Auto Locksmith
Staffordshire
Car Keys Cut and Programmed at Your Car
AutoVault is Ben Astle, a mobile auto locksmith based in Uttoxeter who attends cars and vans across Staffordshire. Ben replaces lost car keys, programmes spare keys, unlocks locked vehicles and repairs key fobs and ignition barrels where the vehicle is parked, with no call-out fee.
Over 80 Reviews
Trade
Completed
Response
Which Auto Locksmith Jobs Does Ben Do at Your Car?
Ben does all twelve jobs below on site, on cars and vans, as an emergency or a planned visit.
Car Key Replacement
A lost, broken or worn car key replaced with a new key, cut and programmed to your vehicle's immobiliser at your home, workplace or roadside.
Lost Car Keys
All keys lost means no working key is left for the vehicle. Ben programmes a brand new key from scratch with dealer grade equipment, with no recovery truck and no dealer appointment.
Emergency Unlocking
Locked out at the roadside, at work or at home? Ben opens your vehicle on site with no damage to the locks, windows or bodywork.
Spare Car Keys
A spare key cut and programmed at your home or workplace before you need it, which costs far less than an all keys lost job later.
Ignition Repair
A seized, stuck or failing ignition barrel rebuilt to your existing key or replaced at your location, with no recovery call.
Module Services
BCM corruption, ECU module diagnostics and module repair handled on site with ACDP and other diagnostic equipment.
Key Programming
Transponder, remote, smart key and proximity key programming for all major makes, cut and coded on site with no dealer visit.
Ford Transit Locksmith
Ford Transit and Transit Custom keys, ignition barrel failures and spare keys, the commercial job Ben does most often in Staffordshire.
Commercial Locksmith
Fleet vehicles, company cars and commercial vans across Staffordshire, with lost keys, spare keys and ignition faults handled on site.
Transponder Keys
Chip key and transponder programming for all major manufacturers, programmed and cut on site for far less than dealer prices.
Broken Key Extraction
A key snapped in the lock or the ignition is extracted, and a replacement is made on site in the same visit.
Key Fob Repairs
A faulty or unresponsive remote repaired or replaced at your location, with no dealer appointment and a far lower cost than a dealer repair.
How Much Does an Auto Locksmith Cost in Staffordshire?
An auto locksmith in Staffordshire usually costs about £130 to £250 for a spare car key and about £180 to £350 when every key is lost, in 2026. Ben confirms the full price from the registration before he travels, and there is no call-out fee.
Four things set the price of a key job, and Ben gives one total that covers all of them.
- The make and year. A blade key for an older Ford costs less than the smart key of a newer Land Rover or BMW.
- The key type. A plain transponder key, a remote key and a keyless smart key each take different parts and programming time.
- A working key or none. A spare is added with a working key present. With no key left, the immobiliser data has to be read first, which takes longer.
- Genuine or aftermarket. Ben supplies genuine keys or quality aftermarket keys, and the price is given for the key you choose.
| Job | Typical price, 2026 | Usual time at the car |
|---|---|---|
| Spare car key, one working key left | About £130 to £250 | 30 to 60 minutes |
| Car key replacement, one key lost | About £150 to £250 | Under an hour |
| Lost car key replacement, no key left | About £180 to £350 | 30 minutes to 1.5 hours |
| Key fob repair | About £40 to £100 | Same visit |
| Ignition barrel repair | Quoted from the registration | Same visit |
| Emergency unlocking, keys locked in | About £80 to £150 | Usually under 30 minutes |
| Call-out fee | None | Not charged anywhere in Staffordshire |
Every car key replacement in Staffordshire that Ben does includes the key, the cutting and the programming in one price, so nothing is added at the car.
A main dealer usually orders the key from the VIN and asks for the car to be brought in, with a tow when no key is left, which can mean several days without the car and a higher bill. A mobile job at the car avoids both.
What Happens When You Call AutoVault?
A typical job takes four steps, and most are finished in under an hour at your home, workplace or roadside.
Call or WhatsApp Ben
Ben answers his own phone and confirms the price from your registration, with no call centre and no hold music.
Ben Arrives in About 30 Minutes
From Uttoxeter, Ben reaches most of Staffordshire in a typical 30 minute window.
The Job Is Done at the Car
Dealer grade equipment in the van means most jobs are finished where the vehicle is parked, usually in under an hour.
