GMC and Buick Key Replacement Cost in Annetta TX (2026)

As of October 2026, a GMC or Buick key in the Annetta area costs $120 to $280 for a transponder, flip or remote-head key and $190 to $425 for a spare proximity fob on a push-button vehicle. When every key is lost, expect $320 to $620. Older resistor-pellet and early chip keys run $90 to $180. Each extra key made at the same visit is $150 to $300.

Keys are cut and programmed at your vehicle anywhere in Parker County. Call or text (817) 813-9396.

Quick Answer

Two things set the price of a GMC or Buick key: what kind of key the vehicle takes, and whether a working key still exists. The badge on the grille matters much less. A Sierra and an Enclave from the same era can take keys that cost about the same, while two Sierras five years apart can differ by a couple of hundred dollars because one turns a key in a cylinder and the other has a start button.

Adding a spare while one key still works is the short version of the job. The vehicle already trusts a key, so the new one is cut, introduced and tested. Losing every key is the long version. The key has to be originated from the VIN or decoded from a lock, the vehicle has to be put through a security relearn, and on many models the old keys are erased from memory in the process. Same parts, more labor, and that is the whole difference between the two rows of the table.

GMC and Buick Key Pricing in Annetta TX

Service	Typical Price Range	Notes
Older PassKey-era resistor or early chip key	$90–$180	1990s and early 2000s Buick and GMC
Transponder key or flip key	$120–$240	Common on 2007–2017 trucks and crossovers
Remote-head key with relearn	$150–$280	Key and remote in one part
Spare bladed transponder key, 2014–2018 Sierra	$180–$300	Key, VIN cut, programming
Spare flip key with transponder, Buick	$150–$260	Earlier and base trims
Spare proximity fob, GMC, one key still works	$190–$375	Sierra, Yukon, Acadia, Terrain push-button trims
Spare proximity fob, Buick, one key still works	$250–$425	Enclave, Envision, LaCrosse, Encore
All keys lost, single new key or fob	$320–$620	Code by VIN, blade cut, security relearn
Each additional key or fob at the same visit	$150–$300	Far cheaper than a second call-out
Program a key or fob you supply	$85–$180	Only if part number and FCC ID match
Remote-only replacement, separate fob	$80–$160	Older split key-and-remote setup
Emergency blade cut only	$60–$110	Opens the door, will not start the vehicle
Fob battery and fob diagnosis	$0–$45	Often solved without a new fob
Ignition diagnosis	$85–$160	Applied toward the repair
Evening, weekend or holiday dispatch	Add-on	Quoted before dispatch, never added after

Disclaimer: Ranges only. Year, model, trim, key type, whether a working key exists and time of day all move the final figure. Call or text (817) 813-9396 with the year, model and VIN for a firm quote before we drive out.

The Four Kinds of GMC and Buick Key

Nearly every GMC and Buick on the road in Parker County takes one of four kinds of key. Knowing which one you have explains most of your quote.

Resistor-pellet and early chip keys

Through the 1990s and into the early 2000s, many Buicks used a key with a small resistor pellet set into the blade. The car measured the pellet's resistance and refused to start if it was wrong. It is an old system, but a LeSabre, Park Avenue or Regal from that era is still someone's daily driver in Weatherford, and those keys are still made. Trucks and vans of the same period often used a system that watched the lock cylinder rather than the key. These are the $90 to $180 jobs.

Transponder and flip keys

From the late 2000s, GM moved the trucks and crossovers to a key with a transponder chip in the head. The engine will crank with a plain copy cut at a hardware store, then stall, because the chip is missing. Many crossovers of the 2010s took the same idea and folded the blade into a flip-out remote. Expect $120 to $240, or $150 to $280 when the remote is built into the key head.

High-security bladed keys with a separate remote

The 2014 to 2018 Sierra, and the Canyon that followed, use a blade with the cut milled into its side rather than its edge. It needs a different cutting machine and a correct blank. On most of those trucks the remote is a separate fob. A spare runs $180 to $300.

Proximity fobs

On push-button vehicles the fob never leaves your pocket. The vehicle wakes its antennas when you touch the handle or press the start button and asks the fob to identify itself. These are the most expensive keys to replace because the fob is a small computer, not a cut piece of metal. A spare is $190 to $375 on a GMC and $250 to $425 on a Buick, and each carries a hidden emergency blade that is cut to your door lock.

Cost by GMC Model

Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500

The Sierra is the GMC we see most, and its key history divides into clear eras. Trucks from 2007 to 2013 take a conventional transponder key, often with a separate remote. From 2014 to 2018 the truck takes the side-milled key described above, with push-button start reserved for upper trims. The redesign from 2019 on puts a proximity fob on a large share of trucks, with a flip key on the work-truck trims.

For the 2014 to 2018 trucks specifically, our GMC Sierra 1500 key fob replacement guide goes through the options in detail. A work truck with a bladed key sits at the low end of the table. A Denali with a proximity fob sits at the high end.

