Tenerife car key questions, answered honestly. No marketing fluff.
Otypro is my mobile automotive locksmith service in Tenerife. This page answers the car key questions I hear most — spare keys from €60, lost-all-keys from €200, fob programming, lockouts, vehicle scope, ID, warranty, and spotting scams — with real numbers, no fluff.
Updated September 2026
By Olexy — mobile automotive locksmith, Tenerife.
If your question isn’t on this page, just text me and I’ll answer directly.
Jump to a topic
Pick a category, get straight to the questions.
Each card links to a section below. Use Ctrl+F (or Cmd+F) if you'd rather search the whole page.
11 questions
2. Service process
How fast I can get to you. What info I need. How long jobs take. What happens if the key doesn't work.
Jump to section →
6 questions
3. Scope & vehicles
Which brands I service (including BMW, Audi / VW, Mercedes and Volvo), hybrids and EVs, work vans, what I won't take on.
Jump to section →
7 questions
4. Trust & ID
What ID you need. My qualifications. Whether I'm a real local locksmith or a call-centre route. The "licensed" myth in Spain.
Jump to section →
4 questions
5. Warranty & issues
What I warranty. What I don't. What happens if a fob fails weeks later. What if you find your keys mid-job.
Jump to section →
5 questions
6. Scams & trust signals
How to spot a bait ad. What "licensed locksmith" actually means in Spain. Why unmarked vans are common (and sometimes fine).
Jump to section →
Category 1 of 6
Pricing & quotes
Real numbers, no bait. Full detail on the pricing page.
How much does a spare car key cost in Tenerife?
Spare car keys start at €60 for transponder keys and from €200 for Smart Keys (proximity fobs) in Tenerife — cut and programmed at your vehicle. Final price depends on year/make/model and key type. The number I text you before I dispatch is the number you pay. See the pricing page for the full breakdown, or the spare-key page for what’s included. Text your year, make and model to +34 747 733 779 for the exact number.
I bought a used car with only one key — should I do anything now?
Yes — get a spare made while that one key still works. From a working key, a spare is from €60 for a chip (transponder) key, from €120 for a remote-head, or from €200 for a push-to-start smart fob, at your car. If that only key is later lost or dies, the same vehicle becomes an all-keys-lost job from €200. Registration still mid-transfer? A bill of sale and the signed transfer form work. The full math: used-car one-key guide →
Can’t a hardware store or key-cutting counter cut my key for less?
For a plain metal key on an older vehicle — yes, genuinely: the retail counter is the cheapest option there is, and I say so. The line is the chip: most keys on the road carry a transponder, and a copy that isn’t programmed will turn the ignition but won’t start the engine. A chip-key copy here is from €60 cut and programmed at your car; a plain mechanical copy is from €40. The full honest comparison: retail counters vs locksmith →
Why do you quote open-ended prices (€X+) instead of a fixed number?
Because honestly, your specific car affects the price. A 2002 Civic spare is different from a 2024 Highlander spare — different blank, different chip, different programming flow. I’d rather quote you accurately after I see the year/make/model than guess wrong and either overcharge or under-quote.
How is the final price confirmed?
No — starting prices are All jobs add 7% IGIC, the Canary Islands sales tax, labour-only work like a car lockout or programming a fob you already own included. The written quote I text you breaks the tax line out separately so there’s no confusion at the end.
Do you charge for ETA estimates or written quotes?
No. Quotes are free. ETA estimates are free. Second opinions on fobs you’re thinking about buying online are free. You only pay when the work is done and the key starts your car.
Category 2 of 6
Service process
How a typical job actually unfolds — text to driveway to paid.
How fast can you get to me in Tenerife?
I send you a realistic ETA in the written quote — not a fake "30 minutes" promise that ignores traffic and where the call before yours is. I work 24/7, every day.
Do I need to book an appointment, or can you come out the same day?
No appointment system — text +34 747 733 779 with your year, make, model and where the car is. If I can fit you in today I’ll say so with a real window; often that’s same-day, honestly depending on where I am and what’s already booked. Not urgent? Pick a time and I’ll book it — evenings and weekends included — I work 24/7, every day. Either way the written quote comes first. Step by step: the how-I-work page →
Do I need to tow my car to a shop or a dealership?
