Frequently Asked Questions

Below are the questions we get asked most often, grouped by topic. If your question isn’t here, just call or text +1 (204) 406-1801 — you’ll reach Andy, the owner, directly. Every price we mention is all-in with taxes included, and you can see the full breakdown on the pricing page.

Gaucho Keys is a mobile auto locksmith based in Winnipeg, serving the city and the surrounding towns 8 AM to 9 PM, seven days a week. We cut and program keys, fobs and transponder chips on-site for most vehicles from around the year 2000 onward, and we open locked cars with non-destructive entry. Everything below reflects exactly how we work — the prices, the trip fee, the warranty and the ownership check we do on every single job.

Pricing & payment

Every price we publish is all-in and taxes-included, so the number we quote is the number you pay. There are no hidden extras and nothing added when we arrive. Full details are on our pricing page.

How much does a car key cost in Winnipeg?

Our prices are public and all-in. A car lockout starts from $150, a spare or duplicate key from $160, a smart or push-to-start key from $170, and an all-keys-lost job from $200. Key fobs, remotes and transponder (chip) keys are priced by quote, because the cost depends on your exact vehicle. Every price already includes taxes, so the figure we quote is the figure you pay.

Are your prices really all-in, with taxes included?

Yes. Each price we give you is the full, final amount — the key, the cutting, the programming and the taxes are all part of it. Nothing extra is added when we arrive, and the price agreed before we start is the price you pay. There are no hidden fees and none of the '$19' bait ads.

Do you charge a call-out or booking fee?

No. There is no separate call-out fee, no dispatch charge and no deposit to pay. Inside Winnipeg the trip is free, and you only pay once the job is done and your key works. If we cannot solve it, you pay nothing at all.

What payment methods do you accept?

We accept Visa, Mastercard, Interac e-Transfer and cash. You pay right at your car once the new key works or you are back inside your vehicle. There is nothing to pay in advance, and no deposit is ever required. Just let us know which method you prefer when we confirm the job.

Do you give a discount for a second key?

Yes. If you would like a second key made during the same visit, it is 50% off. It is the easiest time to add a spare, since we are already there with your vehicle's details and the right equipment. Having a spare on hand is the simplest way to avoid a future lockout.

Trip fee & service area

We are a mobile auto locksmith and we come to you, on-site, across Winnipeg and the surrounding region. Inside the city the call-out is free; for nearby towns a small distance-based travel fee is folded into the all-in price we quote you up front.

What areas do you cover?

We come to you, on-site, across Winnipeg and the surrounding region. That includes nearby towns such as Selkirk, Lockport, St. Andrews, West St. Paul, Headingley, Stony Mountain and Oakbank. Wherever your vehicle is parked — home, work, a parking lot or the roadside — we bring the tools and equipment to you.

Is there a trip fee?

Inside Winnipeg there is no trip fee at all — the call-out is free. For towns outside the city, a small travel fee applies based on distance, and it is already included in the all-in price we quote you before we set out. You always know the full price up front, so there is never a surprise at your car.

Why is there a travel fee for towns outside Winnipeg?

Reaching a town beyond the city covers more distance, so a small distance-based travel fee applies — a town further out costs a little more than one close by. That fee is folded into the single all-in price we give you before we begin, never added on afterward. In Winnipeg itself there is no trip fee.

What are your hours?

We are open 8 AM to 9 PM, seven days a week, including evenings and weekends. You can call, text or message us on WhatsApp on any day within those hours. Outside those hours you are welcome to leave a message and we will get back to you.

Warranty & guarantee

You are covered twice: No Fix = No Pay before you pay, and a 1-year workmanship warranty after the job. Both are set out in plain English, with nothing buried in fine print.

Do the keys you make come with a warranty?

Yes. Every car key and fob we cut or program carries a 1-year workmanship warranty. If a key we made fails on its own because of a defect in our work — the cut, the chip or the programming — we repair or replace it free within the year. A defect in our work almost always shows up in the first days or weeks, so a full year gives you plenty of room to be sure.

