Category: Auto
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How Do Locksmiths Open Car Doors? The Tools and Process
Locksmiths open a locked car by wedging the door open a crack and using a long-reach tool to press the unlock button or pull the handle, the safest method on modern cars. Other options are a slim jim or multi-car opening tool that works the door linkage inside the door, picking the door lock, or…
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Why is Your Ignition Hard to Turn? Causes and Fixes
If your ignition is hard to turn, it is an early warning, that something is failing and one day your key won’t turn at all. There are three causes: a worn key (most common), a worn or dirty ignition cylinder, or a binding steering-wheel lock. Try a spare key first, if it turns easily your…
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Car Key Replacement Cost in 2026: What It Costs to Replace a Car Key
Car key replacement cost, when all keys have been lost, runs $50 to $180 for a basic metal key, $220 to $350 for a transponder (chip) key, and $250 to $800+ for a smart fob, when every key is lost and a locksmith cuts and programs the new key on site. That is the lost…
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What to Do When Your Key Won’t Turn in the Ignition
If your key will not turn in the ignition, the most common cause is a locked steering wheel or damaged ignition. Wiggle the wheel firmly left and right while you gently turn the key at the same time. If that does not free the ignition, rock the shifter in and out of park, try your…
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Does Home Depot Make Car Keys? Yes, No, and It Depends
Yes, Home Depot can cut and copy a standard car key, and that is all. It cannot copy or program a transponder (chip) key, a laser-cut key, or a smart fob, which is what nearly every car built since the late 1990s uses. Home Depot can only duplicate a key you already have, it cannot…
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Cost to Duplicate a Car Key in 2026 (By Key Type)
Duplicating a car key in a locksmith shop, when you still have a working one, costs about $10 to $25 for a basic metal key, $60 to $190 for a transponder (chip) key, $70 to $235 for a high-security laser-cut key, and up to $400 for a smart fob. The cheapest way to copy a…