Cut to code
Precision cutting for a key that fits.
Mobile auto locksmith · Portsmouth
Ignition Repair Portsmouth | Barrels Rebuilt Or Replaced Where You've Stopped
Key won't go round, won't come out, or turns and nothing happens? Ignition repair in Portsmouth happens at the car itself: we work out which part has failed and fix it there, usually from parts already on the van.
- 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
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
Availability
Can Your Ignition Be Fixed Today In Portsmouth?
We test before we fit • Common barrels on board • Work guaranteed 12 months • 450+ customer reviews
In most cases, yes. Ignition repair in Portsmouth rarely needs the car moved, and with barrels for the most failure-prone models already stocked on the van, a same-day fix is the norm.
We cover the whole island and the mainland side, from Southsea and Fratton to Cosham and Drayton. Phones are answered until 10pm Monday to Friday, and 10 till 6 on Saturday and Sunday.
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.
How we work
Ignition Lock Repair In Portsmouth: How We Work
Ignition lock repair in Portsmouth starts with a test, not a part. The key, the barrel and the switch behind it can all fail, and each needs a different fix.
Testing Key, Barrel And Switch
We check the key against its factory cuts, feel how the barrel's wafers behave, and test the ignition switch separately. A key that won't rotate is usually the barrel or the key. A key that rotates with no power is usually the switch. Only once we know do we quote.
When It's An Ignition Barrel Replacement In Portsmouth
If the barrel can be rebuilt, it gets new wafers and is recoded so your existing key still works. When it's past saving, an ignition barrel replacement in Portsmouth fits a fresh unit coded to your key, or a barrel that brings its own keys, cut and coded to the car before we go.
Auto locksmith in Portsmouth
Locked out
in Portsmouth?
Mobile service across Portsmouth and the surrounding areas, straight to where your car is parked.
Pricing
What Ignition Work Costs In Portsmouth
The price comes on the phone, from the registration plus a description of the fault. A rebuild is the lowest-cost outcome, a new barrel matched to your key comes next, and a barrel with freshly programmed keys is the most involved.
There's no deposit and nothing paid before the work. Every price is given before anything is taken apart; if one symptom could be more than one fault, you hear each possible price on the phone first, then we confirm at the vehicle. Parts and labour come with our 12-month guarantee.
VolkswagenBMWFordAudiMercedesVauxhall
Cars & vans keys
Keys for the vehicle you drive.
replacement keys
Vehicle
Your registration
Key system
Checked with you
Service
At your vehicle
Key compatibility and programming are confirmed from your registration.
Cars & vansBook
FAQ
Ignition Questions, Answered
Car key stuck in my ignition in Portsmouth: what should I do?
Stop pulling. Check an automatic is fully in park, nudge the steering wheel, and try once more gently. If it still won't release, leave it in and call. We free it by working the barrel, so the key comes out whole, and if it has already snapped, the broken end is extracted with proper tools.
My Focus shows an engine fault and won't start. Is that the ignition?
Not necessarily. On some mid-2000s Ford Focus and C-Max models, an engine fault message can be caused by water getting into the engine ECU, which isn't a key or ignition problem at all. We'll ask the right questions on the phone, so you don't pay for an ignition repair the car doesn't need.
Can the new barrel match my door locks?
Yes. Where we rebuild the barrel or fit one coded to your existing key, one key carries on opening the doors and boot and starting the car. New keys only enter the picture if the replacement barrel ships with a set, in which case we program them before we go.
Why won't the key turn when the steering wheel is locked?
Because the steering lock bolt presses against the barrel when the car is parked with the wheels turned, and the barrel can't rotate under that pressure. Turn the wheel slightly in each direction while turning the key. If that frees it, nothing's broken. If not, the barrel probably needs attention.
Our work
Real keys. Real driveways.
Common cars
Which Cars Do We See Most With Ignition Faults?
A handful of models account for most of our Portsmouth ignition calls.
Fords: Fiesta, Transit And A Focus Caveat
Ford Fiesta and Transit barrels are the most common Ford ignition jobs we get, worn down by years of daily use. The Focus is worth a caveat: some faults that look like the ignition turn out to be something else, as the FAQ explains.
Vauxhall, Peugeot, Honda And Mercedes
The Vauxhall Corsa C snaps the tail of its ignition, so the key turns without anything happening. Peugeot Partner ignitions are a regular trade-van fault, Honda barrels wear across the range, and the electronic steering lock on the Mercedes C-Class is a repeat offender that we fix on site.
Across Portsmouth
Key Won't Turn? Ignition Help Across Portsmouth
From Hilsea and North End to Copnor and Cosham, when the key won't turn in the ignition in a Portsmouth street, the car stays put, so we come to it.
A car key stuck in an ignition in Portsmouth on a narrow terraced street is a common call, as are trade vans parked up near the dockyard. The repair happens at the kerb, and the car drives off afterwards.
Your car. Your location. A clear next step.
7 years of experience450+ reviews12-month warranty
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
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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.