Locked out of my car — who do I call?
Call a mobile auto locksmith, not the dealer and usually not a breakdown service. Auto Lock And Key answers 07436 636367 twenty-four hours a day across Kidsgrove, Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire, and we open cars without damage. If the car is somewhere dangerous — a live carriageway, or a motorway where you can't reach a safe place — stay in the vehicle with seatbelts on and hazard lights going, and call 999 first. Once you and the car are somewhere safe, a locksmith is the fastest, cheapest route back in.
Locked out of my car — how do I get in?
Honestly: don't try. Coat hangers and wedges from YouTube bend door frames, snap linkages and set off airbag sensors — turning a £150 job into a bodyshop bill. A locksmith uses proper entry tools that leave no trace. Ring us, tell us where you are, and get a fixed price before we set off.
Locked out of my car — what do I do while I wait?
Stay with the car if it's safe to; get somewhere warm and lit if it's not (tell us where you'll be). If a child or pet is locked in on a hot day, say so immediately — that jumps every queue — and if they're in distress call 999; fire crews will break a window, and that's the right call.
Lost my car keys — what should I do?
Three steps. One: search properly once — most 'lost' keys are in a coat, a car footwell or a shop's lost property. Two: if they're genuinely gone, ring us with your reg — we make new keys at your car the same day on most vehicles. Three: if they were stolen, tell your insurer, and we'll delete the old keys from the car's immobiliser so they can never start it.
Lost car keys — what's the replacement cost?
Depends what your car uses: spare chip keys from £70, remote/flip keys £100–£250, keyless smart fobs £150–£400, and all-keys-lost jobs £180–£550. See our published price list — and your reg gets you one fixed number before we travel.
How much does a spare car key cost in the UK?
From £70 with us for a chip key, cut and programmed at your door. A spare made while you still have a working key is always the cheap option — an all-keys-lost job on the same car can cost three times more. If you only have one key, that's the strongest money-saving advice on this site: get a spare now.
Do you offer a car key programming service near me?
If you're in Kidsgrove, Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Alsager, Biddulph, Congleton, Crewe, Talke, Sandbach or Leek — yes. The van carries dealer-grade diagnostic kit, and keys are cut and programmed at your location in one visit.
Will you damage my car getting in?
No — non-destructive entry is the whole trade. We use the same professional entry tools main dealers and the AA use, and your door, paint and locks are exactly as we found them. It's guaranteed.
What do I need to show you before you cut a key?
Proof of ownership — the V5C logbook, or insurance/lease documents in your name — plus photo ID. Every legitimate locksmith checks; it's how you know we'd never cut a key to YOUR car for someone else.
How fast can you get to me?
From Kidsgrove: most local jobs within the hour, often much quicker around Kidsgrove, Talke and Butt Lane. Further out (Crewe, Leek, Congleton) depends on traffic and where we're working — you'll get an honest ETA on the phone, not a fantasy one.
Can you work on a leased, financed or company car?
Yes — what matters is authority to work on the vehicle, not the name on the finance. Bring what you have: lease or hire agreement, company authorisation, or the usual V5C/insurance plus photo ID. If you're unsure what counts, ring us and we'll tell you before we travel.
My V5C is locked inside the car — how do I prove it's mine?
It happens constantly and it doesn't stop the job. We can verify against insurance documents on your phone plus photo ID, and complete the paperwork check once the car is open. What we won't do is skip the check — that protects your car from anyone else trying the same thing.
What's the difference between cloning a key and programming one?
A clone copies your existing key's chip identity, so the car treats both keys as the same key — quick and cheaper. A programmed (added) key is learned by the car as its own separate key, which can later be individually removed if it goes missing. Both give you a working spare on compatible cars; we tell you which you're getting.
I changed the fob battery and it still doesn't work — is the key dead?
Not necessarily — and a flat battery doesn't normally erase the key's programming. Check the new battery is the right type and the right way up. If it still misbehaves, the clue is what DOES work: car starts but no buttons points to the transmitter; buttons but no start points to the chip or the car. Either way it's usually diagnosable and often repairable.
Can I claim a lost or broken key on insurance, and will you give me an invoice?
Many motor and home policies include key cover — check yours before paying an excess that costs more than the key. Yes, every job gets a proper itemised invoice with the business details insurers ask for.
Do your keys and repairs come with a warranty?
Yes — every job carries a 12-month warranty. If there's a genuine problem with the key or the work inside that period, come back and it gets put right properly. We're a fixed local unit two minutes from Kidsgrove station, not a van that vanishes after payment.
Do you fit genuine manufacturer keys or aftermarket ones?
We normally supply quality aftermarket keys we're prepared to put our name behind — two keys can look identical outside while the electronics inside are completely different, which is why we don't fit the cheapest thing on the internet. Where a genuine manufacturer key is the right or only option for your vehicle, we'll say so and quote it honestly.
How do I pay?
Card, phone payment or cash at the job — whatever suits. The price is the one agreed before we set off.
