Keys locked in the car at Treasure Coast Square. Lost the only fob to the F-150 at Tradition Field. Tesla key card snapped. Ignition won't turn on the 2008 Silverado. We're a mobile automotive locksmith — almost every job finishes in your driveway in under an hour.
Mobile automotive locksmith serving PSL and the Treasure Coast — car lockouts, lost car key replacement (basic transponder + smart key + push-to-start), key fob programming, transponder cloning, ignition cylinder repair, broken-key extraction.
We come to you. No tow needed for 95% of jobs. Most basic keys finished on-site in 45-90 minutes; smart keys 60-120 minutes depending on the make.
Honda, Toyota, Ford, GM, Chrysler, Hyundai, Kia, Tesla, RAM, plus older domestic and European on a case-by-case basis.
Dealer process for a lost car key:
Total time: 4-9 business days. Total cost: $275-950 for a basic transponder, more for smart-key.
Mobile locksmith process (us):
Total time: 60-120 minutes. Total cost: $160-290 for basic transponder, $280-500 for push-to-start.
The cost gap closes for luxury (BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Porsche, Land Rover) where dealer is sometimes cheaper because of proprietary platforms. Always ask us for a phone quote against the dealer's number before committing.
The pricing difference is real. Knowing what you have helps you not get surprised:
Basic transponder key (1996 - ~2005): traditional cut metal key with a chip embedded in the plastic head. Insert in ignition, turn. Examples: Honda Civic 2000, Toyota Camry 2003, Ford F-150 2004. Replacement: $160-220 all-in.
Remote head key / flip key (~2005 - ~2015): metal blade folds into a fob with lock/unlock/trunk buttons. Insert in ignition, turn. Examples: Chevy Impala 2010, RAM 1500 2012, Toyota Tundra 2014. Replacement: $200-310.
Smart key / proximity / push-to-start (2008 - present): no physical insertion in ignition. Key just needs to be in the vehicle. Press the brake + button to start. Examples: Tesla Model 3, BMW 3-Series 2015+, Ford F-150 2019+, Honda CR-V 2017+, every Lexus made in the last decade. Replacement: $280-500 (sometimes $700+ for luxury European).
Tesla card / phone key: the cards are physical credit-card-sized RFID, the phone is the bluetooth-keyfob-replacement. We replace cards on-site ($50-90); phone key is a free app pair.
For vehicles older than ~1995, there's no transponder — keys are just cut metal blanks. Those are cheap: $25-60 per key, no programming needed.
Ignition that won't turn: 4 possible causes. The diagnostic step is free; the fix isn't.
1. Worn wafer tumblers inside the cylinder. The key has worn down, or the wafers have worn down, or both. Sometimes a freshly cut key fixes it ($45-90). Sometimes the cylinder needs to be rebuilt with new wafers ($150-260).
2. Failed cylinder lock body. The cylinder has internal mechanical damage — pin breakage, retainer failure, sometimes corrosion in older Florida-coast vehicles. Cylinder replacement: $180-360 depending on make.
3. Steering column lock binding. The wheel is turned hard against the column lock — fix is to wiggle the wheel while turning the key, no parts needed. Free diagnostic, no charge.
4. Anti-theft / immobilizer fault. Vehicle thinks the key isn't authorized — usually a transponder programming issue or a dead remote battery. Reprogram + rebattery: $80-180.
Old Chevy / GMC trucks (Silverado, Sierra, Tahoe 2000-2010) and Ford F-150 / Expedition 2003-2010 are the most common ignition issues we see in PSL. Heat and salt-air corrosion does a number on those cylinders.
| Service | Typical Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Car lockout (most makes) | $65 - $125 | Most domestic + Japanese. European tighter tolerance. |
| Key cutting (no chip, older vehicle) | $25 - $60 | Per key. Driveway service add ~$45. |
| Basic transponder key (cut + program) | $160 - $220 | Honda, Toyota, Ford, GM, Chrysler, Hyundai, Kia. |
| Remote head key / flip key | $200 - $310 | Includes fob shell + cut + program. |
| Smart key / push-to-start | $280 - $500 | Most popular makes. Luxury / European call for quote. |
| Tesla card replacement | $50 - $90 | Per card. Programmed in driveway. |
| Key fob battery + reprogram | $40 - $80 | Common quick fix. |
| Ignition cylinder rebuild / replace | $180 - $360 | Plus key reprogram if needed. |
| Decision | Mobile locksmith (us) | Dealer | AAA / roadside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comes to your driveway | Yes | No - you tow there | Yes for lockout, not for new key |
| Cuts + programs a new key on-site | Yes | After ordering blank (3-7 days) | No |
| Can program smart / push-to-start | Yes - most makes | Yes | No |
| Time to working key | 60-120 min | 4-9 business days | Lockout only - no key made |
| Total cost for basic transponder | $160-220 | $275-550 (incl. tow) | $50-100 + tow + dealer cost |
| Total cost for smart / push-to-start | $280-500 | $425-950 (incl. tow) | Same as above |
Real person on the phone in under 2 rings. Locksmith on-site in 15-30 minutes. Honest price before any tools come out.
Call (772) 284-5142For non-luxury makes — almost always the locksmith. For most Honda, Toyota, Ford, Chevy, Chrysler, Hyundai, Kia, RAM, Jeep we're $100-200 cheaper than the dealer once you factor in towing. For luxury European (BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Porsche, Land Rover, Jaguar) the gap closes — sometimes the dealer is actually similar or cheaper because of proprietary chip platforms. Always get a phone quote from us against the dealer's number.
'$3000 rule' usually refers to a guideline some mechanics use: if a repair will cost more than half the car's current value, junk it. Doesn't apply to locksmith work directly — a new key is $160-500, vehicles worth $3,000+ are easily worth re-keying. The rule is more relevant for engine / transmission decisions, not key / lock decisions.
For most makes built since ~2000, yes — the VIN gives us the original key cut code that we cut on-site. Some manufacturers (BMW, Mercedes-Benz, some Land Rover) require additional dealer verification to issue a code, and we coordinate that. Tesla doesn't use traditional cuts — keys are RFID cards or phone-app pair.
Basic transponder: 5-15 min programming, plus 10-15 min for cutting the blade. Total ~30-45 min from arrival. Smart key / push-to-start: 30-60 min programming because the procedure involves immobilizer ECU pairing. Total ~60-120 min from arrival. Tesla card pair: 90 seconds.
Yes — most makes since ~2008 we can program on-site via the OBD-II port using our Autel / Xhorse / Smart Pro tools. For some makes (newer BMW, certain Volkswagen / Audi platforms, Ford 2022+ Sync 4 systems) the programming has been increasingly locked behind dealer-only access. We tell you upfront if your specific year/make falls into the dealer-only category.
AutoZone will cut basic blank keys (~$5-15) but doesn't typically do transponder programming. Walmart same. Neither programs smart keys. For anything beyond a metal-only blank, you need a locksmith or the dealer.
Mobile automotive jobs come from every corner of PSL — Tradition Field parking lots, the dealerships along US-1, Treasure Coast Square mall, Sandpiper Bay marina, the I-95 / Crosstown exit. We've done plenty in the Magnolia Lakes, St Lucie West, and Veranda Bay garages.
Last updated: 2026-05-17