At Fitz’z, it’s not about the cars –
It’s about the people who drive them!
Monday to Friday
From 8:00am – 4:30pm
At Fitz’z, it’s not about the cars –
It’s about the people who drive them!
Monday to Friday
From 8:00am – 4:30pm
There’s nothing quite like the sinking feeling of reaching into your pocket and realizing your car keys are gone — or standing in a parking lot off Lemay Ferry Road with a key that suddenly won’t turn in the ignition. Whether you’ve lost your car keys entirely, snapped a worn-out key in the lock, or your transponder key has simply stopped communicating with your vehicle’s immobilizer, you need a reliable solution fast. At Fitz’z Automotive Service, we’ve been providing expert key replacement in St. Louis and the surrounding areas for over 30 years. As a family-owned dealership alternative right here in Lemay, MO, we understand that losing access to your vehicle disrupts your entire day. That’s why we offer comprehensive car key replacement, key fob programming, transponder key duplication, and ignition repair services for all makes and models — from the latest domestic and Asian vehicles to classic cars that need a more specialized touch. Our team combines the precision of a skilled auto locksmith with the diagnostic expertise of a full-service auto repair shop, so you get more than just a new key — you get the confidence that your vehicle’s entire security system is functioning exactly as it should. We’re proud to serve our neighbors throughout Lemay, St. Louis County, and the greater St. Louis area with honest pricing and transparent service you can trust.
Whether you drive a Ford F-150, a Honda Civic, a Toyota Camry, or a European model like an Audi or Volkswagen, our technicians have the tools and expertise to cut and program a new key for your vehicle. We work with a wide range of domestic, Asian, and European makes — covering everything from everyday commuters to performance vehicles. Our equipment handles the latest key technologies so you don’t have to make the trip to a dealership and pay their premium prices.
Most vehicles manufactured after the mid-1990s use transponder keys — keys with an embedded microchip that must communicate with your vehicle’s immobilizer system before the engine will start. We program transponder keys to match your vehicle’s unique security code, ensuring seamless startup every time. If you need a duplicate transponder key as a spare, we can cut and program one while you wait, saving you the hassle and expense of going through a dealership.
Modern key fobs do much more than just unlock your doors — they control remote start, trunk release, panic alarms, and proximity-based keyless entry. When your key fob stops working, it could be a dead battery, internal circuit damage, or a programming issue. Our team diagnoses the exact issue and provides key fob programming or full replacement so your remote entry system works like new.
Before you assume your key fob has failed, it’s worth ruling out the simplest cause. Most fobs run on a small coin-cell battery that lasts three to four years, and the symptoms of a dying battery look a lot like a broken fob — you have to stand closer to the car, press the button twice, or the remote start stops reaching from inside the house.
We replace fob batteries while you wait. If the battery turns out not to be the problem, we’ll test the fob’s circuit board and its communication with your vehicle’s receiver, so you’ll know whether you need a repair, a reprogram, or a replacement — before you spend money on the wrong one.
Vehicles with push-button start use a proximity key — a fob that communicates with your car continuously so it unlocks as you approach and starts without a key ever leaving your pocket. It’s convenient right up until the fob is lost, damaged, or stops pairing.
These systems require manufacturer-level programming equipment, which is why most independent shops send this work to the dealership and why dealerships charge accordingly. We keep that equipment in-house. We can add a spare proximity fob, replace a lost one, or re-pair your existing fob after ignition or module work — usually same-day, and at a fraction of what the dealer quotes.
One safety note worth knowing about these systems: because a push-button vehicle can be left running without a key present, drivers occasionally walk away from a car they believe is off. NHTSA has published guidance on keyless ignition safety — if your vehicle sits in an attached garage, it’s worth reading.
A worn ignition key can cause intermittent starting problems, get stuck in the cylinder, or eventually break off entirely. We provide precision ignition key cutting using your vehicle’s key code specifications, and if your ignition cylinder itself is worn or damaged, we offer complete ignition repair services to restore reliable operation.
Every key replacement begins with properly identifying your vehicle. Using your VIN and our professional databases, we retrieve the exact key code and transponder specifications for your make, model, and year. This ensures we cut and program a key that’s precisely matched to your vehicle — not a generic approximation.
Once we have your key specifications, our technicians use professional-grade key cutting machines to create your new key with exact tolerances. For transponder-equipped vehicles, we then program the chip using manufacturer-level diagnostic equipment, syncing the new key to your vehicle’s anti-theft system.
