Car Key Services in Reading and Berkshire
Matt Ladds carries out 14 car key and vehicle locksmith jobs across Reading and Berkshire, from key cutting and programming to lockouts and fault diagnosis, at your home, workplace or roadside.
Prices start from 25 pounds for key cutting and 60 pounds for a spare key, agreed before Matt attends, with no call out fee.
Every Car Key Service, Grouped by What Has Happened
Real call outs often blur these categories, and a lost key job might involve entry, cutting, programming and immobiliser work in the same visit. The 14 jobs are grouped here to help you find the right starting point, and twelve of them have their own service page.
Key Cutting and Replacement
A new remote, smart or transponder key is cut and programmed at the vehicle with Smart Pro, Autel, Xhorse and ACDP equipment, from 80 pounds, with no trip to the dealer.
Learn more Lost Car KeysWhen every key is gone, a new key is made and programmed at the vehicle without the original, and the lost keys are deleted from the car where the system allows.
Learn more Spare Car KeysA spare cut and programmed from your working key starts from 60 pounds and costs far less than an all keys lost job later.
Learn more Car Key CuttingStandard and laser cut blades are cut on site by code or from your key, from 25 pounds, with programming done in the same visit when the key needs it.
Learn moreProgramming and Repair
Remote, smart and transponder keys are matched to the immobiliser with dealer level equipment, from 40 pounds, then tested on locking, unlocking and starting.
Learn more Key Fob RepairWorn buttons, cracked cases and failed electronics are fixed from 30 pounds, so a working key is often saved without buying a new one.
Learn moreThe correct CR2032 or CR2025 cell is fitted at the vehicle from 15 pounds, with the fob tested and synced again where the car needs it.
Lockouts and Emergencies
Non destructive entry at your location opens the car without drilling or broken glass, from 60 pounds.
Learn more Broken Key ExtractionA snapped key is removed from the ignition or door lock without damage, from 45 pounds, and a new key is cut from the pieces or by code.
Learn more Emergency Auto LocksmithLockouts, lost keys and faults that cannot wait are attended 24 hours a day across Reading and Berkshire, with the price agreed by phone and no call out fee.
Learn moreAfter stolen keys or a damaged lock, new door and ignition lock sets are fitted and keyed to new keys, with the stolen keys deleted from the car.
Diagnostics
Keys that will not turn, release or switch off are traced to the ignition barrel or electronic steering lock and repaired from 120 pounds.
Learn more Immobiliser DiagnosticsWhen the car will not recognise a key that should work, the fault is found in the transponder, antenna, module or ECU from 60 pounds before any part is replaced.
Learn more Van Key ReplacementReplacement and spare keys for Transit, Sprinter, Vivaro, Trafic and other vans are cut and programmed at the van from 90 pounds.
Learn moreHow Much Do Car Key Services Cost in Reading?
Car key services in Reading start from 25 pounds for key cutting, 40 pounds for programming, 60 pounds for a spare key and 80 pounds for a replacement key, with the price agreed before Matt attends and no call out fee.
| Service | Starting price in Reading |
|---|---|
| Car key cutting | from 25 pounds |
| Car key programming | from 40 pounds |
| Spare car key | from 60 pounds |
| Car key replacement | from 80 pounds |
| Lost car keys (all keys lost) | from 150 pounds |
| Key fob repair | from 30 pounds |
| Car key battery replacement | from 15 pounds |
| Locked keys in car | from 60 pounds |
| Broken key extraction | from 45 pounds |
| Immobiliser diagnostics | from 60 pounds |
| Ignition and steering lock repair | from 120 pounds |
| Van key replacement | from 90 pounds |
Emergency call outs are charged at the price of the job itself, and car lock replacement is quoted once Matt knows which locks need changing. All keys lost jobs and smart keys sit at the top of each range.
Every Job, Same StandardWhat Stays the Same on Every Job
Whichever service applies, the underlying approach does not change. Matt is an IMI member and has worked as a vehicle technician since 2003, on cars built to strict UK vehicle security standards.
No call out fee, and no work starts until a price has been agreed over the phone.
Every visit is Matt himself, not a subcontractor sent out under the Key Genie name.
A background in vehicle diagnostics, not just locksmithing, shapes how each fault is approached.
The same equipment and standard applies whether it is a car or a commercial vehicle.
Coverage Beyond the Service List
Areas Covered
These services are delivered across Reading and the wider county, not from a fixed shop.
All Berkshire areasVehicle Brands
Particular depth of experience with these manufacturers, alongside most other makes and models.
View all brandsCar Key Services FAQs
Can a high street key shop do the same work?
Only part of it. A high street key shop can cut blades and copy some keys you bring in, but it cannot program remote or smart keys to the car, open a locked car, remove a snapped key from the ignition or diagnose an immobiliser fault, which is the work Matt does at the vehicle.
How do I know which service I need?
You do not need to diagnose it yourself. Describe what is happening, whether that is a lost key, a lockout or a car that will not start, and Matt identifies the likely service and confirms it with you before attending.
Can one visit cover more than one problem?
Often, yes. A lost key call out, for example, can involve gaining entry, cutting a new key, programming it and checking the immobiliser, all in a single visit rather than being treated as separate jobs.
Do all the services cost the same?
No. Key cutting starts from 25 pounds, programming from 40 pounds, a spare key from 60 pounds and a replacement key from 80 pounds, while all keys lost jobs and smart keys cost more, and every price is agreed before Matt attends with no call out fee.
Does Matt do all the work himself?
Yes. Every visit is Matt Ladds himself, a vehicle technician since 2003 and an IMI member, not a subcontractor sent out under the Key Genie name.
Which areas do the services cover?
Reading and the wider county, including Tilehurst, Caversham, Earley, Woodley, Wokingham, Bracknell, Maidenhead, Slough and Windsor, all attended at your home, workplace or roadside.
Are these services available for vans as well as cars?
Yes. Every service on this page applies to vans across most major commercial manufacturers, not just cars.
Not sure which service fits?
Call 0118 469 3408 or describe the problem online.