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
Verified Google reviews from around PE
You hear the price first
We quote before we drive out, and that number does not change
Car Key Replacement
Start here if you are not sure what kind of key you have
Car keys changed a lot over the last thirty years and the price and the work change with them. Knowing which one you carry helps you understand what happens next.
A plain metal key is exactly that, a cut blade with no electronics. Older bakkies and small cars from the nineties still use them, and they are the quickest to replace.
A chip key looks like a plain key with a fatter plastic head. Inside that head sits a transponder chip that talks to the immobiliser, and the engine stays locked until the two agree. We cut the blade and then programme the chip, which is covered in detail under car key programming.
A remote head key puts the lock and unlock buttons into the same body as the blade, so one key does everything. Flip keys are the same idea with the blade folded away.
A proximity or smart key stays in your pocket. You touch the handle to unlock and press a button to start. These carry the most electronics and they take the longest to set up, which we cover under smart key setup.
We work from the car, not from the old key
Plenty of people think a replacement needs an original to copy. We read your door lock or connect to your car's computer to get the key information, then cut and programme from there. Bring us a key if you have one and the job gets quicker. Come to us with nothing at all and we still get you driving.
Proof of ownership, every time
We check your ID and something that ties you to the car before we cut anything. Registration papers, the licence disc or an insurance document all work. It is a short step and it is the reason your car is harder to steal than the one belonging to somebody whose locksmith skips it.
Which way your job goes
If every key is gone, we work from scratch and you want our page on lost car key replacement.
If the key snapped or the casing fell apart, we may be able to reuse the chip and the electronics, which is explained under broken car key replacement.
If the key still works and you simply want a second one, that is a much smaller job and it lives under spare car keys.
We do most makes on the road here
Toyota, Volkswagen, Ford, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan, Isuzu, Mazda, Renault, Suzuki, Chevrolet, BMW, Mercedes, Audi and more. Some models are quick, some need more time on the computer, and a small number genuinely have to go to the brand. We tell you which one you are dealing with when you phone rather than after we arrive.
Keys for bakkies, vans and work vehicles
If your vehicle earns money, a missing key costs you a day. We carry blanks for the common bakkies and panel vans and we come out after hours so the vehicle is ready before your next job. Fleet owners often ask us to make spares for the whole fleet at once, which we are happy to do on site.
Why we come to you
Nobody wants to pay for a tow truck to move a car that runs perfectly well. Our vans carry everything the job needs, so the car stays where it is and you stay with it.
How car key replacement works
Phone us with the make, model and year, and tell us what happened to the old key.
We tell you what kind of key your car takes and what the job involves.
We come to your car, check your ID and ownership papers, and set up.
We cut the new blade to your car's pattern.
We programme the chip, the remote or the smart key so your car accepts it.
You test the doors, the boot and the engine while we are still there.
We remove old keys from the system if you ask us to.
We're out this way most weeks — so you'll find us near:
What affects the price of car key replacement?
Replacement prices move with the kind of key and the car it belongs to:
A plain blade, a chip key, a remote head key or a push start smart key, each a different amount of work
The make and year, since some brands make key data easy to reach and others do not
Whether we are working from an existing key or starting with nothing
Whether the old key needs to be deleted from the car for security
How far out we travel and whether it falls after hours
Give us your make, model and year on the phone and we will quote you before we drive out.
GetKeys Auto Locksmith
51 Seaview Rd, Farms Port Elizabeth,
Gqeberha, 6390
084 513 4914
Open 24 hours, 7 days a week
FAQS
Do you need my old key to make a replacement?
No. We read your door lock or connect to the car's computer to get what we need. Having an old key makes the job quicker, but we manage fine without one.
Which makes of car do you cut and programme keys for?
Most of what drives on South African roads, including Toyota, Volkswagen, Ford, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan, Isuzu, Mazda, Renault, Suzuki, BMW, Mercedes and Audi. Phone with your model and we will confirm before coming out.
How do I know what kind of key my car uses?
Look at the head of the key. A thin metal key with a small plastic top is usually a plain key, a fatter head normally hides a chip, buttons mean a remote, and a key you never take out of your pocket is a smart key.
Can you replace a key for a bakkie or a work van?
Yes, and we come out after hours so the vehicle is ready before your next working day. Fleet owners often have us cut spares for several vehicles in one visit.
How long will I be waiting?
Most replacements are finished within an hour of us arriving. Smart keys and a few makes take longer because of how the car accepts new keys.
Is my car less safe with a locksmith key than a dealer key?
No. We fit keys of the same standard and programme them into the same system the dealer uses. The difference is that we come to you and finish it the same day.