No — towing is the step I exist to delete. The whole job happens where the vehicle is parked: lockouts, spare keys, and full all-keys-lost replacements cut and programmed at the car. That includes when no working key exists at all. The one time a tow enters the picture is a vehicle-side fault that has nothing to do with keys — a dead starter, say. Otherwise: leave the car where it is and text me the year, make, model and location.
Can I get a car key made or a car unlocked on a weekend?
Yes — I work weekends the same as weekdays, every day, 24/7. Weekend jobs are priced exactly like weekday ones: car lockout from €56, spare keys from €60, all-keys-lost from €200, no weekend surcharge. Text +34 747 733 779 with your year, make, and model and I'll send a written quote with a realistic weekend slot.
What information do you need from me to quote?
Year, make, model. What you need (spare, AKL, lockout, fob programming). Where the car is. A photo of any existing key helps. Whether the vehicle's in your name. Takes 30 seconds to text and the quote comes back fast.
Do I need to be present for the whole job?
For AKL or new-key generation: yes — the registered owner has to be there at the start (ID check) and end (key test + payment). The 30 minutes in between you can grab a coffee. For a spare key with an existing master, an authorized family member with written authorization can sometimes proceed.
What if the new key doesn't work?
You don't pay for the job until it's working. I don't take payment until the key cuts, programs, starts the car, and operates the locks — and if something's off, I fix it before I leave. The one exception: if the car can't be programmed because of a fault on the vehicle's side that isn't mine — a pre-existing electrical issue, say, or another underlying condition that blocks the work — or if the job is cancelled after I'm on the road, or no one's there when I arrive — a €30 service-call fee covers the trip, my time, and the diagnosis. If I can complete the job, there's no fee. If the key fails because of something I did, that's on me, not you.
How long does a car key job take on-site?
Spare key: 30–40 minutes. Lost all keys: 1–3 hours (decoding and ownership checks add time). Fob programming: 10–15 minutes. Lockout: 5–10 minutes. Some vehicles run a 10–15 minute security timer before the immobilizer accepts a new key — that's the car running its checks, not me running them.
What if my quote changes between text and arrival?
No — the number I text you is the number you pay. I lock the quote in writing before I dispatch, so there's no surprise when I arrive. If the vehicle or key turns out different from what you told me — a proximity Smart Key where you said a basic transponder, say — I show you the corrected number first, and you decide whether to go ahead. The one exception that carries a fee is if the vehicle can't be serviced at all for a reason that wasn't shared up front — or if the job is cancelled after I'm on the road, or no one's there when I arrive: then a €30 service-call fee covers the trip and diagnosis, never the full job price. How the service-call fee works →
How do I pay for a locksmith job in Tenerife?
Bizum is the most common. A portable card terminal handles debit and credit (Visa, Mastercard). Cash is fine. Receipt every time. Payment happens after the work — not before.
Do you serve the whole island, not just Santa Cruz?
Yes — travel is free in Puerto de la Cruz; beyond it I charge €0.50/km, anywhere on the island (Adeje, Puerto de la Cruz, La Orotava, the west coast). The travel line is named in the written quote before I drive out. Details on the service-area page.
Category 3 of 6
Scope & vehicles
Which makes I service and which ones I won’t pretend to. Full list on Vehicles I Service.
What vehicle makes do you service in Tenerife?
Most makes on Tenerife’s roads — Ford, Jeep, Toyota, Honda, Hyundai / Kia, Nissan, Mazda, Subaru, Mitsubishi and Suzuki, plus BMW / MINI, Audi / Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz (up to 2014), Volvo, Ferrari, Porsche, Maserati and Lamborghini for spare keys and all-keys-lost, and pre-2018 Jaguar for spare keys — and I’m adding capability all the time. Not sure about yours? Text me the year, make and model and I’ll confirm. See Vehicles I Service for the full breakdown.
Do you do BMW now?
Yes — BMW and MINI are covered together, spare keys and all-keys-lost alike. A spare means you still have a working key and I cut and program another one at your car, from €200 for the slot-in style fob or from €200 for the newer keyless one. All-keys-lost is the heavier job; I quote it in writing by text before I head out, so there’s no confirmed price on it here. Most of the lineup from the mid-2000s on is covered — not the 2004–2010 X3, the pre-2006 3 Series, the pre-2007 X5, the pre-2009 Z4 or the original MINI — and some late-2010s models, the newest model years and the electric ones I confirm by text first. Full model list on the BMW / MINI page.
