Lost car keys? Don’t panic and read our advice

lost car keys

Lost car keys are no reason to panic. Although losing your car key is always inconvenient, it doesn’t have to be the end of the world – and your Toyota dealer can certainly help. Read on for our advice on what to do if your car keys go walkabout.

What should I do if I’ve lost one of my car keys?

Don’t worry. Usually cars come with two sets of keys. If you are in possession of another key and want a replacement for your main key, your Toyota dealer can supply a new one for you relatively simply.

Give them a call (find their details here) and arrange an appointment. They can examine your car and the remaining key, and organise for a new key to be ordered, cut and programmed for you. It usually takes one or two days to arrange lost car keys in this way.

If you do not live within close proximity of a Toyota centre, many police forces recommend contacting a member of the Master Locksmiths Association.

Keyless entry

What should I do if I’ve lost all of my car keys?

This is a trickier scenario. If you don’t have any of your car keys and your car has remote locking or other similar features, it will likely have a code that will need to be reprogrammed. It’s also possible that your car will need a new ECU. Toyota has to comply with legal standards when supplying security products, so each process must be carried out by the book.

Due to the security technology within a key and the work involved in replacing lost car keys, losing all your keys can be expensive. The exact costs varies by model but will usually be several hundred pounds or even more. It will also usually take one or two days for the keys to be ordered, cut and programmed.

If you cannot move your car due to lost car keys, you may need to arrange for it to be recovered to your dealer. And if you do not live within close proximity of a Toyota centre, many police forces recommend contacting a member of the Master Locksmiths Association.

What should I do if I’ve locked them in the car?

Locking the keys in a car is a rarer problem than a few years ago, as smart entry or keys with transponders make it much harder to do.

However, if you do manage to lock your keys in the car you should call Toyota Roadside Assistance or your breakdown provider.

Do you have any other advice?

True, this might not sound very helpful if you have lost your keys, but the best course of action is to not lose sight of them in the first place. Get into the habit of keeping your keys in a regular place. Whatever suits you, as long as it’s safe and out of immediate sight.

If your car has so-called ‘keyless entry’, we recommend not leaving your key fob anywhere close to where you park your car, because it could present an opportunity for thieves to use a device known as a ‘relay transmitter’ to remotely access your car.

Why are car keys expensive?

While it might seem that cars keys are simple – they just open the car, right? – they are actually pretty complex. This is one of the reasons why Toyota Car Insurance policies include key cover (vehicle, house and office) as one of the many benefits for policy holders.

From remote locking to keyless entry and start for more recent models, a key can contain a sender, receiver, the physical key itself and other parts – most importantly, the coding that lets it only communicate with your car. It’s the reprogramming process that costs money, as strict control is needed over codes. Like other manufacturers, Toyota must comply with regional standards.

Depending on the car you have, parts may need to be ordered and this can take time. Re-coding keys can be relatively straightforward but nevertheless takes time and labour.

Read more How to look after your car’s rubber

300 comments

  1. Hi Team,
    i just bought a 2016 toyota rav4 excel without key.
    how much will it cost to get new keys?

    Thank you.

  2. Hi . i have toyota chr 2021 . but when i buy it have only 1 key . now i want oder 1 more key to make sure everything will be safe in future . Can u send me a link quote for new key please . Thanks you !

    1. Hi Vuong, thanks for getting in touch.
      Your local Toyota Centre will be the best place to provide a quote for an additional key.
      Thank you.

  3. I bought a new Toyota landcruiser from Northallerton Toyota in February 2023, They were quite insistent about 2 keys for my trade in VW amorak. when I picked up my Toyota I received 1 smart key and the shaft for same. I was told there was a shortage of smart key fobs but my 2nd key would follow. 2 years on No Key fob, I wasn’t happy with this dealership and after getting a quote from Toyota spare parts for in excess 0f £ 500.00 I decided to wait for my promised key. After the only communications from Stoneacre being special offers and service reminders I decided I couldn’t justify paying £500 just for a standby key. So after buying 4 Landcruisers and 3 Rav 4’s when I lived in Australia I am very disappointed by this 1. The vehicle is exactly what I wanted but this incident has soured the satisfaction .Not happy.

    1. Hi Patrick,
      We are sorry to hear of this and understand your frustration.
      Our Customer Relations team would be more than happy to discuss this with you. They can contacted through the following link: https://fal.cn/3zOQB
      Thanks.

  4. Hi lost car key to Toyota car has push button start so need a replacement key can new key be set to link with computer in car? Or does all electrics , immobilizer and locks have to be changed ? Thank you

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