Lost every key to your Subaru in Wyoming? Here's what the dealer has to do, and how we help.

Why is Subaru doing this, and why is it so expensive?

In a word: theft. More than 650,000 vehicles were stolen in the U.S. in 2025, and NHTSA encourages carmakers to make immobilizers standard (NHTSA). On these systems, the key carries a specially coded chip, and "without the exact key, the vehicle's engine cannot be started" (NHTSA).

Newer Subarus, from the turn-key "G chip" keys to today's push-button smart keys, store each key's ID in the car's security modules, matched to the engine computer (Subaru registration manual). On many 2020-and-newer models, registering a key also takes a live check with Subaru's secure server, a change Subaru made "to further enhance vehicle security" (Bulletin 15-246-19R). A new key can only be added with one the car already knows, so when every key is gone, there's nothing to start from.

The cost comes from everything around it: a tow, an ownership check under the industry's NASTF security program, modules pulled and shipped or replaced with new ones, labor, and days without your car. In our team's experience, dealers often replace the body integrated unit (BIU) on newer Subarus as well. By our estimate, the dealer bill alone is about $1,650 to $2,300 before the tow.

How the Subaru dealer has to do it

None of this is the dealer being difficult. Subaru retailers have to follow the factory procedure, and these are the steps Subaru's documents lay out for a vehicle with no keys.

1. Get the vehicle to the dealer. Subaru's lost-key TechTIPS has retailers first verify the vehicle is on site. With no key, that usually means a tow.
2. Verify ownership. Under Bulletin 01-168-09R and the NASTF security program, the owner shows a photo ID and proof of ownership (registration, title or insurance) with a matching name and address, and signs a form kept on file for two years.
3. Open a work order and a Techline case. The dealer records the VIN and mileage, confirms push-button or turn-key, and opens a new case with Subaru's technical hotline for that vehicle.
4. Remove the security modules and ship them to Subaru, or replace them. Specific components go to Subaru with a lost-key form to be cleared: on a Type B car (turn-key; see the timeline below), the BIU and combination meter hold the key IDs; on push-button cars, the keyless access module holds the key data, paired with the steering lock module and ECM. Subaru's November 2021 TechTIPS says the parts most often damaged in shipping are combination meter lenses and mounting tabs.
5. Reinstall, then register everything in order. The dealer uses Subaru's factory diagnostic system to register the modules and new keys in the order the registration manual sets (the ECM goes last). On 2020+ Type G and H cars (see the timeline below), this also needs the online server connection and current authentication key from Bulletin 15-246-19R.
6. Cut the blade by code. For turn-key cars and the emergency blade inside a proximity fob, the key code comes from Subaru's lock information site by VIN. At the dealer, only service and parts managers have access.

Two more factory rules matter. A replaced security part must be new, because used parts can't be registered. And Subaru won't clear modules from a salvage or rebuilt title vehicle (lemon-law buybacks excepted), so those need new immobilizer components.

Newer Subarus: the latest smart keys and online registration

Starting with the 2020 Legacy and Outback, Subaru moved its push-button cars to what it calls a Type H immobilizer (see the timeline below). The 2022 Forester, WRX and BRZ followed, then the 2023–2024 Ascent and the 2024 Impreza and Crosstrek. On these cars, the dealer can't register anything without a live connection to Subaru's secure server and an authentication code that changes about every six months (Service Bulletin 15-246-19R and Subaru's March 2022 TechTIPS immobilizer chart).

Subaru's newest proximity fob, part 88835XC00A (it replaced 88835AN140), came on the 2023 Ascent and WRX, the 2024 Outback, Crosstrek, Impreza and BRZ, and the 2025 Forester. The fob alone lists for $154.22 (Subaru list price on dealer parts sites, Oct 2, 2026). In our team's experience, a complete smart key with emergency blade, cut, typically runs $550 to $600 at the dealer. Few aftermarket key programmers cover these newer Subarus when every key is lost, and coverage changes by model and year.

