Broken Key Extraction
$65 - $150 | 15-30 minutes | Available 24/7
Triton Locksmith extract broken key pieces from car door locks, ignitions, and trunk locks for $65-$150. No drilling, no damage. We use extractor tools designed to grab the broken piece without pushing it deeper. Takes 15-30 minutes. We can cut a new key on the spot.
How Do We Extract a Broken Key?
Specialized extractor hooks that grip the broken piece and pull it straight out. We don't use pliers (pushes the piece deeper) or superglue (makes things worse). Professional extractor tools are thin blades with tiny hooks that slide alongside the broken key fragment and catch the teeth.
If the break is clean and the piece is near the front of the cylinder, extraction takes 2-3 minutes. If it snapped deep inside a worn cylinder, it takes longer but we still get it out. We extract broken keys from car door locks, ignitions, and trunk locks.
Why Do Car Keys Break?
Worn keys, worn cylinders, and forcing a sticky lock. Keys are brass. Cylinders are harder metals. Over thousands of insertions, the key wears thin at the stress point (usually right where the blade meets the bow). One hard turn and it snaps.
We see this a lot with older keys that were copied multiple times. Each copy loses a tiny bit of precision. By the third or fourth generation, the key binds in the cylinder and the weakened brass gives way. According to the Associated Locksmiths of America, a key should be replaced after 5-7 years of daily use or after 2 copies.
Common Questions
How much does broken key extraction cost?
$65-$100 for door locks. $85-$150 for ignition cylinders (harder to access). New key cutting is additional if you need one.
Can you make a new key after extracting the broken one?
Yes. We can either piece together the broken fragments to read the cut pattern, or decode the lock cylinder directly. Either way, you get a new working key.
Will extraction damage my lock?
No. Our tools are designed to slide in without contacting the lock pins or wafers. The cylinder works normally after extraction.
What if the key broke off inside the ignition?
Same process, just harder to reach. We access the keyway through the steering column and extract the piece. If the ignition cylinder is damaged, we can replace it on the spot.
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Need Broken Key Extraction?
We're on call 24/7 across 25 South Florida cities.
(561) 524-8500