Plenty of drivers get by with one car key for years, right up until the day it goes missing. A spare is one of the simplest pieces of car maintenance you can do, and it is far easier to arrange while you still have a key that works.
Why one key is a risk
With a working key, a new key can often be added to the car. With no key at all, the job becomes all keys lost: the blade has to be cut without an original to copy, and the new key programmed to the immobiliser from scratch. That usually takes longer, and in the meantime the car cannot be driven. Our guide on losing all your car keys explains what that involves.
A spare also matters when you sell the car. Buyers and dealers commonly ask how many keys come with a vehicle, and a missing second key is an easy point to negotiate on.
How a spare key is made
A spare is cut to match your existing key and then programmed to the car, so the immobiliser recognises its transponder chip. If the key has a remote, the remote is paired as well. Your existing key keeps working.
On some vehicles, every key the car should recognise has to be present when keys are programmed, and any key that is not there may stop working afterwards. If you have more than one key, bring them all.
What to bring
- All working keys for the vehicle.
- Your ID and proof that the vehicle is yours or that you are authorised to use it, such as the registration certificate.
- The make, model and year, so compatibility can be checked before the appointment.
Where to keep it
Not in the car, and not on the same key ring as the main key. A spare in the glove box helps a thief more than it helps you. Keep it somewhere at home that everyone in the household knows about, or with a family member you trust.
Bought a used car with only one key? Arrange a spare soon after you buy it. If you are not sure how many keys the previous owner had, ask about removing keys you do not have from the car’s memory at the same time.
Vehicles with several drivers
If a car or bakkie is shared by family members or staff, a key for each regular driver saves the daily handover and the risk of one person driving off with the only key. It also means the vehicle is not stuck when one key is lost or damaged.
Arrange a spare in Kempton Park
We cut and program spare keys at your location, so you do not have to take the car anywhere. Send us the vehicle details and how many working keys you have, and we will confirm compatibility and cost. See our car keys and programming service.
Next step
Need help in Kempton Park? See our car keys & programming service or send your vehicle details to arrange a mobile assessment.