Quick Answer
A spare car key cut and programmed from a working key typically costs $60–$180 in Fort Collins, depending on the key type. Adding a spare during another key visit is $40–$90 extra. Call 970 Locksmith at (970) 397-2002 for a flat-rate quote before we dispatch, with no night or weekend surcharge.
Key Takeaways
- A spare cut and programmed from a working key is typically $60–$180 in Fort Collins.
- A spare added during another key visit is $40–$90 extra.
- A spare from a working key avoids the $75–$150 all-keys-lost add-on you pay when your only key is gone.
- Prices are flat rate quoted by phone, the same at night, on weekends and on holidays.
How much does a spare car key cost in Fort Collins?
A spare car key cut and programmed from a working key is typically $60–$180 in Fort Collins, depending on the key type. Adding a spare during a visit for another key job is $40–$90 extra. The price is a flat rate quoted by phone before we dispatch.
The range is wide because "car key" covers very different parts. An older metal key is simple. A key with a chip needs programming. A push-to-start fob needs more of both. The table shows each case.
| Spare key situation | Typical range | What is included |
|---|---|---|
| Spare cut from a working original (transponder, typical) | $60–$180 | Cutting and chip programming on the same visit |
| Older mechanical key (pre-1996, no chip) | $30–$60 | Cutting only, no programming |
| Spare added during another key job | $40–$90 extra | Programming added to a visit you already booked |
| Key you bought yourself, cut and programmed | $60–$120 | Cutting and programming only |
| Fob you bought yourself, cut and programmed | $60–$150 | Blade cutting and programming only |
| Transponder key with remote fob (full price we supply) | $85–$180 | Key or fob, cutting and on-site programming |
| Flip-blade fob (full price we supply) | $100–$220 | Fob, cutting and on-site programming |
| Smart key or push-to-start fob (full price we supply) | $150–$350 | Fob, cut blade and on-site programming |
| Luxury European smart key (full price we supply) | $180–$450 | Fob, cut blade and on-site programming |
| Fob battery replacement only | $15–$25 | New battery, no programming needed |
See the full locksmith price list for every service. Call (970) 397-2002 for a flat-rate quote before we dispatch. If your car uses a chip key, our transponder key service page explains how it works.
What makes the price of a spare key go up or down?
Key type is the main factor. A spare costs more than a metal copy because most cars built since about 1996 need a programmed chip. The chip exchanges a coded handshake with the engine immobilizer. If the codes do not match, the engine will not start.
Three other things move the price. A push-to-start fob adds electronics on top of the chip, and luxury European makes cost more still. Having no working key at all adds $75–$150 for all keys lost. Cities 25+ miles away add a $10–$20 mileage premium, disclosed on the phone.
Our key fob programming page covers fobs and smart keys in more detail.
Is a hardware-store copy enough for a spare car key?
Not for a chip key. A plain metal copy may turn in the door, but the engine will not start unless the chip is programmed to your car. That is why a spare for a car built since about 1996 is cut and programmed together.
A metal-only copy can make sense for an older mechanical key with no chip. That is the $30–$60 row in the table. If you are not sure which type you have, tell us the make, model and year when you call.
Keep the working key you have for the visit, because we copy from it. A metal-only copy cannot start a chip-key car, so ask us about your key type before you pay for a copy anywhere. A flat-rate quote by phone costs nothing.
What does a spare cost compared with replacing a key?
Making a spare now avoids the $75–$150 all-keys-lost add-on later. A replacement costs $85–$250 for a standard transponder key and $150–$350 for a smart key or push-to-start fob. A luxury European key is $180–$450.
Dealers typically charge $250–$500 for a transponder key, $300–$600 for a smart key and $400–$900 for a luxury European key. Our mobile price is typically 40–60% lower than the dealership.
The easiest time to make a spare is while you still have a working key. Our guide to what to do when you lose all your car keys walks through the other case.
How does the quote work for a spare key?
The phone quote is a single flat number, not a range. It is binding if your car and key match what you described. If they differ on arrival, we re-quote and you decide before any work continues.
Nights, weekends, holidays and bad weather are not extra. The price we quote at 2 AM is the same as the price at 2 PM. There is no mileage fee inside our service area.
How do you save money on a spare car key?
Make the spare during a visit you are already paying for, bring your own key if you have one, and replace weak fob batteries early. Each saves real money.
- Add it to another job. A spare added during a key visit is $40–$90 extra, while a stand-alone spare from a working key is typically $60–$180.
- Bring a key or fob you already bought. We cut and program one you supply for $75–$150 less than supplying it ourselves. Call with your make, model and year before you buy, because a wrong-spec key may not be programmable.
- Do not wait for the battery to die. A cold morning is hard on a weak fob battery. A new battery is $15–$25, and our winter locksmith tips cover the other cold-weather checks.
What do you need to have ready for a spare key?
You need your working key and the car. Bring the Colorado registration or insurance card, with a VIN that matches the dashboard, and a government photo ID. We cannot make a key without verifying ownership. Luxury vehicles may get an extra verification call.
Tell us the make, model and year when you call. Our automotive locksmith hub lists the makes we work on, and we cut and program transponder keys on-site for 25+ makes.
Can a locksmith make a spare car key at my home in Fort Collins?
Yes. 970 Locksmith comes to you, at home or at work, as a mobile locksmith. Our average response is 22 minutes inside Fort Collins city limits. Other towns have their own averages, for example Loveland 30–35 minutes and Windsor 25–35 minutes. These are averages, not promises.
The people who do the work are direct employees, background-checked on hire and annually, and trained in-house. We are licensed, bonded and insured. See our car locksmith service and our locksmith services in Fort Collins for what else we do at the curb.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you make a spare key for a Tesla?
Yes. A Tesla key card is $75–$150 and a Tesla key fob is $180–$380, quoted flat rate by phone before we dispatch. Call with your model and year so we can confirm what your car needs.
Can you make a spare for a push-to-start fob?
Yes. A smart key or push-to-start fob is $150–$350 at full price, and a luxury European smart key is $180–$450. If you supply the fob, cutting and programming is $60–$150. Call with your make, model and year for a flat-rate quote. You will need your Colorado registration or insurance card with a VIN that matches the car, plus a matching government photo ID.
Do you charge more to make a spare at night or on a holiday?
No. We have no surcharge for nights, weekends, holidays or bad weather. The price we quote on the phone is the price on arrival if the job matches what you described. The only distance extra is the $10–$20 mileage premium for cities 25+ miles away.
How long does it take to make a spare car key?
On-site cutting and programming typically takes 30–60 minutes. Our average response is 22 minutes inside Fort Collins city limits, so the total is the arrival average plus the visit. European luxury makes can take longer.
Does a spare key have to be an OEM key?
No. An aftermarket key can save $50–$120 compared with an OEM key. Either way the key has to be the right spec for your make, model and year, so call us before you buy one yourself.