How to Replace Lost Keys for a Used GM Vehicle
by Kate Bruscke
Whether you lost a key for a General Motors (GM) brand car or truck you currently own, or are in process of purchasing a used vehicle for which the owner misplaced one of the original keys, GM makes acquiring a replacement key fairly simple. All you need is to know the car’s make, model, year and vehicle identification number (VIN).
Step 1
Locate the make, model and VIN of the vehicle whose keys you need to replace. VIN numbers might be on your insurance or registration paperwork. They are also in several locations on the automobile, including just below the windshield on the driver’s side dashboard, on the driver’s side door below the latch, or in the well in which the door latches. VINs are long strings of numbers and letters that uniquely identify each individual automobile and provide additional information about country of origin, manufacturer and year built.
Step 2
Jot down the VIN number for later reference.
Step 3
Visit the GM Dealer Locator site (see Resources), and search for a certified GM dealer near your location. You can search by Zip code or by city and state.
Step 4
Call a dealer convenient to you and explain that you need to purchase a replacement key. You might be transferred to the parts or service department.
Step 5
Give the dealer the information about the make, model and VIN to order your replacement key. You probably will have to go to the dealer’s location to purchase or pick up your replacement key.
References
Warnings
- Depending on the popularity and age of your GM automobile, dealers might have to special order your key. It can take up to 14 business days to receive a back-ordered key.
- Cars manufactured before 1981 might not have a VIN. In these cases, contact your local GM dealer for assistance.
Writer Bio
A writer and professional lab assistant based in Seattle, Kate Bruscke has been writing professionally about health care and technology since 1998. Her freelance clients include "The Seattle Times," KGB.com, Reading Local: Seattle, Nordstrom and MSN/Microsoft. Bruscke holds a Master of Fine Arts from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
