A broken car key that has snapped in two will not open the door or start the engine. The fix is a new key, cut to your locks and, on most cars, programmed to the car. If part of the old key broke off inside the door lock or the ignition, that piece comes out first. We do both where the car is parked. A regular car key starts at $129, and our average arrival across metro Atlanta is 15 to 30 minutes, depending on where you are and the traffic.
How a car key breaks
A car key can fail in a few different ways:
- The metal blade snaps off at the head.
- The blade breaks inside the door lock or the ignition, and part of it stays in the lock.
- The case of a remote key or fob cracks or splits open.
- A worn blade bends or starts to crack and no longer turns smoothly.
Each of these is a job for a new key or a new fob.
Why tape or glue does not fix a broken key
On most cars, the head of the key holds a small chip, and the car reads a code from that chip before it lets the engine start. The system is called an immobilizer, and it exists to stop a car from being hot-wired. A key whose chip is damaged or missing can still turn in the ignition and not start the engine.
A key held together with tape or glue is also weak where it broke. If it snaps again inside the door lock or the ignition, the broken piece has to come out before anything else can be done.
If part of the key is stuck in the lock
When a key breaks off inside the door lock or the ignition, the piece left inside has to come out before a new key can go in. We remove the broken piece without damaging the cylinder and cut a fresh working key on the spot.
If the ignition lock itself is worn and needs repair, our guide to a key stuck in the ignition explains that job.
How we make the new key
The new key is cut to your locks, and on most cars its chip is programmed so the car recognizes it. The programming takes professional diagnostic equipment, and for certain vehicles the manufacturer's factory software, which we use when required. We test the new key before the job is finished.
If the pieces of the broken key are lost, we can still make and program a new key from scratch, even when the broken key was your only one. If a remote key or fob cracked open, we supply a compatible replacement, program it, and test it at your location.
What a broken car key costs
For most domestic, Japanese, and Korean makes, these are our starting prices for the new key:
| Key type | Starting price |
|---|---|
| Regular car key | Starting at $129 |
| Remote key or key fob | Starting at $159 |
| Smart key (push-to-start) | Starting at $189 |
Some makes start higher, and our car key replacement cost guide lists every group. If the ignition lock needs repair or replacement, that starts at $199. If a broken piece has to come out of a lock first, tell us when you call. We confirm the final price on-site before any work begins.
What happens when you call
- Call with the year, make, and model, and tell us where the key broke: in your hand, in the door lock, or in the ignition.
- We come to your home, your office, or wherever the car is parked.
- We check a photo ID and proof that the car is yours: the registration, insurance card, title, or bill of sale.
- We confirm the final price on-site before any work begins.
- We remove any broken piece from the lock, cut and program the new key, and test it before the job is finished.
Broken car key in Atlanta?
Call (470) 668-2196 with the year, make, and model, and have your photo ID and proof of ownership ready. We work Tuesday through Sunday from 7 AM to 7 PM, Wednesday until 5 PM, and we are closed on Mondays.
We cover Atlanta and more than 20 surrounding cities, listed on our service area page. You can read more about the service on our car key replacement page.