When a car key snaps, part of the blade is left inside the ignition or door lock, held in place by the lock's wafers or tumblers. Professional extraction uses thin, hooked or barbed extractor tools that slide alongside the broken piece, catch its cuts and draw it out — without forcing the lock. In most cases the lock is undamaged and keeps working; a new key is then cut, often using the broken pieces as a pattern, and the transponder or remote is transferred or programmed as needed.

Key snapped right now? Call (613) 707-4884.

What to Do Immediately

  • Stop turning. Trying to turn the stub with pliers can push it deeper or damage the wafers.
  • Don't use glue. Superglue on a stick is a common internet tip, and it often bonds the fragment to the lock instead.
  • Keep both pieces. The head and the broken blade together are the best pattern for cutting a new key, and the head may contain a transponder chip that can be reused.
  • Note the ignition position. If the key broke with the ignition on, accessories may drain the car's battery. Mention this when you call.
  • Use your spare to unlock doors if you have one — but not in the same lock that holds the broken piece.

How the Extraction Itself Works

  1. Assess. The technician looks at how far the fragment sits in the keyway and whether any part protrudes.
  2. Align. The lock is returned to its neutral, key-removal position if it was turned. A broken piece usually only comes out cleanly when the wafers are aligned.
  3. Lubricate if needed. A small amount of suitable lock lubricant reduces friction, especially in a worn or dirty lock.
  4. Extract. A thin extractor is slid in beside the blade, rotated slightly to catch a cut, and pulled out with steady pressure. Two extractors may be used together for larger fragments.
  5. Test. The lock is checked with a working key to make sure nothing was damaged.

If the fragment is jammed or the lock was damaged before the key broke, the cylinder may need to be removed and disassembled. That is more involved, and it is where an ignition repair may come into the picture.

Ignition vs Door Lock

Breaks in the ignition are the most urgent, because the car can't be started and the ignition may be stuck in a position that drains the battery. Door-lock breaks are less urgent if you can get in another way, but leaving the fragment can let moisture in and, in an Ottawa winter, freeze the lock. Broken keys in house door locks follow the same principles; see what to do about a broken key in a door lock.

Getting a Working Key Again

After extraction, you still need a key. If you have a spare, the job may be done. If not, a new blade can be cut by matching the broken pieces or by decoding the lock. If the old key had a transponder chip in the head, it can sometimes be transferred into a new key shell; otherwise the new key will need to be programmed to the immobilizer. Our article on car key duplication vs replacement explains which route applies.

Why Car Keys Break — and How to Prevent It

  • Wear. Old keys thin out at the shoulder. Replace a key that is visibly bent, cracked or worn smooth before it fails.
  • Heavy key rings. A heavy bunch of keys hanging from the ignition stresses both the key and the ignition cylinder.
  • Frozen locks. Forcing a key in a frozen door lock is a classic winter break. Use a lock de-icer instead of extra force.
  • A stiff ignition. If the key has become hard to turn, have the ignition looked at before the key snaps.

Next Step

If a key has broken off in your car's ignition or door, see our broken key extraction service or call (613) 707-4884. Keep both pieces of the key with you.

For professional help, see our broken key extraction service — available 24/7 across Ottawa.