Automotive Locksmith in San Diego

Locked out at the beach, keys lost on Garnet Avenue, or a fob that suddenly stopped working? We come to your car anywhere in San Diego and get you driving, no tow truck and no dealer appointment.

Call (619) 304-9446 Get a quote Open 24/7 for emergencies Based in Ocean Beach

Quick answer

Action Locksmith San Diego is a mobile automotive locksmith serving all of San Diego. We open locked cars, cut and program replacement car keys (including transponder chip keys, remote fobs and push-to-start smart keys), extract broken keys, and repair or replace ignitions at your location. Give us your year, make and model and we'll confirm the price before we roll. Call (619) 304-9446.

Mobile automotive locksmith service across the city of San Diego, from our base in Ocean Beach. Typical prices are on our locksmith prices page.

Locksmith programming a replacement key fob for a car parked in San Diego — Programming a replacement transponder key on site. No tow, no dealership wait.

Popular automotive locksmith services

Dedicated pages for the jobs we're called for most, with what's included, when you need it, and typical prices.

Car Key Replacement

Lost every key, dead fob, or need a spare? Cut and programmed at your location for most makes and models.

Typically $150 to $450 Car Keys details

Car Lockout Service

Keys locked in the car or trunk, or lost on the beach. Opened in minutes without a scratch, anywhere in San Diego.

Typically $65 to $150 Car Lockout details

Car locksmith services we provide

Car lockouts

Keys locked inside, in the trunk or lost on the sand. We open the car without scratching the paint or damaging the door.

Lost car key replacement

Lost every key? We make a new one from scratch and program it to the car, right where it's parked.

Transponder & chip keys

Most cars built since the late 1990s need a chipped key programmed to the immobilizer. We cut and program it in one visit.

Key fob & remote programming

Replacement remotes and smart keys for keyless-entry and push-to-start vehicles, programmed on site.

Duplicate car keys

Have one key? Get a spare before you have none. A duplicate is far cheaper than an all-keys-lost replacement.

Broken key extraction

Key snapped in the door or ignition? We remove the piece without damaging the cylinder and cut you a new key.

Ignition repair & replacement

Key won't turn, turns but won't start, or gets stuck. We repair or replace the ignition cylinder and re-key it to your existing key.

Trunk & glovebox lockouts

Opened without prying, even when the trunk is on a separate key.

Lost all your car keys? Here's exactly what happens

First, don't have the car towed to a dealer. Call us with the year, make, model and where the car is. Second, have your ID and proof of ownership ready, because we verify that before cutting a key for any vehicle. Third, we come to the car, read the lock or the vehicle's key code, cut a new key, and program the transponder or fob so the car recognizes it.

For most vehicles the whole thing is done in one visit, at the curb or in the garage. You drive away with a working key and, if you're smart, a spare.

Mobile locksmith vs. the dealership

Dealers typically require the car to be brought to them, which means a tow, and they usually schedule the work days out. A mobile automotive locksmith comes to the car the same day, and for most makes and models the total cost is lower than the dealer's parts-plus-labor plus a tow. Some newer European and high-end vehicles do still require dealer tools; if that's the case for your car we'll tell you on the phone rather than waste your time.

We work on domestic, Japanese and Korean vehicles every day across San Diego, from work trucks in Otay Mesa to commuter cars in Mira Mesa and Rancho Bernardo.

Where we come to you

Beach parking lots at the Ocean Beach Pier, Dog Beach and Sunset Cliffs. Belmont Park and the courts in Mission Beach. Garnet Avenue and Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach. Mall garages at Fashion Valley in Mission Valley and Westfield UTC in University City. Parking structures in the Gaslamp and East Village. Dealer row and the Convoy District in Kearny Mesa. Campus lots at UC San Diego in La Jolla. Your driveway.

If your car is inside the city of San Diego, we'll get to it.

Car locksmith service by area

Wherever you're stranded in San Diego, we come to the car. Areas we handle [[car-lockout|car lockouts]] and key replacement most often:

All San Diego service areas

Other locksmith services

Residential Locksmith

Home lockouts, rekeying, deadbolts, smart locks and lock repair for houses, condos and rentals.

Residential details

Commercial Locksmith

Storefronts, offices, restaurants and property managers. Master keys, panic bars, rekeys and keypad entry.

Commercial details

Emergency Locksmith

Locked out of your home, business or car? Fast mobile response anywhere in San Diego, day or night.

Emergency details

Property managers & vacation rentals · Locksmith prices · Get a quote

Automotive locksmith questions

Can a locksmith make a car key without the original?

Yes. We can generate a new key from the vehicle's lock or key code and program the transponder so the car will start, with no original key needed. Bring ID and proof of ownership.

Is it cheaper to get a car key from a locksmith than the dealer?

For most vehicles, yes, and you avoid the tow. The exceptions are certain late-model European and luxury cars that require dealer-only tools. Tell us the year, make and model and we'll be straight with you about whether we can do it and what it costs.

How long does it take to unlock a car?

Once we're on site, most car lockouts take only a few minutes. The drive to you depends on where you are in San Diego, and we'll tell you how long when you call, before you decide.

My key fob stopped working. Do I need a new one?

Not always. A dead battery, a fob that lost its programming, or a worn key blade can all look like a broken fob. We diagnose it first and only replace the fob if it actually needs replacing.

Do you replace push-to-start smart keys?

For many makes and models, yes. Smart keys and proximity fobs need to be programmed to the car, which we do on site. Call with your vehicle details to confirm.