Replacing keys - 2002 Vauxhall

VoucherMan

Trying to find options for my father who has lost his car keys (amongst others). They've been missing for over a month now, so little hope of them turning up. Best guess is they somehow ended up in a rubbish bin!
Personally I'm not convinced it's worth doing, but he's made up his mind (for now at least), so I want to try and minimise the losses.

The car's not needed, so there's no urgency. I think he's considering a SORN, although I guess that would make getting the car to/from a garage trickier, if required.

It's a 2002 5 door Vauxhall Astra. The locks don't have a remote feature.


What I'd like to find out is the available options (and if anyone's in the know, a likely approximate cost) I only found out yesterday about his intentions, so until I next visit I don't know if lost keys are covered by the insurance. I didn't think of it until Google mentioned it, and I doubt he has either.

There are 3 option I can think of, but don't know which are possible in these circumstances.

1) call out a locksmith
2) recover car to Vauxhall
3) recover car to independent garage.

I guess a big factor in the cost will depend on whether it's just the key(s) that needs replacing, or the locks as well. No idea what's possible on a car of this age.

facade

If he has the handbooks, there will be a passcard in there with the key number on.
Then you can have a quick google for someone who can supply you with a transponder key cut to that number (get two)
Then it won't start because the car doesn't recognise that transponder chip.
Now you get one of those mobile locksmiths to come out and plug their laptop into the car, to code in the two keys. Takes 30 seconds, so 2 won't cost much more than 1

Otherwise you take one of the locks out, and the key number will be on it.

Or you get that locksmith to come and make the keys and code them.


Or you go to vauxhall with the V5 and they look up the code (and charge you ££)
Or goto vauxhall with the V5 and order a new key (££££££)
Then they will code it in for you, but will want the car at the dealers so that will be £££££££££££.

If you have to go the vauxhall route, you could likely replace the car cheaper.

AdrianC

A Vauxhall dealer should be able to cut keys and code the immobiliser to the car, going from the manufacturer's records.

Whether it's worth doing, for a 14yo Astra, or whether it'll cost more than the car's value is another question.

Your problem won't be physically getting into the car, and the actual ignition lock - the problem's going to be pairing the immobiliser transponder in the key to the security ECU.