Keys, remote fobs and smart keys coded to your car at your vehicle. Alex uses dealer-level diagnostic equipment to program transponders and remotes, including many keys bought online.
Almost every car built since the late 1990s has an immobiliser. A small transponder chip in the key sends a code to the car, and the engine will only start if the code is recognised. Car key programming is the process of teaching the car to accept a new key, and pairing the remote so the buttons lock and unlock the doors.
Alex programs keys at your vehicle by connecting professional diagnostic equipment to the OBD port under the dashboard. Depending on the car, this adds a new key to the immobiliser, pairs a remote, sets up a keyless proximity key, or removes old keys that are no longer in your possession.
Programming is needed whenever a new key is supplied, when a replacement remote is fitted, or when a key has lost its settings. It is carried out across Nottingham, Derby and Long Eaton, and every programmed key comes with a 1-year warranty.
These are the most common reasons drivers call Alex for key programming.
A new key blank will not start the car until it is cut and programmed. Alex can do both if the part suits your vehicle.
If the buttons stopped working after a battery change, the remote may simply need pairing again.
An immobiliser light and a car that cranks but will not start can point to a key that has lost its code.
New remote boards and fobs have to be paired to the car before the buttons will work.
Old keys should be removed from the car so they cannot be used. Any remaining keys are reprogrammed.
Programming is the key step in making a spare car key that actually starts the engine.
The equipment used covers a wide range of makes, from older transponder systems to modern keyless entry.
The chip is added to the immobiliser so the engine starts. This is the core of almost every key job.
Lock, unlock and boot buttons are paired to the car so the central locking responds.
Push button start and keyless entry keys programmed with specialist equipment.
Combined blade and remote keys, with both the chip and the buttons set up.
Quality aftermarket and universal keys can be programmed on many models, often at a lower cost.
Keys and remotes for light commercial vans programmed at the roadside or yard.
The tools used include Autel key programming equipment and a Lonsdor key programmer, alongside Keytool Plus and Keytool Max.
Send your registration and, for a key you bought, a photo of it. Alex checks the part and frequency are right.
At your vehicle, diagnostic equipment connects through the OBD port to access the immobiliser.
The transponder is added, the remote is paired, and any missing keys can be deleted.
Starting, locking, unlocking, boot release and keyless entry are all tested before Alex leaves.
A key bought online can save money, but only if it is the right part. Check these points first.
You get a fixed quote before any work starts. The price depends mainly on these points.
Car key programming sounds complicated, but the basics are simple. This guide explains what happens when Alex connects to your car.
When you turn the key or press the start button, the car sends a signal to the chip in the key and waits for the correct reply. Older chips reply with a fixed code, while most modern chips use encrypted codes that change. If the reply is not recognised, the immobiliser stops the engine from running. Programming adds your new key to the list of keys the car will accept.
The lock and unlock buttons use a separate radio signal. Most UK vehicles use 433 MHz remotes, and some use other frequencies such as 868 MHz. A key bought online that is on the wrong frequency, or built for a different market, will never pair with your car, which is why Alex checks the part before booking.
Many vehicles need a security code, often called a PIN, before new keys can be added. Professional programming equipment can read or calculate this code on a wide range of models. This is one of the main differences between a trained auto locksmith and a basic key cutting service.
Keyless entry and push button start cars use proximity keys that talk to the car when they are nearby. These systems are more complex to program and need specialist equipment. They are also targeted by relay theft, so keeping keyless keys in a signal-blocking pouch, as advised in police vehicle theft prevention guidance, is a sensible habit.
An immobiliser can only store a limited number of keys, and the number varies by vehicle. When keys are lost or a car changes hands, programming can remove keys that are no longer in your possession and free up space for new ones. Your remaining keys are reprogrammed so they keep working.
A small number of the newest vehicles use key systems that the manufacturer only allows its own dealers to code online. Alex checks your registration before booking, and if your car falls into this group he will tell you straight away, so you do not pay for a wasted callout.
Buying a key online can save money, but only when the part is exactly right. Alex checks the part number, chip type, frequency and blade profile before booking. If the key is correct, it is cut if needed and programmed at your vehicle. If it is wrong, he will tell you before you pay for a callout.
Every programmed key is tested before Alex leaves. That means starting the engine several times, checking the lock, unlock and boot buttons, confirming keyless entry where fitted, and making sure any remaining keys still work. You should never be left finding a fault the next morning.
Alex programs keys, remotes and proximity keys for most of the cars and vans on the roads around the East Midlands. Popular makes include:
Every photo is from a real AJ Auto Access job, taken at the customer's vehicle.
"Great service from Alex. Needed a second key for my van. Service was quick, professional and fairly priced."
SamVan key programming
"Excellent service! Alex came out quickly and sorted a new spare key for my car for a great price, highly recommend."
Sharon N.New car key
Alex brings his programming equipment to your home, workplace or roadside across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and north Leicestershire.
Also Long Eaton, Sandiacre, Stapleford, Toton, Chilwell, Bramcote, Wollaton, Ilkeston, Heanor, Eastwood, Hucknall, Arnold and Radcliffe-on-Trent.
Not sure if you are covered? Send your postcode on WhatsApp for a quick answer.
See every area we coverOften, yes, as long as it is the correct part for your vehicle. Send Alex a photo of the key and your registration first and he will confirm before booking.
Most keys and remotes are programmed within an hour once Alex is with the vehicle. Some keyless systems take longer.
Usually not. Alex uses dealer-level diagnostic equipment at your vehicle. For a small number of very new models, only the manufacturer can program keys, and Alex will tell you if that applies.
Some remotes lose their pairing when the battery is removed. It may just need programming again, which is a quick job.
Yes. Lost or stolen keys can be deleted from the immobiliser so they can no longer start the car.
Yes, for many makes and models, using specialist equipment.
Yes. Alex programs keys and remotes for light commercial vans as well as cars.
Yes. Programming and any key supplied come with a 1-year warranty.
Cutting shapes the metal blade so it turns in your locks. Programming codes the chip and remote so the engine starts and the buttons work. Most modern keys need both.
No. Programming is done at the vehicle, because the new key has to be added to the car's own immobiliser through the OBD port.
The most common reasons are the wrong frequency, the wrong part number or a remote that has not been paired. Send Alex a photo of the key and your registration and he will tell you which applies.
No. Programming only adds or removes keys from the immobiliser and pairs remotes. It does not change engine or other vehicle settings.
Call or WhatsApp Alex with your registration and a photo of your key for a clear quote.
Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm · Saturday 8am to 4pm