Cutting Keys

[Fixed Ops Mgr]

I wanted to inquire how many of you charge for cutting keys and looking up key codes. How much do you charge if you do? Also what do you do if a customer brings in their own
key and wants it cut?

Thanks in advance for any input.

[mightytitan9]

We ran into this about a year ago when I took over as Parts Manager. Previous manager didn't charge for anything. I takes too much time to cut a key for the couple bucks you make off it (especially when you have to look up the key code and cut it by hand). A month into my time here I installed a basic fee for keys.

We charge $10 to look up your key code. That price includes cutting the new key if needed (but not the price of the key). We have many locals that buy cars at auctions missing keys and just want the key code for a local locksmith to cut the cheaper aftermarket keys, so that way we make a little on that rather than just being a community service. If you bring your own key we will cut that for you if we are also looking up the key code.

We charge $5 to cut a key that you bring in and we did not sell you.

The price of cutting or "copying" a key is included in the price of the key if you buy it from us.

This really just ensures we are not being taken advantage of and aren't spending 30 minutes of our time to not make anything

[PartsPlant81]

$50 to get the key code + price of key.
Laser cut switchblade keys $100.
All other keys we charge list to copy.
No cutting fee. And I do not think I would ever cut a key for someone unless they purchased it here. Never had to do that before.

[TimK]

$25 to pull the key code.

I don't give out the key codes, but I do sell keys cut by the code.

No guarantees on keys cut by code and no refunds.

$5 to cut a customers blank, no guarantees, and no refunds.

[LOKI1]

$25 to pull the key code.

I don't give out the key codes, but I do sell keys cut by the code.

No guarantees on keys cut by code and no refunds.

$5 to cut a customers blank, no guarantees, and no refunds.

Same policy here, plus no codes for car lots or locksmiths. Proper ID required also

[WhoParted]

I charge $100 for key code but cut for free as long as key is purchased here. Will not cut any keys not purchased from us.

[tmundal]

$20 to pull a code, $40 to cut a side cut key.

[Zep33]

We just dropped 9K on a new machine so we can do the newer keys.

Maybe it's time we start charging to cut

Right now, we don't charge anything but the price of the key.

[tmundal]

I charge $100 for key code but cut for free as long as key is purchased here. Will not cut any keys not purchased from us.

What market / lines are you? I'd love to charge $100 for codes, but the other GM dealer in town doesn't charge anything..

[last8please]

just changed ours to $50.00 to lookup key code + price of key. will only cut keys that are purchased from us.