Do you make keys for BMW motorcycles?
Yes, that lane is new at Otypro — spare keys for BMW motorcycles, made at the bike anywhere in Tenerife. Covered: the R-series (R1200GS, R1200R, R1250, R1250RT), the K-series (K1300 and the K1600 family), the F-series (F750GS, F800, F850) and the C-series scooters (C400X, C400GT, C600, C650GT). It is spare-key work — you hand me one working key — and losing every key to a bike is a case-by-case job, not a flat quote. Motorcycle work is quoted one job at a time by text rather than from a posted floor, and the BMW motorcycle page explains the two key styles and what moves the number.
Do you do Mercedes-Benz now?
Yes — Mercedes-Benz models up to 2014: a spare key when you still have one, and all-keys-lost when every key is gone, both made at your car in Tenerife by Otypro instead of at a dealership. Driving a 2015 or newer? Text me the year and model first. There’s no posted Mercedes price; you get one written number by text before I head out.
Do you do residential or commercial locks?
Not right now. I’m focused on automotive — keys, fobs, lockouts, programming. Different trade, different tooling, different security model. If you need house or office work, I’ll point you to someone in Tenerife who’s good at it.
Do you work on hybrid and electric vehicles?
Yes for hybrids and EVs within my supported brands — Toyota Prius / RAV4 Hybrid, Honda CR-V Hybrid, Hyundai Ioniq / Kona Electric, Kia Niro / EV6, Nissan Leaf / Ariya, Subaru Solterra, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, Ford Mustang Mach-E and Kuga PHEV. The key/fob programming is the same flow as the gas variants on the same platform.
What about commercial vans — Ford Transit, Sprinter?
Ford Transit is in scope, and so are the Nissan NV200 / NV passenger. Text me the year and model — work vans often need extra ownership verification because they’re more often disputed assets.
My key fob suddenly stopped working — dead battery or dead fob?
Battery first, always: it’s a €3.11–€6.21 coin cell you can swap yourself in a minute, and that fixes most “dead” fobs. If a fresh battery doesn’t wake it, the fob itself may be failing — or was never programmed to this car, which turns up on used vehicles. I replace fob batteries on the spot, and programming a working basic fob starts at €60, at your car. The five-minute triage guide walks the whole check before you pay anyone.
Category 4 of 6
Trust & ID
Why ID is required, what qualifies me to program keys, and whether I'm a real Tenerife locksmith. More on why I check ID and ownership.
What ID do you need to make a car key?
Government photo ID matched to vehicle ownership proof. The ID stays with you so that part's easy. For ownership: vehicle registration (paper or PDF), or proof of insurance in your name. If every document is locked inside the car, I can do the lockout first so you can pull the registration from the glovebox before any key programming starts.
What if the car isn't registered in my name?
I work it out with you before I dispatch. Spouse's car: they need to be present or text me written authorization plus a photo of their ID. Parent's car: same. Recent purchase where registration hasn't transferred: bring the bill of sale and the signed transfer form. What I won't do is program a key on a vehicle nobody at the scene can prove they own.
Are you actually qualified to program my car key?
Yes. I have the same dealer-level access manufacturer dealerships use for key programming, on most makes on the road — which is why the car doesn't need to be towed to a dealer just to get a working key. There's no locksmith licence to check in Tenerife: Spain doesn't have one. So the thing worth checking is that I verify ID and ownership before I program anything. See what I check before cutting a key for the full breakdown.
What if I lost my vehicle registration?
Proof of insurance in your name works as ownership proof, and you can request a duplicate registration if you need one. If everything is locked inside the car, I can do the lockout first and you pull the registration from the glovebox. Tell me what you have when you text and I'll sort it out before I dispatch.
Are you a real local Tenerife locksmith or a call centre?
Real local. Otypro is my own business, based in Tenerife. The +34 747 733 779 number is my actual mobile. I'm the one who quotes you, drives over, and does the work — every job, start to finish. There's no dispatcher, no subcontractor, no call-centre routing. See About Olexy for the longer answer.
Do I get you every time, or whoever's on shift?
