Holden Key Replacement Melbourne

Holden's gone. The dealerships are winding down. But there are still hundreds of thousands of Commodores, Colorados, Captivas, and Cruzes on Melbourne roads. And they still need keys.

This is the problem nobody saw coming. When GM pulled the plug on Holden in 2020, they didn't just stop making cars, they started dismantling the support network. Dealer numbers are shrinking. Parts supply chains are thinning. And key replacement? It's becoming a headache for Holden owners who assumed they'd always have a dealer to fall back on.

Buzz has been replacing Holden keys since before the VT Commodore. He's not going anywhere. Twenty-two years of doing this, and Holden has always been one of the biggest parts of the job. Still is.

The Holden Dealer Problem

Here's what Holden owners are now dealing with:

Fewer dealers. Longer waits. Reduced parts stockholding. Some former Holden dealers have converted to other brands and won't even take Holden key jobs anymore. Others are running skeleton crews with limited capabilities.

For something like a Commodore key replacement, this means what used to be a 2-day job through the dealer can now stretch to a week or more. If they'll take the job at all.

Independent automotive locksmiths like Quick Car Keys don't have this problem. We carry the blanks, we have the programming capability, and we're not reliant on a supply chain that's being wound down. Mobile, same-day, done.

Holden Key Types We Handle

Transponder keys. VT through VZ Commodores used a standard transponder chip key. Metal blade, chip in the head. These are straightforward but still need proper programming, you can't just get them cut at a hardware store and expect them to start the car.

Remote head keys. VE and VF Commodores moved to a remote head key with flip blade. Lock, unlock, and boot buttons built into the key head. The flip mechanism is a weak point, they break. A lot. If your VE key blade is wobbly, get it sorted before it snaps.

Smart keys / proximity keys. VF II Commodores and some Captiva models got a proximity smart key. Walk up, grab the handle, push to start. The key stays in your pocket.

Standard remote fobs. Colorado, Captiva, Cruze, and Barina models used various remote key setups. Some flip, some not. All programmable on-site.

Common Holden Models We Service

• • Commodore (VT, VX, VY, VZ, VE, VF)
• • Colorado (RC, RG)
• • Captiva (CG, CG2)
• • Cruze (JG, JH)
• • Astra (AH, BK)
• • Barina (TK, TM)
• • Trax
• • Calais, Berlina, Statesman, Caprice
• • Colorado 7

If Holden sold it in Australia, we've replaced the key for it. Multiple times.

VE/VF Commodore: The Flip Key Issue

Quick note on this because it comes up constantly. The VE and VF Commodore flip key has a known weakness: the flip mechanism wears out. The blade gets loose, then wobbly, then one day it snaps at the pivot point.

If your Commodore key blade is feeling loose, don't wait for it to break. A replacement now is easier, faster, and cheaper than an emergency all-keys-lost job after the blade snaps off in your ignition. Just saying.

Holden Pricing: Fair, Not Inflated

Whatever dealers are left servicing Holden are increasingly treating key replacements as a specialty job. Translation: higher prices because fewer people can do it.

Quick Car Keys hasn't changed its approach. Fair price. Mobile service. 3-year warranty on parts and labour. Buzz has 22 years of Holden key experience, it's not suddenly harder because the brand stopped manufacturing. The cars are the same cars. The keys are the same keys.

Frequently Asked Questions