★★★★★
"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
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32 questions · 6 categories · grouped for fast lookup
Car key questions, answered honestly. No marketing fluff.
I'm Leo. Below are the questions I get asked most often about car keys, fob programming, lockouts, and locksmith work in Winnipeg — grouped by topic so you can jump to what you actually want to know. If your question isn't on this page, just text me and I'll answer directly.
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Pick a category, get straight to the questions.
Each card links to a section below. Use Ctrl+F (or Cmd+F) if you'd rather search the whole page.
7 questions
1. Pricing & quotes
How much things cost. Why prices are open-ended. Taxes, bait ads, the $19-becomes-$800 problem.
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7 questions
2. Service process
How fast I can get to you. What info I need. How long jobs take. What happens if the key doesn't work.
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5 questions
3. Scope & vehicles
Which brands I service (including BMW now), hybrids and EVs, work vans, what I won't take on.
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5 questions
4. Trust & ID
What ID you need. NASTF VSP. Whether I'm a real local locksmith or a call-centre route. The "licensed" myth in Canada.
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4 questions
5. Warranty & issues
What I warranty. What I don't. What happens if a fob fails weeks later. What if you find your keys mid-job.
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4 questions
6. Scams & trust signals
How to spot a bait ad. What "licensed locksmith" actually means by province in Canada. Why unmarked vans are common (and sometimes fine).
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Category 1 of 6
Pricing & quotes
Real numbers, no bait. Full detail on the pricing page.
How much does a spare car key cost in Winnipeg?
Spare car keys start at $90+ for transponder keys and $180+ for Smart Keys (proximity fobs) in Winnipeg — cut and programmed at your vehicle. Final price depends on year/make/model and key type. The number I text you before I dispatch is the number you pay, plus tax. See the pricing page for the full breakdown, or the spare-key page for what's included.
How much does it cost to replace lost car keys in Winnipeg?
Lost all keys (AKL) replacement starts at $280+ in Winnipeg — that's a brand-new key generated at your vehicle with ownership verification. Compared to the dealer route ($600–$800 key + $100–$250 tow + 3–10 day wait), it's roughly a quarter of the cost and same-day instead of next-week. See the lost-keys page for the full process.
How much does key fob programming cost?
Programming starts at $90+ if you bring your own fob. Supply + program (I bring the fob) starts at the same $90+ — final depends on vehicle and fob type. Premium proximity fobs run higher (typical all-in range $150–$320). If your fob just needs a fresh coin-cell battery, do it yourself for about $5–10 (battery type varies by fob) — see the 5-minute battery test on the fob page.
Why are your prices higher than the $19 bait ads I see online?
Those $19 ads are call-centre routes. The price on the ad isn't the price you pay — by the time the tech arrives, the bill is $400–$800, sometimes more. My starting prices are real starting prices, and once I send the written quote, that's the number. No bait-and-switch on your driveway.
Why do you quote open-ended prices ($X+) instead of a fixed number?
Because honestly, your specific car affects the price. A 2002 Civic spare is different from a 2024 Highlander spare — different blank, different chip, different programming flow. I'd rather quote you accurately after I see the year/make/model than guess wrong and either overcharge or under-quote.
Are taxes included in your starting prices?
No — starting prices are pre-tax. Manitoba PST 7% + GST 5% = 12% added to the total. The written quote I text you breaks the tax line out separately so there's no confusion at the end.
Do you charge for ETA estimates or written quotes?
No. Quotes are free. ETA estimates are free. Second opinions on fobs you're thinking about buying online are free. You only pay when the work is done and the key starts your car.
Category 2 of 6
Service process
How a typical job actually unfolds — text to driveway to paid.
How fast can you get to me in Winnipeg?
I send you a realistic ETA in the written quote — not a fake "30 minutes" promise that ignores traffic and where the call before yours is. The Open/Closed badge at the top of every page reflects my real schedule (America/Winnipeg time).
What information do you need from me to quote?
Year, make, model. What you need (spare, AKL, lockout, fob programming). Where the car is. A photo of any existing key helps. Whether the vehicle's in your name. Takes 30 seconds to text and the quote comes back fast.