What does the warranty not cover?

The warranty covers defects in our own work, not everything that can happen to a key afterward. It does not cover physical or water damage, a lost or stolen key, a dead fob battery (a normal consumable) or a fault in the vehicle itself. To assess a claim, the original key we made must be presented so we can look at the actual cut, chip and programming. If it turns out not to be a workmanship issue, we will still tell you honestly what is going on.

What does 'No Fix = No Pay' mean?

It means you pay only for the result. If we cannot get you a working key or open your car, you pay nothing — no call-out fee, no deposit and no charge for coming out. We only get paid when the problem is actually solved, so calling us is never a gamble. It also keeps us honest about what we can and cannot do for your vehicle before we ever set out.

My key started acting up after a while. What should I do?

Send us a photo and a short note on WhatsApp, or give us a call, and we will assess it. If it turns out to be a defect in the cut, chip or programming of a key we made, the repair or replacement is free within the year. Please keep the original key so we can check the actual work.

How key & fob programming works

Cutting and programming are done on-site at your vehicle for most makes and models from around the year 2000 onward. There is no need to tow the car anywhere — we bring the equipment to you.

Can you program a key fob or remote?

Yes. Programming key fobs and remotes is one of our core services, and we do it on-site at your vehicle. Because the price depends on your year, make and model, we give you an exact quote up front — just send us a photo of the fob or your VIN. There is nothing to pay until the fob is working.

Do you make transponder (chip) keys?

Yes. We cut and program transponder (chip) keys for most vehicles from around the year 2000 onward, right at your car. The chip has to be matched and programmed to your vehicle, which is why a chip key costs a bit more than a plain metal key. Send a photo of your key or VIN and we will confirm the exact price.

Can you do smart / push-to-start keys?

Yes. We program smart and push-to-start (proximity) keys on-site, and they start from $170. Smart keys involve more work than a standard chip key, so an all-keys-lost job on a smart-key vehicle costs a little more than one using a transponder key. As always, you get the exact all-in price before we begin.

Do you do everything on-site, or do I need to go somewhere?

Everything is done on-site, at your vehicle, wherever it happens to be parked. There is no need to tow the car anywhere or drop it off — we bring the cutting and programming equipment to you. That saves you the towing and the appointment wait of a dealership visit. You can carry on with your day while we work at the car.

Lost keys & all-keys-lost

Even with no working key at all, we can generate a brand-new key from scratch and program it to your car on-site. A spare made from a key you still have is the cheaper route, so it is worth sorting out before all your keys are gone.

I lost all my keys. Can you still make one?

Yes. Even with no working key at all, we can generate a brand-new key from scratch and program it to your car on-site. An all-keys-lost job starts from $200, because it takes more work than copying an existing key. Bring your ownership documents so we can confirm the vehicle is yours before we start.

What is the difference between a spare and a lost-key job?

A spare is copied and programmed from a key you already have, so it is simpler work and starts from $160. An all-keys-lost job means there is no working key to copy, so we generate a new one from scratch — more work, starting from $200. If you still have one working key, making a spare now is the cheaper way to avoid a lockout later.

What is involved in an all-keys-lost job?

We read your vehicle's information, generate and cut a new key or fob, then program it to your car's immobiliser so it will start. It is all done on-site once we have confirmed ownership. Because it is more involved than a simple copy, it starts from $200, with smart-key vehicles costing a little more. We confirm the exact all-in figure with you before any work begins.

What do you need to make a lost key?

We need your vehicle's year, make and model, and we confirm ownership with your vehicle registration and matching photo ID before starting. A photo of your VIN and of any key you still have helps us bring the right blank and equipment. Send those on WhatsApp and we can give you an exact quote before we arrive. The more detail you share up front, the smoother the visit.

Lockouts

Locked out of your car? We open locked vehicles on-site using non-destructive entry, so there is no damage to the door, lock or window. And if we cannot get you in, you pay nothing.

I am locked out of my car. Can you help?

