Car keys by make
Ford Key Replacement: Who Can Do It and What It Costs
Ford keys are some of the most widely replaced by independent auto locksmiths, from PATS transponder keys to keyless fobs on newer models. Ford was one of the first brands in UK SERMI on 1 April 2026. A replacement key cut and programmed costs £100 to £282 (WhoCanFixMyCar; StageMyCar), and dealers often charge more.
Which keys has Ford used?
For more than two decades Ford's immobiliser has been PATS, the Passive Anti-Theft System: a transponder chip in the key head that the car checks before it lets the engine run. On older Fiestas, Focuses and Transits that chip sits in a plain or remote key; many later cars use a flip key with remote buttons. Newer models offer keyless entry and start with a fob that stays in your pocket. Ford vans use the same families of key, and Transit keys turn up again and again in the Ford key searches measured for this site.
What changed with Ford's sleeping fobs?
From 2019 Ford fitted motion-sensing keyless fobs to the Fiesta and Focus, later adding them to the Puma and Kuga, according to What Car?. The fob goes to sleep after it has been still for about 40 seconds and wakes when moved, which limits relay theft. Ford also offered the newer fob as an upgrade to owners of some earlier Fiestas and Focuses, so not every car of a given year has the same key. If you are replacing a keyless fob on one of these models, ask whether the replacement is the motion-sensing type.
Can an independent auto locksmith programme a Ford key?
Yes, for most Fords. Spare and lost keys for PATS cars are routine work for independent auto locksmiths, and so are flip keys and many keyless fobs. Ford was among the first brands in UK SERMI, the scheme that went live on 1 April 2026 and gives checked independent operators access to manufacturers' security data. A locksmith in the scheme can therefore reach Ford's own key information, which matters most on the newest models. If a locksmith says they are in SERMI, asking to see the certificate is reasonable; no public register has been found.
What should you have with you?
Bring the V5C in your name and photo ID. For a Transit or other van owned by a business, bring something showing you can act for the company, such as a letter on headed paper, along with the V5C in the company's name. If keys were stolen with tools from a van, report it and keep the crime number. Tell the locksmith how many keys the vehicle should have, so any missing ones can be removed from its memory when the new key is added.
What does a Ford key cost?
For any make, a key cut and programmed runs £100 to £282, with WhoCanFixMyCar's 2026 booking average as the top and StageMyCar's locksmith starting figure as the bottom. Programming only averages £250 with WhoCanFixMyCar. Many Ford jobs, such as a spare transponder key made while a working original is to hand, sit nearer the lower end; keyless fobs and all-keys-lost jobs sit higher. StageMyCar says dealers often charge more, though it is a trade blog and weighted lower here. Ask for the price of the key and programming together.
Common questions
Can a Ford key be programmed without a dealer?
Yes, for most Fords. Independent auto locksmiths programme PATS keys, flip keys and many keyless fobs, and Ford's place in UK SERMI gives operators in the scheme access to Ford's key data.
Why does my Ford keyless fob stop working when left still?
Many recent Fords use a motion-sensing fob that sleeps after about 40 seconds without movement, to limit relay theft. Picking it up wakes it. That is designed behaviour, not a fault.
Can a locksmith replace a Ford Transit key?
Yes. Transit keys are among the commonest Ford jobs. Bring the V5C and, for a company van, proof you can act for the business. A mobile auto locksmith can usually do the work where the van is parked.