How Much Does a Dacia Key Cost to Replace?
“How much is a new Dacia key?” is the first question everyone asks, and there is genuinely good news here: because Dacia is a value marque built on shared Renault mechanicals, a replacement key is usually one of the cheaper jobs we do. Rather than quote a figure that might be wrong for your car, here is exactly what moves the price so you know what you are dealing with.
1. Flip key vs hands-free Keyless
This is the biggest single factor. Most Dacias use a conventional flip key with a folding VA2 or NE73 blade, which is an inexpensive part to supply and quick to code. Higher-trim Duster and Jogger models can have a hands-free Keyless fob, which is a more expensive part and takes longer to programme.
- Conventional flip key (most Dacias): the lower tier — cheap part, quick to code.
- Hands-free Keyless fob (higher-trim Duster & Jogger): higher — a proximity fob is a more expensive part.
2. Spare vs all-keys-lost
If you still hold a working key, a spare is the lower-cost job — the car already trusts a key. If you have lost them all, it becomes an all-keys-lost, which means reading the Renault-style immobiliser (the UCH) to create a key from scratch — always a higher tier because of the extra skill and the new part.
3. The transponder generation
Older Dacias use a Hitag2 (PCF7961-type) chip; newer cars move to the more secure Hitag AES (PCF7961M) [verify against your VIN]. The newer chip can cost a little more, but on a value marque the difference is modest compared with a premium car.
Why we won’t quote a random number
You will see “Dacia keys from £X” figures online, but a headline price for a bladed Sandero flip key tells you nothing about a hands-free Keyless Jogger all-keys-lost. Quoting blind either scares people off or sets a figure we cannot honour. Instead we read your registration, identify the exact car, key type and transponder, and give you a firm price before we travel — no surprises on the day.
One way to save money
If your Dacia is down to its last key, getting a spare programmed now — while the car still trusts a working key — is markedly cheaper than waiting until you have lost them all and need the full immobiliser-read job. It is the single best way to keep the cost down.
Sort your Dacia key with Lock City
We give firm, upfront Dacia key quotes once we have your reg — see our Dacia key replacement and key programming services, or the Dacia key replacement hub for your model, from the Sandero to the Jogger. Lost every key? See our all-keys-lost guide first, then send us your registration.