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Julian's Locksmith

Automotive locksmith

2020 Toyota Mirai Key Replacement

Short answer: The 2020 Toyota Mirai belongs to the Mirai JPD10 (1st generation) and uses a smart proximity key with push-button start. We can usually add spare keys on site; some situations, such as all keys lost on certain trims, need extra steps or a dealer-supplied part. Julian's Locksmith cuts and programs Mirai keys on site; call (951) 903-3193 with your VIN for a quote.

2020 Toyota Mirai Key Replacement: replacement car keys and smart fobs

Not every car key call starts with a lost key. Plenty start with one that's falling apart: a Toyota Mirai remote whose buttons no longer click, a shell split along the seam, a blade that bends a little more every time it goes into the ignition, or a fob that only works when it's pressed against the glass. Those are all fixable without waiting on a dealer. In Southern California, Julian's Locksmith can swap a worn shell, cut a fresh blade to the factory code instead of copying the wear, or replace the key outright and program it to your 2020 Mirai. We look at what you have first and tell you honestly whether a repair or a new key makes more sense.

2020 Mirai key specs

GenerationJPD10 (1st generation), 2016–2020
IgnitionPush-button start
Key typesSmart proximity key (push-to-start)
Key bladeEmergency blade inside the fob
Locksmith supportSpares yes; some cases need extra steps

First-generation Mirais use a four-button proximity fob with lock, unlock, trunk and panic buttons; catalogs list FCC HYQ14FBA under Toyota part 89904-62020. Touching the door handle with the fob nearby unlocks the car, and the POWER button starts the fuel-cell system whenever the fob is inside. An emergency blade slides out of the fob for the driver's door. There is no key slot or conventional ignition anywhere on the car.

What's specific to the 2020 Mirai

2020 was the final model year of the Mirai JPD10 (1st generation), before the JPD20 (2nd generation) arrived for 2021. Late-run cars occasionally pick up running changes, so we check the VIN instead of assuming a 2020 Toyota Mirai matches a 2016. A 2020 Toyota Mirai is about 6 years old now. Original fob batteries are near the end of their life at this age, so weak range or a "key not detected" message is often a battery before it is a failed fob. Cars this age are often on their second owner, which is when a single remaining key and a request for a spare tend to show up.

Smart-key cars like the 2020 Mirai can be targeted with relay attacks that extend the fob's signal from inside your home, so keep fobs away from exterior walls or in a signal-blocking pouch, and have any missing fob erased from the car.

Key options for the 2020 Toyota Mirai

  • Smart proximity key (push-to-start). A smart or proximity key lets a 2020 Toyota Mirai open when you touch the door handle and start with a push of a button while the fob stays in your pocket or bag. Antennas in the doors and cabin send out a low-frequency wake-up signal; the fob answers on a higher radio frequency with an encrypted reply, and the car only allows a start once it confirms the fob is inside. When the fob battery is weak, that conversation fails, which is why most designs include a backup: hold the fob against the start button or set it in a designated pocket. The owner's manual shows where, and it's worth checking before you need it.

How the Toyota immobilizer works on the Mirai

  • Toyota began US retail deliveries of the Mirai in California in October 2015, as a 2016 model.
  • Its HYQ14FBA fob is a four-button version with a trunk button, part 89904-62020, not the Highlander's fob with the same FCC ID.
  • With a dead fob battery, the car can still be started by touching the POWER button with the fob's Toyota emblem side, per Toyota's procedure.

Programming a 2020 Mirai key

There is no on-board programming for Mirai fobs. A new fob is registered with a programmer through the OBD-II port and the smart key system, after which the emergency blade is cut to the door lock. Aftermarket tool coverage for the Mirai is thinner than for the Prius or Camry because so few were sold, so we check your VIN against our equipment before scheduling. All-keys-lost may require direct access to the smart key ECU or a visit to a Toyota fuel-cell dealer.

Most Toyota key work runs through the OBD-II port with professional equipment. On 4C cars, a spare can often be cloned from a working key onto a new chip, while 4D-67, G and H keys are registered to the immobilizer itself. Some 4D-67 and G-chip Toyotas also accept an on-board add when you have a working black master key, and Toyota's door-and-key routine pairs most separate remotes and remote-head buttons without a computer. Smart keys always need a programmer. Many 2004-2020 fobs can be professionally reset and reused, but fobs from the newest systems may not be reusable at all. Blades matter too: most Toyota chip and remote-head keys use the TR47 profile, while smart keys hide a laser-cut emergency blade that has to be cut so you can open the driver's door when the fob dies. Before any of this, we check your ID and registration, and we quote the whole job before starting.

Adding a fob is often possible with current tools. All-keys-lost on this low-volume car may need smart key ECU access or a Toyota fuel-cell dealer.

Lost every key to your Mirai?

  1. Gather your documents and the VIN. Call with the year, make, model and VIN if you can read it through the windshield, plus where the car is parked. Those details let us confirm whether your Toyota Mirai can be done on-site and bring the right key, so the first trip is the only trip.
  2. Get into the vehicle without damage. Entry comes before key-making because we need access to the ignition, the OBD-II port and sometimes the documents in the glove box. We take care with weather stripping, door frames and paint, and we confirm the dash VIN matches your registration before going any further.
  3. Originate a new key from the car. With no key to copy, the cuts come from the vehicle itself. We retrieve the key code through manufacturer channels where possible, or decode a door lock with a pick-decoder tool. Then we cut the blade on our code machine and confirm it turns the lock smoothly.
  4. Program the key to the immobilizer. Next, the new key is introduced to the car's security system. Many vehicles allow this through the OBD-II port with a PIN or security procedure. Some all-keys-lost cases require reading a module on the bench, and a few platforms only allow dealer programming, which we'll tell you up front.
  5. Erase missing keys and add a spare. Once the car starts, we remove the lost keys from memory wherever the system allows, so they can't start the engine if someone finds them. Making a second key during the same visit costs much less than a repeat all-keys-lost call down the road.

