Keys you bought online.
You have the blank. Now check what it can become.
Buying a key online and getting a working spare are two different steps. You may only need a blade cut. You may need cutting and programming, or you may have a part that won't suit the vehicle. Keep the packaging and listing until those details have been checked.
Start with the car and the part
The year, make and model help identify the vehicle, but the supplied key needs a look as well. A case with the right number of buttons can still contain different electronics. A blank with a similar outline may not be the right blade.
Have the part number, seller's description and any compatibility information ready. Say whether the part is new, used or only an empty replacement shell. These details help establish what you've bought. Acceptance of customer-supplied parts must be confirmed before you arrange a service visit; it shouldn't be assumed from a photograph alone.
Does it only need cutting?
A mechanical blade opens a suitable lock by its shape. On many vehicles, another part of the key also has to be recognized before the engine will start. A freshly cut blade may therefore open the door without being a working starting key.
Remote buttons are another function to discuss. If you only want a blade cut, say so. Then check what the finished key will and won't do. Our spare car key guide separates opening, starting and remote operation, so a simple cutting request doesn't get confused with a complete replacement.
A working original changes the starting point
Mention whether you have a key that still starts the car. If you do, the request may be for a planned spare. If no working key remains, describe it as an all-keys-lost request, even if the new blank is already in your hand.
An existing key with a cracked shell is a different situation again. Its internal parts may still work, or the damage may go further than the case. Don't discard it before its condition has been discussed. The replacement-key page explains why a part and a finished replacement are different things to price.
Compare the whole job
A blank's purchase price leaves out any visit, cutting, programming and other parts required. Ask which of those are included in the proposed work and what happens if the supplied item proves unsuitable. A low parts price doesn't tell you the cost of a functioning spare.
If you're considering mobile work in Oakland or another East Bay location, give the car's address and any parking-access details. This site's dispatch point isn't a counter where you should arrive with an unconfirmed part. Check the service and availability before making that trip.
Test what you agreed to have made
Once the work is complete, try the functions included in the agreement. If the key is meant to start the car, test that. If remote buttons or a separate door blade are included, check those as well.
Keep the new spare apart from your everyday key. It's much more useful with another driver or in a place you can reach than on the same ring as the only other copy.