Car Key Replacement in Madison, WI

Proving the car is yours

Because a replacement key is cut and programmed for a single vehicle, the person asking has to show a right to that car. Papers that settle it:

• a photo ID
• the title or current registration in your name, from your state motor-vehicle agency
• the vehicle identification number (VIN), which is on the registration and on a plate at the driver's-side base of the windshield
• a lease, or a letter from the employer, for a leased or company car

If the registration is in a locked glovebox, say so; it can be checked once the car is open.

Where the car is parked

The exact spot matters, because Madison's winter rules move cars around. When the city declares a snow emergency, drivers can park in gated sections of City garages from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m., off the top level, for up to 48 hours. If a key goes missing during such a stay, give the garage name, the level and when the car went in, since a stay is limited to 48 hours. For a car on the street, send the block and which side it sits on. This is general information, not legal advice.

Lost, stolen or broken

Say which it was. A lost key may still turn up, a stolen one means someone else may hold it, and a broken one may leave a piece worth keeping; see broken key extraction if part of it is stuck in a lock. The work also depends on the make and year: a cut key, a programmed transponder key and a push-button fob each involve different steps.

What to include in the request

• year, make and model, and the VIN
• whether you have any working key or fob, and whether the car starts with a button
• the exact location, including garage level or side of the street

If a key was stolen along with your house keys, consider lock rekeying at home as well. If the car still has one working fob and you only need another added, key fob programming may be the right request. For the service itself, see car key replacement; the Madison page has the city's parking rules.