Car key replacement cost in Australia — the short answer
Quick Answer: Most car key replacements in Australia cost between $150 and $300 when done by a mobile automotive locksmith, with the key supplied, cut and programmed at your location. A standard remote key for popular makes like Toyota, Ford, Mazda and Hyundai starts at $150–$189. Smart (push-button) keys typically start from $250–$300. Dealerships usually charge considerably more and take days rather than hours. Later-model, European and comfort-access keys can cost more, and all-keys-lost jobs are quoted per vehicle.
Losing a car key — or being down to your last one — always raises the same question first: what’s this going to cost me? The honest answer is “it depends on your car,” but that’s not helpful when you’re stressed and ringing around. So here are our advertised prices by make, alongside real-world pricing data from completed Melbourne jobs recorded in our booking system.
What Melbourne customers actually paid
Budget Auto Keys has cut and programmed more than 20,000 car keys across Melbourne since 2021. The table below is not a price list — it summarises what customers were charged across 208 completed jobs recorded in our booking system since July 2026, and is rebuilt every Monday. You can see this week’s individual jobs, by suburb and make, under Recent Jobs.
| Make | Completed jobs | Spare remote key — typical range | Smart key — typical range | All keys lost — typical range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota | 35 | $169 | $250–$300 | — |
| Holden | 28 | $169–$275 | $250 | $300–$350 |
| Mazda | 26 | $169–$269 | $250–$280 | — |
| Ford | 18 | $169–$269 | — | $300 |
What affects the price of a replacement car key?
- Key type. A basic key is cheapest. A remote key costs a little more. Proximity/push-start smart keys sit at the top because of the electronics inside and the programming involved.
- Make and year. European cars (BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, VW) use more secure key systems than most Japanese and Korean cars — and key security has stepped up again on many makes over the last decade, most recently on 2023-onward models.
- Whether you still have a working key. A spare from a working key is cheaper and faster. All-keys-lost needs the locksmith to decode the lock and read the immobiliser directly from the car.
- Who does it. Mobile locksmith vs. dealership — see below.
Car key replacement cost by make (2026)
| Make | Remote/spare key (from) | Smart key (from) |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota | $150 | $250 |
| Holden | $150 | $250 |
| Ford | $189 | $250 |
| Mazda | $189 | $280 |
| Hyundai | $189 | $250 |
| Kia | $189 | $250 |
| Mitsubishi | $189 | $300 |
| Nissan | $189 | $280 |
| Honda | $189 | $300 |
| Subaru | $189 | $300 |
| Audi | $189 | Quoted per vehicle |
| BMW | $250 | Quoted per vehicle |
| Mercedes-Benz | $280 | Quoted per vehicle |
| Volkswagen | Quoted per vehicle | Quoted per vehicle |
Every make has its own page with model-by-model pricing — see the full list of brands or use the price checker below.
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Why do dealerships charge so much more?
Three reasons: they order the key from the manufacturer (freight plus markup), they charge workshop labour to program it, and if you’ve lost every key you’ll need the car towed to them. A dealership replacement can run to $600–$900 and take a week or more, while many common replacement-key jobs can be completed by a mobile automotive locksmith the same day for around $189–$300. The replacement key is programmed to operate the vehicle’s locking and immobiliser system, including lock, unlock and start functions where applicable.
How much does it cost if I’ve lost all my keys?
All-keys-lost costs more than cutting a spare and is quoted per vehicle, because what’s involved depends on the exact year and immobiliser system. The locksmith has to open the car, decode the lock, read the immobiliser data and program a key from scratch. It’s still done at the car — no tow, no dealer — and we confirm the price with you before heading out. If you’re down to one working key, making a spare now is the cheapest insurance you’ll ever buy.
Is a cheap replacement key from eBay worth it?
Usually not. Online keys are often incompatible with Australian-market immobilisers, arrive uncut, and still need programming — which many locksmiths decline because quality and compatibility vary widely between aftermarket keys. By the time you’ve paid separately for the key, the cutting and the programming, you’ve saved little and taken on all the risk.
How long does car key replacement take?
With a mobile locksmith: a spare key is usually done inside an hour at the vehicle, same day. All-keys-lost takes longer, especially on European cars. Dealerships: usually several business days, plus towing if you have no key at all.
Does car insurance or roadside assistance cover lost keys?
Some comprehensive policies include key replacement cover (often a $500–$1,000 limit) — check your PDS for “lost or stolen keys.” Roadside assistance generally covers lockouts, not key replacement itself.
Get an exact price for your car
Every model and year is different, which is why generic answers frustrate everyone. Call or text 0421 113 736 with your rego or your car’s make, model and year, and we’ll give you a fixed price in minutes — we come to you anywhere in Melbourne, seven days, 6:00 to 22:00. Rated 4.9 from 200+ Google reviews.