In Winnipeg a car unlock starts at $150, a spare key at $160, smart / push-to-start keys at $170 and all keys lost from $200 — taxes included, with no trip fee inside Winnipeg.
🔒 The price I text you before I arrive is the price you pay. It never goes up on-site — I check the details and bring the right key in advance, so there are no surprises when I get there.
My prices
Prices are all-in and current — I update this page when they change.
- Car lockout (open a locked car) from $150~10–30 min on-site✓ Includes non-destructive entry and an ownership check
↓ If I can’t get you in, you pay nothing — No Fix = No Pay - Spare / duplicate key — metal, chip, remote-head, flip or fobik (you still have a working key) from $160~20–50 min on-site✓ Includes the key, the cutting and the programming
↓ Second key at the same visit — half price - Smart / push-to-start key (spare) from $170~30–60 min on-site✓ Includes the smart key and the programming
↓ Push-to-start cars — see smart key service - Lost all keys (a brand-new key from scratch) from $200~30–60 min on-site✓ Includes the key, the cutting and the programming↑ $200 is the starting point for a transponder key. Smart / push-to-start cars cost more — you get the exact number before I set out.
- Keyless-entry remote — locks/unlocks only, does not start the car from $160✓ Includes the fob and the programming
↔ Push-to-start fob? That’s the smart key row above. Price varies by year, make and model — you get the exact number up front - Second key for the same car, same visit half the key price
- Travel outside Winnipeg $2 per km✓ Inside Winnipeg there is no travel fee.
↔ For towns outside the city I charge $2 per km from the Winnipeg city limit to your town, and it is part of the all-in price I give you before I set out.
“We made a time, he came here and ensured I was 100% satisfied before he left. The price quoted was respected and there was no nickel and timing which I have encountered with other businesses.”
— Jay
On-site times show how long the job takes once I arrive — not travel time.
Not sure your town is in range? See every area I serve.
Every key price includes the key, the cutting and the programming — no hidden extras.
Fob and remote pricing depends on your specific vehicle, so I give you the exact number up front. Bringing your own fob? Send me the listing first — I check it’s the right part for your car (free), then program it at a price agreed up front.
Full cost guide with examples — the cheapest way to replace a key, what changes the number, and prices by make.
Shopping around? See what a hardware-store key counter can and can’t copy and how to spot a legit locksmith.
You deal directly with me, Andy — I do the work myself, on-site.Andy — owner, Gaucho Keys, Winnipeg
Which key do you have?
The type of key changes the price — a plain metal key is the simplest — nothing to program — while chip, smart and fobik keys must be programmed to your car. Tap your key type to learn more, compare all seven side by side, or send a photo on WhatsApp for an exact quote.
Wondering why I ask for a photo and VIN? Here’s why →
Most car keys — metal, chip, remote, flip and fobik — start from $160. Smart / push-to-start keys are from $170.
Final price varies by make, model and year — you always get it up front. An all-keys-lost job (no working key) starts from $200.
No trip fee anywhere in Winnipeg. For towns outside the city it is $2 per km from the Winnipeg city limit, part of the all-in price I give you before I set out.
Locksmith vs. the dealership
| What | Gaucho Keys | Dealership |
|---|---|---|
| Where | I come to you, on-site | You bring or tow the car in |
| Wait | Usually the same visit | Often 3–5 days for an appointment and an ordered key |
| Spare key | from $160 | ~$200–$500 |
| Smart / push-to-start key | from $170 | ~$400–$900+ |
| Lost (all keys) | from $200 | ~$500–$1,000+ |
| Towing | None — I come to you | ~$100–$300 if the car can’t move |
| Call-out / trip fee | None in Winnipeg | Varies |
| You pay | Only once the key works | Deposit / up-front varies |
For most vehicles a mobile locksmith is the faster, more affordable route to car key replacement in Winnipeg — especially for an all-keys-lost job, where the dealer has to order and program the key for you.
Dealer and towing figures are typical Canadian ranges from public price guides (July 2026) and vary by make, model and location — I don’t quote any specific competitor. My own prices are fixed and all-in.
If you run a used car lot or a fleet, I make keys on your lot too — see Dealers & fleets.
Send me these five things and you get an exact price
- Year, make and model — two cars of the same year can take different keys.
- What you need — a spare, a lost key, a lockout, a fob.
