How to Get a Spare Key Fob (Cheapest Options)

A spare fob is cheap insurance. Losing your only key can turn a $120 job into a $400 tow-and-program job. The good news is that adding a second key is one of the simplest things a locksmith or dealer does, and on some cars you can do it yourself.

This guide shows where to get a spare key fob made, what it costs, and the exact steps for the cheapest option your vehicle allows.

Spare Key Fob Options at a Glance

What You Need

• Your current working key or keys (some procedures need two).
• Year, make, model, trim and VIN.
• The FCC ID and part number from the back or inside of your fob.
• Your owner’s manual, to check for onboard remote programming.
• A matching blank fob if you plan to buy online.

How to Get a Spare Key Fob for Your Car: Step by Step

1. Identify your key type. Is it a separate remote, a remote head key (blade and buttons in one), a flip key, or a smart key for push-button start? This decides how the spare must be programmed.
2. Read the FCC ID and part number. They are molded or printed on the case, sometimes inside under the battery. Write both down. A matching FCC ID means the same radio frequency and electronics family.
3. Check the owner’s manual. Look in the keys or security section for “programming remote transmitters” or “adding keys.” If an onboard procedure is listed, you can probably skip the shop.
4. Get quotes. Call one dealer and one automotive locksmith. Ask for a complete price: fob, blade cutting, programming and service call.
5. Decide where to buy the fob. If the quotes are close, let the locksmith supply it. If you buy online, ask the locksmith first whether they program customer-supplied fobs.
6. Cut the blade. Remote head keys, flip keys and smart key emergency blades must be cut to match your locks. Many locksmiths cut by code or by copying your key.
7. Program the spare. Use the onboard procedure, an OBD2 programmer, or have the locksmith or dealer do it. Bring every key you want to keep, since some systems erase keys that are not present.
8. Test everything. Lock, unlock, trunk, panic, remote start, and start the engine with each key. Store the spare somewhere safe, not in the car.

How to Get a Spare Key Fob for a Ford

Ford is one of the friendlier brands for spares. Many Ford and Lincoln models with a turn-key ignition and the Passive Anti-Theft System (PATS) allow owners to program an additional key themselves if two already-programmed keys are available. The procedure involves cycling each programmed key in the ignition, then inserting the new cut key. Steps and timing vary by model and year, so follow your owner’s manual exactly.

If you only have one key, or your Ford has push-button start (Intelligent Access), you typically need a locksmith, the dealer, or a compatible programming tool such as FORScan on supported models. Our Ford key fob programming guide covers the details.

Where to Get a Spare Key Fob Made

• Automotive locksmith. Usually the best value for most cars. Many are mobile. See can a locksmith fix a key fob for what they can handle.
• Dealer service department. Genuine part, guaranteed to work, highest cost.
• Retail key kiosks and stores. Some stores cut and program certain keys. Coverage is limited. Read key fob programming at Walmart before you go.
• Online plus DIY. Cheapest when your car supports it. Our OBD2 key fob programming guide explains the tool route.

How to Get a Spare Car Key Fob for Less

A few habits cut the price of a spare without cutting corners.

• Do it while you still have a key. Adding a key to a car that already has a working one is a standard job. Once every key is lost, locksmiths and dealers must generate a key from scratch, and some vehicles need immobilizer data read or reset. That typically adds $50 to $250.
• Ask for a “second key” price. Some locksmiths discount a second fob made during the same visit, since the setup and programming session is already running.
• Skip features you do not need. A plain transponder key without remote buttons can serve as a cheap emergency spare on many turn-key cars. It will start the car and open the door with the blade, just not lock remotely.
• Check memberships and warranties. Some roadside plans, extended warranties and credit card benefits include key replacement or discounts.
• Avoid emergency calls. After-hours and weekend mobile calls often carry a surcharge. Book a weekday appointment if you are not stranded.

Where you store the spare matters too. Keep it at home, away from the car, and away from other fobs so its battery is not drained by constant wake-ups on some smart key systems. Replace the coin cell every two to three years even if it is rarely used.

If It Doesn’t Work

• Buttons work but car won’t start: the transponder chip was not programmed, or the chip in the new key is the wrong type.
• Car starts but buttons do nothing: the remote portion was not paired. Repeat the remote programming step.
• Nothing works: check the battery orientation and freshness, then confirm the FCC ID matches.
• Old key stopped working: the procedure may have erased keys not present. Re-run it with all keys.

For more causes, see why won’t my key fob program. A weak battery in the new fob also causes odd behavior. Check the key fob battery size chart.

When to Call the Dealer or a Locksmith

Call a pro if your car has push-button start, if you have only one key and the manual requires two, if you drive a European luxury brand, or if a DIY attempt fails twice. Expect about $100 to $300 at a locksmith and $150 to $500 or more at the dealer in 2026. For a full price comparison, see how much is a new key fob.

Frequently Asked Questions