Subaru proximity smart keys

At the dealer, the process is the same as on older push-button models: the security modules come out and go to Subaru to be wiped, or get replaced with new ones. A salvage or rebuilt title always means new parts. In our team's experience, dealers often replace the body integrated unit (BIU) on newer Subarus as well. The keyless access control unit alone lists for about $520.

What the dealer route costs: our estimates and real owner bills

Here's what all that adds up to. These are our estimates, not quotes. Key prices are what dealers typically charge for a complete working key, in our team's experience. Module prices are Subaru list prices (MSRP) for the part alone, shown on Subaru dealer parts websites as of Oct 2, 2026. Labor and tow figures come from published Wyoming rate surveys and cost guides. Sales tax isn't included.

How we got these numbers.

• Turn-key dealer bill: 4 hours of labor at $175 plus $175 for registration, two complete remote-head keys with remote at about $350 each ($700, the typical dealer price in our team's experience) and $54 for shipping, which comes to $1,629.
• Push-button dealer bill: 5 hours at $175 plus $175, two complete smart keys with emergency blade, cut, at about $550 to $600 each ($1,100 to $1,200, the typical dealer price in our team's experience) and $54, which comes to $2,204 to $2,304.
• Typical totals: add a $669.50 flatbed tow from Riverton to Casper and 14 days of rental at $73 a day.
• High cases: add brand-new modules, a tow billed both directions and three weeks of rental.

What Subaru owners say they were charged or quoted. Owners have posted dealer bills and quotes from about $1,300 to $3,900:

• 2019 Ascent, push-button: $1,340.92 final bill, with the car at the dealer about 8 days (2021). Source
• 2017 Crosstrek, turn-key: $1,400 quote (2021). Source
• 2018 Impreza: $1,400 quote (2026). Source
• 2018 Crosstrek, turn-key: about $1,500 quote, and the dealer needed the car for 2–3 weeks. The owner's nearest Subaru dealer was three hours away (2024). Source
• 2017 Outback, push-button: $1,632 plus tax quote, itemized as two keys $580, module removal $652 and a $400 "recoding" fee (2017). Source
• 2016 Forester, turn-key: $1,700 quote after a tow to the dealer (2025). Source
• 2020 Crosstrek: over $1,800 quote to take parts out and ship them off, as posted by a friend of the owner (2026). Source
• 2018 Impreza: $2,300 quote, plus a tow in (2025). Source
• 2016 Forester: $3,500 quote (2019). Source
• 2023 Crosstrek, push-button, salvage title: about $3,400 for the module work, $3,800–$3,900 total with an extra key and service. Every module was replaced with new parts because Subaru won't clear modules on a salvage title (posted 2026). Source 1, Source 2

Where that money goes

The tow.

• Few dealers: only three Wyoming towns have a Subaru dealer: Casper, Cheyenne and Jackson.
• Flatbed required: Subaru's owner's manual says the best way to tow its all-wheel-drive vehicles is on a flatbed truck.
• Distances by road: Riverton to Casper is about 121 miles, Lander to Casper 146, Gillette to Casper 125, Rock Springs to Jackson 177, and Cody to Casper 215.
• Price: Wyoming tow guides put a tow at roughly $70 to hook up plus $4.50 a mile, with a flatbed costing extra. We estimate $500 to $700 from Riverton to Casper, and about $1,200 if the operator also bills the empty return trip.
• Coverage: Subaru Roadside Assistance tows to the closest Subaru retailer while the car is within its 3-year/36,000-mile warranty. AAA in Wyoming covers up to 100 miles on its Plus plan and one 200-mile tow on Premier.

Labor. Subaru publishes no labor time for this job. Its November 2021 TechTIPS leaves labor time to each dealer's service department. Published surveys put Wyoming's average shop rate around $151 an hour and dealer rates at roughly $140 to $205. We estimate 3 to 6 hours for a turn-key car and 3 to 8 for push-button, because the modules come out, get shipped, go back in and get registered. That puts labor at about $450 to $1,640.

