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Crenshaw Lock

Transponder Key Programming in Long Beach · 24/7 mobile

Transponder Key Programming in Long Beach, CA

Crenshaw Lock Company provides mobile transponder key programming in Long Beach, California, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We come to your vehicle and program chip keys to its immobilizer, so you don't need a tow. Call (323) 997-8867 to talk with a locksmith.

  • Mobile to your Long Beach 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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Most cars built since the late 1990s will not start unless the key's tiny transponder chip is recognized by the vehicle's immobilizer. A key can be cut perfectly, turn in the ignition, and still do nothing, because the car never heard the right electronic handshake. Transponder key programming is the work of teaching the car to accept a new or replacement key, and it is a different job from cutting metal.

In a city as spread out as Long Beach, getting that done at a dealership often means arranging a tow from wherever the car is stranded, whether that is a Belmont Shore side street, a parking structure near the Convention Center, or a driveway in Bixby Knolls. Crenshaw Lock Company is fully mobile. There is no storefront to visit, because the shop comes to you, and we answer calls around the clock.

Crenshaw Lock has served Greater Los Angeles and Ventura County since 1987, under owner and lead tech David Shar. That history means we have seen how vehicle security has changed over decades, from simple chip keys to push-button start systems. This page explains how programming works, what shapes the cost, and what to expect when you call from Long Beach.

How it works in Long Beach

  1. 1

    You call and describe the situation

    Call (323) 997-8867 and tell us the make, model, and year of the vehicle, and whether you still have any working key. Whether this is an added spare or an all-keys-lost situation changes the approach, so that is the first thing we sort out.

  2. 2

    We come to the vehicle

    Because we are mobile, we drive to wherever the car is parked, be it a street in Wrigley, an apartment lot in Alamitos Beach, or a garage downtown. We do not ask you to move or tow a car that may not start.

  3. 3

    Verifying ownership

    Before creating a key for any vehicle, we ask for reasonable proof that you own it or are authorized to have it keyed, typically a registration and a matching ID. This protects you and is a standard part of responsible locksmith work.

  4. 4

    Cutting or preparing the key

    If the key needs a physical blade, it is cut to the vehicle's code or to the existing lock. Many modern keys are laser-cut or are proximity fobs with no traditional blade at all, in which case we prepare the fob for pairing.

  5. 5

    Programming to the immobilizer

    We connect diagnostic equipment to the vehicle and register the new transponder with the car's computer. Depending on the vehicle, this may involve a security procedure, a waiting period, or erasing lost keys from memory so they no longer start the car.

  6. 6

    Testing everything before we leave

    We confirm that the key starts the engine, turns the ignition or works in push-button mode, and operates any remote functions. You see it working at your car before the job is considered done.

Need transponder key programming in Long Beach?

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 manufacturers use far more involved security systems than others.
  • Whether you are adding a spare key with a working key present, or all keys are lost and a key must be created from scratch.
  • The type of key: a basic chip key, a remote head key, a flip key, or a smart proximity fob each involves different parts and procedures.
  • Whether the key blade needs to be cut, and whether it is a standard cut or a laser-cut high-security profile.
  • The time of day and the vehicle's location, since after-hours and late-night calls involve different effort than a scheduled daytime appointment.
  • Whether the ignition or door lock is also damaged and needs repair before the new key can be used.

Why Long Beach chooses us

  • We are fully mobile, so programming happens at your vehicle in Long Beach instead of at a shop you would have to get to.
  • Since 1987, the business has handled automotive and residential locksmith work across Greater Los Angeles and Ventura County, which gives us long experience with changing key technology.
  • We are available 24/7, which matters when a car will not start after an evening at the Aquarium of the Pacific or a late shift near the Port.
  • We verify ownership before making keys, which protects you from someone else obtaining a key to your vehicle.
  • We can often remove lost keys from a car's memory during programming, so a missing key cannot be used to start the vehicle later.
  • We explain what the job involves and what affects the cost before work begins, with no pressure and no guesswork.

Transponder Key Programming across Long Beach

Long Beach is large and varied, and car trouble shows up in all of it. In Belmont Shore and Naples, street parking is tight and salt air is hard on vehicles and keys alike, and we regularly hear from owners whose spare key never got made until the only one was lost. In Bixby Knolls and California Heights, residents often park in driveways or along tree-lined streets, which makes a mobile visit simple: we come to the curb or the driveway and program the key right there. Calls from ZIP code 90803 and the surrounding shoreline neighborhoods are common for this reason.

Downtown Long Beach and Alamitos Beach have a different pattern. Residents of condos, lofts, and apartment buildings often park in shared or gated garages, and visitors leave cars near Shoreline Village, The Pike Outlets, the Queen Mary, or the Convention & Entertainment Center. If a key is lost or a fob stops working in ZIP 90802 or 90813, we can meet you in the garage or lot where the car sits. Students near CSULB in 90840 sometimes call late at night after losing a key, and being available around the clock is part of the service.

We also work with people driving in from I-710, I-405, PCH, Ocean Blvd, or Atlantic Ave who find themselves stuck. Wherever in Long Beach the vehicle is parked, call (323) 997-8867 and we will talk through the situation and come to you.

Locked out or need a locksmith now?

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

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Other Long Beach locksmith services

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

Transponder Key Programming in Long Beach — FAQs

What is transponder key programming?
It is the process of registering a key's embedded chip with your vehicle's immobilizer so the engine will start. A key that is only cut but not programmed will usually open the door and turn the ignition without starting the car.
Can you program a key at my car in Long Beach?
Yes. We are fully mobile and come to your vehicle, whether it is at home, in a parking structure downtown, or on the street in Belmont Shore. Call (323) 997-8867 to get started.
What if I have lost all my keys?
We can often create a new key from scratch even when no working key exists. It is a more involved job than copying a spare, so tell us up front when you call (323) 997-8867 and we will explain what is needed.
Do I need to prove I own the car?
Yes. We ask for reasonable proof of ownership or authorization, such as registration and a matching ID, before making a key. It is a standard safeguard for your protection.
Is it cheaper than going to a dealership?
We cannot promise that for every vehicle, as costs depend on the make, model, and key type. A big difference is that we come to you, so you may avoid towing. Call (323) 997-8867 to discuss your situation.
Will my old lost key still work after programming?
In many cases we can erase lost keys from the vehicle's memory during programming, so the missing key will no longer start the car. Whether this is possible depends on the vehicle.
Can you program a push-button start smart key?
Many smart proximity keys can be programmed, though the procedure and capability vary by manufacturer. Give us the make, model, and year and we will tell you what is possible.
Are you available at night or on weekends?
Yes, we operate 24/7, including nights, weekends, and holidays. Because we are mobile only, there is no shop to visit, and we come to you wherever you are in Long Beach.
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