Lost All Your Car Keys in Maryland: What to Do
By Mega Lock And Key · MD Locksmith License #394 ·
If you lost every key to your car in Maryland, you do not usually need a tow or a dealer: a licensed mobile locksmith can come to the car, cut a new key from the vehicle's key code, and program it to the immobilizer on-site for most makes, as long as you can prove the car is yours.
First 10 minutes: what to do
- Retrace your steps once. Call the last store, restaurant, or office you were in. Keys get turned in more often than people expect.
- Check whether the key might be stolen, not lost. If it was taken with your bag, treat it as stolen: the new key should be programmed and the old one erased.
- Find your proof of ownership. Registration or title plus a photo ID. If the registration is locked in the glovebox, that is fine: the car can be opened first.
- Note the year, make, and model, and the VIN if you have it. The VIN is on your insurance card, the registration, or the lower driver-side windshield.
How an all-keys-lost replacement works
With no working key to copy, the locksmith has two jobs. First the blade: it is cut from the vehicle's key code or by decoding a lock on the car. Second the electronics: the chip or smart key is programmed so the car's immobilizer accepts it. On most cars both happen at the vehicle in one visit. Here is how we handle lost car keys in Baltimore.
What about the newest models?
Newer models, including many European cars, use online key programming tied to the manufacturer. Mega Lock And Key has dealer authorization and dealer-level software for most makes, so those keys are usually made on site too. Have the VIN ready; we confirm the exact key for your car on the phone before anyone drives out.
What to ask the locksmith on the phone
- Can you do my year, make, and model on-site?
- What is the total quote, before you head out?
- What is your Maryland locksmith license number? (Ours is #394; you can check it on the Maryland Department of Labor license search.)
- Can you erase the lost key from the car?
- Can you make a spare in the same visit?
Make a spare while you are at it
Programming a second key during an all-keys-lost visit is far simpler than repeating the whole job later. If you have a push-to-start car, see key fob programming in Baltimore.
Where we do this
Mega Lock And Key handles all-keys-lost car keys across Baltimore City and Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford, and Howard counties, including Towson, Columbia, Glen Burnie, and Annapolis.