Car key replacement cost in Australia, decoded

ABC Locksmiths · Updated 13 October 2026

Written at the bench: RACQ approved repairer, Brendale workshop, trading since 2003.

Replacement car key prices in Australia vary widely, and the spread comes down to what's inside the key. A bare metal blade is a cutting job. A chipped key adds coding. A remote adds electronics. A proximity fob adds all three.

How much does car key replacement cost in Australia?

It varies widely, and it's set almost entirely by what's inside the key. Find yours below and your quote will make sense.

Blade only: older cars. Pure cutting work, the cheapest key on the board.
Chipped key: a transponder inside must be coded to your car's immobiliser before the engine will start.
Remote key: cutting plus coding plus buttons, batteries and a circuit board.
Proximity fob: keeps itself in your pocket and costs the most when it goes missing.

Hand holding a car remote key inside a car

Dealer, kiosk or locksmith

Dealers can usually supply your key, eventually, and often at ordered-in prices with a booking wait. Capability varies by kiosk, so ask before you go. An automotive locksmith sits in the middle: cutting and coding gear for most makes, usually same-visit.

Published price tables only get you so far, so call with your make, model and year and get your number.

The hidden second cost: time without the car

Price tables never show the other number: how long you're without the car. A dealer key that's ordered in and booked out can mean days of lifts, rideshares or a rental. A locksmith key made same-visit costs whatever it costs once.

If the car can't be driven at all, ask where it should be towed before you organise anything. This shop is an RACQ approved repairer with a fixed Brendale workshop, which means a car with no working key can be towed somewhere specific rather than waiting kerbside for a van's schedule. Call first with the make, model and year so we can tell you whether we can do the job.

When it's not the key at all

A car that cranks but won't start, or a key that sticks and grinds, isn't always a key problem. Worn ignition barrels and failed transponder chips produce key-shaped symptoms with different price tags.

Getting the diagnosis before the replacement is where a bench matters: testing the key against the car tells you whether you're buying a battery, a chip, a barrel repair or a whole new key. They're very different bills, and you shouldn't pay for the dear one to fix the cheap one's problem.

The two cheapest moves you can make

First: get a spare cut while you still have a working key. Copying a working key is dramatically simpler than decoding a car with no keys at all, and it turns a future disaster into an errand.

Second: if your key still works but the buttons or shell are dying, replace the battery or shell rather than the whole key. It's the difference between a small bench job and a full replacement, and a decent shop will tell you which one you actually need.

Quick answers

How much does it cost to replace a car key in Australia?

It depends on what's inside the key. A bare blade is cheap cutting work, chips add coding, remotes add electronics, and proximity fobs cost the most. Call a locksmith with your make, model and year for a real number.

Is a locksmith cheaper than the dealer for a replacement car key?

Often, and usually faster. Dealers order keys in and book you out days ahead; a locksmith with coding gear can typically make the key same-visit.

What's the cheapest way to get a spare car key?

Copy a working key before you lose it. A spare cut from a working key is simple bench work; a full decode after every key is gone is the most expensive way to buy the same object.