Question 1

I lost all my keys to my 2023 Land Rover Defender. Can you still make a new one?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and it's one of the more involved jobs in the mobile locksmith world, but it's done on site. All-keys-lost on the current Defender means working through the vehicle's security module with JLR-capable diagnostic equipment, wiping the lost fobs from memory, registering a new smart key, and getting everything talking correctly before I leave your driveway.

The dealer will typically tell you to flatbed it in and plan for a multi-week wait. Parts get ordered, sometimes arrive wrong, get reordered. Owners on the JLR forums have documented waits stretching past two months on all-keys-lost scenarios just because of module lead times and scheduling. We skip all of that. I come to you in the Santee Lakes area, do the work same-day in most cases, and you drive it when I'm done. The dealer route costs significantly more and takes far longer.

Question 2

Do I have to tow my 2023 Defender to the dealer with no keys?

Accepted Answer

No. A mobile locksmith with the right JLR-specific tools handles all-keys-lost right where the truck sits. You do not need a flatbed, and you do not need to give up your vehicle for days or weeks.

Dealers will default to tow-it-in because that's their process, not because it's the only option. I've had customers in the Santee Lakes area who called me after getting a flatbed quote and a vague dealer timeline. Same work, done in your driveway.

Question 3

How long does an all-keys-lost job take on a 2023 Defender?

Accepted Answer

On site, figure one to two hours for a current-generation Defender. The security system on these is more involved than older vehicles, so the diagnostic sequence takes time and can't be rushed. There are built-in timed steps in the process.

At the dealer, the same job commonly stretches to weeks because of parts ordering, shop scheduling, and the way JLR service queues work. I handle it same-day in most cases, and you're there watching the whole thing if you want to be.

Question 4

My 2023 Defender shows a key warning on the dash but the fob battery is brand new. What's going on?

Accepted Answer

This comes up a lot on current Defenders, and it's a known frustration owners post about on JLR forums. A fresh battery doesn't always fix it because the issue isn't always the battery.

A few things to check before assuming the fob is dead. First, confirm the battery is seated completely flat with the positive side oriented correctly. A slightly tilted cell can read as no contact. Second, try the fob at close range directly against the start button. The Defender has a backup near-field reader there specifically for low-signal situations. If that works and the normal pocket detection doesn't, you're looking at something antenna-side, not a dead fob.

If neither works and the truck won't acknowledge the key at all, that's when I come out. It could be the fob itself needing replacement and programming, or in rarer cases the vehicle's antenna or security module side needs attention. Either way, that's a diagnostic job, not a battery swap.

Question 5

Can I buy a replacement fob online and program it myself to my 2023 Defender?

Accepted Answer

No. The 2023 Defender does not have a self-programming sequence you can run from the driver's seat. Adding a smart key to this vehicle requires professional diagnostic equipment that communicates directly with the security system. There is no ignition-turn trick, no button sequence, nothing like that.

If you already bought a fob online, it's not wasted. I can program it to your truck. Just know the fob purchase is only half the job.

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