We answer at 3am
Open 24 hours, seven days a week, public holidays included
We come to you
The van carries the workshop, so nothing gets towed anywhere
4.9 Star Reviews
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You hear the price first
We quote before we drive out, and that number does not change
Car Key Programming
What programming actually means
Your car keeps a short list of keys it trusts. When you put a key in or carry one into the cabin, the car checks it against that list, and only then does it allow the engine to start. Programming is the process of adding a new key to that list and, when you want it, taking an old one off.
We plug into the port under your dash, run the security routine the manufacturer built in, and write the new key into the car's memory. The equipment we use is the same kind the workshops run.
When you need it
You had a new key cut and the car turns over without starting
You lost a key and need a fresh one recognised
You bought a second hand car with one key and want a spare
You replaced a fob and the buttons do nothing
Your key works some days and gets ignored on others
You want an old key removed so it can never start the car again
Cutting and programming go together
A blade opens the doors and a chip starts the engine, and a working key needs both. We do the cutting in the same visit, so you do not end up driving around with a key that half works. There is more about the blade side under car key cutting.
Not every key programmes the same way
Older chip keys are quick, often five or ten minutes once we are connected. Remote keys add the button side of things on top. Push start proximity keys ask more of the car, and some brands hold you in a waiting period before they let a new key be added, which we explain under smart key setup.
A few models genuinely need parts or codes that only the brand can supply. When your car is one of those, we say so on the phone instead of driving out and telling you at the kerb.
Taking old keys off the list
If a key was stolen, or you bought a used car and have no idea how many keys are floating around, this is the part that matters. Removing the old keys from the car's memory means only the keys in your hand will start it. Second hand buyers ask us for this all the time and it is cheap peace of mind.
We come to the car
Programming has to happen with the equipment connected to the vehicle, so we come to you. Home, work, a parking garage or the roadside, anywhere in Port Elizabeth and Gqeberha. Our vans carry the tools and the blanks, so the whole job finishes in one stop.
Why the cheap online route so often fails
Buying a key online and following a video works on a handful of old models and fails on most modern ones. The chip is often the wrong type, the sequence differs by year, and a failed attempt can lock the car's system for a while. We would rather programme a proper key first time than untangle that afterwards.
How car key programming works
Phone us with your make, model and year, and tell us what the key does now.
We confirm what your car needs and bring the matching key and equipment.
We come to your car and connect to the port under the dash.
We run the manufacturer security routine so the car allows a new key.
We write your new key into the car's memory and test the start.
We pair the remote buttons and check the doors, boot and alarm.
We delete old keys from the system if you want that done.
We're out this way most weeks — so you'll find us near:
What affects the price of car key programming?
Programming prices depend on the car more than the key:
The make, model and year, since brands differ hugely in how they handle new keys
Whether it is a chip key, a remote key or a push start proximity key
How long the car holds you in a waiting period before accepting a key
Whether you also need the blade cut or the key supplied
Whether old keys are being deleted at the same time
Where you are and whether the call out falls after hours
Phone us with your details and we will tell you what the job takes on your specific car.
GetKeys Auto Locksmith
51 Seaview Rd, Farms Port Elizabeth,
Gqeberha, 6390
084 513 4914
Open 24 hours, 7 days a week
FAQS
What does car key programming do?
It adds your key to the short list of keys your car trusts. Until that happens the car ignores the key and the engine stays locked.
My new key opens the doors but the car will not start. Why?
The blade has been cut correctly but the chip has not been paired to your car yet. That is the programming step, and we can do it at your vehicle.
Can you programme a key I bought online?
Sometimes, though many of the cheap ones carry the wrong chip for the car. Send us a photo before you buy and we will tell you whether it will work.
How long does programming take?
Older chip keys often take ten minutes once we are connected. Push start keys take longer, and a few brands hold the car in a waiting period first.
Can you stop an old key from starting my car?
Yes. We delete it from the car's memory, which is worth doing when a key was stolen or when you have just bought a second hand car.
Do I need to bring the car to a dealership for this?
For most makes, no. We carry the equipment in the van and programme at your car, which saves you the tow and the wait.