Car Keys Replacement Near Me | Melbourne Mobile Service

Your car key is broken, lost, or just not doing its one job anymore. And your first thought, understandably, is the dealership.

Here's what happens at the dealer: you get quoted somewhere between $800 and $2,000 depending on the make. You wait three to five business days for the key to arrive. You probably need to tow the car there. And when you finally pick it up, you wonder how a small piece of plastic and metal costs more than your last holiday.

There's a better option. That's us.

How Car Key Replacement Actually Works

Every modern car key has two components: the physical blade (or shell) that operates the locks, and the transponder chip that communicates with the immobiliser. Without both, the car won't start.

When we replace a car key, we handle both parts on-site:

1. Key cutting. We cut a new physical key matched to your vehicle's lock profile. For keyless cars, this means programming the shell and buttons.
2. Transponder programming. We connect to your car's OBD port and program the new key's chip to your immobiliser. This is the step that requires specialist equipment, and it's where dealerships mark up the most.
3. Testing. We test the key in the ignition, the locks, the boot, and the remote functions. You don't sign off until everything works.

The whole process? Usually 30 to 60 minutes. At your location. No tow truck.

What We Cover

We replace keys for most makes and models up to 2022. That includes:

• Japanese brands: Toyota, Mazda, Honda, Nissan, Subaru, Mitsubishi, Suzuki
• Korean brands: Hyundai, Kia, SsangYong
• European brands: BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, VW, Skoda, Peugeot, Land Rover, Range Rover
• Australian/American: Ford, Holden (yes, we still do Commodore keys)
• Commercial: LDV, and select other light commercial vehicles

For newer models (2023+), some vehicles require dealer-only tooling. We're straight with you about that. If a job needs the dealer, we'll tell you upfront rather than waste your time.

The Dealership Comparison: Real Numbers

People always ask what the difference is. So here are some actual examples:

These aren't made-up numbers designed to shock you. They're ballpark figures based on what people actually get quoted. Dealer pricing varies by location and model year, and so does ours, but the gap is consistently large.

Why the difference? Dealerships have massive overheads. Showroom floors, sales teams, cappuccino machines. They also hold a monopoly on people who don't know there's an alternative. That premium goes to their rent, not to better keys. The key we program is functionally identical to what the dealer provides. Same chip technology. Same frequency. Same warranty. Actually, ours is better.

Our 3-Year Warranty

We back every key with a 3-year warranty on parts and labour. Read that again. Three years.

Most locksmiths offer 90 days. Dealers might give you 12 months if you're lucky. We give you three years because the keys and programming we provide are built to last, and we stand behind that.

If something goes wrong with a key we've supplied within three years, we fix it. No interrogation about how you used it. No "sorry, that's wear and tear." We fix it.

Mobile Across Melbourne

Buzz operates out of Yallambie and covers a wide radius across Melbourne's northeast and beyond:

• Core coverage: Manningham, Whitehorse, Banyule, Darebin
• Extended coverage: Right across metropolitan Melbourne, just give us a call and we'll confirm

We come to your home, your workplace, a car park, wherever the car is. That's the whole point of a mobile service. You don't rearrange your day around us.

Who Is Buzz?

Buzz (full name Blagoja Zaharijevski, and now you understand the nickname) has been in the automotive key trade for 22 years. Over 30,000 keys cut and programmed.

This isn't a side hustle or a franchise with a weekend training course behind it. It's two decades of hands-on experience with every transponder system, every immobiliser generation, and every weird edge case a car manufacturer has dreamed up. That depth of experience means faster jobs, fewer problems, and straight answers when you ask a question.

When to Get a Replacement vs. a Spare

If your key is physically damaged, intermittent, or lost, you need a replacement. Full stop.

But if your key still works and you just want backup, a spare car key is cheaper and smarter. Getting a spare made while your original still works avoids the emergency pricing that kicks in when you've got zero working keys.

Think about it: would you rather spend $250 on a spare this Saturday, or $500-plus on an emergency replacement at 7am on a Monday when you're already late?

Got a Smart Key or Proximity Fob?

Push-to-start vehicles and proximity keys are a different beast, and a different price bracket at the dealer. We handle those too. Check out our proximity and smart key service for the full rundown on keyless systems.

Ready to get a new key? Call Buzz on 0456 013 246, or contact us to book a time. Mobile service across Melbourne, 3-year warranty on every job.