Yukon and Yukon XL

The Yukon moved to push-button start across the line with its 2015 redesign, earlier than the pickups. A 2007 to 2014 Yukon takes a transponder key and remote. A 2015 or later Yukon takes a proximity fob, and the 2021 redesign brought a newer electrical architecture that lengthens the programming procedure. The all-keys-lost path on these trucks is covered step by step in our Escalade and Yukon all keys lost walkthrough.

Acadia and Terrain

The first-generation Acadia, through 2016, uses a transponder key on most trims, with the remote either separate or built into the head. The redesigned Acadia from 2017 on is push-button. The Terrain followed a similar path: flip keys on most 2010 to 2017 vehicles, with a proximity fob on upper trims, then push-button across the range from 2018.

Canyon

The 2015 to 2022 Canyon takes the same style of side-milled key as the Sierra of that era, and the newest generation moved to a proximity fob. Spare-key specifics for these mid-size trucks are in the Colorado and Canyon spare key guide.

Savana

The Savana van has stayed with a straightforward transponder key for most of its life, which makes it one of the least expensive GMCs to key. Fleet owners should know that the common Savana complaint is not the key at all but the ignition cylinder, which wears from thousands of starts. That repair is covered in our Express and Savana ignition repair guide.

Cost by Buick Model

Enclave

The Enclave is the Buick we key most often. Through 2017 it takes either a transponder key with a remote or, on upper trims, a proximity fob. From the 2018 redesign it is push-button across the range. A spare proximity fob is $250 to $425.

Encore and Encore GX

Smaller Buicks are a mix. Many Encores take a flip key with a transponder, at $150 to $260 for a spare, while push-button trims take a proximity fob. The trim on the tailgate does not always tell you which. The VIN does.

LaCrosse, Regal and Envision

These are mostly proximity cars from the 2010s on, with flip keys on some earlier and base trims. Our Buick LaCrosse and Envision key fob guide covers the two most common ones in detail.

Older Buicks

A LeSabre, Century, Park Avenue or early Rendezvous takes one of the older systems. The keys are inexpensive. The catch on these cars is usually wear: a worn key, a worn ignition, or wiring in the steering column that has flexed for twenty-five years. A no-start on one of these is at least as likely to be the column as the key, which is why a quick diagnosis comes before a new key is cut.

Spare Key vs. All Keys Lost

This is the choice that moves a GMC or Buick invoice the most, and it is the one you control.

With one working key, the vehicle is already in a state where it will accept another. The new key is cut to the code, introduced to the vehicle, and tested. On many GM vehicles this is a short procedure.

With no working key, three extra things have to happen:

The cut has to be established. The key code is retrieved by VIN where it is available. Where it is not, a door lock is decoded by hand.
The vehicle has to be put through a security relearn. On many GM vehicles this is a timed procedure with the ignition held on, repeated in stages. On newer vehicles it runs through a programming tool with security access. Either way it takes real time on site.
Old keys are usually erased. That is good news if the keys were stolen, and it is why any key that later turns up in a coat pocket will no longer start the vehicle until it is added back.

On GM vehicles the body computer is the module that stores which keys are trusted, so key programming is really a conversation with that module. When it misbehaves, key problems and electrical oddities show up together. Our page on BCM failure symptoms explains how to tell a key fault from a module fault.

The practical advice is simple. If you are down to one key, a spare at $120 to $425 depending on type is cheaper than an all-keys-lost job at $320 to $620, and it can be done on your schedule instead of on the worst morning of the month.

What Changes the Price

1. Key type. A plain transponder key and a proximity fob are different products. This is the largest single factor.

2. Whether a working key exists. Covered above. It roughly doubles the labor.

3. Model year and architecture. The newest trucks and SUVs use an electrical architecture with tighter security, and programming takes longer than on a 2015.

4. How many keys you want at the end. The second key at the same visit is $150 to $300. The drive, the setup and the security access are already paid for, so the second key is mostly the part.

5. Who supplies the part. Programming a fob you bought yourself is $85 to $180, but only if the part number and FCC ID are right for your VIN. Online fobs that look identical frequently are not. A fob on the wrong frequency will go through the whole procedure and never work. We will check a part number before you buy if you send it.

6. Whether the fob is actually dead. A weak coin cell, a cracked shell or a worn button pad can all be fixed for $0 to $45 without replacing the programmed electronics. We check this first.

7. Time and place. Mobile call-out is built into the quote. After-hours dispatch is an add-on that is stated before we leave.

When It Is Not the Key

A fair number of GMC and Buick key calls turn out to be something else. These are the ones worth ruling out before paying for a key.

The security light is on and the engine stalls after a second. That is the theft-deterrent system refusing the start. It can be a failed chip in the key, but it can also be the reader around the ignition or lost data after a battery event. An immobilizer reset and relearn runs $100 to $250 when data is the problem, which is less than a key on some of these vehicles.

A copied key opens the doors but will not start the truck. The copy has no chip, or the wrong one. Our guide on a copied key that unlocks the doors but will not start the car explains what went wrong and what to do with the copy.

The fob works only right next to the truck. Range that shrinks over weeks is usually a battery or a damaged fob, not programming.

