Losing all your car keys is genuinely stressful — and significantly more expensive than just losing one. The procedure ("all-keys-lost") often involves the locksmith pulling the immobiliser ECU or running specialised OBD procedures, and prices range from £200 on a 2010 Ford to £1,500 on a 2024 Range Rover. This guide walks through what to do first, the realistic costs, and where Cornwall mobile auto locksmiths beat the main dealer.
Step 1: Search before you call
About 50% of "lost" car keys turn up within 48 hours:
- Coat pockets — every coat, every pocket
- Trousers / jeans pockets (including in the wash basket)
- Bag lining (between the inner and outer layer)
- Sofa cushions, under sofa cushions, down the back of sofas
- Cornwall-specific: the kitchen counter "where you put things for a second"
- Car footwells (paradoxical but happens — fell out of pocket on last trip)
- Lost property at the last few places you visited
While you're searching, also check whether you have any backup access:
- Spare key kept at home (most people have one — where is it?)
- Spare key with a partner / parent / friend
- Spare given to a garage when serviced
Step 2: Decide — locksmith or dealer?
Cornwall mobile auto locksmith (almost always the better option)
For most mainstream makes and years up to ~2020, a mobile auto locksmith:
- Comes to your car (no need to recover it to the dealer)
- Cuts and programs a key on the spot — usually 60-120 minutes
- Costs 50-70% less than the main dealer for the same job
- Covers all of Cornwall
Main dealer (only for premium recent models)
Range Rover, Audi/BMW/Mercedes post-2018, and some 2024+ models require the manufacturer's online security system to authenticate a new key. Mobile locksmiths often can't access this, so you'll need:
- Recovery to the nearest main dealer (Truro, Plymouth, Exeter)
- Recovery cost: £150-£300
- Dealer key cost: £400-£1,500+
- Dealer wait time: usually 3-10 days for the key to arrive
Always ask a Cornwall mobile auto locksmith first — they'll tell you honestly whether they can do your specific car. Saves you a wasted dealer trip.
Step 3: Provide what the locksmith needs
- V5C logbook (or photo) — proves ownership
- Photo ID matching the V5
- Make, model, year, VIN — VIN is on the dashboard under the windscreen (passenger side) and in the V5
- The car (or its location) — for all-keys-lost, the car must stay where it is; the locksmith comes to it
Step 4: What the locksmith does
For an all-keys-lost job, the locksmith typically:
- Picks the door lock (or uses a manual-only access tool) to get into the car
- Either: connects to the OBD diagnostic port and performs an "all-keys-lost" procedure that adds a new key to the immobiliser
- Or: removes the immobiliser ECU, reads it on a bench programmer, and writes new key data back
- Cuts a new physical key blade to match the door lock / ignition
- Programs the new transponder / proximity key to the car
- Tests start, lock, unlock, alarm, immobiliser warning light
Whole job takes 60-120 minutes for mainstream makes, 2-4 hours for premium / complex jobs.
Realistic Cornwall costs (2026)
| Make / type | All-keys-lost cost |
|---|---|
| Ford, Vauxhall, Fiat (older) | £200-£400 |
| Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Kia, Hyundai (mainstream) | £250-£450 |
| VW (pre-2018) | £300-£500 |
| VW (post-2018) | £450-£800 |
| Audi, BMW, Mercedes (pre-2018) | £400-£700 |
| Audi, BMW, Mercedes (post-2018) | £500-£1,200 (often dealer) |
| Range Rover / Land Rover | £800-£1,500 (usually dealer) |
| Mini | £400-£700 |
| Ford Transit (van) | £280-£500 |
Compared to dealer rates for the same job, mobile auto locksmiths in Cornwall are typically 50-70% cheaper.
The insurance angle
Some car insurance policies include "key cover" — pays for replacement keys lost or stolen. Limits typically £500-£1,500 with a £50-£100 excess. Check your policy schedule under "additional cover" or "personal benefits". Worth submitting a claim even if the deductible nibbles half — the dealer fee may exceed the deductible by a wide margin.
What to do AFTER you get the new key
- Get a spare cut. While the locksmith is already there, cutting a spare adds ~£70-£150 to the bill. Compare to £200-£500 for a future all-keys-lost. Cheap insurance.
- Decide whether to disable the lost key from the immobiliser. Most locksmiths will do this — if your lost key turns up with a stranger, it won't work the car. Important for cars worth £10k+.
- Store the new keys properly. If your car is keyless entry: use a Faraday pouch.
- Notify your insurer if you replaced a fob via your key cover. Policy renews next year may differ.
Lost the only key to your car in Cornwall? Submit your postcode — we'll connect you with a Cornwall mobile auto locksmith who'll come to your car, quote up-front, and usually finish the job in 60-120 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
What do I do if I've lost the only key to my car?
Search for it first (50% turn up within 48 hours — coat pockets, sofa, bag lining). Check for a forgotten spare at home or with family. If genuinely lost, contact a Cornwall mobile auto locksmith — they'll come to your car, run an 'all-keys-lost' procedure, and typically finish in 60-120 minutes. Don't recover to the main dealer unless your car is premium-recent (post-2018 Range Rover, Audi/BMW/Mercedes).
How much does it cost to replace all car keys?
£200-£500 for most mainstream makes from a Cornwall mobile auto locksmith. £400-£1,500 for premium / post-2018 brands (often requiring main dealer authentication). Compared to main dealer pricing for the same job: 50-70% cheaper through a mobile locksmith.
Can a mobile auto locksmith make a key for any car?
Most mainstream makes and models up to ~2020, yes. Premium brands post-2018 (Range Rover, Audi, BMW, Mercedes high-end) often require the manufacturer's online security system, available only at main dealers. Always ask the locksmith for your specific make/model/year before booking.
Will my insurance pay for replacement car keys?
Some policies include 'key cover' (limit typically £500-£1,500, excess £50-£100). Check your policy schedule. Worth claiming even if the excess eats some of the value — main dealer key prices often exceed the excess by a wide margin.
Should I get a spare cut while the locksmith is here?
Strongly yes. Spare cut at the same time: £70-£150 extra. Future all-keys-lost if you don't: £200-£500. Cheap insurance against the next loss.