★★★★★
"I was very impressed. He was on time and set up both key fobs and cut both keys for my car and it only took about an hour. He really knows his stuff and I really appreciated it."
— Glenn Buckboro · Google review
Checking hours…
Car key replacement in Winnipeg — mobile, on-site, written quote first.
I'm Leo. I do all four of the keys-and-locks calls you'd otherwise make to the dealer or AAA — spare keys, lost-all-keys replacement, fob programming, and lockouts. At your driveway, parking lot, wherever the car is. Written quote first, pay after it works.
Prefer Messenger?
Open chat →
- ✓ I come to you
- ✓ Written quote first
- ✓ NASTF VSP authorized
Pick your situation
Which one do you actually need?
Four most common calls I get. Click into the one that matches your situation — or text me if none of them quite fits.
Planned
Spare / extra key
$90+ transponder
$160+ remote head / flip
$180+ smart key
You still have a working key and you want a backup before something goes wrong. Cheapest insurance you can buy on your car.
Read more →
Today's problem
Lost all keys (AKL)
$280+
You've lost every key — spare included. I make a brand-new one from scratch at your car. No tow. Ownership verification required.
Read more →
Diagnose first
Fob programming
$90+ BYO fob
$90+ I supply
Existing fob stopped working, or you bought a replacement online and need it programmed. Try the 5-minute battery test before you book.
Read more →
Right now
Car lockout
$90+
Keys locked in the car, locked out at a parking lot, key stuck in the ignition. Call directly — fastest path. ID required on arrival.
Call now →
Just need a key cut or copied? See car key cutting (from $40). Dead remote? Most are a fob battery you can swap yourself for $5.
All four services, side by side
Same insurance. Same NASTF VSP authorization. Same written-quote-first policy. Different jobs and prices depending on which one you need.
| Service | Starting price | Best for | Time on-site | Dedicated page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spare / extra key | $90+ transponder $180+ smart key |
You have ≥ 1 working key, want a backup | 30–60 min | Spare keys → |
| Lost all keys (AKL) | $280+ | No working keys at all, ownership verifiable | 60–90 min | Lost all keys → |
| Fob programming | $90+ BYO or supplied | Fob issue, BYO online fob, or supply + program | 20–45 min | Fob programming → |
| Car lockout | $90+ | Locked out — keys in car, lost, or ignition stuck | 15–30 min | Call directly |
No tow needed for any of these — I come to wherever the car is. Full breakdown including taxes, distance fees, and customer-supplied-parts policy is on the pricing page.
Why people call me
Why mobile beats a dealer trip — every time.
Same work. Better setup. Lower price. The full math is on each dedicated page — this is the summary.
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✓
Real Winnipeg locksmith — not a call centre
You text me directly. I quote you directly. I show up. No dispatcher routing your job to whoever's available.
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✓
Written quote before I dispatch
The text confirmation is the quote. Number you see is number you pay — no surprise charges when I arrive at your driveway.
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✓
No tow, no week-long parts wait
Dealer route on a lost-keys job typically means tow + parts order + 3–10 day wait. I do the same work at your car, often same day or next.
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✓
Pay after the work, not before
Key cuts, fob programs, door opens — then we settle up. E-transfer, tap, or cash. If it doesn't work, you don't pay.
The short version
Car key replacement in Winnipeg, explained.
"Car key replacement" is really an umbrella for a few different jobs, and which one you need comes down to the type of key your vehicle uses and how many working copies you have left. There are more styles than most people expect. A transponder key is a cut metal blade with a chip hidden in the head. A remote head key is that same headed key with the lock, unlock, and panic buttons built right in. A flip key tucks the blade inside the remote and springs it out at the press of a button. A proximity smart key stays in your pocket and starts the car with a push button. Some older vehicles still use a plain mechanical key with no chip at all. Whatever style your vehicle uses, I cut and program it at your car, anywhere in Winnipeg — so there's no dealership counter and no tow truck in the middle of it. Still have a working key and want a backup? That's a spare. Every key gone? That's a lost-all-keys job. Just need a blade cut or copied? See key cutting. Fob itself acting up? Start with fob programming.