Do I need to be present for the whole job?
For AKL or new-key generation: yes — the registered owner has to be there at the start (ID check) and end (key test + payment). The 30 minutes in between you can grab a coffee. For a spare key with an existing master, an authorized family member with written authorization can sometimes proceed.
What if the new key doesn't work?
You don't pay. I don't take payment until the key cuts, programs, starts the car, and operates the locks. If something's off, I fix it before I leave. If I can't fix it on-site, no charge.
How long does a car key job take on-site?
Spare key: 30–60 minutes. Lost all keys: 60–90 minutes. Fob programming: 20–45 minutes. Lockout: 15–30 minutes. Some vehicles run a 10–15 minute security timer before the immobilizer accepts a new key — that's the car running its checks, not me running them.
What if my quote changes between text and arrival?
No — the number I text you is the number you pay. I lock the quote in writing before I dispatch, so there's no surprise when I arrive. The only thing that can change it is the vehicle or key turning out different from what you told me — a proximity Smart Key where you said a basic transponder, say — and even then I show you the corrected number first, and you decide whether to go ahead or have me leave at no charge.
How do I pay for a locksmith job in Winnipeg?
E-transfer is the most common. Tap on a portable terminal handles debit and credit (Visa, Mastercard). Cash is fine. Receipt every time. Payment happens after the work — not before.
Category 3 of 6
Scope & vehicles
Which makes I service and which ones I won't pretend to. Full list on Vehicles I Service.
What vehicle makes do you service in Winnipeg?
Ford / Lincoln, GM / Chevrolet / GMC / Buick, Chrysler / Dodge / Jeep / Ram, Toyota, Honda / Acura, Hyundai / Kia, Nissan / Infiniti, Mazda, Subaru, Mitsubishi, plus BMW / MINI (recently added). I do not service Mercedes, Audi / VW, Porsche, Volvo, or Smart — see Vehicles I Service for the full breakdown.
Do you do BMW now?
Yes — recently added to my scope. I cover newer BMW and MINI from roughly 2017 onward on a case-by-case basis. For some of the most recent models I can only do add-key jobs (where you have at least one working key) and not yet lost-all-keys. Older BMW / MINI (pre-2017) are not yet in scope. Text me your year and model first and I'll tell you straight. Coverage is actively expanding.
Do you do residential or commercial locks?
Not right now. I'm focused on automotive — keys, fobs, lockouts, programming. Different trade, different tooling, different security model. If you need house or office work, I'll point you to someone in Winnipeg who's good at it.
Do you work on hybrid and electric vehicles?
Yes for hybrids and EVs within my supported brands — Toyota Prius / RAV4 Hybrid, Honda CR-V Hybrid, Hyundai Ioniq / Kona Electric, Kia Niro / EV6, Nissan Leaf / Ariya, Subaru Solterra, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, Ford Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning. The key/fob programming is the same flow as the gas variants on the same platform.
What about commercial vans — Ford Transit, Sprinter, ProMaster?
Ford Transit and Ram ProMaster are in scope, and so are the Nissan NV200 / NV passenger. Text me the year and model — work vans often need extra ownership verification because they're more often disputed assets.
Category 4 of 6
Trust & ID
Why ID is required, what NASTF VSP means, and whether I'm a real Winnipeg locksmith. Background on NASTF VSP.
What ID do you need to make a car key?
Government photo ID matched to vehicle ownership proof. The ID stays with you so that part's easy. For ownership: vehicle registration (paper or PDF), or proof of insurance in your name. If every document is locked inside the car, I can do the lockout first so you can pull the registration from the glovebox before any key programming starts.
What if the car isn't registered in my name?
We work it out before I dispatch. Spouse's car: they need to be present or text me written authorization plus a photo of their ID. Parent's car: same. Recent purchase where registration hasn't transferred: bring the bill of sale and the signed transfer form. What I won't do is program a key on a vehicle nobody at the scene can prove they own.
What is NASTF VSP — and is it a Canadian license?
