Emergency Guide
Stolen Car Keys?
Act Fast — Here's How
Having your keys stolen is different from losing them — a lost key is gone; a stolen key is in someone else's hands. The priority is not just getting a replacement, but making sure the stolen key can never be used to take the car. Here's the exact order of what to do.
Call 01723 817140 NowThe Stolen Key Action Plan
Call 101 and report the theft
Get a crime reference number. Your insurer will ask for it, and having a police report on file helps if the car is later involved in anything. If the keys were taken from inside your house (burglary), call 999 — that's a higher-priority offence than a bag snatch on the street.
Secure the car immediately
If the keys were stolen with anything that shows your address, the car is a sitting target. If you have a second key, move the car somewhere else — a friend's drive, a locked garage, a different street. If you don't have a working key, park another car in front of it (block it in) and consider a steering wheel lock as a visible deterrent until we arrive.
Call us to delete the stolen key
This is the most important step. When we programme the new key, we remove all existing keys from the car's immobiliser — including the stolen one. The stolen key is permanently revoked and can never start your engine again. We do this at your car, normally within two hours of your call.
Contact your insurer
Report the theft with your crime reference number. Tell them you've had the stolen key deleted from the car's immobiliser (this often reduces the risk profile and can affect how the claim is handled). Ask what they cover for key replacement — most comprehensive policies include it.
How We Protect Your Car After a Key Theft
Immobiliser Deletion
The stolen key's transponder is permanently wiped from the car's ECU. It can never start the engine — period.
Fresh Key Profile
We generate an entirely new key profile — this isn't a clone of the stolen one, it's a fresh identity the old key doesn't know.
New Remote Codes
The remote central locking is re-synchronised with the new key only. The old remote can't unlock the doors.
Physical Lock Advice
We'll tell you honestly whether re-coding the door locks is worth it for your car — usually it's not, but we'll explain why.
Important: what we can't prevent
The stolen key's physical blade can still turn the door lock — we can't change the shape of the physical lock remotely. However, the alarm will trigger as soon as the door opens (because the immobiliser chip in the key won't match), and the engine won't start. In practice, a thief with a deleted key can jiggle the lock for a few seconds before the alarm goes off and they run. If you want the door locks re-coded as well, we can do it — but it's a separate job from the key programming.
Frequently Asked Questions
Keys Stolen? Let's Sort It.
The sooner we delete the stolen key from the car, the sooner you can stop worrying. We'll be at your car within the hour.
Call 01723 817140 NowSame-day service · Scarborough & 25 miles · 24/7