Spare key vs all keys lost: why the order matters

The same vehicle, two very different jobs

Adding a key to a vehicle that already has one is a known quantity. The car can be identified, accessed and programmed through its normal service process, and the appointment can be planned around your day.

Starting from no keys changes the shape of the job: entitlement has to be established, entry arranged, and a longer procedure followed that differs between makes, models and years.

What tends to differ in practice

• Time on site — all-keys-lost work is generally longer, sometimes considerably.
• Scheduling — a spare is a booked appointment; a lost-key call is unplanned and disruptive.
• Procedure — some vehicles need extra steps or specific equipment when no key is present.
• Availability — a small number of newer models require a manufacturer or dealer route when all keys are lost.

About cost

It would be misleading to publish a universal price difference, because procedures and parts vary so much by vehicle. What is consistent is that more work and more time cost more.

The only honest number is the one for your actual vehicle, which is why we price from the registration rather than from averages.

The practical conclusion

If you currently have one working key, you are in the easy position and it will not get easier by waiting. If you have already lost everything, it is still solvable — it just starts from a harder place.