Broken Car Key Extraction in Birmingham
If your key has snapped off in the ignition, door lock or boot, don't dig at it with tweezers or — worse — superglue. We extract broken key fragments with specialist tools that grip the broken piece without scoring the lock's wafers, and we can cut you a new key on the spot.
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
If your key has snapped off in the ignition, door lock or boot, don't dig at it with tweezers or — worse — superglue. We extract broken key fragments with specialist tools that grip the broken piece without scoring the lock's wafers, and we can cut you a new key on the spot.
Extraction is a mobile service, so we come to you anywhere in Birmingham, 24/7. Call 07425 435697 for a phone quote before we set off — and if the lock itself is damaged, we'll tell you honestly rather than selling you a key you can't use.
How it usually happens
- Worn or weakened key blade
- Key twisted in a stiff lock
- Cheap duplicate key snapping
How it works
- 1Call us — don't try to dig it out yourself
- 2We travel to you
- 3We extract the broken piece without damaging the lock
- 4We cut you a new key from the broken pieces or the lock code
- 5We test it in the lock and ignition
Why superglue and tweezers make it worse
Superglue bonds the broken fragment to the lock's internals and turns a clean extraction into a lock replacement. Tweezers and pins push the fragment deeper and score the wafers or pins, which ruins the lock's tolerances. Our extractors are thin, hooked tools designed to catch the fragment's keyway cuts and slide it out along its original path — the same direction it went in.
What happens after the fragment is out
Once the piece is removed, we inspect the lock for damage and test it with a freshly cut key. If the lock's internals are intact, we cut and program a replacement key there and then. If the broken key had already worn the lock badly — a common reason keys snap in the first place — we'll explain your options, including lock repair, before doing anything.
What it costs
It depends on the car — anyone quoting one flat price without asking the make and model is guessing. We confirm the exact figure on the phone before we set off.
- Where the key broke — door, boot or ignition
- How deep the broken piece sits
- Whether a new key also needs cutting
Broken Key Extraction — questions we get asked
Can you get a key out of the ignition without removing the whole barrel?
Almost always, yes. We extract the fragment in place using specialist hooks and probes, so there's no need to strip the steering column in most cases. If the ignition is already damaged, we'll tell you before we touch it.
Half my key is still in my hand — does that help?
It does — the remaining half lets us read the original cuts, so we can cut your replacement key exactly rather than decoding the lock. Keep both halves somewhere safe until we arrive.
The key broke because the lock was stiff — will the new key break too?
A stiff lock is often the real problem: worn wafers, a dry mechanism or a bent key under extra force. We'll assess the lock after extraction and tell you honestly whether it needs cleaning, repair or replacement before cutting you a new key.
Can you extract a broken key from the door lock as well?
Yes — ignition, door, boot and fuel flap locks are all fair game. The technique is the same; the tool choice varies with the lock. It's all part of the mobile service, quoted on the phone before we set off.
Is extraction covered by your 24/7 service?
Yes. Keys snap at the worst moments — late-night petrol stations, early-morning starts — so broken key extraction is available around the clock, including bank holidays. One call to 07425 435697.
Broken Key Extraction in Birmingham — call now
Open 24/7. Tell us your car's make and model and we'll give you an honest price before we set off.
Open 24/7 — nights, weekends and bank holidays included.