The key will not turn. That is the ignition cylinder or the steering lock, not the key's electronics. Ignition diagnosis is $85 to $160, applied toward the repair.

The truck does not respond to either fob. Two fobs failing together points at the vehicle, not the fobs.

How GMC and Buick Compare With Other Makes

Owners who run a mixed driveway often ask whether GM keys are expensive. They sit in the middle. Conventional transponder keys on GM trucks are among the more affordable keys on any full-size pickup. Proximity fobs cost about what they cost on other domestic makes.

For a comparison within the GM family, the Cadillac key replacement cost page shows how the luxury badge shifts the numbers on the same underlying trucks. For the truck in the next driveway over, the Ford Super Duty key replacement cost page breaks the same question down by generation, and the Hyundai and Kia key replacement cost page covers the most common imports we see.

Dealer, Online Fob, or Mobile Locksmith

Owners generally weigh three routes.

The dealer can key any GMC or Buick. The vehicle has to be there, which for a truck with no working key means a tow, and the work is scheduled around the service department's calendar.

Buying a fob online is the cheapest way to get the part and the most common way to waste money. The risk is not that the part is poor quality. It is that the part number or frequency is wrong for your VIN, or that a used fob is still locked to its previous vehicle. If you go this route, confirm the part number first.

A mobile locksmith brings the cutting machine and the programming equipment to the vehicle. There is no tow, the quote is given from the VIN before dispatch, and a second key can be made in the same visit for far less than the first. For a truck parked at a ranch gate outside Annetta, a school lot in Aledo or a job site in Hudson Oaks, that is usually the fastest route back on the road.

Every route requires proof that the vehicle is yours. Key codes and security access are released to credentialed professionals through the NASTF Vehicle Security Professional registry only after ownership is verified, so have the registration or title and a matching photo ID ready.

What the Appointment Looks Like

Phone quote. Year, model, VIN, how many working keys you have, and where the vehicle is. You get a number before we leave.
Ownership check. Registration or title and a matching ID.
Existing key check. If a key exists, we test it first. A fob that needs a battery does not need replacing.
Code and cut. The key code is retrieved by VIN, or a lock is decoded, and the blade is cut on the van.
Programming. The key or fob is introduced to the vehicle. On an all-keys-lost job this includes the security relearn.
Testing. Every key is tried in the door and the ignition, every remote button is pressed, and passive entry is checked on each handle where fitted.

Most spare-key visits are short. All-keys-lost visits take longer because of the relearn, and we will tell you the expected time on the phone. General information on the service is on the car key replacement page, and lost-key help is on the lost car key page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a GMC key replacement cost in Annetta TX?

As of October 2026, a GMC transponder, flip or remote-head key runs $120 to $280, and a spare proximity fob on a push-button Sierra, Yukon, Acadia or Terrain runs $190 to $375. If every key is lost, the job runs $320 to $620 because the vehicle needs a security relearn. Each extra key at the same visit is $150 to $300.

How much is a Buick key fob replacement?

A spare proximity fob for a push-button Buick such as an Enclave, Envision or LaCrosse runs $250 to $425 programmed. A flip key with a transponder on earlier and base trims runs $150 to $260. Older Buicks with resistor or early chip keys run $90 to $180.

Is it cheaper to get a spare before I lose my last key?

Yes, by a wide margin. A spare made while one key still works is a short procedure. With no working key, the vehicle needs a security relearn and the cut has to be established from the VIN or a lock, which is why the price roughly doubles. The cheapest key you will ever buy is the second one.

Can you program a key fob I bought online?

Often, yes, for $85 to $180, provided the part number and FCC ID match your VIN and the fob is not locked to another vehicle. Many online fobs look identical and are the wrong frequency. Send the part number before you buy and we will confirm whether it will work.

Why does my GMC start and then stall with a new key?

A key cut without the correct transponder chip will turn the ignition and crank the engine, and the theft-deterrent system then shuts the engine off. The key needs the right chip and it needs to be programmed to the vehicle. If your original key does the same thing, the fault is in the vehicle rather than the key.

Do you need my VIN to quote a GMC or Buick key?

Yes. The same model and year can take different keys depending on trim and options, and the VIN settles which one yours needs. It is also how the key code is retrieved. Have the registration or title and a matching photo ID ready, because ownership is verified before any key is made.

Do you come to me, or do I need a tow?

We come to you. The cutting and programming equipment is on the van, and the service covers Annetta, Weatherford, Aledo, Willow Park, Hudson Oaks, Benbrook, Fort Worth and the rest of Parker County. A truck with no working key does not need to be towed anywhere.

Get a Firm Number From Your VIN

Whether you need one spare for a Sierra or every key replaced on an Enclave, the quote comes from the VIN before we drive out. Call or text (817) 813-9396 for GMC and Buick key replacement in Annetta, Weatherford, Aledo, Willow Park, Hudson Oaks, Benbrook and Fort Worth.

Article written by the Annetalocksmith Automotive Locksmith Team. Reviewed by a working automotive locksmith technician.