Key Duplication

Expert Key Duplication in Oakland County, Howell, and Holly, MI

Key duplication covers more ground than most people expect. At one end, it is as simple as cutting a copy of a house key in a few minutes. At the other end, it involves restricted key blanks that are only available through authorized sources, transponder chip programming that has to match your vehicle's onboard computer, and high-security keyways where the duplication itself requires written authorization. LKE Locksmith handles both ends of that range, from standard key cutting for home, office, and padlock keys to high-security duplication for restricted keyways, vehicle keys, and key fobs, serving Holly, Howell, Oakland County, and the surrounding Michigan area.

Standard Key Cutting

We have several different types of key cutters including one that copies single-sided metal keys like the filing cabinet key shown here.

Standard key cutting covers the keys most people need copied most often: house keys, office keys, padlock keys, and single-sided metal car keys without a chip or transponder. If you have a working key and need a copy, the process is straightforward. We cut the key, test it, and you are done in a few minutes.

Walk-in service is available at our Holly storefront Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. If you have ever tried to get a key cut at a self-service kiosk and ended up with a copy that does not quite work, the problem is usually a worn original; the kiosk reads the worn key and copies the wear into the new one. A locksmith can read the original key's code or measure the cuts directly to produce a copy that works the way the key was originally designed to, not the way it has worn down over time.

High-Security Key Duplication

High-security key duplication is a different process. These are keys cut to restricted or proprietary keyways like Schlage Primus and Medeco, where the key blanks are not available at a hardware store and cannot be duplicated without authorization from the key system owner. The restriction is intentional: it is how commercial and institutional facilities maintain control over who can get copies made.

If you manage a facility with a master key system or IC core installation, your high-security keys need to be cut by an authorized source who has access to the correct blanks and follows the authorization protocol your system requires. We stock blanks for several restricted keyway systems and can cut new keys against written authorization. For facilities setting up a new restricted keyway system from scratch, we can also assess the options and recommend systems that fit the level of key control the building requires. Our high-security key duplication service ties directly into our master key systems work for commercial clients.

Car Key and Key Fob Duplication

We can copy and program keys for most domestic and foreign makes and models. Here you see a high-security dimple key being duplicated.

Vehicle key duplication is where the gap between a standard copy and a working key is widest. Most car keys made in the last two decades include a transponder chip embedded in the head of the key. The chip communicates with the vehicle's immobilizer system, and if the chip is not programmed to match the car, the key will turn in the ignition, but the engine will not start. A 2016 study cited by Wikipedia found that immobilizer technology reduced overall car theft rates by roughly 40 percent between 1995 and 2008 (Wikipedia: Immobilizer). Cutting the key is only half the job. Programming the transponder is the other half.

Key fobs add another layer. A fob that only controls the locks needs to be paired to the vehicle's receiver. A fob that also starts the vehicle needs both pairing and, in many cases, a more involved programming sequence. Dealerships can handle this, but at a significant markup over what a locksmith charges for the same service. We cut and program keys for domestic vehicles (Ford, Chevrolet, and others), foreign vehicles (Acura, Lexus, and others), and German vehicles (Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Volvo, VW). If you need a spare vehicle key or a replacement, our car key programming and car key replacement services cover the full process.

Key Duplication vs. What You Actually Need

Sometimes the right answer is not a copy. A few situations worth knowing before you call:

• Lost all copies of a key: if there is no working key to copy from, duplication is not possible; this becomes a rekeying job or, for vehicles, an all-keys-lost service where the key is originated from the lock or the vehicle's computer rather than copied from an existing key
• Lock has been compromised: if a key was lost or stolen and security is the concern, a copy of the remaining key does not solve the problem; rekeying the lock so the old key stops working does
• Need multiple copies: the right time to get spare keys made is before you need them; getting copies cut from a good original produces better results than cutting from a worn key that has already been copied several times

If you are not sure which service fits your situation, a quick call usually sorts it out in under a minute. We can also help you think through whether rekeying or duplication makes more sense given your circumstances.

Get Your Keys Cut in Holly, Oakland County, or Howell

LKE Locksmith offers walk-in key cutting at our Holly storefront, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and mobile key duplication and programming service Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. We serve Holly, Fenton, Clarkston, Waterford, Howell, Grand Blanc, Davisburg, Linden, Hartland, and the wider Oakland County area. We are fully insured, have been in business since 2011, and bring over 35 years of combined hands-on experience to every job. Contact us today to get started.