Spare Car Keys — Get a Second Key Before You Need It
Plenty of vehicles on the road are running on a single key, often because the second one was lost years ago or never handed over when the car was bought used. It works fine until the day it does not.
Having a spare cut while your existing key still works is the least expensive and least stressful version of this job. Nothing is urgent, the vehicle is not stranded, and the work is generally quicker than an emergency replacement.
Why a spare costs less than a replacement
When you hold a working key, the vehicle can normally be put into a state where an additional key is accepted, which keeps the job short and straightforward.
When every key is missing, the process is different: more diagnostic work, more time on site, and in some cases additional steps to get the vehicle to accept a key at all. The same vehicle can therefore be a modest job today and a much larger one after the last key goes missing.
Who really should have a spare
Some situations make a single key a genuine liability rather than a minor inconvenience.
- Used vehicles bought with only one key handed over
- Work vans that other people occasionally drive
- Families sharing one vehicle between two or more drivers
- Anyone whose key has already had a repair, or whose buttons are becoming unreliable
- Vehicles used for commuting where a day off the road is expensive
Keeping the spare useful
A spare is only useful if it is somewhere you can reach when the first key is gone. Kept in the glovebox of the same car, it is no help at all. Somewhere secure at home is normally the sensible answer, and it is worth using it occasionally so you know it still works and the battery has not gone flat.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need to bring my existing key?
- Yes — please have your working key with you. It usually makes the job faster and cheaper, which is the whole advantage of arranging a spare in advance.
- Can I get a spare that is cheaper than a full remote key?
- On some vehicles a simpler key that starts the car without remote buttons is an option. It depends on the vehicle, and we will explain the choices for yours.
- How many keys can a vehicle have?
- Most vehicles accept several keys, though there is a limit that varies by manufacturer and system. For everyday purposes, adding a second or third key is not usually a problem.
- Can you come to my workplace?
- Yes. Because the service is mobile, many spare key jobs are done at a home address or a workplace car park while the vehicle is parked up anyway.
Spare car key coverage areas
We provide mobile spare car key cutting and programming across Harlow and selected surrounding towns. Choose your area for local service information.
Related services
Car Key Replacement
New keys cut and programmed at your vehicle — remote keys, flip keys and keyless fobs, where the vehicle is supported.
ViewCar Key Programming
Keys and remotes matched to your vehicle's immobiliser so the car recognises them — carried out at the vehicle.
ViewVan Keys
Van keys, remotes and locks for trades and fleets — because a van off the road usually means a day's work lost.
ViewNeed a car key sorted today?
Tell us the vehicle make, model, year and where it is parked and we will give you a straight answer on what is possible and what it costs. Call 01279 293988, message us on WhatsApp, or request a quote.