★★★★★
"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…
Written quote before I dispatch — every job
Car key cost in Winnipeg — real prices, no bait quotes.
I'm Leo. Every price below is an open-ended starting point ($X+) because the final depends on your year/make/model and key type. The number I text you before I dispatch is the number you pay. No surprise charges on your driveway. No "we found something extra" once I'm there. Fastest path to that exact number: year, make, model — plus your VIN and a key photo (why I ask).
Prefer Messenger?
Open chat →
- ✓ No bait quotes
- ✓ Written quote first
- ✓ Tax included on the receipt
At a glance
Starting prices for every service
Tap any card to jump to the full breakdown below — what's included, what can change the final number, and the warranty terms for that service.
Planned
Spare / extra key
$90+ transponder
$160+ remote head / flip
$180+ smart key
Cut + programmed at your car. Most domestic & Asian makes.
See breakdown →
Today's problem
Lost all keys (AKL)
$280+
New key from scratch. Ownership verification required.
See breakdown →
Diagnose first
Fob programming
$90+ you bring the fob
$90+ I supply
Depends on vehicle and fob type. Battery included if needed.
See breakdown →
Right now
Car lockout
$65
Key locked inside — $65 plus tax. Lost every key is a separate all-keys-lost job. ID required.
See breakdown →
Want the reasoning behind these numbers? On the blog I break down how much a car key costs in Winnipeg and run a real dealer-vs-locksmith cost comparison with worked examples.
Service 1 of 4
Spare / extra key
$90+ transponder
$160+ remote head / flip
$180+ smart key
Pre-tax starting prices. Final depends on your year/make/model and key type. Transponder keys are the older edge-cut style; remote head and flip keys add the lock/unlock buttons to a transponder key (built into the head, or a blade that flips out of the body); smart keys are proximity fobs on most 2010+ vehicles.
Read the full spare-key page →What's included
- ✓Key blank, cut to match your existing working key
- ✓Programming to your vehicle's immobilizer (transponder, laser-cut, or proximity fob)
- ✓Battery in the new key if it's a fob or smart key
- ✓30–60 minutes on-site at your driveway or wherever the car is
- ✓Signed receipt with the tax line broken out
What can change the final price
- ↑Key type: mechanical (lowest), transponder, remote head / flip, laser-cut, proximity fob (highest)
- ↑Vehicle model and year — some immobilizers take longer to program
- ↑Number of buttons on the fob (OEM-spec vs trimmed-down aftermarket)
- ↑A worn original I can't copy cleanly — decoding the lock or sourcing a manufacturer VIN cut adds to the price
- ↓Second spare ordered at the same time — bundled labour is cheaper
- ↓You supply the blank or fob — labour-only, no part markup
Warranty: 1 year on parts I supply against manufacturer defects. The programming is covered by the pay-after-it-works guarantee. Doesn't cover water or physical damage (dropped, run over, cracked) or parts you supplied yourself — full warranty policy.
Service 2 of 4
Lost all keys (AKL)
$280+
Pre-tax. It costs more than a spare because there's no working key to copy from — I decode the lock, cut a key to that code, then program it to your vehicle from scratch, after verifying ownership. More steps and more time on-site than copying a key you already have.
Read the full lost-keys page →What's included
- ✓Lock decoded first, then a brand-new key cut to that exact code — no original to copy, so the cuts are read off the car
- ✓Immobilizer security routine + programming via dealer-level access tools
- ✓If it's a remote/fob setup, the fob matched to your vehicle and set to your original's button layout
- ✓Ownership verification (photo ID matched to ownership proof — registration or proof of insurance in your name)
- ✓60–90 minutes on-site — no tow needed
- ✓Test of engine start, locks, panic button, and remote start if applicable
What can change the final price
- ↑Key type — smart-key AKL is more than transponder AKL
- ↑Vehicles with long security timers (15+ min for some makes)
- ↑Premium / less-common vehicles requiring specific tooling
- ↓Standard domestic/Asian vehicles with common immobilizers run at the floor
Warranty: Same 1-year parts warranty as spare keys, plus the pay-after-it-works guarantee on labour. I'm NASTF VSP authorized — dealer-level access, done at your car.
Service 3 of 4
Key fob programming
$90+ you bring the fob
$90+ I supply
Pre-tax. Final depends on the vehicle and the remote/fob. This covers the separate remote fob on a transponder-key vehicle — a push-button Smart Key isn't a $90 basic-fob job; that's the spare pricing above.