Registration and diagnostic time. Dealers bill for their time on Subaru's factory diagnostic system. We estimate $0 to $400; the 2017 quote above listed $400.

Keys, and modules if they're replaced. Every all-keys-lost job needs new keys, usually two. In our team's experience, dealers typically charge about $350 for a complete remote-head key with remote and $550 to $600 for a complete smart key with emergency blade, cut. Modules have to be replaced with new parts on a salvage or rebuilt title, or if one is damaged. Sample Subaru list prices for the part alone, not a finished, working key:

These are list prices for the part alone, not a finished key. A working key also needs the remote or the emergency blade, cutting and programming, which is why a complete key costs more at the dealer. List prices change over time and aren't a quote.

Shipping. The dealer pays to ship the modules to Subaru, and owners report them going to Indiana and Illinois. At USPS retail prices, a 5-pound box runs about $27 to $37 by Priority Mail or $93 to $102 overnight. We estimate $27 to $203, depending on speed and whether the return trip is billed.

Days without your Subaru. Subaru publishes no turnaround time. One Ascent owner had the car back in about 8 days, while another dealer told a Crosstrek owner 2–3 weeks. Casper rentals average about $73 a day, from around $46 in February to about $90 for an SUV, so 8 to 21 days comes to roughly $370 to $1,890. Some dealers offer a loaner, and AAA Premier includes one rental day with a tow.

How our team handles a Subaru with no keys

In many cases our team can handle a Subaru all-keys-lost job at the vehicle, in your driveway, at your work or wherever it's parked, with no tow and without replacing the immobilizer. Whether we can do it on-site depends on the model and year, so it really is case by case. Text us the year, model and VIN, and we'll tell you up front whether it's a job we can do at your location.

New Subaru keys, at the vehicle

What you can count on from us:

• We come to you. No tow, and the vehicle stays where it is.
• Pricing typically around 25% less than the dealer.
• Emergency priority service is available for a $500 trip charge, plus the key and programming. If the vehicle can wait, schedule our next regular visit to your area, with no travel fee on a scheduled visit.
• A 3-year warranty on every key from us.
• NASTF credentials. We verify ownership on every all-keys-lost job, as Subaru and the industry's security program require.

For everything else Subaru, including spares, smart keys and remotes, see our Subaru key replacement page. For other makes, see lost car keys with no spare.

Why one lost key is easy and the last key isn't

Subaru's owner's manuals say one key that's already registered is required to register a new key. Subaru's March 2022 TechTIPS for retailers goes further: every immobilizer type except the oldest (Type A) needs an original key for any change to the system. Without one, a new key can't be added.

Type A cars came with a security ID that allowed registration from scratch. Subaru's Registration Manual for Immobilizer (S1001BE) lists the newer Type B turn-key and Type D push-button systems (see the timeline below) as having no security ID, and says that if all the keys are lost, "for protection against vehicle theft you must contact your Subaru service representative."

The timeline: 2014 blade keys, 2015 proximity keys, 2020 online authorization

Subaru rolled each change out model by model, so the year depends on what you drive.

Turn-key (blade key) Subarus, Type B. This is the generation the key trade calls the "G chip" key. Subaru Service Bulletin 01-168-09R lists the new edge-cut immobilizer key for the 2012+ Impreza, 2013+ Crosstrek, 2014+ Forester and 2015+ Legacy, Outback, WRX and STI. The key IDs are stored in the body integrated unit (BIU) and the combination meter (gauge cluster), and the engine control module (ECM) is matched to the BIU. If the IDs don't match, the engine shuts off within seconds.

