A mobile locksmith comes to your car and can often cut and program a key in one visit. A dealership usually needs the car brought in and may have to order the key. Some brands only allow dealer programming.
Mobile locksmith
- Comes to your location
- No tow needed if all keys are lost
- Often same visit
- Supports many makes and key types
Dealership
- Car typically must be at the dealer
- Keys may need to be ordered
- Required for some restricted brands
How to choose
Call a locksmith with your VIN first. If your vehicle needs dealer-only programming, a good locksmith will tell you upfront.