Read the full fob page →What's included
- ✓Programming via dealer-level access tools at your car
- ✓Fresh coin-cell battery if your existing fob needs one (CR2032 / CR2025 / similar — type varies by fob)
- ✓Lock / unlock / panic / remote start tests
- ✓20–45 minutes on-site for most vehicles
What can change the final price
- ↑I supply the fob — starts at $90+; premium proximity fobs run higher
- ↑Multi-button proximity fobs cost more than basic 2-button remotes
- ↓You bring a reputable aftermarket fob (Hopkins, Strattec, OEM-equivalent) — $90+ labour-only
- →Just need a battery? Do it yourself for $5 — see the 5-min test on the fob page
Warranty: 1 year on fobs I supply against manufacturer defects. The programming is covered by the pay-after-it-works guarantee. I don't warranty fobs you bought from a third party — the seller covers those, and there's a full warranty policy.
Service 4 of 4
Car lockout
$65 key locked inside
$65 plus tax. Non-destructive door entry; if every key is lost, that's the all-keys-lost job above.
Call directly for a lockout →What's included
- ✓Non-destructive entry using proper auto-locksmith tools
- ✓ID check on arrival to confirm you're the owner or authorized driver
- ✓15–30 minutes typical, most domestic and Asian vehicles
- ✓Signed receipt
What can change the final price
- ↑Key stuck or broken in the ignition — extraction is a separate add-on
- ↑Vehicles requiring specialty tools (some European makes — I don't service those)
- ↓Standard domestic/Asian sedan or SUV — runs at the floor
If the keys are inside the car, you can usually get back in and drive away once I open the door. If the keys are lost (not just locked in), that's a different job — see Lost All Keys for AKL pricing.
Bring-your-own policy
Want to supply your own key or fob?
Yes, you can — and it usually saves money. Two things to be straight about before you order.
What works
- ✓Reputable aftermarket brands (Hopkins, Strattec, OEM-equivalent) from Canadian or US suppliers
- ✓Correct FCC ID for your vehicle's market (Canadian/US-spec)
- ✓Right keyway / blade profile for your ignition cylinder
- ✓If you're not sure, send me the listing before you buy — I'll tell you if it looks legit. No charge for the second opinion.
What you should know
- !I can't warranty parts I didn't supply — the seller covers that
- !If the part you supplied doesn't pair or doesn't fit, the labour for the attempted programming still applies — the part itself is between you and the seller
- !Wrong FCC region or wrong keyway = won't work, even if it looks identical. Watch out for this on Amazon/AliExpress listings under $20.
- !Buying a second wrong part + a second labour call costs more than one correct part + one labour call. If I tell you the part looks wrong, listen.
Other costs to know about
Tax, distance, and how you pay. All three of these go on the written quote before I dispatch — no surprises.
Taxes
MB PST 7% + GST 5% = 12%
Starting prices shown on this page are pre-tax. The written quote breaks the tax line out separately so the total is clear before I head out.
Distance fee
Case by case
Inside the Perimeter Highway is typically no extra charge. Outside the Perimeter, I may quote a travel-time addition depending on where you are. Either way, it's on the written quote before I dispatch.
Payment
E-transfer · Tap · Cash
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.
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.
Pricing questions, answered
If yours isn't here, just text me. Service-specific FAQs live on the dedicated pages. More on the full FAQ page.
Why are your prices higher than the $19 bait ads I see?
Those $19 ads are call-centre routes. The price on the ad isn't the price you pay. By the time the tech shows up at your car, the bill is $400–$800, sometimes more. My starting prices are real starting prices — and once I send the written quote, that's the number. No surprises.
Why open-ended quotes ($X+) instead of fixed prices?
Because honestly, your 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.
Why does a lockout cost less than getting a new key?
Pricing reflects the job. A lockout — your keys are locked inside, I pop the door and you're back in — is quick, 15–30 minutes with no parts, so it's $65 plus tax. Making a key is a bigger job: I cut and program a working key to your car ($90+ for a spare, $280+ when every key is gone and I'm generating one from scratch). The floors reflect actual cost, not arbitrary minimums.
What if my quote changes between text and arrival?
It doesn't. The text confirmation is the price. If something on-site doesn't match what you described (different key type than stated, different vehicle than described, etc.), I tell you before I start — and you can decide whether to proceed at a new price or have me leave at no charge.
Do you take credit cards?
Yes — tap (Visa, Mastercard, debit) on a portable terminal. E-transfer is the most common payment. Cash is fine. Receipt every time.
Are taxes included in the starting prices?
No — starting prices shown are pre-tax. Manitoba PST 7% + GST 5% = 12% is added to the total. The written quote I text you breaks the tax line out separately so there's no confusion at the end.
Send me the details — I'll text back a real quote.
Faster than calling. The number you'll see in the quote is the number you'll pay.
Real prices. Written quote. Pay after the work.
Not sure which service applies to your situation? Text me what's happening — I'll tell you which one fits and what it'll cost.