driveway today costs a fraction of the all-keys-lost service call you're otherwise scheduled for.
Why One Key Is a Risk (the Math Is Lopsided)
When you still have a working key, making another is the easy version of our job: we copy or clone from the original. Lose that last key, and the same vehicle becomes an all-keys-lost job — decoding locks, VIN key codes, immobilizer programming from scratch — which typically costs two to three times as much, plus the hours you're stranded. Every all-keys-lost customer we meet says the same thing: "I kept meaning to get a spare."
Copy vs. Clone vs. Program — Which Does Your Spare Need?
| Method | What it does | Typical vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| Copy | Duplicates the metal blade only | Pre-chip vehicles (roughly pre-1998) |
| Clone | Blade + an identical-identity chip | Fixed-code transponder systems, many 2000s vehicles |
| Program | Blade cut + a new chip registered with the car's computer | Rolling-code systems, remotes, all smart/push-to-start fobs |
You don't need to know which one applies — that's our job. It's why the hardware-store copy of a modern key doesn't start the car, though: they can only do the first row.
Spare Key Pricing
| Spare key type | Our range |
|---|---|
| Standard metal key (no chip) | Call for exact quote |
| Transponder / chip key | Call for exact quote |
| Remote head key (key + buttons in one) | Call for exact quote |
| Flip / switchblade key | Call for exact quote |
| Smart key / push-to-start fob | Call for exact quote |
| Laser-cut (high-security) key | Call for exact quote |
Savings based on customer-reported dealer quotes for the same key. Your price depends on year, make, model, and key type. Call (567) 227-5397 for an exact quote — the price we quote is the price you pay.
Two Situations Where a Spare Pays for Itself Immediately
The used car with one key: half the used cars in Indiana change hands with a single worn key and a shrug. Make the second key the first week you own it — while the only key still turns.
The lease heading back: lease returns get billed steeply for missing keys — often more than a locksmith-made replacement. If your lease came with two and you're down to one, having us make the second before turn-in usually beats the lease-end charge. Same for selling a car: two keys is a negotiating point buyers notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a spare car key cost?
Far less than the same key after you've lost the original — because with a working key present, we can copy or clone instead of doing all-keys-lost immobilizer work. The exact number depends on your key type; call or text (567) 227-5397 with your year, make, and model. Our cost guide explains what moves the price.
Can’t I just get a copy at the hardware store?
Only if your vehicle predates chip keys (roughly pre-1998). For everything newer, the kiosk copies the metal but not the chip — the copy will open doors but the engine won't start. A working spare for a modern car needs cloning or programming, which is exactly what our locksmith van does at your driveway.
What’s the difference between copying, cloning, and programming a key?
Copying duplicates the metal blade only. Cloning also duplicates the transponder chip's identity so the car can't tell the keys apart — quick, and great for older systems. Programming registers a brand-new chip with the car's computer — required for modern rolling-code and smart keys. We do all three and use whichever your vehicle needs.
I just bought a used car with one key. How urgent is this really?
More urgent than it feels. You're one gym locker, lake trip, or coat pocket away from an all-keys-lost call that costs a multiple of a spare made today. Used-car single keys are also usually worn keys — copying it now, while it still works, is the cheap window. It closes without warning.
Do you come to me to make a spare?
Yes — driveway, workplace parking lot, wherever the car is in Lafayette, West Lafayette, or surrounding Tippecanoe County. Spare-key visits are quick since your working key does half the work for us.
Still Have One Working Key? Perfect Timing.
A spare made today at your driveway is the cheapest key you’ll ever buy. Lafayette, West Lafayette, and Tippecanoe County.
Open 24/7 · Typical arrival in the Lafayette area is under an hour. · Zero-damage guarantee