What I need to quote you
Two things get you an accurate written quote fast: the year, make, model, and trim (trim matters — it often decides transponder vs. smart key), and ideally a photo of your current key or fob — plus the VIN if you're comfortable (why I ask, and why it's safe). For a lost-all-keys job I also confirm ownership before any programming — government photo ID matched to your registration or proof of insurance in your name. Manitoba Public Insurance doesn't release vehicle records to locksmiths, so that proof has to come from you. If the documents are locked inside the car, I open it first so you can grab them.
Where I come to you
I'm mobile across Winnipeg and the surrounding area — River Heights, St. James, Transcona, St. Vital, Fort Garry, Charleswood, North and East Kildonan, Osborne Village, the West End, and downtown, plus out to Headingley, the airport, and the university lots at U of M and U of W. A driveway, a work parking lot, a roadside — wherever the car sits is where I work. A bit outside the Perimeter? Text me where it is and I'll confirm any trip charge in the quote, before I head out.
What customers say
Nine verified Google reviews so far — early but real. Here are three.
★★★★★
"Great service! He quickly made a copy of my car key, and it works perfectly. Friendly, professional, and fair price. Highly recommend!"
— Oleh Vashchenko · Google review
★★★★★
"Precise, polite and punctual."
— Dominic Ibeme · Google review
9 verified reviews · 5.0 average · all on the Google Business Profile. No padding, no buying.
Car key replacement — common questions
If yours isn't here, just text me. Service-specific questions live on the dedicated pages. More on the full FAQ page.
Which car key replacement service do I actually need?
Depends on your situation. Have at least one working key plus you want a backup: spare key. No working keys at all: lost-all-keys replacement. Fob that won't work or you bought one online: fob programming. Locked out of the car with your keys inside or lost: lockout. If you're not sure, text me what's happening and I'll point you to the right one.
Do you actually do all four services yourself?
Yes. I'm a solo mobile automotive locksmith — these are the four most common calls I get in Winnipeg. I don't do residential, commercial, or safe work. For those I'll point you to someone in town who's good at it.
Are the prices firm or do they go up when you arrive?
The number I text you in the written quote is the number you pay. Most starting prices are open-ended floors — spare $90+ for transponder or $180+ for smart key, key cut by decode from $90, fob $90+ (BYO or I supply a basic one), all-keys-lost $280+ — because the final depends on year/make/model and key type. Door unlock when your keys are locked inside is $65 plus tax, entry only. Either way, once I send the quote that's locked. No surprise charges on arrival.
How fast can you get to me in Winnipeg?
Depends where you are and where I am. I send you a realistic ETA in the quote — not a fake "30 minutes" promise.
What vehicle makes do you service?
Ford, GM/Chevrolet, Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram, Toyota, Honda/Acura, Hyundai/Kia, Nissan/Infiniti, Mazda, Subaru, Mitsubishi. I don't currently service Mercedes, Audi/VW, Porsche, Volvo, or Smart — I'd rather tell you up front than waste your afternoon. See the full list on Vehicles I Service.
How do I pay?
E-transfer, tap (debit/credit), or cash. Receipt every time. Payment happens after the work — not before.
Is a mobile locksmith cheaper than the dealer for a car key in Winnipeg?
Usually both — cheaper and more convenient — especially on lost-all-keys and smart-key jobs. On cost: the dealer route tends to add a tow, a parts-order wait, and shop-rate labour on top of the key itself, while I cut and program the same key at your car for an open-ended floor (spare from $90+, all-keys-lost from $280+). On convenience: there's no tow and no trip to a service counter — I come to wherever the car sits in Winnipeg, often the same day, instead of you waiting 3–10 business days for a parts order. The honest exception is a vehicle still under a key-related warranty, or a make I don't service — there the dealer can be the better call. There's a full side-by-side on the pricing page and a worked Winnipeg example in the dealer-vs-locksmith cost breakdown.
Can you replace a car key the same day?
Often, yes — though booking ahead is best. Spare keys, fob programming, and lockouts are usually same-day during open hours; lost-all-keys on a common vehicle is often same-day too, while a rare or very new model can take an extra day if I have to source the exact blank or fob first. I run solo, so the surest way to lock in same-day is to text early and reserve a time — send me the year, make, model, and trim and I'll give you a realistic slot in the written quote.
Not sure which service you need? Send me the details.
Faster than calling. I'll text you back with a written quote — and if it turns out a different service fits better, I'll say so.
Pick the service that fits — or just text me what's going on.
Text is fastest. Call is fine. Written quote before I head out, pay after the work is done.