Cut to code
Precision cutting for a key that fits.
Mobile auto locksmith · Portsmouth
Car Key Replacement Portsmouth | New Keys Made On The Island And Beyond
No spare and no key, or one missing that you'd rather the car forgot? Lost car key replacement in Portsmouth happens beside the car, whether that's a Southsea side street, a Cosham driveway or a car park at Gunwharf.
- 7 Years Of Automotive Expertise
- 450+ Reviews · Google & Checkatrade
- 12-Month Warranty
Not A National Or Middle Man
Real Local Professionals You Deal With Direct
No Inflated Middle Man Or Dealer Prices
Still have a working key?
Let’s talk keys
Get a quote.
Send your details and we’ll get back to you about your keys. For anything urgent, call us.
- Speak directly about your vehicle
- The right option for your key
- Understand the work before deciding
Your situation
Which Of These Has Happened To You?
Price agreed before travel • Keys guaranteed for a year • 450+ Google and Checkatrade reviews • Seven years in the trade
Losing every key and losing one key are different jobs, with different prices. Knowing which you're dealing with is the first thing we'll ask.
Every Key Gone
Nothing left to copy, so the car itself becomes the template. The lock gives us the blade, the immobiliser accepts a fresh chip, and the old key is shut out of the system where the car allows it. That's lost car key replacement in Portsmouth at its most involved, but it's still done on the spot.
One Missing, One Left
Here we copy the surviving key, program the new one alongside it, and cancel the missing one so a finder can't use it. While we're there, it's worth adding spare car keys in Portsmouth to the same visit, because a third key costs a fraction of starting from scratch later.
Transponder pairing
Coded to your immobiliser
Remote functions
Lock, unlock and boot tested
Spare & replacement keys
Keys made
at your car.
We come to you, cut the blade and programme the key on the spot — no towing, no dealer wait.
Availability
Can A New Key Be Made In Portsmouth The Same Day?
Usually. Most replacement car keys in Portsmouth get made on the same day as the call, across PO1 to PO6 and up to Cosham and Drayton, with no original and no recovery truck.
We answer until 10pm Monday to Friday, and from 10 till 6 at weekends. One call with the registration tells you the key, the price and when we'll be with you.
The mobile workshop
Specialist equipment.
Right on your driveway.
Key cutting and programming, brought to your vehicle.
Matched to your car
Transponder and remote programming.
Careful entry
Specialist tools to protect your vehicle.
Making the key
Car Key Cutting And Car Key Programming In Portsmouth
Every replacement key is two jobs in one, and both happen beside your car.
From Lock To Blade
We know the blank from your reg before setting off. If nothing's left to copy, the door lock gets decoded and the blade is cut on the van's machine. Car key cutting in Portsmouth this way covers laser-cut profiles, flip keys and the emergency blades tucked inside smart fobs.
Teaching The Car Its New Key
Cutting gets you through the door; the engine needs the immobiliser to accept the new chip. Car key programming in Portsmouth does that, links the remote buttons, enables keyless entry where your car has it, and removes the lost key from the car's records on most models.
Getting to you
Lost Car Keys In Portsmouth: Getting Onto The Island
When lost car keys in Portsmouth strand a car, it's usually somewhere on Portsea Island, and getting on and off it is half the battle. There are only three road links: the M275, the A3 London Road and the A2030 Eastern Road.
We know which crossing to take at which time of day. Whether the car is outside a Fratton terrace, on the Southsea seafront or in a multi-storey at Gunwharf Quays, mobile car key replacement in Portsmouth takes the key-making to the car, and replacement car keys in Portsmouth are finished at the kerb rather than at a workshop the car can't reach.
Auto locksmith in Portsmouth
Locked out
in Portsmouth?
Mobile service across Portsmouth and the surrounding areas, straight to where your car is parked.
FAQ
Things People Ask Us
Can I just get a replacement key fob in Portsmouth?
Often, yes. If the blade and chip still work, a replacement key fob in Portsmouth might be no more than a new case, or a remote coupled to the car, which costs far less than a whole key. If the circuit board has died, a full new key is the better value. Honda keyless fobs, among others, must match the original part number.
Can you make a key at the ferry port?
Yes, as long as we can get to the car. If the key went missing on the crossing and the car is waiting in a port car park, ring with the reg and where the car is parked. The cutting machine and programming kit travel with us, so the car doesn't need to move.
My street is permit parking. Is that a problem?
No. We work at the kerb wherever the car is, and the job is done in one visit, so we're not parked up for hours. If space is tight, tell us on the call and we'll work out the easiest spot to stop, whether that's behind the car or round the corner.
Is a locksmith key as good as a dealer key?
It does everything the original did: starts the engine, locks the doors and runs keyless entry where fitted. Each key we supply is tested on the car before we leave and guaranteed for 12 months. The difference is that the car doesn't have to be recovered to a workshop to get it.
Can I find out the car key replacement cost in Portsmouth before you come out?
