How do I get a car key code from the VIN?
When vehicle locks are assembled, the key cuts are determined from a key code series for that range of vehicles and the vehicle gets a key code from that series.
Every vehicle is assigned a VIN at manufacturing and the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) identifies that vehicle and all parts it is made from.
There is no correlation between the key code assigned to the vehicle and the VIN, other than in the manufacturer's records.
In other words, at assembly a random lock is placed in the vehicle and the key code for that lock is recorded by the manufacturer.
The locks on any vehicle can be (and sometimes are) changed for a number of reasons. It is relatively uncommon for these changes to be recorded with the vehicle’s manufacturer, especially once the vehicle has been resold.
You may obtain the key code for a vehicle by providing the VIN to the vehicle manufacturer or vehicle dealer and request the key code. Note that this is useful only if the locks have never been changed to another key code.
There are a number of "Code Brokers" who offer a service for getting the key code from the VIN. They work by taking your enquire to the vehicle manufacturer.
It is best to approach the vehicle manufacturer yourself for the key code as that is usually free.
¶ Confusion
The Code Broker services have led to the myth that there is software that will convert a VIN to a key code. This is not true.
Any software that does this is limited in the number of VINs it knows and has been achieved by them having copies of the manufacturer's VIN information built into the software. This is why they are limited to specific data ranges of vehicles and VINs starting with specific characters (The start of a VIN indicates the factory it was assembled in).
¶ Traditional locksmithing
Traditional locksmith tools and techniques are faster and cheaper than Code Broker services. If you are unable to determine the key code to a vehicle using traditional locksmith tools and techniques then you could enlist the help of a locksmith more experienced in the particular vehicle or contact the vehicle’s original manufacture for the key code information.
¶ Key code on locks
Some vehicles have the key code marked on the door locks. You can see this by removing the door lock from the car. This was once common practice but in recent vehicles it is uncommon. It is still done by Japanese and Korean vehicle manufacturers but seldom in other manufacturers.
¶ Lock decoding
Most commonly Lishe picks are used for reading the door lock wafers.
Use the values you read with the InstaCode Lock positions information and the InstaCode Find bitting procedure. See the article Key cuts to key code
