What do you need to get a new car key? The checklist
The first two items are checked at the car; the rest lets us plan the job on the phone. Most makes and models are covered, from Ford and Ram pickups to Toyota, Honda and Subaru cars.
- A photo ID, such as a driver's license or a state ID card.
- The registration or the title for the vehicle.
- The year, make and model, such as a Jeep Wrangler or a Nissan Rogue and its model year.
- The VIN, the 17-character vehicle identification number.
- Where the car is: a street address, or cross streets and a landmark.
- About the key: how many you want, whether the car starts with a key or a push button, and whether any key still works.
Why we check ID and ownership
A new key both opens and starts a car, so making one for the wrong person would hand over the vehicle. That is why, before any car is opened or any key is made, we check your photo ID against the vehicle's registration or title, whether the car sits in your own driveway or in a lot across town.
If the car is registered to someone else, such as a parent, a spouse or a company, call before booking and we explain what is needed in your situation. If those papers are shut inside the car along with the keys, say so on the call as well.
Where to find the VIN
The vehicle identification number, or VIN, is a 17-character code that belongs to one vehicle only. It never uses the letters I, O or Q, so a character that looks like one of them is a 1 or a 0.
- On a small plate where the dashboard meets the windshield, on the driver's side. It can be read through the glass from outside, so a locked car is no obstacle.
- On a sticker on the driver's door jamb, the edge of the body that the door closes against.
- On the registration and the title, and usually on your insurance card.
The year, make and model narrow things down, but one model can leave the factory with different key systems depending on trim and build date. The VIN identifies the exact vehicle and lets us match it to the registration.
Why the details about your key matter
Most keys combine up to three working parts: a blade that turns the locks, a chip the car must recognize before the engine will run, and a remote with lock and unlock buttons. Knowing which parts yours has tells us what to cut, what to program and which blanks to bring. If you are unsure, read how to identify your key type, push-to-start smart keys included.
Whether a key still works changes the job. With a working key on hand, the new one is a copy: the blade is cut to match and the chip is programmed alongside the first, which is our spare key and key copy service. With no working key left, the cut has to be worked out at the car before anything is made; that is a new key when every one is lost, and on many vehicles the car can be set to forget the missing keys, which stops them from starting it.
Keep every key and fob you still own nearby, even damaged ones. On some vehicles, programming a new key resets the list of keys the car accepts, and a key that is missing at that moment may stop starting the car.
Telling us where the car is
We come to the vehicle, so the location matters as much as the key. A street address is enough for a driveway. For a large lot, such as the one at the Ford Idaho Center, add the row, the side of the lot or a light pole number.
On rural roads in Canyon County, cross streets help more than an address a map may not find. Mention a gate code too, or a car parked tight against a wall, since we need to reach a door. We go to Nampa, Caldwell, Meridian, Boise and every other town in Canyon and Ada counties, 24/7.
What happens after you call
With those details, we can tell you on the phone what the job involves and what it will cost before anyone heads your way, and when someone can be there. On arrival, ID and registration come first. Then the key is made, and before we leave we test the start, the door locks and each button. Should the visit uncover something else, a worn ignition for example, the added cost is explained before that extra work begins.
A few late-model vehicles need security access only the dealer holds. When that applies to yours, you learn it during the first call, and our page on choosing between the dealer and a locksmith covers when each makes sense. If you bought a key or fob online, mention it too; many can't be programmed, so we check before promising anything.
When you have the details together, call (208) 480-6980 or use the Book now button.