Replacement car key with immobiliser: 2026 price, remote and smart key

indekscen.pl editorial team · published 30 September 2026 · prices according to the 5 October 2026 index

A replacement car key with an immobiliser most often costs PLN 390 in Poland, typically PLN 255 ‑ 595, including programming the transponder to the car. A key with a central locking remote costs around PLN 525, while a smart key costs around PLN 1,350. If you lose all your keys, the system must also be programmed, while replacing the immobiliser control unit costs around PLN 1,400.

A car key is no longer just a piece of metal that can be copied at a kiosk in five minutes. Since the late 90s, almost every car has had an immobiliser: a chip in the key head without which the engine will not start, even if the blade fits the ignition. That is why the cost of a spare key depends so heavily on the type of key you have and whether you still have at least one working key. We compare prices from key service price lists and trade articles, covering everything from mechanical keys to smart keys.

How much does a replacement key with an immobiliser cost?

A replacement key with an immobiliser most often costs PLN 390, according to 6 sources collected by indekscen.pl, while the typical range is PLN 255 ‑ 595. The price includes cutting the blade to fit the lock and programming the transponder in the car’s system. The cheapest offers, from PLN 80, are for simple keys for popular cars, while the most expensive, up to PLN 2,000, are for remote and smart keys for premium cars.

Details, quotations from price lists and the dates on which they were checked are available at car key cutting. In this article, we break down the cost by key type and the circumstances in which a replacement key is made.

Median and typical range from public price lists, as at 5 October 2026. Each price includes a source and quotation on the service page.

Mechanical key, immobiliser key, remote key or smart key: price comparison

The price of a key rises sharply with the amount of electronics inside. Here are the price-list medians for the four main types:

Key type	Median price	What is inside	Where it is used
Mechanical, without electronics	PLN 65	blade only	old cars without immobilisers, glove boxes, boots
With immobiliser (transponder)	PLN 390	chip in the key head	most cars since the late 90s
With central locking remote	PLN 525	chip and remote transmitter	folding keys (flip keys)
Smart key (keyless)	PLN 1,350	proximity transmitter	cars with a start button

A remote key costs more because the service programmes two components: the transponder for the immobiliser and the remote for the central locking. A smart key is the most expensive because the transmitter itself is costly and registering it in the car often requires the manufacturer’s original software.

How much does a replacement car key cost when you have no key?

Having a car key made without an existing key is always more expensive than copying a working one because the service has no template or code. The lock code must be read or the lock cylinder dismantled, after which the immobiliser must be programmed from scratch, sometimes with the old keys removed from the car’s memory. At an independent key service, you will usually pay towards the upper end of the range, closer to PLN 2,000 than the median.

The most expensive scenario is losing all the keys to a car in which a new key cannot be registered without replacing and programming the immobiliser control unit. This repair costs around PLN 1,400, while diagnostics and basic immobiliser programming alone usually cost PLN 175 ‑ 265. Details are available at immobiliser repair.

Can a replacement key be made without the original?

Yes, a replacement key can be made without the original for almost any car, but you must prove that the car belongs to you. The key service or authorised dealership will ask for the vehicle registration certificate and your identity document, and the car will usually need to be brought in (or the service will come to it). Some services are mobile, in which case a call-out fee is added to the price.

What should I do if I have lost a key with an immobiliser?

After losing a key with an immobiliser, the most important step is to register the new key and remove the lost one from the car’s memory. This prevents anyone who finds it from starting the engine. Follow these steps:

1. Check whether you have a spare key or a code card. Many cars originally came with a second key and a tag bearing the code, which reduces the cost and shortens the process.
2. If the car is locked on the street, request emergency opening: this usually costs PLN 125 ‑ 255. Find out more at emergency car opening.
3. Ask an independent key service and an authorised dealership for quotes. Provide the make, model, year and VIN, as these determine whether a new key can be registered or the control unit must be replaced.
4. Ask for the lost key to be removed from the system. A reputable service will include this in the programming.
5. If the car needs to be transported to a service centre, include the cost of a recovery vehicle. We cover per-kilometre rates in the article how much does a recovery vehicle cost per km.

If the key may have been stolen together with your documents, report this to the police and your insurer: if the car is stolen, not having the full set of keys can cause problems when making a claim.

Replacement key from an authorised dealership or a key service: which is cheaper?

