Gaucho KeysIf you drive a Ford in Winnipeg and need a new key, the first thing you probably want to know is what it will cost. The honest answer is that it depends on the year of your Ford and the kind of key it uses, but the range is predictable and you can get an exact number before any work begins. This guide walks through Ford keys plainly, from an older PATS chip key to a flip key, a remote-head key or a push-to-start Intelligent Access fob, for anything from an F-150 to an Escape, Fusion, Focus, Explorer or Edge.
What drives the price on a Ford key
Two things decide what a Ford key costs. The first is the type of key your vehicle uses, which mostly comes down to its year and trim. The second is whether you still have a working key to copy from, or whether every key is gone and a brand-new one has to be built for the vehicle from scratch.
Since the late 1990s almost every Ford has used PATS, Ford's Passive Anti-Theft System, which puts a transponder chip in the key that the vehicle has to recognize before it will start. On older Fords that chip sits in a plain metal key that we cut and then program. Through the 2000s and 2010s many Fords, including the F-150, Escape, Fusion, Focus, Explorer and Edge, moved to a remote-head key, where the lock and unlock buttons are built into the head of the key, or a flip key, where the blade folds into the fob. Higher trims and newer model years often use Ford Intelligent Access, a push-to-start proximity smart key with no metal blade to cut at all.
As a rule, the more programming a key needs, the more it costs. A plain chip key is the simplest job, and a push-to-start smart key is the most involved, with the remote-head and flip keys sitting in between.
Ford key costs by type
Here is how it usually breaks down. A spare or duplicate, where you still have one key that works, starts at $160. A full lost-all-keys job, where nothing works anymore and a brand-new key has to be generated for the vehicle, starts at $200. Key fobs, flip keys with a remote built in, remote-head keys and Intelligent Access smart keys are priced by quote, because the exact part and the programming depend on your specific Ford's year, model and trim.
Why the difference between a spare and a lost-all-keys job? When you still have a working key, we can copy and program from it, which is less work. When every key is lost, the vehicle has to be matched to a fresh key from nothing, which takes more steps and so costs more. One easy way to save: if you are already having a key made, the second key on the same visit is 50% off, which is the cheapest time to add a backup so you are never down to a single key.
Ford dealer vs. a mobile locksmith in Winnipeg
A Ford dealership can cut and program a key, but it usually means getting the vehicle to them, often a tow if all your keys are lost, then booking an appointment and, in many cases, waiting for a part to be ordered, which can stretch over several days. For the same key the price is usually higher than a locksmith.
As a mobile auto locksmith, we come to you anywhere in Winnipeg and the surrounding area and do the whole job on-site. You never drive the vehicle anywhere and never bring anything with you, and there is no towing. We check your vehicle registration and matching photo ID first, which is standard before any key work, give you the price up front with no call-out fee, and you pay only once the new key actually works. Every key we make is backed by a 1-year warranty on our workmanship, covering defects in our work rather than a dead fob battery, water or physical damage, or a lost key.
Quick recap
- Older Fords mostly use a PATS chip key, a metal key that is cut and then programmed to the vehicle.
- Newer Fords often use a flip key, a remote-head key or a push-to-start Intelligent Access smart key, which is programming with little or no blade to cut.
- Spare from $160, lost-all-keys from $200; fobs, flip keys and smart keys are quoted for your exact Ford.
- Second key 50% off on the same visit, the cheapest time to add a backup.
- Up-front price, no call-out fee, pay only for the result, with a 1-year workmanship warranty.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Ford key cost in Winnipeg?
- It depends on your Ford's year and key type. A spare made from a working key starts at $160, and a brand-new key when all keys are lost starts at $200. Key fobs, flip keys, remote-head keys and Intelligent Access smart keys are by quote. The easiest way to a firm number is to call +1 (204) 406-1801 with your year, make and model. It is usually cheaper than the dealer, with no towing.
- Do you come to me, or do I have to bring my Ford somewhere?
- We come to you. Gaucho Keys is a mobile auto locksmith, so we cut and program your Ford key on-site anywhere in Winnipeg and the surrounding area, whether the vehicle is at home, at work or wherever it sits. You never bring the vehicle or anything else in, there is no towing, and you pay only once the new key works.
- Why are Ford smart keys and fobs priced by quote instead of a flat rate?
- A basic chip key is simply cut and programmed, so it has a set starting price. A flip key, remote-head key or Intelligent Access smart key is a remote or proximity fob that has to be matched to your exact Ford and programmed, and the part varies by year, model and trim. That is why we quote those instead of listing a flat rate, and we confirm the number up front before any work begins. We usually reply within a few minutes if you message a photo of your key or VIN.
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