Emergency & Lockouts · Provo, Utah
Broken key extraction in Provo starts with one request: leave the lock alone until we arrive, because a screwdriver, tweezers, or a second key can push the broken piece deeper. We pull snapped keys out of door locks, deadbolts, padlocks, and car ignitions with thin extraction tools, check that the lock still works, and cut you a new key from the broken halves or by code.
A key usually snaps where the blade meets the head, or at a deep cut thinned by years of use. The blade stays stuck because the spring-loaded pins inside the lock press down on its cuts, which is why it rarely falls out on its own.
Door locks are the most common. Padlocks are trickier, since the keyway is small and many bodies are not built to come apart, so replacing a cheap one can cost less than saving it. An ignition needs extra care: the car stays in park, and the new key needs its chip programmed as well as its blade cut.
The usual causes:
Once it snaps, keep the head and any loose piece. If the key broke partway through a turn, do not force the lock back with a screwdriver; tell us on the call whether the bolt is locked, open, or stuck halfway.
Need broken key extraction right now? We answer 24/7 and quote on the phone.
Call (801) 555-0142Once the piece is out, the right way to get a new key depends on the pieces and the lock.
| Method | How it works | Best when |
|---|---|---|
| Copy from the halves | The pieces are fitted together, measured, and duplicated | Both pieces are recovered and the key was not badly worn |
| Cut by code | Depths come from a code stamped on some keys and padlocks, or looked up for many vehicles | The old key was worn, so copying it would copy the wear |
| Decode the lock | The pin depths are read from the cylinder itself | No usable pieces and no code |
| Rekey or replace | The cylinder gets new pins or is swapped out | The extraction showed worn or damaged pins |
A broken car key needs one more step. A cut blade will turn the door lock, but most modern cars will not start without a programmed chip, so we handle it as a car key replacement. If the ignition was binding before the key broke, ignition repair may be the real fix, and a door lock that fought the key may need lock repair.
The national cost guides we rely on do not publish a range for extraction on its own, so we will not guess at one here. We give you the exact price on the phone, and we confirm it on site before any work starts.
Cold is a common culprit. NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals for the Provo BYU station show average lows below freezing from November through February, bottoming out at 23.8°F in January. That is the season when a key meets a stiff or iced-over cylinder and someone twists harder than the key can take.
We handle snapped keys in front doors and garage entries across Provo, from North Timpview and Sherwood Hills to Lakewood and Spring Creek, plus padlocks on sheds, gates, and storage units. For businesses, a key that breaks at closing time is a security problem, whether the door is downtown on Center Street or in the Riverwoods and East Bay business parks.
Why Choose Us
Extract first
Most broken keys come out through the keyway, leaving the lock in the door and working. When a piece is wedged, taking the cylinder out and clearing it on the bench is the next step, and that still saves the hardware. Drilling is last on the list, and it only happens after you have heard the replacement cost and said yes.
Both halves
Hold on to the part of the key still in your hand. With both halves, we can usually measure the cuts and make a new key on the spot. If the old key was worn smooth, cutting by code gives you a key at factory depth instead of a copy of the wear. If the lock caused the break, we say so.
97%
The Highway Loss Data Institute found passive immobilizers standard on 97% of 2021 vehicle series. A blade cut from the broken pieces will open the door on those cars, but it will not start the engine without a programmed transponder chip. When a car key snaps, we cut the blade and program the chip together, so you leave with a key that unlocks and starts the car.
Our Promise
Locksmithing runs on trust. These are the commitments you can hold us to on every call, from a 2 a.m. lockout to a full office rekey.
We quote on the phone, then confirm the total on site before any work begins. If the job turns out to be different than described, you approve the new number before we continue.
We confirm you live at the address or own the vehicle before we open anything. It takes about a minute, and it is the same check that protects your home from someone else claiming to be you.
We pick, bypass, or decode before we ever consider drilling. If a lock truly has to be drilled, we explain why and get your OK first, and we can replace it on the spot.
Nights, weekends, and holidays use the same phone number. You get a person, a price, and an arrival estimate, not a voicemail box.
FAQ
Sometimes. If a good length of blade sticks out, grip it with needle-nose pliers and pull straight out without twisting. If the piece is flush with the face or deeper, stop, because pushing on it with a pin or a second key tends to drive it further in. Skip super glue, which can seize the pins.
Usually not. Most broken keys come out without harming the pins, and the lock works normally afterward. Damage happens when someone forces the plug with a screwdriver, and sometimes a worn lock caused the break. We check for both.
No. Leave the car in park, and do not turn the ignition with the stub or a screwdriver. We extract the piece at the car. If the ignition was stiff before the key broke, it may need repair, and the new key will need its chip programmed before the engine will start.
Replace keys that are bent, cracked, or worn smooth, and have new ones cut by code or from an original rather than from another copy. Never force a stiff or frozen lock; free it first. If you have to lift or push the door to turn the key, the door or strike is out of line and should be adjusted.
Related Services
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Learn moreKey stuck, won't turn, or spins freely? We repair or replace worn ignition cylinders.
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Learn moreSee all locksmith services · About Provo UT Locksmith · Contact us
Tell us what's going on and get a price on the phone. We're open 24 hours a day, every day.
Call (801) 555-0142Open 24 hours, 7 days a week · 180 N University Ave Suite 270, Provo, UT
