Getting a spare car key made is one of those tasks most people put off until it is too late. Then the single key they have is lost, broken, or left inside a locked car — and a spare key that costs $120–$180 for a chip key turns into an all-keys-lost replacement at $250–$550. Mobile Auto Locksmith Hamilton makes getting a spare key easy: we come to you, cut and program the key on site, and you have a proper working backup before anything goes wrong. Spare key, duplicate, copy of your car key — all the same job to us, and it is done at your vehicle rather than over a counter. Duplicate car keys and car key duplication are done exactly the same way — cut and programmed to your car.
“Called after locking keys in the car outside a restaurant. Had someone there in under 30 minutes. No damage to the car, professional and friendly. Fair price and quick service.”
People call it different things and they all mean the same thing: you have one working key and you want another. A spare key, a duplicate car key, a second key, a backup, a copy — whichever phrase you use, we cut and code it at your vehicle while your original stays in your hand.
The only thing that matters is whether you still have a working key. If you do, this is a straightforward job: we read your existing key, cut a matching blade, and code the new one to your car. If you have lost every key and none is left to copy, that is a different and more involved job — the key has to be generated from the vehicle itself, and that is covered on our car key replacement page.
Getting a duplicate made while you still have a working key is always cheaper and quicker than waiting until you do not.
With older vehicles, a spare key was simple — pop into a hardware store and have one cut for a few dollars. Modern cars are different. Keys now contain transponder chips, proximity sensors, and encrypted codes that must be matched to your specific vehicle's immobiliser. A cut-only spare will open the door but will not start the engine. A spare needs to be both cut and programmed to be fully functional.
The cost of a properly coded spare is a fraction of what you will pay for emergency replacement when you have no keys at all. It is also much cheaper than the dealership alternative, which often involves ordering parts and waiting days.
If every key is already gone, that is a different job — see lost car keys. And for what each type of key costs, the car key replacement price guide sets out the ranges.
When you call, we confirm the type of key your vehicle uses and check we have the right blank. We then travel to your home, workplace, or any other convenient location.
With your original key present, we use our cutting machine to duplicate the blade precisely, then connect our diagnostic equipment to program the new key to your vehicle's immobiliser. This process registers the new key's transponder chip alongside the original, so both keys work simultaneously. We test both keys thoroughly before we leave.
We cut and program spare keys for virtually every popular New Zealand vehicle, including:
If your vehicle is not on this list, call anyway — we may still be able to help.
A tradesman in Chartwell called us after his mate had driven off with his only Hilux key by mistake — a wake-up call that he had been meaning to get a spare made for two years. He had contacted the dealer and been quoted $680 for a spare key with a one-week turnaround.
We arrived at his home address the following morning. Using his original key, we cut and programmed a spare Hilux smart key in 40 minutes. Both keys tested perfectly. He was paying for his own key by the end of the hour — and he now has a spare secured in a safe at home.
The best time is always before you need one. Specifically:
A spare key is cheap insurance. Call us today and we will come to you at a time that suits.
Actual jobs completed across Hamilton and the Waikato — no made-up scenarios.
Problem
Only had one key — needed backup
Solution
Spare smart key cut and programmed alongside original
Dealer: $680 + 1 week; we did it next morning for significantly less
Problem
Bought second-hand with one key only
Solution
Spare transponder key programmed at home
Customer now has backup security at a fraction of dealer price
Real photos from our spare car keys jobs across Hamilton and the Waikato.
We travel to your vehicle anywhere in the region — no towing required.
Why us
We come to your vehicle anywhere in Hamilton and the wider Waikato, so there is no towing.
More than a decade of car key and lock work across the Waikato.
Keys cut and programmed at your car with Silca SmartPro, Autel, Xhorse and OBDSTAR equipment, the same class dealerships use.
Price ranges are on the site, and you get your price on the phone before we travel.
Rated 5.0 from 146 Google reviews by Hamilton and Waikato customers.
Every job we do is covered by insurance.
Common questions
Ring us with the make, model, year and registration, and we make it at your vehicle. It is done in one visit — there is nothing to drop off and nothing to order in for most common cars. A fob is made in two steps: the blade is cut to match your locks, and the chip and remote buttons are then programmed to your car so the engine will actually start and the doors will actually respond. You need proof that the car is yours, which means registration papers and photo ID. If you still have one working key the job is quicker and cheaper than if every key is gone.
Same thing, and the words get used interchangeably — spare, duplicate, copy, second key. What matters is not the word but whether your key has a chip in it. A plain metal key can be copied by cutting the blade alone. A key with an immobiliser chip or a remote has to be cut and then programmed to your car, and a copy that is only cut will open the door but will not start the engine. Hold the key: if it has buttons, or a plastic head thicker than a house key, it almost certainly has a chip.
A duplicate car key is $120–$180 for a transponder chip key and $280–$600 for a smart or proximity key, cut and coded at your car. A plain metal key with no chip in it is far less — those are $10–$20, because there is nothing to program. What you pay depends on the make, model and year, so ring us with your rego and we will give you a firm price before we travel.
We come to you, anywhere in Hamilton and the wider Waikato, so there is nothing to drive to. A hardware store or kiosk can copy a plain metal key, but they cannot code the chip inside a modern key — without that step the blade turns in the door and the engine will not start. We carry the cutting machine and the programming equipment in the van, so the key works properly before we leave.
A cut and coded spare key is $120–$180 for a chip key and $280–$600 for a smart or proximity key, while a plain metal key is $10–$20. It is not a fixed price — every make, model and year programs differently, and luxury and European brands sit higher because the blanks cost more and the coding takes longer. Call with your vehicle registration and we will give you a firm price before we travel.
Yes, for standard spare key duplication we need the original present to measure and copy the blade accurately. If you have lost all keys, that becomes a lost-key replacement job — which we also do.
Yes. Buying a used car with only one key is very common. We come to your location and program a spare to your vehicle — no dealership required.
For most vehicles, 30–50 minutes. We test both keys before we leave to make sure everything works properly.
Yes. Once programmed, the spare key is functionally identical to a factory original. We use quality blanks and professional programming equipment. We stand behind our work.
Absolutely. Getting two spares programmed in one visit costs less per key than separate visits. Many families get two spares so each household member has one.
Yes — we cover all of Hamilton and the wider Waikato including Cambridge, Te Awamutu, Morrinsville, Huntly, Raglan, and Matamata.
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Need spare car keys today?
Call for a free quote — we are mobile across Hamilton and the Waikato.
Call or message us with your vehicle details. We give you a fixed price before we travel and arrive within 20–40 minutes across Hamilton.
Also available: Digital Door Locks, Residential Locksmith, Lock Installation. View all services.
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Mobile auto locksmith across Hamilton and the Waikato. One call gets the job done.