Having a replacement key made by an independent key service is usually cheaper than using an authorised dealership, often several times cheaper. An authorised dealership orders an original key from the manufacturer and programmes it using the manufacturer’s software, which takes time and costs more. An independent service uses universal programmers and replacement key cases, so the price is more likely to fall within the typical range of PLN 255 ‑ 595.

The difference between an independent workshop and an authorised dealership is clearly visible in computer diagnostics alone: the median at a regular workshop is PLN 165, compared with around PLN 375 at an authorised dealership. The proportions are similar for keys.

It is worth using an authorised dealership if the car is under warranty, has an advanced smart key or independent services refuse the job because the manufacturer’s system is locked to them.

Median and typical range from public price lists, as at 5 October 2026. Each price includes a source and quotation on the service page.

How long does it take to have a replacement key made?

Having a replacement key with an immobiliser made at a key service usually takes from several dozen minutes to a few hours if you have a working key and the service has a suitable case in stock. Without a key or for an unusual model, it often takes one to several days. At an authorised dealership that orders an original key from the manufacturer, the wait is usually from several days to several weeks.

What determines the price of a car key?

The price of a key depends on four factors:

• Key type: mechanical, with a transponder, with a remote or a smart key. This makes the biggest difference to the bill.
• Car make and model: keys for premium cars are more expensive, and some manufacturers prevent programming outside authorised dealerships.
• Whether you have a working key: copying one is cheaper than programming a key from scratch.
• Scope of the service: cutting the blade only, programming only or a complete service. A mobile service call-out and the replacement of a damaged ignition switch (median PLN 399) are charged separately.

How can you avoid overpaying for a new key?

• Have a spare key made before you lose the last one. A copy of a working key usually costs around the median of PLN 390, while an emergency situation with no key costs several times more.
• When buying a used car, check how many keys it has. A missing second key is a reason to negotiate the price. We cover the cost of post-purchase formalities in the article re-registering a car without changing its number plates.
• Ask for the total price: cutting, case, transponder, programming and removal of old keys from the memory.
• Do not throw away the old case. If only the case is cracked or the remote battery is flat, the key can be repaired much more cheaply than having a new one made.
• Compare two quotes: one from an authorised dealership and one from an independent key service. The difference can be very large for popular cars.

We cover standard keys for flats, padlocks and doors separately in the article how much does it cost to duplicate a door key. Prices in Gdynia are currently the only local data for car keys: the median is PLN 355.

„Jeśli jednak klucz zawiera immobilizer, czyli chip zabezpieczający przed kradzieżą, koszt rośnie do około 150–400 zł.”

autoklucze.com.pl, 2026, source

„Klucz kodowany do auta bez pilota | 250 pln”

Bobik, source

„dorobienie klucza Volkswagen od 100 do 900 zł”

Serwis Popowice, source

„Krótka odpowiedź: od 100 do nawet 2000 zł, w zależności od typu kluczyka i marki auta.”

KluczeKeytec, 2026, source

You can find more prices for car repairs and services in the motoring category.

The prices in this article come from public key service price lists and trade articles. Each price has a source, date and verbatim quotation on the service page.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a replacement car key with a remote cost?

Kluczyk z pilotem do centralnego zamka kosztuje zwykle PLN 525, razem z nacięciem grota i zaprogramowaniem pilota. To wyraźnie więcej niż zwykły kluczyk z immobilizerem (PLN 390).

How much does it cost to duplicate a car key blade?

Sam grot, czyli metalowa część kluczyka, to praca mechaniczna, bliższa cenie klucza bez elektroniki: około PLN 65. Jeśli grot jest nacinany do nowej obudowy z chipem, płacisz już jak za cały kluczyk z immobilizerem.

How much does a replacement key cost at an authorised dealership?

Autoryzowany serwis bywa kilka razy droższy niż niezależny serwis kluczy, zwłaszcza przy markach premium. Dla porównania: sama diagnostyka w ASO to około PLN 375, a w zwykłym warsztacie PLN 165.

How much does it cost to open a car when the key is locked inside?

Awaryjne otwarcie samochodu przez ślusarza kosztuje zwykle PLN 125 ‑ 255, bez dorabiania nowego kluczyka. Nocą i w weekendy doliczana jest często dopłata.

Do you need a replacement key after changing the ignition switch?

Zwykle tak, bo nowa stacyjka ma inny zamek. Sama wymiana stacyjki kosztuje najczęściej PLN 399, a zakodowanie immobilizera i nowego kluczyka to osobna pozycja.

Translation of the original Polish article dated 30 September 2026. Quotations from price lists are in Polish, as published by the companies. Read the original in Polish.

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