NASTF VSP (Vehicle Security Professional) is the credential that authorizes me to use the same dealer-level access manufacturer dealerships use for key programming. Identity-verified, business-verified, references + criminal-history disclosed, renewed every 2 years. It is not a Canadian government license — Canada doesn't issue locksmith licences. See the NASTF VSP page for the full breakdown.
What if I lost my vehicle registration?
Proof of insurance in your name works as ownership proof, and you can request a duplicate registration if you need one. If everything is locked inside the car, I can do the lockout first and you pull the registration from the glovebox. Tell me what you have when you text and we'll sort it out before I dispatch.
Are you a real local Winnipeg locksmith or a call centre?
Real local. RAXO Locksmiths is a DBA of RAXO Group Inc., a Winnipeg, Manitoba corporation. The 204-599-5117 number is my actual cell. I'm the one who answers, quotes, drives over, and does the work. There's no dispatcher, no subcontractor, no 1-800 routing. See About Leo for the longer answer.
Category 5 of 6
Warranty & issues
What's covered, what isn't, and what to do if something goes sideways after the job.
Is there a warranty on car keys and fobs?
Yes — 1 year on parts I supply against manufacturer defects (keys, fobs, remotes). My programming work is covered by the pay-after-it-works guarantee: if a key doesn't work when I'm done and the vehicle is fine, you don't pay. It doesn't cover water or physical damage (dropped, run over, cracked), or parts you supplied yourself. Full details on my warranty policy.
Do you warranty parts I bought online and brought to you?
No — only the seller can warranty the part. If your fob fails three weeks later from a defective chip, that's a claim with the seller, not me. I warranty my work (the programming), not your part. If the part doesn't pair at the appointment, the labour charge still applies — I tried in good faith. See the fob page for the BYO policy in detail.
What if I find my keys after you've already started the job?
Depends how far in. If I've already cut and programmed, the work is done and the bill stands — I can't un-program a key. If I'm still on the road, no charge. Text me the moment you find them.
What if a fob fails 3 weeks after you programmed it?
If I supplied the fob: the 1-year warranty covers part defects — I replace it. If you supplied the fob: claim with the seller for the part, then text me to re-program the replacement. The labour to re-program a defective part is on you, not me. If the original failure was clearly my programming error, I cover it regardless of part source.
Category 6 of 6
Scams & trust signals
How to tell a bait ad from a real locksmith. Hard-won knowledge — this trade has a credibility problem and it's worth being specific.
How do I spot a locksmith scam ad?
Red flags: "$19 starting price" or similar bait headlines, 1-800 or generic 1-844 numbers, no specific name on the business listing, unmarked vans on arrival, no written quote before dispatch, payment demanded before the work is finished, drilling out perfectly functional locks "because it's faster." A real local locksmith will give you a written quote in advance and show ID on arrival.
What's the deal with "licensed locksmith" claims in Canada?
Locksmith licensing in Canada is provincial. Alberta requires a provincial licence. British Columbia requires a Restricted Locksmith Licence for automotive lockout and key work. Saskatchewan, Ontario, Manitoba — where I work — and most other provinces don't require a provincial licence. So "licensed locksmith" as a marketing claim from a Manitoba business doesn't refer to a verifiable provincial credential. What does matter here: NASTF VSP authorization, business registration with Manitoba, and real customer reviews.
Why do some locksmiths show up in unmarked vans?
Sometimes legitimate (security — auto locksmiths carry expensive tools and don't want to advertise that). Sometimes shady (the company on the ad is different from the tech actually doing the work — they don't want you tracking them back to the bait ad). My vehicle isn't a wrapped commercial van either — but I show ID, send a written quote, give a receipt, and answer to a registered Manitoba corporation.
Why do some locksmiths charge for emergency / after-hours / weekend service?
Real labour rate is real. I have set Saturday and Sunday hours (7am–1pm) and don't do 24/7 — that means no fake "after-hours surcharge" on you, but it also means you can't summon me at midnight. Honest scheduling beats fake availability. See my hours at the top of every page.
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.
Still got a question? Send me the details.
If your question isn't in any of the six categories above, text me directly. I respond fast and I don't share your info.
Got a car key job? Skip the questions and just text me.
Written quote before I dispatch. Pay after the key works. The 204 number goes to my actual phone.