Cost guide
Auto locksmith prices in the UK
A replacement car key, cut and programmed, costs £100 to £282 on StageMyCar's and WhoCanFixMyCar's 2026 figures, against £65 to £95 for a lockout in Bark's 2025 guide. The Master Locksmiths Association's 2026 list starts at £85 for keys locked in a car, and WhoCanFixMyCar's bookings average £250.33 for programming alone.
Typical prices
Ranges, not quotes. A price depends on the lock, the door and the hour.
| Work | Typical UK price |
|---|---|
| Car lockout, opened without damage (Bark, 2025) | £65 to £95 |
| Keys locked in a car (MLA list, 2026) | from £85 |
| Replacement key, cut and programmed (StageMyCar, WhoCanFixMyCar) | £100 to £282 |
| Key programming only, booking average (WhoCanFixMyCar, 2026) | £250.33 |
| Replacement key from a main dealer (StageMyCar, 2026) | £150 to £500 or more |
| Out-of-hours surcharge, all locksmith work (MyJobQuote) | £50 to £100 |
Figures are from Bark, the Master Locksmiths Association, WhoCanFixMyCar, StageMyCar and MyJobQuote, checked 2 October 2026; they are published ranges and averages, not quotes from auto locksmiths listed here.
What moves the price
- The key. A plain cut key is the cheapest; a transponder key needs programming, and a remote fob or keyless proximity key costs more again.
- All keys lost. With no working key to copy, the locksmith has to make a key from the lock or the car's data and delete the lost keys from the immobiliser.
- Make, model and year. Some makes need manufacturer data, which since 1 April 2026 comes through UK SERMI for Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Nissan and Toyota.
- Time of day. MyJobQuote puts the out-of-hours surcharge for locksmith work at £50 to £100.
- Damage. A forced or worn-out lock or ignition barrel adds parts and labour to a lockout or a key job.
Who quotes for it
182 of the 1,224 locksmiths listed on this site take on auto locksmith.
Where they are: Birmingham (6), Luton (5), Bristol (4), Coventry (4), Eastbourne (4).
Questions about auto locksmith
How much does an auto locksmith charge to open a car?
£65 to £95 in Bark's 2025 locksmith price guide, and the Master Locksmiths Association's 2026 list starts at £85 for keys locked in a car. A night or weekend job costs more: MyJobQuote puts the out-of-hours surcharge for locksmith work at £50 to £100.
How much does an auto locksmith charge for a new car key?
WhoCanFixMyCar's 2026 bookings average £281.78 for a replacement key and £250.33 for programming alone. StageMyCar's 2026 guide puts an auto locksmith at £100 to £250 and a main dealer at £150 to £500 or more. Keyless and all-keys-lost jobs sit towards the top of those ranges.
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