How Mobile Car Key Cutting Works | The Van Setup Explained
Open 24/7
Nights, weekends, bank holidays
We come to you
Home, work, roadside or car park
Price agreed first
Quoted before we set off
Ownership checked
Photo ID and proof required
Quick answer
A mobile key-cutting van carries code-cutting machines and programming equipment, so a key can be made at your location. The blade is cut either by code — decoded from your lock or taken from vehicle data — or cloned from an existing key, and the chip or smart key is then programmed to your car's immobiliser via the OBD port. What we need from you: photo ID, your V5C logbook, and the car itself. That's it.
The van is the workshop
A mobile key-cutting setup is a workshop on wheels: a code-cutting machine, a duplicator, a range of key blanks, and programming equipment with model-specific software. The difference from a shop isn't capability — it's location. Everything that can be done at a bench can be done at your kerb, which is the whole point: you don't tow a car with no keys.
Code cutting from VIN and lock data
When there's no key to copy, we cut by code. That means decoding the lock itself — reading the depths the lock expects — or sourcing the key code from vehicle data. The cutter then mills a fresh blade to factory specification. This is the method used for all-keys-lost jobs and for stolen-key replacements, where the original is gone or mustn't be trusted.
Cloning: copying a working key
If you have a working key and want a spare, cloning is simpler. The existing key is read — blade profile and chip data — and copied onto a new blank. It's faster than code cutting and ideal for spare keys, but it can only reproduce what already exists: it can't help if the original key is lost or its data is corrupt.
On-the-spot programming
The blade is only half a key. The transponder chip, remote or smart key must be programmed to the car's immobiliser through the OBD port — teaching the car to recognise the new key's code. For most vehicles this takes minutes. A small number of very new models have manufacturer-locked security that needs dealer-level access; we'll tell you on the phone if yours is one of them.
What we need from you
Three things, and nothing else:
- Photo ID — we check this on every job, no exceptions
- Your V5C logbook — proof the vehicle is yours
- The car itself — we cut and program at the vehicle
How long it takes
A straightforward duplicate with cloning: often under 30 minutes. An all-keys-lost job — decode, cut by code, program, test: typically 30 to 60 minutes at the roadside. We'll give you a realistic timeframe on the phone before we set off.
Related questions
Is a mobile-cut key as good as a dealer key?
The key is cut to the same factory code and programmed to the same immobiliser — there's no quality difference. The difference is convenience: we come to you.
Can you cut a key if I have no key at all?
Yes — that's code cutting, and it's one of our most common jobs. We decode the lock or use vehicle data, cut a fresh blade, and program it. No original needed.
Do I need to be with the car?
Yes — and you'll need your photo ID and V5C with you. We can't make keys for a car we can't verify and access.
Need a locksmith, not just a guide?
Call 07425 435697 — open 24/7 across Birmingham. Tell us the make and model and we'll give you an honest price before we set off.
Open 24/7 — nights, weekends and bank holidays included.