Car Key Replacement in Houston, TX

Proving the car is yours

A replacement car key is cut to the locks and, on most newer cars, programmed to the immobilizer so the engine will start. Because the key gives full control of the vehicle, expect to show:

• photo ID in the name that appears on the title or registration
• the title or current registration, or the lease or loan paperwork if a lender holds the title
• the VIN, found at the base of the windshield on the dashboard, on the driver's door jamb and on the registration

The curb clock in Houston

If every key is gone and the car is parked on a public street, the city's parking rule keeps running while you wait. Here is the sequence:

1. Sec. 26-93 of the Houston Code of Ordinances bars knowingly leaving a vehicle on a public street, alley or other public place beyond 24 continuous hours.
2. Once a 311 request is filed, a ParkHouston officer marks the car with chalk and logs a single courtesy warning.
3. If the car is still in place when the officer comes back, citations follow.
4. A vehicle that has still not moved after 48 hours can be towed as abandoned.

With no key, the car cannot be driven away, so note when it was last driven and arrange the key early. If you think a tow was improper, you can ask a Justice of the Peace for a tow hearing. Say in your request whether the car has been towed and where it is held. This is general information, not legal advice.

Where the work happens

On private property, such as a home driveway, give the address and any gate details. In a garage, give the garage name, level and space, plus any attendant details.

What to have ready

1. The year, make and model, and whether the car starts with a turned key or a push button.
2. Whether any working key remains, since copying a working key is simpler than starting from none.
3. How many keys you want, so a spare can be made at the same visit.
4. Your ID, the ownership papers and the VIN, as listed above.

See car key replacement, key fob programming for remotes, and the Houston page.