Spare Key vs. No Spare: Why It’s Cheaper to Plan Ahead

A spare key costs a fraction of an emergency call.
Here’s the real math on planning ahead.

Spare Key vs. No Spare: Why It’s Cheaper to Plan Ahead

A spare key costs a fraction of an emergency call.
Here’s the real math on planning ahead.

Do You Have a Spare?

Almost nobody thinks about a second key until the first one is gone. That timing is expensive. The same locksmith, the same vehicle, the same equipment — but the price changes dramatically depending on whether you still have a working key in your hand when you call. Here is why, and what the difference actually looks like.

Copying vs. Creating

These are two different jobs. Copying means we have a working key to read: the cuts are known, the chip can be cloned or added quickly, and you are back in a few minutes. Creating means starting from nothing — decoding your vehicle, cutting a blank to that code, and running a full programming session to teach the car a key it has never seen. More steps, more time, more equipment.

The Costs You Don’t See Coming

The key itself is only part of the bill when you’re stranded. There’s the time you lose waiting where the car sits. There may be a tow if you choose a dealership. There’s the meeting you missed or the shift you couldn’t make. A spare is a scheduled, predictable expense; an all-keys-lost call is an unplanned one that arrives at the worst possible moment.

Toyota smart key with its emergency key blade

When a Spare Makes the Most Sense

Some situations make a second key especially worth having:

  • You only have one key. The single most common reason people end up stranded.
  • Your key looks worn. Visible cracks or a bent blade mean it is already on its way out.
  • You share the vehicle. Two drivers with one key eventually becomes a problem.
  • You just bought used. Many used cars arrive with exactly one key and no history of who else has one.

That last one matters more than people realize. If you bought the car secondhand with a single key, you have no way of knowing whether another copy exists somewhere.

The Best Time Is While Everything Works

A spare can only be made cheaply while you still have a functioning original. Once that original is lost or breaks, the cheap option disappears — you are now in all-keys-lost territory, which is a longer and costlier visit. The window for the easy version is open right now and closes the moment something goes wrong.

Where to Keep the Second Key

A spare only helps if it is somewhere you can reach. Keep it at home in a consistent place, or with someone you trust — not in the glovebox, and not on the same ring as the original. If you want one made, see our spare car key service.

Honest Pricing, No Surprises

Tell us your year, make, and model and we’ll give you an estimate for your spare before we come out. No hidden fees and no charges added at the end. The final price is confirmed on-site before any work begins. We’ll also tell you honestly if your vehicle is one where a spare is inexpensive — or one where it costs more — so you can decide with real numbers instead of guesses.

Get a Spare Key in the Las Vegas Area

We come to your location anywhere in our Las Vegas service area and make a spare while you still have a working key. Call now for a straightforward price, or book online. You can also read about what happens if you’ve lost your car keys.

Mobile Locksmith Service
in the Las Vegas Area

We provide mobile automotive locksmith service in Southwest, South and West Las Vegas, the South Strip area, and surrounding communities.
Service availability may vary by location. Contact us with your address or ZIP code and we’ll confirm whether your location is within our service area.

  • S. Summerlin
  • Spring Valley
  • Paradise
  • South Strip
  • Silverado Ranch
  • S. Highlands
  • Enterprise
  • Mountain’s Edge
  • SW Las Vegas
  • Rhodes Ranch

Mobile Service

We come directly to your location with the equipment needed to cut and program car keys on site.

ZIP Codes We Serve

We provide mobile automotive locksmith service in the ZIP codes listed below. Service availability may vary by exact location.

  • 89004
  • 89054
  • 89103
  • 89113
  • 89117
  • 89118
  • 89119
  • 89120
  • 89121
  • 89123
  • 89135
  • 89139
  • 89141
  • 89146
  • 89147
  • 89148
  • 89178
  • 89179
  • 89183

Not sure if we service your location? Send us your address or ZIP code and we’ll confirm availability.