We don’t just hand you a new key and send you on your way. Every replacement key is tested in your vehicle’s ignition, door locks, and trunk to verify smooth, reliable operation. We also check that the immobilizer system properly recognizes the new key and that no error codes are stored in the vehicle’s computer.
As part of our commitment to transparency, we provide digital vehicle inspections with updates sent directly to you. If we discover any additional concerns with your ignition system, steering column, or anti-theft components during the key replacement process, you’ll see exactly what we see — with photos and clear explanations — before any additional work is performed.
Dealerships often charge $300 to $500 or more for a single replacement key with programming. As St. Louis’s trusted, family-owned dealership alternative, we deliver the same quality key cutting and programming using professional-grade equipment — at a fraction of the dealership cost. You get OEM-equivalent results without the markup.
For more than three decades, we’ve been serving drivers throughout Lemay, MO and St. Louis County. That experience means we’ve seen virtually every key and ignition scenario imaginable — from modern smart key systems to classic vehicles with older lock mechanisms. Our depth of knowledge allows us to troubleshoot quickly and get you back on the road faster.
Sometimes a key that won’t start your car isn’t actually a key problem — it’s an immobilizer or anti-theft system malfunction. Because we’re a full-service auto repair shop with advanced diagnostic capabilities, we can pinpoint whether the issue lies with your key, the transponder receiver, the ignition switch, or the vehicle’s security module. A standalone locksmith simply can’t offer that level of diagnostic depth.
The cost of replacing a car key depends on several factors: the year, make, and model of your vehicle; the type of key required (standard, transponder, or smart fob); whether you have an existing working key or all keys are lost; and the complexity of the programming required. Newer vehicles with advanced security systems typically cost more due to the specialized programming involved.
A basic metal key for an older vehicle is the most affordable option. Transponder keys with embedded chips cost more due to the programming step. Smart key fobs — the proximity-based systems that allow push-button start — are the most expensive because of the advanced electronics and multi-step programming process. We’ll always explain exactly what type of key your vehicle requires and provide upfront pricing before we begin any work.
Our lower overhead as an independent, family-owned shop means we can pass significant savings on to you. We source quality key blanks and fob housings at competitive prices, and our experienced technicians work efficiently — which means less labor time on your bill. We believe honest, transparent pricing is one of the biggest reasons drivers across St. Louis County choose us over the dealership.
Don’t Just Take Our Word For It!
Before any wrench turns, you receive a clear, detailed estimate explaining the recommended repairs, the parts involved, and the associated costs. We believe you deserve to understand every dollar you spend, and we never proceed with additional work without your approval.
Located right here in Lemay, MO, Fitz’z Automotive Service is proud to be a cornerstone of the local community. We serve drivers throughout Lemay and nearby areas including Affton, Mehlville, Oakville, South St. Louis, and communities across St. Louis County. Whether you’re dealing with a lockout situation near Jefferson Barracks Park, need broken key extraction after a long shift, or simply want a spare transponder key made for peace of mind, we’re conveniently located and ready to help. Our reputation as a trusted auto locksmith in St. Louis has been built one satisfied customer at a time over more than 30 years — and we’re committed to earning your trust, too.
Most car key replacements — including cutting and programming — can be completed within 30 minutes to an hour. More complex smart key systems or situations where all original keys are lost may take slightly longer due to additional security verification and programming steps. We’ll give you an accurate time estimate when you bring your vehicle in.
Absolutely. Even if you’ve lost all your car keys, we can create a new key from scratch using your vehicle’s VIN and key code data. The process involves reprogramming your vehicle’s immobilizer to recognize the new key while erasing the lost keys from the system — ensuring no one who finds your old key can start your vehicle.
Yes. We have expert service on all makes, from classic cars to the latest domestic, Asian, and European models. Whether you’re restoring a vintage Mustang or need a replacement key for a 1980s pickup, we have the capability to cut traditional keys and, when necessary, repair or replace older ignition cylinders.
For any vehicle that requires transponder programming or key fob pairing, programming is included as part of the replacement service. Standard metal keys that don’t have an electronic component won’t require programming. We’ll let you know exactly what’s needed for your specific vehicle upfront.
Don’t let lost car keys or a malfunctioning key fob keep you stranded. Contact Fitz’z Automotive Service today to schedule your key replacement in Lemay, MO. Give us a call or stop by our shop — our friendly team will verify your vehicle information, provide a transparent estimate, and get you back behind the wheel as quickly as possible. With over three decades of experience, dealership-quality results at independent shop prices, and digital vehicle inspections that keep you informed every step of the way, you can trust us to handle your key replacement the right way. We look forward to serving you.