Back on the Road
No tow truck, no dealer wait and no call-out fee, with the job done the same day.
Ben checks proof of ownership before any key is cut or programmed. The V5C log book with matching photo ID is the usual proof, and the VIN at the base of the windscreen confirms the vehicle. Keep every working key at the car on the day, because a key that is not there can stop working once a new key is added.
Who Answers When You
Call AutoVault?
Ben Astle answers every call himself and attends every job in person, with no call centre, no booking system and no subcontractors. He brings dealer grade equipment to your vehicle, including AUTEL, ACDP, MultiProg and JLR SDD.
Before auto locksmithing, Ben spent years in the building trade until a slipped disc changed his direction. He retrained, built AutoVault from nothing and has now completed thousands of jobs across Staffordshire, with over 80 five star Google reviews from those customers.
Why Do Staffordshire Drivers Choose AutoVault Over a Dealer?
AutoVault differs from a main dealer or a national call centre in six ways.
Ben Attends Every Job Personally
No subcontractors and no franchised technicians. When you call, Ben answers, and when the van arrives, Ben is the one who does the job.
Dealer Grade Equipment
AUTEL, ACDP, Xhorse, Zedfull Plus, MultiProg and more, a full diagnostic and programming kit carried to every job.
No Call-Out Fee
You pay only for the work done, and there is no charge for Ben travelling to you anywhere in Staffordshire.
30 Minute Average Response
Ben is based in Uttoxeter and usually reaches Stafford, Stoke-on-Trent, Tamworth, Burton upon Trent and most villages in about 30 minutes.
DBS Checked, Insured and SERMI Approved
A current DBS check, £5 million public liability insurance and SERMI approval, the standard for vetted access to vehicle security data.
Much Cheaper Than a Dealer
The same diagnostic software and the same key quality at a fraction of the main dealer cost, done the same day at your location.
SERMI Approval and Vehicle Security
Access to vehicle security data is controlled by the SERMI scheme, and Ben is SERMI approved under it.
DBS Checked
Ben holds a current DBS check, so the person who attends your vehicle has been vetted before any key is cut or programmed.
£5 Million Public Liability Insurance
Every job is covered by £5 million public liability insurance, so your vehicle and the property around it are protected while Ben works.
Which Jobs Has Ben Completed Across Staffordshire?
Ben attended and finished every job below himself, at the vehicle. Four of the nine were all keys lost, the lost car key replacement job that needs the most equipment, and none of the four needed a tow truck.
The owner had lost one key and the spare had stopped working. Ben cut and programmed two new keys at the car with ACDP, and both worked within 40 minutes.
A tradesman lost every van key while working on site. Ben used AUTEL to calculate the immobiliser password, then cut and programmed a new key with no tow truck.
Removing the battery corrupted the BCM and BCMB modules. Ben soldered onto the modules to repair the EEPROM data, then used JLR SDD to relearn and configure the car.
What Equipment Does Ben Carry to Every Job?
A full set of diagnostic and key programming tools that covers most makes on Staffordshire roads.
Which Vehicle Makes Does Ben Cover?
Ben programmes keys for 34 makes, and the six below are the ones he works on most. If yours is not listed, call anyway.
Which Areas of Staffordshire Does Ben Cover?
All of Staffordshire, from Ben's base at Bramshall Industrial Estate in Uttoxeter, with a typical 30 minute response.
Four of the nine jobs above were in the city of Stoke-on-Trent, and Ben works as an auto locksmith in Stoke-on-Trent from Hanley ST1 to Longton ST3, about 16 miles from Uttoxeter along the A50.
Stafford is about 13 miles away along the A518, Burton upon Trent about 13 miles along the A50, Leek about 16 miles, Lichfield about 17 miles and Tamworth about 25 miles.
What Do Staffordshire Customers Say About AutoVault?
Over 80 five star Google reviews, each one from a real customer and a real job.
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions Staffordshire drivers ask Ben most often.
Call Ben Now.
Ben covers car key replacement, all keys lost and ignition repairs across Staffordshire, with a 30 minute average response, no call-out fee and over 80 five star reviews. He answers his own phone, every time.
Unit 9, Bramshall Industrial Estate, Uttoxeter, ST14 8TD · autovaultuk@gmail.com