Yes. Car lockouts are one of our core services, and we open locked vehicles on-site starting from $150. We use non-destructive entry, so your car is opened without damage to the door, lock or window. If we cannot get you in, you pay nothing.

Will you damage my car getting in?

No. We use non-destructive entry techniques designed to open your vehicle without harming the door, lock or window. Opening a locked car is routine work for us, and it is backed by our No Fix = No Pay promise. If we cannot open it, there is nothing to pay.

Do you need a key to open a locked car?

No. A lockout is simply getting you back into a car that is locked with the keys inside, and it does not require a working key to do. If your keys are actually lost, or all keys are gone, that becomes a separate key-cutting job, which we can also handle on the same visit. Either way, we sort it out in the one trip.

What to bring & the ownership check

Before any work we confirm ownership with your vehicle registration and a matching photo ID — a simple, standard step on every job. A photo of your key and VIN also helps us bring the right equipment. Here is why we ask for a key photo and VIN.

Why do you ask for a photo of my key and my VIN?

A photo of your key tells us exactly which type you have — metal, chip, remote, flip, fobik or smart — and your VIN tells us the right blank and programming for your car. Together they let us bring the correct key and equipment the first time and give you an accurate price up front. It means fewer questions when we arrive and no wasted trip. You can send both in a single message on WhatsApp and have your price before we set out.

What do I need to show you before you start?

Before any work we confirm ownership with your vehicle registration and a matching photo ID. It is a standard, simple step, and it protects you as the vehicle's owner. Making a key means creating access to a car, so we always make sure it is going to the right person.

Why do you check ownership on every job?

Because cutting or programming a key creates access to a vehicle, we verify ownership on every single job, with no exceptions. It keeps everyone safe and makes sure a working key only ever goes to the rightful owner. It takes only a moment and is a normal part of how a responsible locksmith operates. We would rather take that small step than risk a key ending up in the wrong hands.

About us & booking

You deal directly with Andy, the owner, who does the work himself — no call centre and no middleman. Gaucho Keys is a registered Manitoba business, and booking is as simple as a call, a text or a WhatsApp photo. More on our about page.

Who is Gaucho Keys, and who does the work?

Gaucho Keys is a local mobile auto locksmith serving Winnipeg and the surrounding area. You deal directly with Andy, the owner, who does the work himself — from your first message to the finished key. There is no call centre and no middleman, so the person you talk to is the person who shows up.

Are you a registered business?

Yes. Gaucho Keys is a registered business in Manitoba, Business Names Registry No. 10238113. You deal directly with the owner, and every price is public and all-in, so you always know exactly who you are dealing with and what you will pay. The registry number is shown in the footer of every page.

What makes and years do you work on?

We work on most makes and models from around the year 2000 onward, cutting and programming keys on-site. That covers the great majority of cars, trucks, SUVs and vans on the road in Manitoba. Newer or higher-end vehicles can need more involved programming, which we factor into your up-front quote. If you are not sure yours is covered, send a photo of the key and your VIN and we will confirm.

Is there anything you do not do?

We focus on car keys, fobs and lockouts, so we do not do ignition repair or broken-key extraction. We also do not work on German makes such as Volkswagen, BMW, Audi, Mercedes and Mini. If you are unsure whether your vehicle is covered, send us a photo and your VIN and we will tell you honestly.

How do I get a quote or book you?

Call or text us at +1 (204) 406-1801, or send a photo of your key and VIN on WhatsApp for an exact quote. Tell us your year, make, model and where the car is, and we will give you the full all-in price before we head out. We are available 8 AM to 9 PM, seven days a week.

Helpful reading

• Transparent pricing — every price is all-in
• Our warranty & No-Fix-No-Pay guarantee
• Meet Andy — about Gaucho Keys
• Why we ask for a key photo & VIN
• Lost car key replacement
• Spare & duplicate keys
• Car lockout service
• Key fob & remote programming
• Transponder (chip) keys
• Smart / push-to-start keys
• All keys lost