Me, every time. Otypro is a one-person shop — I'm the only one who quotes, drives over, and does the work, so you're never rolling the dice on which tech turns up or how experienced they are. The person who answers your text is the person at your car. It also means I own the result: if something isn't right, there's no "that was a different guy" — it's on me to make it right. The honest trade-off is that I'm one person — I work 24/7, every day, and a 9 p.m.–7 a.m. callout adds a flat €50 night fee on top of the regular price — but it's always the same hands on your vehicle.
Will you damage my car or lock getting in?
No. On a lockout I use proper auto-locksmith entry tools made for modern vehicles to open the door without damage: no broken windows, no pried trim, no scratched paint. The damage to watch for comes from amateur shortcuts like slim-jims or coat-hangers on modern cars, which can crack a window or harm the door's wiring — so if someone can't tell you how they'll open your specific car, that's your cue to stop. On key and fob work I go through the vehicle's own systems the way the manufacturer intends, so nothing is forced. If a job genuinely can't be done without risk, I tell you before I start — not after. More on non-destructive entry on the car lockout page.
Category 5 of 6
Warranty & issues
What's covered, what isn't, and what to do if something goes sideways after the job.
Is there a warranty on car keys and fobs?
Yes — 1 year on parts I supply against manufacturer defects (keys, fobs, remotes). My programming work is covered by the pay-after-it-works guarantee: if a key doesn't work when I'm done and the vehicle is fine, you don't pay. It doesn't cover water or physical damage (dropped, run over, cracked), or parts you supplied yourself. Full details on my warranty policy.
Do you warranty parts I bought online and brought to you?
No — only the seller can warranty the part. If your fob fails three weeks later from a defective chip, that's a claim with the seller, not me. I warranty my work (the programming), not your part. If the part doesn't pair at the appointment, the labour charge still applies — I tried in good faith. See the fob page for the BYO policy in detail.
What if I find my keys after you've already started the job?
Depends how far in. If I've already cut and programmed, the work is done and the bill stands — I can't un-program a key. If I'm still on the road, no charge. Text me the moment you find them.
What if a fob fails 3 weeks after you programmed it?
First off, that's rare — but if it happens, it's easy to sort, and it comes down to who supplied the fob. If it came from me, my 1-year warranty has you covered: a genuine part defect means I replace it, no fuss. If you brought your own fob, the part is between you and whoever sold it — start a warranty claim with them for the replacement, then text me and I'll re-program it for you. Re-programming labour on a part I didn't supply is the one cost on your side. And if the fob failed because of my programming rather than the part itself, I'll make it right at no charge, no matter where the fob came from.
Category 6 of 6
Scams & trust signals
How to tell a bait ad from a real locksmith. Hard-won knowledge — this trade has a credibility problem and it’s worth being specific.
How do I spot a locksmith scam ad?
Red flags: “€12 starting price” or similar bait headlines, premium-rate 902 or 807 numbers, no specific name on the business listing, unmarked vans on arrival, no written quote before dispatch, payment demanded before the work is finished, or a price that jumps once they arrive. A real local locksmith will give you a written quote in advance and show ID on arrival.
What’s the deal with “licensed locksmith” claims in Spain?
Spain has no dedicated locksmith licence or official register. So “licensed locksmith” as a marketing claim from a Tenerife business doesn’t refer to a verifiable credential. What does matter here: whether the locksmith verifies ID and ownership before touching your car, a registered business you can look up, and liability insurance.
Why do some locksmiths show up in unmarked vans?
Sometimes legitimate (security — auto locksmiths carry expensive tools and don’t want to advertise that). Sometimes shady (the company on the ad is different from the tech actually doing the work — they don’t want you tracking them back to the bait ad). My vehicle isn’t a wrapped commercial van either — but I show ID, send a written quote, give a receipt, and answer to a registered Tenerife corporation.
Why do some locksmiths charge for emergency / night / weekend service?
Real labour rate is real — the honest version is telling you the number up front instead of inventing it at the roadside. I work 24/7, every day of the year, and the price is the price: no weekend rate, no holiday rate, no rush rate. Between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. there’s one addition — a flat €50 night callout fee on top of the job’s regular starting price. If it can wait until morning, I’ll book you at the regular price instead and say so. Either way the exact figure goes to you in writing before I drive out.
Got a car key job? Skip the questions and just text me.
Written quote before I dispatch. Pay after the key works. The number is a local Spanish mobile — my actual phone.