How much should a replacement car key cost?
Sadly I lost a key from my 69 plate Suzuki Vitara. I obtained a new one from the dealership which they programmed for me. This 20 minute job cost me £144. This equates to approximately a 2,500% mark up on the marginal cost of doing the job. Was I ripped off?
Asked on 31 December 2023 by Phillip Pennicott
![](http://images.honestjohn.co.uk/imagecache/file/pad/120x120/media/10703009/david-polaroid.jpg)
Replacement keys for modern vehicles are expensive and main dealers generally charge the most for this service, but the figure of £144 is considerably less than we have seen for other manufacturers even on older vehicles. Although this still an expensive service, we would not expect an independent locksmith to be able to supply and code a new key for much less than £100.
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