Push-button (proximity key) Subarus, Type D. The access key works with a keyless access control module, paired with a steering lock module (or an ID code box on some models) and the ECM. Bulletin 01-168-09R lists the current access key, with its single-sided inside-cut emergency blade, for the 2015+ Legacy, Outback, Impreza and Crosstrek and the 2016+ WRX, STI and Forester. Earlier push-button versions were used on the 2013–2014 Legacy and Outback and the 2014–2015 Forester.

Subaru push-button start

Photo: RayBaldwin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

2020 and newer: online authorization, Types G and H. Subaru Service Bulletin 15-246-19R, "New Immobilizer Registration Procedures," adds a required connection to Subaru's secure server and an 8-digit authentication key that changes about every six months, where the codes used to never change. The revisions we reviewed cover the 2020–2024 Legacy and Outback, the 2022–2024 Forester, BRZ and WRX, and the 2024 Ascent, Impreza and Crosstrek. Type G is turn-key and Type H is push-button.

What to have ready

• Year, model, and push-button or turn-key
• The VIN (registration, insurance card or lower corner of the windshield)
• A photo ID plus the registration or title in your name
• Where the vehicle is parked

Get a spare while you still have a working key

The best way to avoid all of this is a second key. While one key still starts the car, adding another is quick and far less expensive. Down to one Subaru key? Call or text 307-206-4218 for a spare on our next visit.

Subaru smart key and turn-key remote

Serving all of Wyoming

Riverton and Lander are on our daily schedule. Casper is weekly, Jackson and Thermopolis–Worland are every two weeks, and Cody–Powell, Gillette, Rock Springs–Green River and Sheridan–Buffalo are monthly. Tell us where your Subaru is and we'll give you the fastest option.

Subaru all-keys-lost FAQ

Ready to get your Subaru running?

Call or text 307-206-4218 with your year, model, VIN and location. Texting is the fastest way to reach us. Our team will tell you whether we can handle your Subaru on-site, then schedule you or send emergency priority service anywhere in Wyoming.

Sources

• Subaru Service Bulletin 15-246-19R, New Immobilizer Registration Procedures
• Subaru Service Bulletin 01-168-09R, Replacement Key and Immobilizer Information
• Subaru Registration Manual for Immobilizer, S1001BE
• Subaru Registration Manual for Immobilizer, S1108BE
• Subaru TechTIPS: Lost Keys? Contact the Subaru Techline (March 2022)
• Subaru TechTIPS: Sending Immobilizer Components, Broken on Arrival (November 2021)
• Subaru TechTIPS: body integrated unit replacement and key IDs
• Subaru 2015 WRX / WRX STI owner's manual, key registration
• Subaru parts catalog: 57497FJ090, 88801AL093, 88835AL04A
• MSRP on Subaru dealer parts sites, Oct 2, 2026: 57497FJ090, 88801AL093, 88835AL04B, 83126FJ000, 83126FL000, 88835FL03C, 88801AL341
• 2016 Forester and 2017 Crosstrek parts diagrams (MSRP Oct 2, 2026): Forester keys, Forester integrated unit, Forester meter, Crosstrek keys
• Newer Subarus, MSRP on Subaru dealer parts sites, Oct 2, 2026: 88835XC00A, 88835XC00B, 88801AN040, fobs by model and year (2024 Outback, 2023 Ascent, 2021 Forester, 2022 Legacy, 2024 Legacy), 2021 Outback key kit diagram, anti-theft diagrams (2024 Ascent, 2024 Outback, 2022 Forester)
• Towing: Subaru owner's manual, towing (flatbed), Subaru Roadside Assistance, AAA Wyoming membership, Wyoming towing cost guide, Towing cost per mile
• Labor rates: Identifix, mechanic labor rates by state, autoGMS, labor rates by state
• Shipping and rental: USPS Notice 123 price list, KAYAK, Casper car rentals
• NASTF Secure Data Release Model for Subaru
• NHTSA, Vehicle Theft Prevention
• NHTSA, Anti-Theft Devices
• NASTF, VSP Registry & Secure Data Release Model Terms and Conditions