Yes, and you always will. Give us the registration and tell us whether any working key is left, and the car key replacement cost in Portsmouth is confirmed on the phone before we set off. You don't pay anything until the job is done and you've tried the key yourself.
Our work
Real keys. Real driveways.
Car limits
Will Yours Be Done At The Car?
About nine vehicles in every ten, yes. We'll flag the tenth on the first call, so nobody makes the journey onto the island for nothing.
Yes, Usually
BMW of any age, all-keys-lost included. Fords built up to 2023. Every Vauxhall and Peugeot, with the manufacturer's PIN on 2019-on models, bought against your V5C and photo ID. Toyota, including newer hybrids. Renault keycards. Many Kias from 2018 need a manufacturer-supplied key, which starts at about £350 plus programming.
The Dealer-Only Ones
Volkswagen and Audi from about 2018 can have spares added but not a full replacement once every key is gone. A lot of Mercedes-Benz after about 2013 are the same. Porsches beyond about 2015, and a Macan beyond about 2019, mostly go to the dealer too.
Pricing
Car Key Replacement Cost In Portsmouth
What you pay comes down to the key, the car's security and whether there's a working key to copy. We confirm it on the phone, and you hand over nothing before the work is done.
Copying a working key into spare car keys in Portsmouth is the cheapest job we do. An all-keys-lost replacement costs more, because there's lock decoding and deeper programming involved. If we find the car is different from what was described, you get the updated figure before we go further; say no and you owe nothing for the call-out. Some national firms and booking sites hand the job to a subcontractor and add their margin. We don't, and the person who quotes you is the person who turns up.
Your car. Your location. A clear next step.
7 years of experience450+ reviews12-month warranty
Auto locksmith services
Every key problem,
one van.
Advanced programming, EEPROM and ignition expertise for everyday cars, premium vehicles and work vans. Seven years of practical automotive experience, brought to you.
Specialist electronics
Advanced programming & EEPROM
Specialist key and immobiliser work beyond standard coding.
OEM spec
Laser key cutting
High-security blades cut to factory code on site.
Dealer-level
Smart fob coding
Transponders and keyless remotes programmed to your car.
Roadside
All keys lost
No spare? We build a brand new key from scratch.
Same visit
Broken key extraction
Snapped in the door or ignition — removed and replaced.
Ignition specialist
Ignition repair & replacement
Stiff, jammed or worn ignition locks diagnosed and repaired.
From the van
Key work around Portsmouth
November 2025Range Rover Sport
Smart key programmed
Smart key programmed on a Range Rover Sport for a customer in Portsmouth, done on site from the SmartTech mobile workshop. Programming was carried out at the vehicle, then every function was tested so the key worked exactly like the original.
Portsmouth
July 2026Hyundai Tucson
Replacement remote key
Replacement remote key on a Hyundai Tucson for a customer in Portsmouth, done on site from the SmartTech mobile workshop. The new key was cut to code and programmed to the vehicle, then the locks, remote and start were tested before we left.
Portsmouth
November 2025Peugeot van
Remote flip key programmed
Remote flip key programmed on a Peugeot van for a customer in Portsmouth, done on site from the SmartTech mobile workshop. Programming was carried out at the vehicle, then every function was tested so the key worked exactly like the original. Keeping a work van off the road costs money, so the job was booked in around the customer's day.
Portsmouth
How it works
From your call to your vehicle in Portsmouth.
- 01
Call or text
Tell us your car and what's happened. We explain the work and quote on the call.
2 minutes
- 02
We drive to you
The van comes to your home, work or roadside with the tools to finish the job.
Arrival agreed on the call
- 03
Keys in hand
Key cut and programmed at your car, tested with you before we leave.
Same visit
Coverage
Across Portsmouth. Street by street.
Pick your area and check your postcode. If you're just outside, call — we often still come.
- Southsea
- Cosham
- Hilsea
- Fratton
- Drayton
- North End
PO1PO2PO3PO4PO5PO6
What customers say
450+ five-star / 10-out-of-10 reviews across Google and Checkatrade
Transit Custom Ignition Repair.
"I cannot recommend Alec enough. My transit custom lock was not turning. I did not know Alec at this point and called another locksmith. To cut a long story short the other locksmith attempted a repair and then gave up, leaving me with a van I could no longer use. I called Alec who came out next day; he repaired the damage done by the other locksmith and custom made a replacement ignition barrel so one key still does the doors and the new ignition. I couldn't be more pleased. Price was very fair too!"
Sam chapman
"Did the work at a 3rd of the price of the dealership and I'm sure to a higher quality, the work was quick and professional. Could not recommend more!"
Can work on most cars! Pricing is very reasonable! Fast reliable service!
"Absolutely spot on! After ringing about 15 different companies who said they couldn't help and one company even saying the series of my car doesn't exist I found smarttech who I contacted who could finally help! The next day he came out and I now have access and a new key to my car! Fast and efficient polite service! Highly recommend!!"
Where we cover
Portsmouth and the surrounding area.
The outline shows the area we cover. Not sure if you're inside it? Call with your postcode and we'll confirm before you book.