Toyota Keys | Replacement Keys | The Ultimate Guide

Lost the key to your brand new Toyota Hilux? Or do you only have one key for the second hand Toyota Corolla that you bought? Toyota is one of the common cars in the world but it also has one of the most complex key replacement systems as well.

Want to know more? Keep reading.

So You Lost Your Car Keys, then Initially You Have Options

BUY A KEY ONLINE

Using Amazon is the cheapest way to replace your keys, but it can take a few days to ship the new key to you and you will need to cut it and program it yourself. If you’re in hurry and need your keys straight away, skip to step two.

A LOCAL LOCKSMITH

A Location Locksmith will come out to you, cut and program a new key for you right on the spot. For most cars, it takes only a couple of hours to get you back on the road. It’s still cheaper than the dealership.

How To Buy Toyota Keys Online

Option One: Amazon’s “My Garage”

The first and cheapest method is to head over to the ‘My Garage’ Section of Amazon where you can find a ‘blank’ key for your specific Toyota.

Blank keys are not cut yet, and they also have a unprogrammed transponder chip. This means that the key can be cut and programmed to your specific Toyota model.

To get your blank on Amazons My Garage, simply follow these steps:

    • Go to the main page of the ‘My Garage’ page
    • On the top right hand side select the make, model and year of your car.
    • Click search and review all the products that come up for your car.
    • Either sort through the list of products or use the ‘Refine’ feature to narrow down products until you can find your key.
    • Remember – if you’ve got a very new Toyota then you have to make sure you’ve gotten the key AND the keyless entry dongle as well.

Some Toyota’s have a ‘G’ and a ‘H’ printed on the key. This denotes what type of transponder technology they have. Make sure you get the right one for your car.
Once you’ve found your key, add it to your card and head over to the checkout!

There is one drawback to the Amazon and that is time. Getting a key of Amazon means you have to wait for shipping and sometimes the key for your car isn’t available.

After you get the key, you still have to get the blank key code cut and programmed for your car. For getting your key cut, you need option two.

Option two: The Local Locksmith

Option Two: Location Locksmith

If you need a spare or main key cut ASAP, then you need a location locksmith. These locksmiths will come out to you and can get you on the road within a few hours!

These professional locksmiths can still be cheaper than going to the dealership. And because they come to you, they’re often faster as well.

Even if you’ve got a keyless entry system the Locksmith can talk with the vehicle’s computer to flash and code a new key fob for you.

Below is a list of the top Location Locksmiths in America. While all are excellent, you may have to call one or two to find one which specialises in your model Toyota and can code your specific year of vehicle.

Best Choice

We love this company the are fast and professional, If it dosesn’t work  for you there is another option below.

SECOND OPTION

This is a very good company too, they have good coverage and do many types of car keys.

Toyota’s are so common that you’ve either owned a Toyota yourself or known someone who has. Famous for being easy to work on and for running on the sniff of an oily rag, Toyota’s were for the longest time, one of the easiest cars to replace keys for.
But like all modern car makers, Toyota started introducing electronically coded keys with a built in transponder system. Even though new Toyota’s come with second (and sometimes three) keys. Many second hand Toyota’s live a hard life and only come with one key. And they are expensive to replace.

In addition, newer Toyota’s now come with a ‘keyless’ system where you don’t even need a metal key to start the car. This Smart Key system knows when you are near the car and unlocks door and instead of the traditional method of starting, you simply sit in the car with your key and push the ‘Start’ button.

In this guide we will show you how to get a main or second key made quickly and easily and show you all the different options you can try before going into the dealership.

Option Three: Programming your own key

If you’ve got your original key and only need a second key, it’s possible to program the second key yourself.

Here is what you need:

Your original key and/or keyless remote.
A ‘blank’ key cut by a locksmith but not programmed yet. Make sure it is the correct key for your car!
A correct remote

If you are programming a keyless system, double check that you don’t need a physical key cut. Many keyless systems have a backup key hidden in the key fob. You will need to cut these keys to match your original set.

Then check your user manual. Some manuals actually have programming instructions written down. Read your manual carefully to see if instructions are available.

You need to have the master key (Main key with a black plastic head) program the new key. To test if your key is the master one do this: Insert the key into the ignition and you’ll see a flashing red light in the shape of a key. If this light goes OFF when you turn the key to the ON position, then you’ve got a master ky.

Next you need to have your spare key cut and flashed – this can be done by one of the Location Locksmiths above.

Now follow these steps1 :
1. Put the master key into the ignition only – don’t turn it. Pump the accelerator pedal up and down five times within 15 seconds of inserting the key.
2. Pump the the brake pedal 6 times within 20 seconds of finishing step one, then take out the key.
3. Put the newly cut key in the ignition. Again, don’t turn it on. Press the accelerator pedal once only.
4. Wait (up to 2mins) for the security light on the dashboard to stop flashing.
5. Once the light goes off, remove the new key and pump the brake pedal once only.
6. The new key should now be coded to the car. Test it by trying to start the engine. If the car does not start, try again or see a locksmith.

If you want to code the remotes as well follow the steps below2:

Before you start:
1. No key in the ignition
2. Open the driver’s door, close all other doors

Coding process:
1. Insert key into ignition then remove it – do this twice
2. Close and Open drivers door twice
3. Insert the master key into the Ignition then remove it
4. Close and Open drivers door twice
5. Close the door and Insert key into the ignition
6. Turn ignition from off to on (directly without stopping at ACC) and back to off – once to add a new remote while retaining the original remotes, and twice to erase original remotes
7. Remove the key from the ignition cylinder (Locks will cycle once for adding remote, and twice if erase mode was selected)
8. Press the Lock and Unlock Buttons on the remote at the same time for 1 second
9. Press any button on the remote (Door locks will cycle once if programming is correct, and twice if unsuccessful)
10. To close procedure open drivers door and insert key into the ignition

If you programmed it correctly, Congratulations! you now have a second key and a remote for your Toyota!

Please remember that the procedure listed here may not work for your model. It is always best to double check with either a locksmith or a quick online search for the correct procedure for your car.

Option Four: Dealership

Sometimes all of your efforts could be in vain and you will, in the end, need to go to a dealership.
Being such a popular brand, you’ve got a high chance of finding a Toyota Dealership near you. An authorised dealer can source a brand new set of keys AND a remote for you.

The two main challenges of the dealership is cost and price – most dealers are not mobile and require the car to be brought to them – but if you’ve lost your main key this could mean an expensive tow. Secondly, a dealership charges premium prices for its products and services and you can easily expect $1000 or more for a new set of keys.

For keys with keyless entry and push button start, Toyota uses the universal ‘Smart Key’ system which is used across several brands. Reprogramming a Smart Key fob requires specialised software and interfacing directly with the car’s computer. Not all locksmiths offer this service so the newer your car the higher the chance that you’ll need to take it to a dealership.

But at least you’ll be able to get a new set of keys.