1998 Subaru Forester
Key Replacement - Save vs Dealer in Ventura County

Q: How does mobile key replacement work for a 1998 Subaru Forester?

You call, give me your year, make, model, and VIN. I confirm the right key blank for your Forester and give you a price. When I arrive, I either cut from a key code tied to your VIN or decode the lock directly if no code is on file. The key gets cut in the van, tested in the door and ignition, and handed to you. No tow, no waiting room, no return visit.

Q: What do I need to have ready when you arrive?

Just the vehicle, a valid photo ID, and proof of ownership, your registration or title. I pull the VIN from the dash or door jamb to verify the key specs before I cut anything. That is the whole list. I verify ownership before doing the work, same as any legitimate locksmith would, and then we get straight to it.

Q: I have one key that still works but it is worn down. Should I get a duplicate made now or wait until it fails?

Get the duplicate now. A worn key is readable, which means I can still use it as a pattern to cut an accurate copy. Once a key gets worn past a certain point, the cuts become ambiguous and the copy comes out wrong, then neither key works reliably. On a 1998 Forester, your ignition cylinder and door locks have been through over 25 years of use. A fresh key cut to spec is easier on those tumblers too.

Q: My key turns in the door but barely moves the ignition, or the other way around. What is going on?

Common on older Subarus. The door locks and ignition cylinder wear at different rates, so a key that still works one place can feel stiff or sticky in another. Sometimes it is the cylinder itself getting gummy inside from age and dried lubricant. A shot of dry lubricant into the cylinder often loosens things up before they become a real problem.

Lost Every Key? | We Start From Scratch

Available

Metal Key

Lost all your keys? Don't panic, and don't call a tow truck. Our mobile locksmith comes to your vehicle and creates a brand new key from scratch, even with zero working keys.

CA BSIS LICENSE LCO#6792

Locked Out? No Stress Keys From Zero Fast Response

Fast Response15-25

min arrival

1,400+reviews

Call (805) 790-8162 Text Us

1998 Subaru Forester key replacement cost - EZ Car Keyz Simi Valley CA

Zero Keys Needed

We program directly to your vehicle's computer

On-Site Key Cutting

New key cut from vehicle codes, not from a copy

Fast Recovery

Back on the road in 30-45 minutes from arrival

805 Special

10% OFFCODE:EZ-805-2026

🔥 Rescue key service, 10% off 🔥

REDEEM (805) 790-8162

1998 Subaru Forester
Key Options

Dealer-grade key for a fair, honest price

Metal Key

Lost Subaru Key: Tow vs Mobile Fix

Stranded? Compare response times

EZ Car Keyz

Dealership

Average Cost

✓ $$

✕ $$$$

Location

✓ We come to you

✕ You drive there

Wait Time

✓ 20-45 min

✕ 2-5 days

Same-Day

✓ Yes

✕ Rarely

All Keys Lost

✓ No problem

✕ Tow required

OEM Quality

✓ Yes

EZ Car Keyz wins 5 out of 6

Lost all your keys? No tow truck needed

Book Service (805) 790-8162

1998 Subaru Forester Metal Key Replacement - Fast, Affordable & Professional

I got a call from a guy staying at a vacation rental in the Wood Ranch area of Simi Valley. He was out for the weekend and had locked his only key inside the car. Classic Saturday-afternoon problem.

He had already called a Subaru dealer. They told him to have it towed in, and they could look at it the following day. He was picturing a tow bill, a hotel night, and a full day of waiting for a key that, at its core, is a piece of cut metal.

I drove out to the property, decoded the lock right at the driver door, and cut a replacement key in the van. Turned the ignition, turned the door lock, handed it over. The whole thing took under half an hour from the time I pulled up.

He asked me afterward if there was any programming involved, any computer stuff. I told him no. On a 1998 Forester, the key is the key. Get the cut right and you are done.

He had a working key in his hand that evening instead of the next afternoon, and he paid a fraction of what the dealer quoted for the tow alone, never mind the key itself.

Save vs the Dealer on Your Subaru Forester Key

Get your key for hundreds less than the dealer. Same quality, same result, better price.

Get Pricing (805) 790-8162 Text Us

BSIS Licensed

LCO#6792

CA Bureau of Security & Investigative Services

NASTF Certified

National Automotive Service Task Force

Fully Insured

Liability & vehicle damage coverage

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Also serving: Big Sky · Bridle Path · Corriganville · East Simi Valley

Subaru Forester Rapid Response, Done Right

Rapid response in the field

1998 Subaru Forester

Metal Key | Rescue Key

Priority ETA

Rapid Arrival

Available Today

Simi Valley

Help Is Close

805 Area

Same-Day Keys (805) 790-8162

Lockout to Five-Star Review

Lost key panic turned to five-star praise

M

Marianne S.

Aug 2022

★★★★★

“I had two fob keys made for my Subaru. Marco provided excellent service and persevered through three parts orders to get the keys I needed. He is very thorough in making sure everything is working properly. Communication and punctuality are also to be commended.”

Google Review

L

Ldavis

Oct 2025

★★★★★

“Awesome job showed up 8:30 at night and got the job done when nobody else wanted to help me. Very happy with the new car key service in Ventura”

Google Review

A

April

Sep 2025

★★★★★

“Thank you Marco, he got my key cut to my challenger in less than 10 min. Definitely recommend!”

Google Review

Customer review showing savings on 1998 Subaru Forester key by EZ Car Keyz Simi Valley CA

★ 5.0 out of 5 - Based on Over 1,400 five-star Google reviews

Best Price (805) 790-8162

Subaru Forester Mobile Service FAQ

Real costs, no dealer surprises

Do I need to bring my 1998 Subaru Forester somewhere for key replacement?▼

No. I come to you. The 1998 Forester uses a mechanical key, which means everything needed to make a replacement fits in a service van. I can decode your lock on site, cut the key, and hand it to you in your driveway, your parking spot, or wherever the car is sitting in the Wood Ranch area of Simi Valley or anywhere nearby. There is no reason to tow a car over a mechanical key.