Broken Car Key: What to Do?

A car key snapping in the door or the ignition always happens at the worst moment — outside your home, in a car park, or worse, with the engine running. The good news: in most cases the fragment can be extracted without damaging the barrel, and a new key can be produced on site — including transponder keys. Here is what to do.

The mistakes to avoid at all costs

• Don't try to extract the fragment with pliers or a screwdriver: you risk pushing it deeper and damaging the barrel — the repair then costs more than the extraction.
• Don't insert the remaining piece to "push" the other one: both fragments jam and block the mechanism.
• No glue on the fragment to pull it out: it runs into the cylinder and writes it off for good.
• Key broken in the ignition with the engine running? Don't force the ignition barrel — switch off if possible and call.

Door, boot or ignition: different cases

In the door or boot: extraction is done with dedicated tools, without touching the paintwork or seals. If the barrel is damaged, we repair it — the same trade as car lock repair (seized barrel, blocked ignition, central locking).

In the ignition: the trickiest case, because the ignition cylinder is tied to the immobiliser. Our technicians extract the fragment and check the mechanism before any restart.

What next? Reproducing or replacing the key

A broken key is often a worn or bent key — replacing it prevents a repeat. Depending on your vehicle:

• Standard key — cut on site from the serial number or by decoding the barrel
• Remote key — blade reproduced + remote reprogrammed on the vehicle
• Transponder key (most cars since the 2000s) — chip programmed and synced with the immobiliser
• Keyless — badge or replacement key compatible with your hands-free system

And if your keys are locked inside the vehicle, that's a different job: a damage-free car lockout opening, in minutes.

How much does it cost?

The price depends on the key type (standard, transponder, keyless) and where it broke. In all cases: price announced by phone before travelling, free quote, 24/7 intervention in Brussels and Brabant on 0495 205 400. For a key broken in a house lock, see our guide broken key in the lock.