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Crenshaw Lock

Transponder Key Programming in Claremont · 24/7 mobile

Transponder Key Programming in Claremont, California

Crenshaw Lock Company provides mobile transponder key programming in Claremont, California, available 24/7. We come to your car and program chip keys to its immobilizer, whether you lost every key or just need a spare. Call (323) 997-8867 to talk through your vehicle.

  • Mobile to your Claremont location
  • Available 24/7
  • Price quoted before we start
Call (323) 997-8867or tap to call — we answer 24/7
Car key being programmed with a handheld programmer inside a car
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A transponder key looks like an ordinary key, but inside the plastic head is a small chip that talks to your car's immobilizer. If the chip's code isn't recognized, the engine won't start, even when the metal blade turns the ignition perfectly. That's why a hardware-store copy often opens the door and then does nothing. Programming is the step that teaches the car to accept a new key.

In Claremont, the need tends to show up in particular ways. A student at one of The Claremont Colleges loses a key somewhere between a dorm, a lab, and a bike ride to the Village. A resident parks on a tree-lined street near Yale Ave and finds the only key gone. A commuter heading for the I-10 or the 210 discovers the spare was never programmed in the first place. In each case, the car is stuck where it is, and towing it to a dealer is a hassle.

Crenshaw Lock Company has served Greater Los Angeles and Ventura County since 1987, under owner and lead technician David Shar. We are fully mobile, with no storefront to visit. We bring the equipment to your driveway, parking structure, or curb, and we work around the clock. Because every make and model handles immobilizer systems a little differently, we'll ask about your vehicle first and explain what your situation involves before work begins.

How it works in Claremont

  1. 1

    Call and describe the vehicle

    Call (323) 997-8867 and tell us the make, model, and year, where the car is parked, and whether you still have any working key. This tells us whether we are adding a spare or starting from no keys at all.

  2. 2

    We come to your location

    We are mobile and available 24/7, so we travel to you, whether that's a Claremont Village street, a residential driveway, or a campus parking area. There is no shop trip and no tow needed in most cases.

  3. 3

    Confirm ownership

    Before cutting or programming anything, we verify that you are the vehicle's owner or authorized user. It's a standard safeguard that protects you and everyone else from key theft.

  4. 4

    Cut and prepare the key

    If the key needs a blade, we cut it to match your vehicle's lock. For lost-all-keys situations, we can work from the vehicle itself. We then check that the new key's chip is compatible with your car's system.

  5. 5

    Program to the immobilizer

    Using professional programming equipment, we register the new transponder with the car's immobilizer. Depending on the vehicle, this may involve the onboard diagnostic port and a specific sequence the car requires.

  6. 6

    Test everything

    We test the key in the door, the ignition, and any remote functions before we finish. You leave with a key we have started the engine with, not one we hope works.

Need transponder key programming in Claremont?

24/7 Mobile Locksmith across Greater Los Angeles & Ventura County. We answer 24/7.

Call (323) 997-8867

What affects the price

  • Make, model, and year of the vehicle, since some immobilizer systems are far more involved to program than others
  • Whether you need an added spare key or have lost every key, which changes the amount of work involved
  • The type of key: a basic chip key, a remote-head key, a flip key, or a push-button smart key
  • Whether the key blade needs to be cut, or the existing lock has any wear that affects cutting
  • Time of day and location, since we serve customers around the clock and travel to them
  • Whether old or lost keys should be removed from the car's memory for security

Why Claremont chooses us

  • Fully mobile service: we come to the car, so you never have to tow a vehicle just to get a key made
  • Available 24/7, which matters when a key goes missing late at night or before an early class
  • Serving Greater Los Angeles and Ventura County since 1987, with owner David Shar leading the work
  • Plain explanations of what your car needs before we start, without pressure or surprises
  • Ownership verification on every job, as a matter of safeguarding your vehicle
  • We test every programmed key in the door, ignition, and remote functions before we leave

Transponder Key Programming across Claremont

Claremont has an unusual mix of drivers. Students and faculty at The Claremont Colleges (Pomona, Harvey Mudd, Scripps, Claremont McKenna, Pitzer, and the graduate schools) park in campus lots and nearby streets, and key mishaps are common when schedules are packed. Residents in Claremont Village walk to Yale Ave shops and restaurants, but their cars wait at the curb or in a historic bungalow's driveway. Up in North Claremont and the hillside Claraboya area, homeowners often have steeper driveways and garages, and a car that won't start there is a real problem.

We work throughout ZIP code 91711, from the Village to the hills near Claremont Hills Wilderness Park, and around the California Botanic Garden where visitors sometimes find a key missing after a long walk. Whether you're near Foothill Blvd, Indian Hill Blvd, Base Line Rd, Towne Ave, or Mills Ave, we come to you.

Because Claremont sits right along I-10 and the SR-210, many residents rely on their cars for long commutes. A single working key is a risk. If you only have one transponder key, getting a programmed spare before it goes missing is usually simpler than dealing with a lost-all-keys situation. Call (323) 997-8867 any hour, and we'll talk through your vehicle.

Locked out or need a locksmith now?

24/7 Mobile Locksmith across Greater Los Angeles & Ventura County. We answer 24/7.

Call (323) 997-8867

Other Claremont locksmith services

See all of our Claremont services, or our citywide transponder key programming page.

Transponder Key Programming in Claremont — FAQs

What is a transponder key?
It's a key with a small chip in the head that sends a code to your car's immobilizer. The engine starts only when the car recognizes that code, which is why a plain metal copy won't work.
Can you program a key if I've lost all my keys in Claremont?
In many cases, yes. We come to the car and work from there, depending on the make and model. Call (323) 997-8867 with your vehicle details and we'll tell you what to expect.
Do I need to tow my car anywhere?
Usually not. We are fully mobile, so we travel to your car in Claremont, whether it's at a campus lot, a curb in the Village, or your driveway. We have no storefront.
Are you available at night or on weekends?
Yes. We're available 24/7. If you're stuck late near the Colleges or after a trip on the I-10, call (323) 997-8867 anytime.
How much does transponder key programming cost?
It depends on your vehicle, the type of key, whether you have a working key already, and the time and location of the job. We explain what applies to your car before beginning work.
Will I need to prove the car is mine?
Yes. We verify ownership or authorization before programming any key. It's a security step that protects you and every other vehicle owner.
Can you add a spare if I still have one working key?
Yes, and it's generally the easier situation. Having a spare programmed before a key goes missing can save a lot of trouble. Call (323) 997-8867 to ask about your vehicle.
Will the old lost key still start my car?
Depending on the vehicle, programming can often be set up so a lost key is no longer accepted by the car. Ask us when you call, and we'll explain what your system allows.
DS

Reviewed by David Shar — Owner & Lead Technician

Crenshaw Lock Company has served Greater Los Angeles & Ventura County since 1987.

Last updated 2026-10-12.

Call (323) 997-8867 · Open 24/7