Standard transponder keys (Ford, Toyota, GMC, Honda)
Cutting and programming a standard transponder runs 15–30 minutes once the locksmith arrives. Most domestic and Japanese vehicles register a new key via OBD-II within 1–5 minutes.
Luxury smart-key fobs (with at least one working original)
A smart-key fob program with at least one working original — Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Range Rover — typically takes 30–60 minutes. The original key seeds the programming session.
All-keys-lost on European platforms
No working original is where the time investment lives. Mercedes EIS pairing is 60–90 minutes; BMW F-series FEM/BDC is 60–120 minutes (includes bench coding); Range Rover BCM coding is 60–90 minutes; older Mercedes ESL replacement runs 90–120 minutes.