From a 1998 Ranger to a brand-new F-150, we cut and program Ford keys and fobs at your location — home, work, or roadside — anywhere in Lafayette, West Lafayette, and Tippecanoe County.
Ford was one of the first American brands to put a chip in the key. Starting around 1996–1998, PATS (SecuriLock) spread across the lineup, which is why a plain metal copy of a Ford key will crank the engine but never start it. For years most Fords used the familiar 8-cut blade, often built into an IKT — integrated key transmitter — that combines the key and remote buttons in one unit. From roughly 2013 onward the Fusion, Escape, F-150, and others switched to a high-security side-milled blade that needs specialized cutting equipment, and push-to-start smart fobs have been an option since about 2011, first on cars like the Focus and Escape and now across most of the range. Behind the scenes there's even a 40-bit vs. 80-bit chip split that determines which transponder your Ford accepts.
You don't need to know any of that — you just need the year and model. Our mobile locksmith carries the blades, chips, IKT keys, and smart fobs for the Fords we see most in Tippecanoe County, plus the programmer to pair them at your vehicle.
| Ford key type | Our range | Typical Ford dealer quote |
|---|---|---|
| 8-cut transponder key | Call for exact quote | Often 2–3× our price, plus a tow with no working key |
| IKT remote-head key | Call for exact quote | Often 2–3× our price |
| High-security side-milled key | Call for exact quote | Often 2–3× our price |
| Push-to-start smart fob | Call for exact quote | Often 2–3× our price, with a multi-day wait |
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.
The F-150 is the vehicle we cut more keys for than any other, but we also handle the Explorer, Fusion, Focus, Edge, Ranger, Expedition, Taurus, Mustang, and older workhorses like the Crown Victoria and E-Series vans. Call with your year and model and we'll bring the right key.
| Dealership | Car Keys Now | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Often hundreds more for the same key | Up to 60% less — call for a quote |
| Comes to you | No | Yes — we drive to your location |
| Tow required if all keys lost | Usually | Never |
| Appointment | Days out | Same day |
| Hours | Business hours | 24/7 |
| Warranty | Varies by dealer | 30 days parts and labor |
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.
Want the full breakdown? See our dealership vs. locksmith comparison.
Very likely, yes. Since roughly the late 1990s nearly every Ford has used the PATS (SecuriLock) anti-theft system, which checks for a chip inside the key before it allows the engine to run. A key copied at a hardware store will turn the ignition and crank the engine, but PATS cuts fuel and spark because the chip is missing or unprogrammed. We can program the copy — or make a correct new key — right at your vehicle.
No, and this trips a lot of people up. MyKey is a feature on many 2010s-and-newer Fords that lets an owner put speed and volume limits on a specific key — usually for a teen driver. It has nothing to do with getting a replacement key made. If your Ford says a MyKey is active and you can't clear it, that usually means every remaining key is a restricted MyKey; making and programming an additional admin key solves it, and that's a service we handle on-site.
Fords built before roughly 2013 mostly use the traditional 8-cut edge-milled key. From about 2013 onward, models like the Fusion, Escape, and F-150 moved to a thicker high-security side-milled blade that requires a laser-style cutting machine most hardware stores don't have. Our van carries equipment for both, so the year of your Ford doesn't change where the work happens — it all gets done at your location.
Often yes, with one honest caveat. New aftermarket remotes and integrated key transmitters (the remote-head keys Ford has used for years) usually program fine if the FCC ID matches your vehicle. Used push-to-start smart fobs are a different story — once paired to another Ford they frequently can't be reused. Text us the year, model, and FCC ID before you buy and we'll tell you straight whether it will work.
No tow needed. All-keys-lost is routine work for us: with your ID and proof of ownership we generate a new key by VIN or from the truck itself, then program the transponder or smart fob on the spot. Whether it's parked at a job site in Lafayette or a garage in West Lafayette, the truck stays where it is.
It depends on which system your Ford has — an older 8-cut transponder key is far cheaper than a high-security smart fob, and Ford's 40-bit versus 80-bit chip generations affect the part too. We're consistently well under dealer pricing and there's no tow charge stacked on top. Call (567) 227-5397 with your year and model, or read our car key cost guide.
We drive to your Ford anywhere in Lafayette, West Lafayette, or Tippecanoe County and cut and program the key on-site.
Open 24/7 · Typical arrival in the Lafayette area is under an hour. · Zero-damage guarantee