Spare Keys & Duplication

Most of the emergency calls we get — lockouts, lost keys, a snapped key in the ignition — would have been a lot less stressful with a $10-to-$65 spare sitting in a drawer at home. A spare key is one of the cheapest, least glamorous things you can do for your car, and it's the job we most wish more people called us for before they needed it, not after.

There's also a practical reason to keep a spare rather than a copy of a copy: cutting from a worn original can transfer that wear into the new key, and if the original ever gets lost, you're left with no clean reference to cut from. A spare cut while your original is still in good shape gives you a reliable backup and, if the worst happens, a good baseline for cutting future copies.

How spare key duplication works

1. Bring or have your working key available. We duplicate from an existing key, so we need it on-site.
2. We identify the key type. Standard mechanical, transponder/chip, or smart/proximity fob — each has a different process and price.
3. We cut the duplicate. Matching the mechanical cut of your original.
4. We program it, if it's a chip or smart key. The duplicate is paired to your vehicle's immobilizer so it starts the car, not just unlocks the doors.
5. We test both keys to confirm the original still works and the new spare functions independently.

The whole visit is usually quick — there's no diagnostic work involved when a working original is available to duplicate from, which is part of why spare keys are our least expensive service to have done.

Pricing

See full pricing if you also need a first key cut or a lockout resolved.

What affects your price

Standard mechanical duplicates are our simplest job, which is reflected in the $10 starting price. Transponder and smart key duplicates cost more because they require programming equipment and a connection to your vehicle's immobilizer, not just a cut blade — that's the $65 starting point. If you're duplicating several keys in one visit, ask about pricing for the whole set when you call.

When you need this service

• You've only ever had one key for the vehicle
• You want a backup for a family member who drives the car occasionally
• Your current key is showing wear and you want a fresh copy before it fails
• You're heading into travel season and want a spare on hand
• You just bought a used car and want to know your one key isn't your only option

Good timing for this call

There's no wrong time to get a spare made, but a few situations are worth flagging in particular: right after buying a used car (you often don't know the full key history), before a teenager starts driving your vehicle regularly, and before a road trip or extended travel where a lost key would be far harder to deal with away from home. None of these require an emergency call — just a phone call ahead of time and a normal visit.

Mobile beats a dealer visit

A spare key is exactly the kind of quick job that doesn't need a service appointment. Dealerships often charge $50–$100 or more for a duplicate, especially a transponder or smart key, and require scheduling a visit. We cut and program spares at your location, usually in a matter of minutes once we're there.

If you don't have a working key to duplicate from, that's an all-keys-lost job instead — see car key replacement. For chip-equipped vehicles specifically, see transponder keys; for push-button smart keys, see key fob programming. We cut spares throughout Genoa City, Walworth County, and McHenry County, for the same makes we service across the board — GM, Ford/Lincoln, Honda/Acura, Toyota/Lexus, Nissan/Infiniti, Kia/Hyundai, Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/RAM, and VW/Audi. See keys by make for details specific to your vehicle.