About Car Key Extractions
If lacking the experience and know-how, a key extraction job can be very complicated even for a locksmith. This is why when you shop around for a company that does key extractions always make sure that they give you an upfront price. When a locksmith is unable to give you a price over the phone, it is usually a sign of inexperience. Any locksmith that has proper experience with key extractions should know exactly how to price such jobs. Also, when shopping around for a locksmith, always make sure they won't charge you anything if they are unsuccessful. It has been a long running scam for some companies, to send a very inexperienced technician to a key extraction. Once there, he can pretend to attempt the extraction for a few minutes and then charge the costumer for coming out even if he was not successful in extracting the broken key.
When a car key breaks, unless you have an additional copy, you will need to get a new one made. Most key duplicators at hardware stores like Home Depot or Lowe’s cannot duplicate broken keys. Usually the best practice is to cut a new car key by code instead of tracing a copy from the old one. Cutting a new key by code means that a locksmith is originating the cut specifications for the key instead of just duplicating the worn out or broken key. This process costs more than just a standard key duplication, but it is more accurate and precise. Think of it like copying a VHS tape, the farther you are from the original copy the less accurate it is.