The short answer
We don't publish a one-size price list, because a basic chip key for an older pickup and a push-to-start smart key for a late-model SUV are completely different jobs. What we can tell you: quotes are free, most jobs wrap in under an hour once we're at the vehicle, and our pricing is typically around 25% less than the dealer. Call or text 307-206-4218 with your year, make, model and location for a price on your vehicle.
Fees and prices we publish
| Item | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled visit to your town | No travel fee | Catch our next regular visit |
| Emergency priority service | $500 trip charge | When it can't wait |
| WIN module replacement with programming | Typically $400–$600 | Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep & Ram; depends on vehicle |
| WIN module replacement with new keys | Typically $750–$1,000 | Depends on vehicle and how many keys you need |
| Keys, fobs & smart keys | Free quote | Depends on the factors below |
The WIN module figures are typical ranges, not a quote.
What drives the cost of a car key
1. The type of key
From simplest to most involved:
- Basic blade key — a plain metal key on older vehicles, cut to match the lock.
- Transponder (chip) key — looks like a plain key, but a chip in the head has to be programmed to the vehicle's immobilizer or the engine won't start.
- Flip or remote-head key — a blade and remote in one piece. We cut the blade and program both the chip and the buttons.
- Smart key (proximity, push-to-start) — stays in your pocket while you unlock and start the vehicle. It's the most hardware and usually the most programming, which is why smart keys cost the most.
More on fobs and remotes: key fob replacement and programming.
2. Year, make and model
Newer vehicles often need a manufacturer security PIN before a key can be programmed. As a NASTF-certified Vehicle Security Shop, we can securely access those codes, but a late-model vehicle is still more involved than an older truck. We can supply and program Mercedes-Benz keys up to the 2013 model year; Mercedes-Benz models after 2013 have to go to the dealer. BMW, Audi, Volkswagen, Volvo, Land Rover and other European makes are case by case, so send the year, make, model and VIN and we'll let you know.
3. Whether you still have a working key
This is the biggest factor you control. Adding a spare while you still have a working key is the simplest, least expensive job we do. When every key is lost, it becomes an all-keys-lost job: we cut a key from the VIN or by decoding the lock, and some vehicles need the immobilizer re-flashed. That costs a lot more, takes longer, and the vehicle is stuck until it's done. If you're down to one key, get a spare now — and if we're already there for a lost key, adding a second key on the same visit keeps a working spare in the drawer.
4. Timing and location
Riverton and Lander are on our daily schedule, Casper weekly, Jackson and Thermopolis–Worland every two weeks, and Cody–Powell, Gillette, Rock Springs–Green River and Sheridan–Buffalo monthly. Catch our next scheduled visit and there's no travel fee. Can't wait? Emergency priority service is available for a $500 trip charge.
5. Whether the key is really the problem
On some Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram vehicles, a failed WIN module stops a good key from working. We diagnose first, so you don't pay for parts you didn't need.
Comparing a dealer quote with ours
Look past the key price. Without a working key, getting the vehicle to a dealer can mean a tow, a long drive, a wait for a service slot and time off work. We come to your driveway, ranch or job site, and our pricing is typically around 25% less than the dealer. We do a lot of work for Wyoming dealerships too — in rural Wyoming, the trip is often the expensive part.
Is a cheap key online really cheaper?
A listing can look like a bargain, but it often backfires:
- The key can fail. It may not program, or may not last.
- It's easy to get the wrong part. Look-alike fobs are often made for other models or years.
- Some brands are hard to order. Their keys usually have to be ordered by part number and VIN.
- European keys need extra steps. Volkswagen, Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz keys usually have to be pre-processed or need a special programmer key, so you can't simply buy one and have it programmed.
Getting the key from our team is the safer choice: we source the correct key, come to you, program it, and back it with a 3-year warranty on every key from us.
Cheap car key replacement: how to pay less
- Get a spare while you still have a working key.
- Book our next scheduled visit instead of emergency service when you can.
- Send your year, make, model and a photo of your key so we quote the right part.
We handle car keys only. For house or business keys, visit our locksmith team at sparemelocksmith.com.