- Whether a key still works, and whether the car starts with a button — this is what decides $160 or $200.
- Where the car is — inside Winnipeg the trip is free; outside it there is a travel fee, and I tell you the all-in number before I set off.
- A photo of your key, or your VIN — it lets me bring the exact key instead of guessing.
Not sure which row is yours?
How my pricing works
- Up-front price, no surprises. You get the price before any work begins.
- Pay only for the result — no deposit and no call-out fee. In Winnipeg there is no trip charge at all; for out-of-town, any travel fee is in the price I quote you up front. You pay once your new key works; if I can't solve it, you pay nothing.
- 1-year warranty. Every car key and fob I cut or program is covered against defects for a full year — if it fails from a defect, I repair or replace it free. It does not cover physical or water damage, a lost or stolen key, or a dead fob battery; the original key must be presented for assessment. See my full warranty & guarantee →
- No hidden fees, no bait. None of the "$19" ads or 1-800 call centres — you deal directly with Andy.
- Easy payment. Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Interac e-Transfer or cash, paid right at your car once the job's done.
What changes the price
- The type of key. A basic cut key is the simplest — nothing to program. Transponder (chip) keys and smart/proximity fobs cost more because they have to be programmed to your car, not just cut.
- Whether you still have a working key. A spare copied from a working key is cheaper than generating a brand-new key when all keys are lost.
- Your vehicle's make, model and year. I cover most makes and models, older cars included; newer and higher-end vehicles can need more involved programming.
Where I serve
I come to you, on-site, anywhere in Winnipeg and the surrounding region — including Selkirk, Lockport, St. Andrews, West St. Paul, Headingley, Stony Mountain, Stonewall, Oakbank and Niverville. Open 8 AM–9 PM, 7 days a week. Before any work I check your vehicle registration and a matching photo ID — a standard part of how I work.
Real jobs, up close
A few keys I’ve cut and programmed on-site in and around Winnipeg — real cars, real work.
Cutting a fresh key on my own machine
New Nissan smart key programmed on-site
Professional key-cutting gear, brought to you
A new Hyundai smart key, made at the car
A spare Toyota smart key, cut & programmed
Programming a brand-new key for a Nissan
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a car key cost in Winnipeg?
- In Winnipeg a car unlock starts at $150, a spare key at $160, smart / push-to-start keys at $170 and all keys lost from $200 — taxes included, with no trip fee inside Winnipeg. See the table above for details.
- Do you charge extra on top of the listed price?
- No. The price you are given up front is the price you pay, and you pay only once the key works.
- Why does a lost key cost more than a spare?
- A spare is copied and programmed from your existing working key, while a lost-all-keys job means generating a brand-new key from scratch — which takes more work, so it costs a bit more.
- How much is a key fob or transponder (chip) key?
- A spare transponder (chip) key starts from $160, taxes included, the same as any spare key, though some makes cost more. A keyless-entry remote starts from $160, the same as any spare key. A push-to-start smart fob starts from $170 — see the smart key row. The exact number depends on the part your car takes, and you get it before any work.
- How do I know if I have a smart key?
- If the car starts with a button and the key can stay in your pocket, it is a smart / push-to-start key — from $170, taxes in. If you turn a key in the ignition, it is a spare or chip key from $160. Not sure? Send me a photo of the key and I will tell you which one it is.
- Is a second key cheaper?
- Yes. A second key for the same car at the same visit is half the key price — for example, if your first spare is $160, the second one is $80, taxes in. I test both before I leave.
- How and when do I pay?
- After the job, once the new key works. I accept Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Interac e-Transfer and cash.
- Do you charge extra to come to my town?
- Inside Winnipeg there is no travel fee. For towns outside the city I charge $2 per km from the Winnipeg city limit to your town, and it is part of the all-in price I give you before I set out — taxes included, nothing added on arrival.
- What is the cheapest way to replace a car key in Winnipeg?
- If you still have one working key, a copy made at your car is the cheapest: from $160 all-in, and a second key at the same visit is half price. With no working key it is from $200 all-in. Inside Winnipeg there is no travel charge; outside the city the travel fee is part of the price I give you before I set out.
Want an exact price for your car?
Call with your year, make and model — I'll give you a firm quote on the spot.
Save my number to your phone — so it is there next time.