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
Lost Car Key Replacement
You do not need the old key for us to make a new one
This is the part most people worry about. They picture the car on the back of a tow truck, sitting at a dealership for a week while a key gets ordered in. Your car carries its own key information inside the locks and inside the computer, and we read that information directly. From there we cut a fresh blade to match your locks and pair the chip in the new key to your car.
All of it happens at your car. You leave it exactly where it is and we come to you.
What we check before we start
We ask for your ID and for something that ties you to the vehicle, like the registration papers, the licence disc or an insurance document. It takes two minutes and it protects you. A locksmith who makes a key for any car without asking would happily make one for a stranger standing next to your car while you are inside a shop.
If your papers are at home and you are stuck somewhere else, phone us anyway. A photo on your phone usually gets us started and we sort the rest out at your address.
Older cars, newer cars and the ones in between
An older car with a plain metal key is quick work. We read the lock, cut the blade and you are on your way.
Almost every car sold in South Africa since the late nineties carries a chip inside the head of the key. The engine stays locked until that chip talks to the immobiliser. We programme the new chip to your car with the same equipment the workshops use. There is more about that side of it on our page about transponder key programming.
Newer cars with push button start use a proximity key that lives in your pocket. Those take longer because the car has to accept the key into its system, and a few brands build in a waiting period before they allow it. We tell you upfront if your model is one of those so you can plan your day.
We can wipe the lost key out of your car
This matters more than people realise. If the key was stolen, or you dropped it somewhere public with your number plate details on the ring, that key still starts your car until somebody removes it from the system. We can delete it from your car's memory so it turns into a useless piece of plastic. Mention it when you book and we will do it while we are there.
We come out across the whole Gqeberha metro
Our vans carry the blanks, the cutting machines and the programming equipment, so the job happens where your car stands. A parking garage in Central, a driveway in Lorraine, the beach parking in Summerstrand, or a shopping centre in Newton Park. We work across Port Elizabeth and Gqeberha and we work after hours, because keys go missing at the worst possible times.
Ask for a spare while we are there
The cheapest key you will ever buy is the second one, made on the same visit, while the machine is already talking to your car. Coming back for it later means paying for the call out and the setup all over again. Ask about spare car keys before we pack up the van.
Why people phone us instead of the dealer
The dealer needs your car brought in, orders a key from a supplier and hands it back days later. We arrive at your car, do the work in front of you and hand you the key before we leave. You watch the whole thing happen and you start the engine while we are still standing there.
How lost car key replacement works
You phone us and tell us the make, model and year of the car, and where it is standing.
We tell you what the job involves and how long we will be.
We arrive, check your ID and ownership papers, and set up at the car.
We read your lock or your car's computer to get the key information.
We cut the new blade and programme the chip to your car.
You start the car with us standing there, and we test the doors and the boot.
If you want the lost key removed from the system, we do that before we leave.
We're out this way most weeks — so you'll find us near:
What affects the price of lost car key replacement?
Making a key from nothing costs more than copying one you already have, because we create the blade from scratch and teach your car to accept it. What you pay depends on a few things:
The make and year of your car, since some brands guard their key data harder than others
Whether your key is a plain blade, a chip key, a remote or a push start proximity key
How long the programming takes on your model, as some sit through a waiting period
Where the car is and what time it is, since late night and far out call outs take more work
Whether you want a spare made on the same visit, which costs far less done together
Phone us with your make, model and year and we will give you a price before we drive out. No surprises when we arrive.
GetKeys Auto Locksmith
51 Seaview Rd, Farms Port Elizabeth,
Gqeberha, 6390
084 513 4914
Open 24 hours, 7 days a week
FAQS
Can you make a car key if I have lost every single one?
Yes. We do not need an old key to work from. We read the information out of your door lock or your car's computer and use that to cut and programme a brand new key at your car.
Do I have to tow my car to you?
No. Everything we need fits in the van, so we come to your car wherever it stands in Port Elizabeth or Gqeberha and finish the job there.
What proof do you need that the car belongs to me?
Your ID plus something linking you to the vehicle, such as the registration papers, the licence disc or an insurance document. Photos on your phone are usually enough to get us started.
Could somebody still use my lost key to steal the car?
Until it gets removed from the system, yes. We can delete the old key from your car's memory while we make the new one, which stops it from ever starting your car again.
How long does a lost key job take?
Older cars are often finished inside half an hour. Push start models take longer because the car has to accept the key into its system, and some brands build in a waiting period. We tell you what to expect when you phone.
Is a locksmith faster than the dealership for a lost key?
In almost every case, yes. The dealer needs the car brought in and usually orders the key from a supplier. We come to your car and finish the work on the spot.