An automotive locksmith in Melbourne can do a lot of things for you – and that includes rekeying your car and creating replacement keys for your car.
We’ve talked a number of times about our ability to create replacement keys – one related service that doesn’t get as much mention is our ability to
rekey cars!
Whether you’ve lost a car key and don’t have a replacement, had it stolen or simply noticed that it doesn’t work anymore thanks to years of hard usage,
our emergency car locksmith will help by rekeying or providing a car key replacement on the spot.
Can you still get a replacement car key even without the original?
Absolutely! Our automotive locksmith in St Kilda knows exactly how to
get you a replacement car key, even without the original on-hand. It’s this ability that lets us help you out whether you’ve:
- Lost your car key
- Had your car keys stolen
- Worn-out or broken your keys
Since we’re mobile, we’re able to come to you.
This means we can help you out much faster than a car dealer can, our specialist knowledge means that you can trust us to tackle the issue, unlike
generalists such as roadside assistance services.
Long story short, you can trust us, whether you need us to replace lost keys or offer any one of our other auto locksmithing services.
Of course, it isn’t just your keys that we can replace – and that brings us to today’s subject.
Can a car be rekeyed? How do you rekey a car door?
Rekeying is about changing the insides of a lock, so that the old key will no longer work!
Each lock and ignition chamber is made up of a unique combination of pins and tumblers which line up perfectly with your car key.
Of course, there are some instances where you might want to change that combination.
That’s where we come in – after dismantling your locks and ignition, we’ll replace the pins and tumblers inside, rendering your current key (as well
as any copies) useless.
Once that’s done, we’ll cut a new key to go with your locks and ignition.
How do you rekey a car door, and can I rekey a lock myself?
You may be tempted to attempt DIY rekeying – if you ask us however, it simply isn’t worth the risk.
Just as with cutting your own keys, you need specialised skills and equipment to rekey a car lock properly.
Make a mistake, you won’t be able to get back into your car or get from place to place. And that’s assuming you don’t cause any damage in the process.
Simply put, it’s a lot better to avoid the risks of DIY rekeying and getting an expert auto locksmith to take care of it for you instead.
Can a locksmith change an ignition switch?
It isn’t just locks that can be rekeyed – in many cases, it’s possible to rekey ignition chambers too!
While it’s a little bit more work, the principle is the same, meaning that we can take care of your ignition on top of your locks. In addition to rekeying
ignitions, this can also mean fixing tumblers and pins that have worn out with time.
Just be aware that we can’t solve everything when it comes to ignitions.
For example, most car ignitions are connected to an electrical starter – if the issue lies here, you’ll want to get in touch with a mechanic instead.
How do you rekey a car door without the original key?
Good news: this is one auto locksmithing job that you don’t need the original key to pull off (though it certainly makes things easier).
Put it this way: we’re rekeying your locks and ignition.
The original keys don’t matter, because they’re about to become useless anyway. Hence, we don’t need the original keys when performing rekeying jobs
at all!
Is it cheaper to rekey or replace locks?
Rekeying, easily.
Most of the time, a lock replacement job will require a new lock to be installed altogether. And that costs money.
Not to mention, in many cases the only people who can do this job for you are car dealerships and mechanics, which can make the process take a lot
longer than necessary.
By contrast, rekeying a lock typically means working with what we already have, reducing a lot of material costs – we aren’t replacing your locks altogether,
just the pins and tumblers within.
Not only that, but since it’s something car locksmiths offer, it can happen much quicker, without requiring you to block out an entire day.
When to get your car rekeyed
Buying a second-hand car
So you’re buying a second-hand car. But do you know how many spare keys for said car might be floating around out there?
Getting a copy of your car keys cut is extremely cheap and fast – just look at how many kiosks in shopping centres offer this service.
Just like you get a house’s locks rekeyed before you move in, when buying a pre-owned car, it’s natural to worry about whether or not strangers have
spare keys and can get in. Luckily, a quick rekeying job can solve this issue!
Protect your car when your keys get stolen
If someone has stolen your keys, there’s a good chance they’re just waiting for an opportunity to get in when you aren’t looking using that pair of
keys they got a hold of.
Luckily, these attempts can be thwarted by getting your car’s ignition and locks changed, rendering any keys they might have stolen useless.
Just be sure to keep a close eye on your new set of keys to make sure the same thing doesn’t happen again!
How much does it cost for a car locksmith?
We get it: a lot of “emergency” callouts tend to be on the pricey side, charging a premium as well as callout charges.
It isn’t pleasant, especially when you’re stranded on the side of the road!
There’s no way to tell you in advance how much you will be charged – that said, there are a number of other things that our automotive locksmith in South Yarra does to make you feel more comfortable when it comes to pricing.
For instance, we provide upfront quotes before commencing work. We’ll tell you plain as day what you’ll be charged depending on the job.
And more importantly, we stick to this quote, even if the job turns out more complicated than initially expected!
In need of rekey or car key replacement?
If you need an automotive locksmith in Melbourne, Galmier Locksmiths has you covered!
Stuck on the road without any spare car key? Let our expert auto locksmith come to your aid.
Galmier’s auto locksmiths work throughout Melbourne’s south-east, rekeying and performing lost car key replacement for
motorists no matter where they’re stuck.
Our vehicles are more than just a way of getting from job to job and ensuring you aren’t stranded for long – they’re mobile workshops, carrying all
the equipment we need to perform a wide range of different locksmithing tasks.
The best part is that Galmier can duplicate keys to all kinds of vehicles, from old to new ones and luxury vehicles, without leaving any damage.
Call Galmier auto locksmiths on 0407 022 234 today, and make sure you save our number
in your phone!
