Dealership vs Mobile Locksmith for Car Key Replacement: An Honest Comparison

We're a mobile locksmith. So obviously we're going to tell you to pick us over the dealer. You know that. We know that. Let's skip the pretending and do an actually honest comparison.

Because the truth is, dealers DO have advantages in some situations. Not many. But some. And we'd rather you know the full picture than find out the hard way.

Where the Dealer Wins

Let's get this out of the way first.

Brand-New Cars Under Warranty

If your car is under its original manufacturer's warranty and you want to guarantee nothing voids that warranty, the dealer is the safest bet. Legally, getting a key from an independent locksmith shouldn't void your warranty (that's what consumer law says). But dealers can be tricky about this, and if you're mid-warranty dispute, having a non-dealer key in the mix gives them ammunition.

For cars under warranty with a key issue, start with the dealer. It might even be covered.

Very New Models (2023+)

Some car manufacturers, particularly European brands, lock down the programming on their newest models aggressively. A 2024 BMW or Mercedes might require dealer-only software to program a new key. This changes over time as independent tool manufacturers develop solutions, but right now, the very latest models can sometimes only be done at a dealer.

Quick Car Keys covers vehicles up to up to 2022 models. That's the vast majority of cars on Melbourne's roads. But if you're driving something fresh off the lot, the dealer might be your only option for now.

You Want the Branded Key

Some people want the BMW logo on their key. The Mercedes star. The VW roundel. There's nothing wrong with that. It's your car, your key, your call. Dealer keys come with the brand stamp. Ours come with a 3-year warranty and a lower price, but without the logo.

Functionally identical. Aesthetically different. If the logo matters to you, dealer it is.

Where the Locksmith Wins (Almost Everything Else)

Price

This is the big one, and it's not close.

The price gap exists because of dealer overhead, not key quality. A dealership has a showroom, a parts department, a service department, reception staff, coffee machines, and a building lease in a premium location. All of that is baked into the price of your key.

We have a van. The maths works differently.

Full pricing breakdown: Car key replacement cost guide

Speed

Dealer timeline:

1. Call and book an appointment (might be 1–3 days out, sometimes weeks for European brands)
2. Get the car there (tow if you've lost all keys, another $150+)
3. Drop it off
4. Wait. Possibly a few hours. Possibly a few days if they need to order the blank.
5. Pick it up

Our timeline:

1. Call Buzz
2. We come to you, usually same day
3. Key cut and programmed in 30–60 minutes
4. Done

For most people, the speed difference alone is worth the switch. A car without a key is a car you can't use, and every day it sits there is a day of missed work, missed school runs, missed life.

Convenience

The dealer requires you to bring the car to them. Think about that for a second. Your car doesn't have a working key, and they want you to bring it to them. That means either:

• A tow truck ($150+)
• A lift from someone to drop it off and another lift to pick it up
• Taking time off work to deal with it

We come to the car. Wherever it is. Your driveway at 7pm on a Tuesday. The office car park during your lunch break. The Woolies car park where the key decided to disappear.

This is just a fundamentally better model for a service that exists because people can't move their car.

Warranty

Here's one that surprises people. Most dealers offer a 12-month warranty on key replacement. Some offer less. Quick Car Keys offers a 3-year warranty on parts and labour.

Three years. If the key fails due to a defect in the blank or a programming issue on our end, we fix it. Free. For three years.

We can offer this because we're confident in the blanks we use and the programming we do. After 22 years and 30,000+ keys, the failure rate is exceptionally low.

After-Hours Availability

Most dealer service departments operate Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm. Some have Saturday morning hours. That's it.

We work Mon–Sat 9am–9pm. Because people don't exclusively lose their car keys during business hours. If your key dies at 7pm after you've finished dinner in Preston, we can still come out and sort it.

The Quality Question

"But is a locksmith key as good as a dealer key?"

Yes.

The physical key blank is cut from the same type of material using the same type of key cutting machine. The transponder chip inside the key is the same technology. The programming process pairs the chip to your car's immobiliser using the same protocols.

The finished product, the key in your hand, starts the car, locks and unlocks the doors, and works with every system exactly the same way. Your car does not know or care whether the key was programmed in a dealership or in your driveway.

The blank might not have the manufacturer's logo embossed on it. That's the only physical difference.

When to Choose Which

Here's the honest summary:

Go to the dealer if:

• Your car is under manufacturer's warranty and you want to play it safe
• Your car is a 2023 or newer model (especially European)
• You specifically want a branded key with the manufacturer's logo
• The key replacement might be covered under your warranty or service plan

Call us if:

• Your car is any model up to up to 2022 (which is... most cars)
• You want the job done today, not next week
• You'd rather save $200–$500 and get a longer warranty
• Your car is stuck somewhere and you can't get it to a dealer
• You've lost all your keys and need a VIN-based replacement
• You're a dealer, fleet manager, or rental agency who needs regular key work at trade rates

Still Not Sure?

Call Buzz on 0456 013 246. Tell him what car you've got and what's happened. If we can do it, we'll quote you. If we genuinely think the dealer is your better option for this particular job, we'll tell you that too. We'd rather be straight with you than take a job we shouldn't.

22 years in business. 30,000+ keys. 3-year warranty. That's our pitch.