Transponder programming, smart key replacement, key fob repair, and ignition service — done on-site in your driveway, office lot, or roadside. Dealer-grade equipment, roughly half the dealer price, no tow required.
Modern car keys are small computers. We handle every generation — from a 1990s metal blade to a 2026 proximity fob. Here's what each one costs and how long it takes.
Simple cut metal blade with no chip. Used on older domestic and import vehicles. Cheapest and fastest key type we handle.
Metal blade with an embedded RFID chip that talks to the vehicle immobilizer. Must be programmed — a cut copy alone will not start the car.
Combined key blade with remote lock/unlock buttons built into the head. Common on Toyota, Honda, and GM vehicles from the 2000s–2010s.
Key blade folds into a remote fob body. Popular on VW, Audi, and various Asian brands. We program both the immobilizer chip and the remote function.
Push-to-start fob with no physical blade. Proximity antenna lets the car start when the fob is inside. Requires OBD-II programming and immobilizer handshake.
Sidewinder or Tibbe blades used on BMW, Mercedes, Jaguar, and certain Volvo models. Requires specialty equipment and longer programming windows.
Every service below happens on-site with dealer-grade equipment. No towing, no waiting days for a dealership appointment, no mystery fees.
Keys locked inside, fob malfunction, or a dead battery blocking entry. Air wedge and long-reach tools open the door without scratching paint or damaging weather stripping.
Whether you have a working spare or every key is gone. We cut and program a new key on-site. All-keys-lost jobs take 60–90 minutes because we add the new key directly to the immobilizer memory.
Cut and programmed to your vehicle's immobilizer. We verify VIN, confirm blank compatibility, and write the new key into the ECU before handing it over.
Push-to-start fobs for modern vehicles. Programmed with the same scan tools the dealer uses. Compatible with domestic, Asian, European, and luxury brands.
Dead fob battery? Broken button? Fob lost sync after a battery change? We replace shells, solder new buttons, and re-pair the fob to your vehicle.
Ignition that won't turn, key stuck in the cylinder, or a worn switch. We repair, rebuild, or replace the ignition cylinder and match it to your existing key system.
Half a key snapped off in the ignition, door, or trunk. We extract the fragment with specialty picks, inspect the cylinder internals, and cut a replacement on-site.
If you already have a working key, adding a spare is fast and cheap. Cut + program in under 30 minutes. We recommend every driver carry two keys — losing the only one costs 3x more.
// Domestic · Asian · European · Luxury
Every week we get calls from drivers who tried to solve their own key problem and made it worse. Here are the four mistakes we see most often, and what to do instead.
A $25 fob from a marketplace will not start your car until it's programmed. Many of those blanks are also incompatible with your specific immobilizer version and can't be programmed at all.
Jiggling, wiggling, or yanking a stuck key bends the wafers inside the cylinder. What would have been a $45 extraction becomes a $280 ignition replacement.
Losing your only key means a full all-keys-lost service: immobilizer reset, new key origin, and 60–90 minutes of on-site work. Having a spare cut costs 3x less.
Two vehicles of the same year, make, and model can use different key systems. Buying the wrong blank and driving to a locksmith wastes an afternoon.
You don't bring the car to us. We bring the shop to your car. Here's what happens from the moment you call.
Have your VIN, vehicle year/make/model, and current location ready. We confirm the correct key type and give you a firm price on the call.
A mobile van with the right cutting and programming equipment is sent from the nearest staging point. You get the technician's name and live ETA by text.
We verify the vehicle, cut the new blade if needed, plug into the OBD-II port, and write the new key into the immobilizer. Old lost keys are wiped from memory if you request it.
We start the car, test every button on the fob, and hand you the key. Your digital receipt includes a 90-day workmanship warranty on all programming.
Below are the ranges we quote to Houston drivers. Final price depends on vehicle make, key type, and whether you have a working spare. Confirmed by SMS before dispatch.
| Service | Typical Range | On-Site Time |
|---|---|---|
| Car lockout — standard business hours | $75 – $125 | 10 – 20 min |
| Car lockout — after hours, weekends, holidays | $125 – $195 | 10 – 20 min |
| Basic metal key — cut only, no chip | $50 – $85 | 5 – 10 min |
| Transponder key — cut & programmed | $120 – $250 | 20 – 35 min |
| Remote head key — cut & programmed | $150 – $280 | 25 – 40 min |
| Flip key — cut & programmed (chip + remote) | $160 – $320 | 25 – 45 min |
| Smart / proximity key fob — programmed on-site | $200 – $450 | 30 – 50 min |
| Laser-cut / high-security key (BMW, Mercedes, Jaguar) | $280 – $580 | 45 – 90 min |
| All-keys-lost — new key originated & immobilizer reset | $300 – $650 | 60 – 90 min |
| Key fob repair — shell, buttons, or battery | $45 – $120 | 15 – 30 min |
| Ignition cylinder repair or replacement | $180 – $420 | 45 – 90 min |
| Broken key extraction — ignition, door, or trunk | $95 – $220 | 20 – 40 min |
Ranges reflect quotes issued between January 2026 and September 2026 to Houston-area drivers. Programming price depends on vehicle immobilizer type and whether old lost keys need to be wiped from memory. Dealership comparison is based on published dealer rates for equivalent services plus tow costs where applicable.
Every review below is tied to a completed automotive work order. Names published with permission.
"Lost my only key to a 2019 Camry. Dealer quoted $480 plus a two-day wait. Quick Key programmed a new smart key in my driveway in 40 minutes for under $300. Car started on the first try. Absolutely worth it."
"Key snapped off in my ignition at a gas station on I-10 at 11 PM. They came out, pulled the broken piece out, checked the cylinder, and cut me a new key on the spot. I was back on the road in 25 minutes. Saved me a tow and a dealership visit."
"Locked my keys in the car outside H-E-B in the Heights. Dispatcher picked up on the second ring, quoted $95, and the tech was there in 25 minutes. Opened the door without a single scratch. Fast, cheap, and professional."
The questions we hear most from Houston drivers. If yours isn't here, call +1 (346) 366-7559 and just ask.
View full FAQ →Call now and we'll dispatch a mobile unit to your location. Dealer-grade equipment, firm price by text, and most jobs finished in under an hour.
Driveway, office lot, or roadside — no tow required.
Same dealer-grade tools, at roughly half the price.
If our programming fails, we fix it free.