Updated
Identifying your key and system
Step one happens by phone: make, model, year and key type (plain blade, chip, remote head, smart key). That information determines the blank, the blade and the equipment to bring.
On site, we confirm the vehicle's immobilizer system. That decides whether the chip can be cloned or must be programmed into the car's computer.
Cutting the blade
If you still have a key, we copy it. Otherwise we cut the blade from the vehicle's key code or by decoding the door lock with specialized tools.
For laser-cut keys (a groove down the middle instead of side teeth), we use a suitable cutting machine carried in the van.
Programming the chip and remote
We plug our programmer into the vehicle's diagnostic port and register the new key. For remotes, we also pair the lock buttons.
When the system allows, we remove the lost key from memory: it can no longer start your vehicle, even if someone finds it.
On many recent vehicles, this step requires information the automaker reserves for vetted professionals. Serrurier Momo is registered as a Vehicle Security Professional (VSP) with NASTF, the National Automotive Service Task Force, which gives us secure access to that data.
The documents to have ready
Because a new key can start the vehicle, we always check that you're the owner or that you have the owner's permission. Have photo ID and the registration certificate or lease agreement ready. The vehicle identification number, visible at the base of the windshield on the driver's side, also helps us find the right key blank and the right programming procedure.
If the papers are inside the locked vehicle, no problem: we open the door first, you retrieve them and show them to us before we make the key. For a company vehicle, a letter or an email from the fleet manager is generally enough, as long as it identifies the vehicle and the person we're meeting.
If the car is parked in an underground garage, let us know: access sometimes requires permission, and programming may mean plugging in our equipment for several minutes. Having someone on site to open the garage door saves time on arrival, and checking that the vehicle's battery is healthy beforehand avoids interruptions during programming.
Testing the key before we leave
Once the key is cut and programmed, we check everything with you: opening every door and the trunk with the blade, the remote buttons, starting the engine and, for a smart key, detection of the key both inside and outside the vehicle. The job isn't finished until everything works, and we don't leave with a question left open.
We also check that your other keys still work after programming, because some systems erase the existing keys and re-register them at the same time. If you have a spare key at home, bring it or plan to have it re-registered during the same visit, which costs far less than a second trip.
And if you find the old key afterwards, bring it along on a future visit: depending on the system, it can be re-registered to serve as a spare instead of buying a new one. That way you don't pay twice for the same peace of mind, and you end up with two working keys.
While you wait for the locksmith
If you lost your keys far from home, leave the vehicle locked if you can and stay reachable at the number you gave us. Think about where the key might have fallen: a store, a parking lot, a bus. A call to lost and found sometimes pays off faster than you'd expect, and it costs nothing to try.
If you think the key was stolen along with papers showing your address, think about your house locks as well. Once the new key is programmed, the old one is removed from the vehicle's memory when the system allows it: it will no longer start your car, even if someone finds it.
Advantages over the dealer
No tow, no waiting for an ordered part in most cases, and the job is done where your vehicle is parked: driveway, work lot or mall.
You know the price before we leave, and we recommend making a spare on site, much cheaper than another all-keys-lost situation.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need the original key?
No, we can cut and program without it in most cases.
How long does it take?
Often under an hour on site depending on the model.
Will the lost key still work?
Depending on the system, we can erase it from the vehicle's memory.