Right now. Without checking. Do you know exactly where your car key is? And do you have a spare?

Most people don’t. The spare key is one of those things everyone intends to get made but never does — until they’re standing next to their locked car at 9pm in a parking garage, calling a locksmith and realizing they’re about to pay emergency rates for a problem a $150 spare would have solved permanently.

This is that article. Read it now, before it’s relevant.

Why Most People Skip the Spare

Getting a spare car key isn’t complicated. It’s not expensive relative to the alternative. And yet the majority of car owners either have no spare or have one that’s years old and may not even be programmed correctly. Why?

  • “I’ll do it eventually.” It’s not urgent when you have a working key. So it never gets done.
  • “I didn’t know it was complicated.” Many people assume a locksmith can make a spare in 5 minutes for $10. When they find out the real cost and process, they put it off.
  • “I have my phone’s digital key.” Digital keys in newer vehicles are a backup — but they can fail if the app crashes, the phone dies, or the vehicle’s Bluetooth system has an issue. They’re not a replacement for a physical programmed spare.
  • “The dealer said to wait.” Some dealers quote high prices for spares and people just don’t follow through.

Key Failure Modes — What Actually Goes Wrong

Car keys fail in more ways than most people realize. Here’s what actually causes a key to stop working:

  • Chip failure. The transponder chip inside the key head can stop transmitting — often after physical damage (dropping, crushing), exposure to water, or just age. When the chip fails, the key blade still fits but the car won’t start.
  • Fob battery death. Smart keys and push-to-start fobs have small batteries — typically CR2032 or similar. These last 2–5 years. When the battery dies, the fob stops working for remote entry and push-to-start. Some vehicles have a mechanical key blade tucked inside the fob as a backup — many drivers don’t know it’s there.
  • Blade wear. A metal key blade wears down over years of use. The small cuts and notches that operate the ignition wafers gradually smooth out. Eventually the blade can turn without engaging the ignition properly.
  • Physical damage. Keys break. The blade snaps in the ignition or door lock. The fob case cracks and the internals shift. This is more common than people expect, especially with lightweight plastic key heads on older designs.
  • Getting lost. This is the most common one. Fell out of a pocket, left in another bag, taken by a family member, dropped somewhere between the car and the front door.
The parking garage scenario:

It’s 11pm. You just finished a late dinner in Center City. You reach in your bag and your keys aren’t there. The garage closes in 20 minutes. Without a spare, you’re calling an emergency locksmith at night rates. With a spare at home, you call someone to bring it. The spare costs $150 to make. The emergency locksmith at night is $180–$280. That’s before you calculate the time, the stress, and missing the last train home.

Real Cost Comparison: Spare vs. Emergency

Here’s the financial case in plain numbers:

Situation Transponder Key Smart Key / Fob
Spare made now (you have working key) $100 – $180 $160 – $280
Emergency replacement (lost only key) $150 – $280 $220 – $380
Emergency replacement at dealer (+ tow) $320 – $500 $450 – $750+
Philadelphia 2026 estimates. Emergency pricing includes after-hours premium where applicable. Call (215) 554-6109 for an exact quote.

The spare is always the cheapest option. And when the locksmith is already at your location making the first key, the second key costs significantly less — the setup work is already done.

How to Get a Spare Made

Getting a spare car key made is simpler than most people think:

  1. Call Phila Locksmith at (215) 554-6109. Tell us your year, make, and model. We’ll confirm we can handle it and quote you a price.
  2. We come to you. We drive to your location — home, office, wherever the car is. No tow needed, no trip to a dealer.
  3. Have your ID and registration ready. We verify ownership before programming anything.
  4. Key is cut and programmed on-site. Takes 30–60 minutes for most vehicles.
  5. Test and store it somewhere smart. Give it to a trusted family member, keep it in your home in a designated spot, or use a magnetic hide-a-key case. Not under the wheel well — that’s where thieves look first.

Get a spare made today — before you need one.

We come to you anywhere in Philadelphia. Upfront price, no tow.
(215) 554-6109

Smart Keys and Push-to-Start Fobs — Even More Reason to Back Up

If your car has a push-to-start system, the stakes for having a spare are even higher. Here’s why:

  • Smart keys are more expensive to replace. A transponder key runs $120–$220 in an emergency. A smart key replacement runs $220–$400+. The cost gap between “have a spare” and “don’t have a spare” is larger for smart key vehicles.
  • Smart key failure modes multiply. In addition to chip failure and physical damage, smart keys can fail due to: dead battery (the fob), software glitches, signal interference, and internal component damage from drops or water. More failure modes = higher probability of needing that spare.
  • Some vehicles allow only 1–2 programmed keys. A small number of older vehicles cap the number of keys that can be programmed. If you haven’t made a spare yet, you still can — but knowing your vehicle has this limit is a reason to act now rather than later.
  • Rental car replacements during emergencies. If your only smart key fails on a Friday evening and the dealer is closed, you may not be able to get a replacement until Monday — meaning you need a rental. A spare eliminates that scenario entirely.

See also: our full guide on what a transponder key is and how it works and why key programming matters.