A key that has snapped in a lock is usually recoverable with the right extraction tools, and usually without damaging the lock. What causes damage is the attempts that come before the call — glue, pliers, tweezers and drill bits all make a straightforward extraction into a cylinder replacement.
Typical range: $85–$300 CAD. Ranges are typical for the GTA and depend on the door, the hardware and the time of day. We confirm the price before dispatching.
Why keys break
Metal fatigue, nearly always. A key flexes microscopically every time it is turned, and over years of use a crack develops, typically at the shoulder where the blade meets the head — the point of highest stress.
The warning sign is a key that has become visibly bent, or one that has started to feel slightly springy in the lock. A key that looks tired is a key about to snap, and having it copied before it does is far cheaper than an extraction.
Cold accelerates it. Metal is more brittle at low temperature, and a January morning with a stiff frozen lock is the classic combination — which is why we see a clear seasonal spike in these calls.
What not to do
Do not use glue. Superglue on a broken key is the single most common way an easy extraction becomes a lock replacement, because it bonds the fragment to the internal components and then nothing comes out without destroying the cylinder.
Do not use pliers or tweezers unless a substantial piece is protruding and grips easily. Both tend to push the fragment further in, past the point where extraction tools can reach it.
Do not drill. A drilled cylinder is a replaced cylinder.
If the key is protruding enough to grip firmly with fingers or needle-nose pliers, pulling straight out gently is reasonable. Otherwise leave it and call.
How extraction works
Extraction tools are thin hooked or barbed probes that slide into the keyway alongside the fragment, catch its cut edges, and draw it out. It takes technique rather than force, and on a cooperative break it is a matter of minutes.
The complications are a fragment broken deep with no purchase, a lock where the plug has rotated away from the keyway position, and previous attempts that have jammed or glued the fragment. All are still usually recoverable, they just take longer.
Afterwards
A key does not break because of bad luck alone — it breaks because it was fatigued, and often because the lock was stiff enough to require force. Both are worth addressing.
We cut you a fresh key from code rather than from the broken original where possible, because copying a worn key reproduces the wear. And we service the lock, because a stiff lock is what caused the force that broke the key, and leaving it stiff means the new key follows the same path.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a broken key be removed without damaging the lock?
In the large majority of cases, yes — extraction tools are made for exactly this and the lock is unaffected. The damage usually comes from what was tried first. Glue is the worst offender because it bonds the fragment to the internals and turns a ten-minute job into a cylinder replacement.
My key broke in the ignition. Can I still drive?
No, and do not try to start the vehicle with the fragment inside. Forcing it can push the piece deeper or damage the wafers, which turns an extraction into an ignition replacement. We attend the vehicle, extract the fragment and cut a replacement key on site.
How much does broken key extraction cost?
It is one of the cheapest calls we attend when the break is straightforward. It rises if the fragment is deep, if the plug has rotated, or if previous attempts have jammed or glued it in. Cutting a replacement key is usually a separate small charge on top, and we would normally cut it from code rather than from the broken original.
Why do keys break?
Metal fatigue from years of flexing, usually failing at the shoulder where the blade meets the head. A bent or springy-feeling key is one that is close to going. Cold makes metal more brittle, which is why these calls spike in January and February, and a stiff lock that needs force accelerates it considerably.
Broken Key Extraction across the GTA
We provide broken key extraction throughout the Greater Toronto Area. Pick your city for local detail, or call and we will tell you straight away whether you are in range.
Related services
Ignition Repair
Worn, seized and damaged ignition cylinders repaired or replaced — usually in the vehicle, without removing the steering column.
Car Key Replacement
Keys cut and programmed on site for virtually every make on the road — mechanical, transponder, remote head, flip and proximity.
Car Lockout
Vehicles opened without damage, 7 days a week, anywhere in the GTA.
House Lockout
Homes opened without damage, 7 days a week, across the GTA.