Key duplication — spare house and car keys
Need a spare house key, extra keys for a tenant or family member, or a second car key? Request an independent locksmith who offers key duplication in the Vula24 app.
Key duplication across Gauteng and the Western Cape
Key duplication services in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Sandton and surrounding areas — plus the full city list below.
Looking for key cutting in Paarl, Stellenbosch or Johannesburg? Vula24 has no key shops. Instead, you can request an independent locksmith who offers house or car key duplication to come to you — useful when you need several copies, a car key that has to be programmed, or cannot get to a shop.
House key duplication and car key duplication are services locksmiths can list on Vula24. The app shows whether a locksmith near you offers the service and shows the full price — including the Vula24 platform fee — before you confirm.
- Spare house, gate and padlock keys cut from your original
- Car keys cut and, where needed, programmed to the vehicle
- Full price shown in the app before you confirm
Key shop or mobile locksmith?
For one or two copies of an ordinary house key, a walk-in key cutter at a hardware store or shopping centre is usually the quickest and cheapest option, and Vula24 does not have shops of its own.
A mobile locksmith makes more sense when you need many keys at once, when the key is for a car and has to be programmed, when you cannot get to a shop, or when you also want a lock checked, rekeyed or replaced on the same visit.
What can and cannot be copied
Most standard cylinder, mortice, gate and padlock keys can be copied from the original. Some keys cannot be copied freely:
- Restricted or registered security keys — often marked “do not duplicate” or with a card number — can usually only be ordered through the lock supplier with proof that you are the registered holder
- Car keys with a transponder chip or remote need the blade cut and the chip programmed to the car; a copy that is only cut will open the door but will not start the engine
- A badly worn original can produce a poor copy; ask whether the key should be cut from the lock code instead
What to have ready
The original key you want copied and how many copies you need. For car keys, your ID and vehicle registration papers — a legitimate locksmith will ask for proof that the car is yours — plus the make, model and year.
Copy the key or change the lock?
Copying makes sense when every existing key is accounted for. If a key has been lost or stolen, or a former tenant or contractor still has one, copying the remaining key keeps the old key working — rekeying or replacing the lock is the safer choice.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a spare key made if I have lost my only key?
A copy needs an original. Without one, a locksmith can open the door if you are locked out and then either rekey the lock or replace it, and give you new keys. For a car, choose lost car key replacement instead — the new key is cut and programmed without the original.
Can any locksmith copy a car key with a chip?
Not always. Programming a transponder or remote key needs the right equipment for your vehicle, and some newer vehicles can only be programmed by the dealer. Give your make, model and year when you request, and check before you confirm.
Does Vula24 have a key shop near me?
No. Vula24 is a marketplace that connects you with independent locksmiths who come to you in Gauteng and the Western Cape. For a single ordinary copy, a walk-in key cutter may be simpler.
Related
Available in
Gauteng
Book a locksmith in the Vula24 app
Bookings are made in the Vula24 app — not on this website. In the app you choose your service, see the full price before you confirm, track your locksmith live and pay securely with PayFast.
Available on Android. Active in Gauteng and Western Cape.