Lost All Your Car Keys? Don't Panic. Here's Exactly What to Do.

It's a horrible feeling. That pat-down where your hand goes to the pocket where the key always is, and it's not there. Check the other pocket. Check the bag. Check the jacket. Nothing. And then the slow-dawning realisation that you don't have a spare either.

Take a breath. This is fixable. Faster and cheaper than you think.

Step 1: Don't Panic (Seriously)

Your car is not bricked. It's not a write-off. It's not going to cost you $2,000. Losing all your car keys is stressful, but it's a problem that gets solved every single day. Buzz has been doing exactly this for 22 years, and the number of cars that couldn't be sorted is somewhere close to zero.

Before you do anything drastic, like calling a tow truck to take the car to a dealer, read the rest of this page.

Step 2: Check the Obvious Places

Yeah, you've already checked. But check again. Properly.

• Between the seat and the centre console (the abyss where everything goes)
• In the washing machine or dryer (this is more common than you'd think)
• In another bag you used yesterday
• At the last place you definitely had the key (restaurant, gym, office, mate's house)
• In the ignition. No, really. People do leave them there.

If you've genuinely turned the house upside down and they're gone, move to the next step.

Step 3: Gather Your Information

When you call a mobile locksmith like Quick Car Keys, we'll need a few details to get moving. Have these ready:

Your car's make, model, and year. Not just "it's a Mazda." We need "2017 Mazda CX-5 Maxx Sport." The model and year determine the key type and programming requirements.

Your VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). This is the critical one. The VIN is a 17-character code unique to your car. It tells us everything we need to generate a new key from scratch: the key blade profile, the transponder chip type, and the programming protocol.

Where to find your VIN:

• On a metal plate at the base of the windscreen, driver's side (you can read it from outside the car)
• On a sticker inside the driver's door jamb
• On your registration papers or certificate
• In the VicRoads app or myGov vehicle record

Even if the car is locked and you can't open the door, you can usually read the VIN through the windscreen. That's enough.

Proof of ownership. We need to verify you actually own the car. This isn't us being difficult. It's the law. A copy of your rego papers, a photo on your phone, or even pulling up the VicRoads record on your phone will do. We're not going to cut keys for a car someone doesn't own.

Where the car is. We come to the car, so we need to know where it's sitting. Driveway, car park, street address, as specific as you can be.

Step 4: Call a Mobile Locksmith (Not the Dealer)

This is the bit where you save yourself a fortune.

If you call the dealer, here's what happens:

1. They tell you to get the car towed in. That's $150+ for the tow.
2. They order the key. That might take a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on the brand.
3. They cut and program the key. That's $400–$900+ depending on the car.
4. Total damage: easily $600–$1,200 and potentially weeks of waiting.

If you call us:

1. We come to the car. Today. No tow.
2. We read the VIN, verify ownership, and generate a new key on the spot.
3. Key cut and programmed in 45–60 minutes.
4. Total damage: typically $200–$600, depending on the car.

Same result. A key that starts your car, locks and unlocks the doors, and works exactly like the original. With a 3-year warranty.

Call Buzz: 0456 013 246

How VIN-Based Key Replacement Actually Works

This is the bit people find most surprising. If you've lost every key, how can anyone make a new one without the original to copy?

Here's the process:

1. VIN Lookup. Your VIN tells us the exact specifications of your car, right down to the key type. Using specialised automotive locksmith databases, we can pull up the key code, the specific cuts needed for your key blade.

2. Key Cutting. Using the code from the VIN lookup, we cut a new physical key blade that matches your car's locks. This is done with precision key cutting equipment in the van. The key will turn in the ignition and open the doors mechanically.

3. Transponder Programming. Here's where the electronics come in. Every car made after about 1998 has an immobiliser system with a transponder chip in the key. We program a new transponder chip to communicate with your car's specific immobiliser. Once the chip is paired, the car recognises the new key as authorised and allows the engine to start.

4. Testing. We test everything. Key turns in the ignition. Engine starts. Remote locking works (if the key has a fob). Boot release, if applicable. You don't drive off until everything checks out.

The whole process uses equipment and software that mirrors what the dealer has. Same technology, same result, different price tag.

What About Insurance?

Depending on your comprehensive car insurance policy, lost car keys might be covered. Some policies include key replacement as part of their roadside assistance or emergency cover. Worth checking before you pay out of pocket.

That said, most insurance excesses are $500–$800, which might be more than our fee anyway. Run the numbers.

Also worth knowing: some policies require you to use a specific locksmith or dealer. Check the fine print or call your insurer first.

Preventing the Next Time

Once you've got a new key in your hand and the adrenaline has worn off, do yourself a favour:

Get a spare key made immediately. Right now. While we're still there with the van and the equipment. Cutting a second key during the same visit is significantly cheaper than calling us back for an all-keys-lost job six months from now.

Seriously. The price difference between "I have one key and need a spare" and "I have zero keys and need one from scratch" is substantial. The spare key service exists for exactly this reason.

Store the spare somewhere smart. Not in the car (obviously). Not on the same keyring. Give it to someone you trust, keep it in a home safe, or even leave it at your workplace. Somewhere you can get to if the main key disappears.

Consider a key finder. An AirTag or Tile attached to your keyring won't prevent loss, but it'll help you find them before "misplaced" turns into "gone."

What It Costs

All-keys-lost replacement pricing depends on the car:

Full cost breakdown: Car key replacement cost guide

The Call That Fixes Everything

Losing all your car keys feels like a disaster in the moment. It's not. It's a phone call and about an hour of your time.

Call Quick Car Keys on 0456 013 246.

Tell us what car, where it is, and we'll sort it. Today.

Every job backed by a 3-year warranty on parts and labour.