Dealer vs mobile locksmith for fobs?

Dealers may have guaranteed OEM stock; mobile locksmiths often solve same-day needs with competitive pricing — compare ETA and total cost when you get the call.

Parts must match your vehicle’s security system; locksmiths verify compatibility before ordering or cutting.

Some vehicles require a working key to add another; all-keys-lost jobs differ — state your situation clearly in the request.

Fobs • LA County

Key fob replacement in Los Angeles County

A battery, or a whole new fob?

If the buttons still work and it just went quiet, a fresh battery may be all it needs. Replace the fob when it's water-damaged, broken, or lost — then it has to be paired to your car.

Aftermarket fobs cost less and work on plenty of models, though not all. Give the year and make and whoever calls can tell you what will actually program before anyone drives out.

What happens next

You submit your ZIP and a short note about what happened.
LockUnlocked routes the request to participating locksmiths who cover that ZIP.
If a locksmith is available and accepts, they call to confirm timing and price before dispatch. You pay the locksmith directly for completed work.

Request a locksmith

Takes about a minute. No account and no upfront payment. If a participating locksmith is available and accepts your request, they call to confirm timing and price before dispatch.

What to include

Year and make, and how many fobs you need
Dead battery, lost fob, or a programming problem
OEM or aftermarket, if you know what you had

When a key fob quits, the car doesn't care whether it's the battery or the whole remote — it just won't cooperate. A locksmith can sort out which it is fast, as long as you pass along the year, make, and how many fobs you need.

Request fob / remote help

Traditional metal keys

If you only need cuts or basic duplicates, see car key replacement.

Why customers use LockUnlocked

Requests go to locksmiths who cover your ZIP, not a national call center.
See a price range before dispatch when available.
You pay the locksmith directly. We do not add a fee on the job.
Cancel via link in your SMS if plans change.

Guides & Los Angeles resources

Start from your situation or county-wide service page, then open your neighborhood when you want local detail — the same request form and ZIP routing apply everywhere.

Quick definitions

Car lockout: professional entry when keys are inside the vehicle — see LA County car lockout.
Rekeying: repin the cylinder for a new key — see Rekey (LA County) and rekey vs change.

Start with the exact job and area

Open the closest match, or submit the ZIP and describe what is locked, lost, or changing.

See every LA County area we cover →