Remote key fobs
Lock and unlock buttons that have stopped working, or a new remote that needs pairing to the central locking.
Key fob programming Southampton · Open 24 hours, 7 days
Key Fob Programming in Southampton and Hampshire
Remote stopped locking the doors? New key not starting the car? I carry out key fob programming in Southampton and across Hampshire, for remotes, transponder chips and keyless entry keys, all at your vehicle, so there is no need to visit the dealer. I am Shane, an auto locksmith based in Eastleigh, and I carry professional programming equipment for most makes.
- Remotes, chips and keyless
- Done at your vehicle
- Quote before I set off
5.0 on Google100+ reviews
Programmed on siteRemotes and transponders
- 30 to 45 minutesTypical arrival
- 30 car makesCars and vans
- No call-out feeWithin 6 miles of Eastleigh
- 12 month warrantyOn keys I supply
Key programming
What Key Fob and Transponder Programming Involves
A car key talks to the car in two separate ways. The remote sends a radio signal to the central locking, which is what locks and unlocks the doors. The transponder chip inside the key talks to the immobiliser, which decides whether the engine is allowed to start. On keyless cars, a proximity system does both without you pressing anything.
Programming means introducing a key to those systems so the car recognises it. I connect my equipment to the car, usually through the diagnostic port, and code the chip, the remote or the proximity key to the vehicle. On some cars this needs a security code or data read from a control module first, which my equipment also handles.
Is it the battery or the programming?
If your remote has become unreliable, a flat battery is the first thing to check, and replacing it is often all that is needed. If a new battery makes no difference, the remote may have lost its programming or developed a fault, and that is when I can help. If the key needs replacing altogether, see my car key replacement page.
Keys and fobs
Keys and Fobs I Can Program
From older remote keys to the latest keyless systems, this is what I program most often.
Transponder chips
A chip the immobiliser no longer recognises, or a new key that turns but will not start the engine.
Keyless entry keys
Proximity keys for keyless entry and push-to-start, programmed so the car detects them in your pocket.
Key cards
Renault and some other makes use key cards, which I program to the car’s keyless system.
Van remotes and keys
Remotes and keys for most vans, programmed at the depot or on site so the van stays in service.
Removing lost keys
If a key has been lost or stolen, I can remove it from the car’s memory on most vehicles so it no longer works.
Related services
Related Key Services
If programming is not the whole story, one of these may be the right fit.
Want a second key
Spare Car Keys
A second key cut and programmed while your original keeps working.
Spare car keysNo keys leftLost Car Keys
Every key gone. A new key made from scratch and programmed on site.
Lost car keysVolkswagen groupVAG 5C/5D Keys
Newer Volkswagen, Audi, SEAT and Skoda keys that need specialist programming.
VAG key programmingCannot get inCar Lockout
A dead fob has left you locked out. I open the car without damage.
Car lockout serviceStep by step
How I Program Your Key Fob
Programming is carried out at your car, usually without it needing to move.
Check the problem
I test the key, the battery and the car to find out whether it is the remote, the chip or something else.
Identify the system
I confirm the key type, chip and remote frequency your vehicle uses, so the right key is programmed.
Connect to the car
I connect my programming equipment to the vehicle, with battery support to keep the voltage stable.
Program the key
I code the remote, chip or proximity key to the car, reading security data first where the system needs it.
Test everything
I check starting, locking, unlocking and keyless functions on every key before I finish.
Your options
Mobile Key Programming or Main Dealer?
Many drivers assume only the dealer can program a new key. For most vehicles, a mobile auto locksmith can do the same job at the car. This is how the two usually compare.
| What matters | Main dealer | Lucky Lock Master |
|---|---|---|
| Where the work is done | The vehicle generally needs to be at the dealership | At your vehicle |
| Booking | Usually booked into a workshop slot | Often the same day |
| Mixed makes | Each dealer covers its own brand | Most makes covered |
| When you can get help | During opening hours | 24 hours, 7 days a week |
| Who you deal with | The dealership service team | Shane, from call to handover |
Warning signs
Signs Your Key Needs Programming
These symptoms usually point to a programming problem rather than a flat battery.
Buttons do nothing
The remote has stopped working and a new battery has not fixed it.
Key not detected
The dashboard shows a key not detected or immobiliser warning message.
Turns but will not start
The key turns in the ignition, but the engine will not fire or cuts out straight away.
After battery or electrical work
Some cars lose remote pairing after a battery change or an electrical repair.
Pricing
What Affects the Cost of Key Programming?
Programming prices depend on the vehicle and what needs doing. I give you a fixed price before I set off.
Get a programming quoteThe vehicle
Newer vehicles often have more secure systems that take longer to program.
What is being programmed
A single remote costs less to program than a full keyless key with its chip and remote.
Security access
Some cars need a PIN code or module data read before a key can be added.
New or existing key
Reprogramming a key you already have costs less than supplying and programming a new one.
Recent work
Recent Key Programming Jobs
Programming work carried out at the vehicle.
Volkswagen Group 5C/5D Key
A newer Volkswagen group key, programmed using the customer’s existing key, which this system requires. It is one of the more specialist programming jobs I carry out.
BMW FEM Key Programming
Programming a new key to a BMW with the FEM system meant reading security data from the engine management unit first, all done with the car on site.
See more recent jobs across Hampshire.
Makes and models
Key Programming for Most Car and Van Makes
I program keys for Ford, Vauxhall, Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Toyota, Nissan, Peugeot and more. Mercedes vehicles with an electronic steering lock fault are a separate job, covered by my Mercedes ESL emulator service. Coverage depends on the model, year and key system, so send me your registration to check.
- Ford
- Vauxhall
- Volkswagen
- BMW
- Mercedes-Benz
- Audi
- Land Rover
- Nissan
- Toyota
- Peugeot
- +20See every make I cover
Where I work
Key Fob Programming in Southampton and Across Hampshire
I carry out key fob programming in Southampton at your home, your workplace or wherever the car is, and across Southampton, Eastleigh, Winchester and Portsmouth, as well as the New Forest and Salisbury. See all the areas I cover.
- Southampton
- Eastleigh
- Chandler’s Ford
- Hedge End
- Winchester
- Portsmouth
- Fareham
- Gosport
- New Forest
- Salisbury
5.0
From 100+ Google reviews
Questions
Key Fob Programming FAQs
Not sure what is wrong with your key? Send me a message and describe what it is doing.
Why has my car key fob stopped working?
The most common cause is a flat battery. If a new battery does not help, the remote may have lost its programming, been damaged, or developed an internal fault.
Can you program a key without the car going to the dealer?
Yes. I program remotes, chips and keyless keys at your vehicle with professional diagnostic equipment.
Will my other keys still work after programming?
Yes, unless you ask me to remove a lost or stolen key. On most vehicles, your existing keys stay on the system.
What is the difference between the remote and the transponder?
The remote locks and unlocks the doors. The transponder chip is what lets the immobiliser start the engine. A key can have one working and not the other.
Can you program keyless entry keys?
Yes. I program proximity keys for keyless entry and push-to-start vehicles, as well as standard remote keys and key cards.
How long does key programming take?
Many programming jobs are done in one visit. Cars that need a security code or module data read first take a little longer.
How much does key fob programming cost?
It depends on the vehicle and the type of key. Send me your registration and a description of the problem and I will give you a fixed price.
Key Fob Not Working? Call Me
Tell me the make, model and what the key is doing, and I will tell you straight away whether I can fix it and what it will cost.