Replacement Toyota Keys: Cost to Buy and Where to Get Them!

Whether you’ve lost or broken your keys, you’ll need to replace them. 

Unfortunately, the progression towards electronic keys makes the replacement process more difficult.

Where can I get replacement Toyota keys and how much will they cost?

Toyota drivers can get physical and electronic keys replaced at the local dealership for $15 to $20. If the key requires a remote fob, it will need reprogramming. This service will cost anywhere from $100 to $400, with older models leaning towards $100 and newer models getting more expensive.

While the dealership is the most logical option for key replacement, it isn’t the only solution.

In this post, we’ll look at different places to get new keys for Toyota vehicles.

Toyota Dealership

A dealership should be your first stop for replacing your key, provided you have one nearby. 

Most dealers are equipped to replace both physical keys and programmed keys, though some will outsource those services to locksmiths. 

Toyota doesn’t want to risk letting anyone with a tow truck and a few hundred dollars steal their buyer’s cars, so they will only replace a key if you bring proof of ownership, such as the vehicle’s title or proof of insurance. 

You should also be prepared with the vehicle’s VIN and your driver’s license.

If you can’t start your vehicle because you no longer have a physical key, you will need to get your vehicle towed to the dealership so they can program the key to match your car and cut the physical key to match.

The price of the new key will depend on the vehicle model and production year. 

Different models need different key blanks, and newer years often have electronic keys, which get more expensive the newer they are.

If you aren’t near a dedicated Toyota dealership, look for a dealership that sells a variety of vehicle brands (including Toyota). 

They may have the equipment needed to replace your vehicle’s key.

It’s also a good idea to call ahead and ask for a quote because you might be able to save money by going to a locksmith.

Locksmiths

Different locksmiths will have different prices and services, and they’re not as unified as dealerships are. 

Some might be able to replace a simple physical Toyota key for a service fee of as little as $3 to $7, plus the cost of the key blank.

Others might charge $130 to $160 for a simple Toyota key. 

Call around to your local locksmith and dealership and compare their prices before deciding where to take your car.

Along with the service of opening a car you’re locked out of, a locksmith can make a new key for your car with just the lock and the right key blank.

If you’ve lost your key and you’re worried that someone else might find it, you can also get a locksmith to re-key your car, giving it all new locks and keys. 

Locksmiths should also be able to reprogram a fob key to match your car. 

Since they don’t typically specialize in Toyota keys specifically, you might find that a dealership is more ready to handle it. 

Again, call around ahead of time to ensure you’re getting a good deal.

Order Parts

If you want to find a better deal, you can try looking online for parts. 

You can find replacement keys on websites like Amazon, or find deals on Toyota’s website. 

These keys and fobs will still need to be cut and/or programmed by your local dealer or locksmith, though. 

It will also mean you’re waiting on the package to ship before you can even do that.

As locksmiths and dealerships will include the cost of these parts in the final quote, this is a step you might want to take if you think you can get a good enough deal to make a difference. 

This is another point where calling around can help you decide the best thing to do.

While this could save you money, ordering on Amazon doesn’t always guarantee quality of parts. You might get a cheaper key blank, that breaks after a few uses. 

In most cases, it’s best to rely on the parts trusted by locksmiths and dealers.

Broken Fob

If your fob is broken or malfunctioning, you don’t always have to get the whole thing replaced. 

As long as the chip isn’t damaged, you can easily get the broken part replaced, whether that’s the case or the metal key.

This is a whole lot cheaper to get fixed than the chip because it’s all either simple metal or plastic: you just get the key blank cut and put the chip into the new one, saving you the time and cost of any programming that would otherwise need to be done.

This will only cost you the price of the key blank and the cut, then you just transfer the previously programmed chip into the new fob, and you’re good to go!

Dead Battery

If your fob has stopped working to open the doors, or it’s inconsistent, don’t go straight to replacing the whole thing: it may just be the battery. 

If this is the case, you’re about to save a lot of money.

Most fobs have an “emergency key” hidden inside the plastic, which you can use to unlock the doors and start the car. 

Additionally, a fob that isn’t strong enough to open doors might still have enough power to start the car if you hold it close enough.

If that’s the case, the battery is likely dying.

Key fobs have two major electric components inside the plastic: the chip, which holds the programmed codes to open and start your car, and the battery, which powers it and keeps it working.

Batteries can usually be replaced for under $5, so if you still have your Toyota key fob, make sure you try replacing the battery before going all out to get a new key, as this little distinction can save you hundreds of dollars.

As you can see, getting a new key for your Toyota isn’t as difficult as it seems. 

However, depending on the age of your vehicle and the type of key it uses, this replacement key could cost several hundred dollars.