Why a spare key pays for itself

  • Electronics fail without warning. A fob dropped on concrete, run through the washing machine or soaked at the pool can quit for good. With a second programmed key, that's an annoyance you fix on your own schedule, not a stranded car that needs attention today.
  • When you sell or trade in the vehicle, buyers and dealers expect two keys. A missing key can come up during an appraisal or a private-sale negotiation, so having both on hand keeps the conversation about the car, not about what it will cost the next owner to replace one.
  • Two drivers sharing one key is a daily negotiation. A second key lets a partner, teenager or coworker use the vehicle without handing keys back and forth in parking lots, and it means one person losing their key ring doesn't leave the whole household stuck.

Dealer or mobile locksmith?

Dealers have one clear advantage: direct access to the manufacturer's own systems. Some newer vehicles tie key programming to online authorization that only a dealer can use, and certain all-keys-lost situations on specific platforms still require it. A good locksmith knows where those lines are. Where we can do the job, we use professional programming equipment that talks to the same immobilizer and keyless systems through the OBD-II port, and in many cases the result is identical: a properly registered key that starts the car. Where we can't, we can often still help by opening the vehicle, cutting a mechanical blade from code, or helping you gather what the dealer will ask for so that visit goes smoothly. For your Toyota Mirai, ask us directly and you'll get a plain answer.

Mirai key battery

Most fobs for a 2020 Toyota Mirai open along a small slot in the seam; a coin or a plastic pry tool works better than a screwdriver, which chews up the housing. If the fob hides a mechanical blade, slide it out first, since the case often opens from that gap. Note which side of the old cell faces up, swap in a fresh replacement, and press the halves together until they click all the way around. Handle the new battery by its edges, because skin oil on the faces can hurt contact. In most cases the fob keeps its programming through a battery change, so test lock, unlock and start, and you're done.

How the job works

  1. Identify the exact key your Mirai uses. Every job starts with the VIN, the trim and a look at any key you still have. From those we confirm the keyway, the transponder or smart-key chip, the remote frequency, the FCC ID and the button layout. Two Toyota Mirai keys that look identical can carry different electronics, so this step keeps the wrong part from ever reaching the car.
  2. Verify ownership before any work. California holds licensed locksmiths responsible for knowing whose car they're making keys for. We record your name, the VIN and the plate on a work order. If you aren't the registered owner, you'll need the owner's written authorization along with your own photo ID before we begin.
  3. Get the key code or decode the lock. A key is cut from a code, not a guess. When the factory code can be retrieved through manufacturer channels after ownership is verified, we use it. When it can't, we decode a door lock with a pick-decoder tool that reads the wafer positions without damaging anything, then work out any missing cuts.
  4. Cut the blade on-site. Our van carries a code-cutting machine that handles both traditional edge-cut blades and the laser-cut, side-milled profiles common on newer keys. The blade is cut to the code, then test-fitted in a door lock and the ignition or emergency keyhole to confirm smooth operation before any programming begins.
  5. Program the chip, remote or smart key. With the blade done, we connect to the OBD-II port and register the new key with the immobilizer. Depending on the Toyota system, this may involve a security PIN, a timed waiting period, or on-board button sequences for the remote. On some vehicles we clone a working key's chip instead, when that's the more reliable path.
  6. Test everything and clear out old keys. The last step is a short walkthrough. We show you how many keys the car now recognizes, point out the dead-fob start method for your vehicle, and hand you an itemized receipt. If a spare makes sense, it's simplest to add it during this same visit while the equipment is already connected.

What affects the price of a Mirai key

  • The type of key. Price follows complexity. The more the key does, the more it costs to replace: brass blade, then chip, then remote buttons, then full keyless entry and push-button start. If your Mirai came with different key styles by trim, the one your car actually uses is the one that sets the quote.
  • Factory or aftermarket parts. Factory keys and fobs carry the manufacturer's part number and usually the highest parts cost. Quality aftermarket keys use compatible electronics at a lower price and work well on many vehicles. We tell you which options we trust for your car, and where an aftermarket version has known range or fit issues, we steer you to OEM.
  • Blade style and cutting. Traditional edge-cut blades are quick to cut. High-security laser-cut blades, with a groove milled into the side, need a specialized machine and more care, and the blanks themselves cost more. If we have to decode a lock to find the cuts, that adds labor as well.
  • Travel, timing and extra repairs. Sometimes a key problem is really a lock problem: an ignition that won't turn even with the right key, or a door cylinder that has been jammed for years. Fixing those is separate work. We point them out, explain the options, and quote the whole job up front so the bill holds no surprises.

Call (951) 903-3193 with your VIN and the keys you still have, and we'll quote the job before any work starts.

Tips from a mobile locksmith

  • Every so often, use the mechanical blade in the driver's door lock. Cylinders that go years without a key can seize from dust and dried grease, and you won't find out until the day the fob dies and the blade is your only way in. A small shot of dry lubricant keeps the lock ready.
  • Learn your car's dead-fob start method now, in the driveway, rather than in a dark parking lot later. Depending on the make, you hold the fob against the start button or place it in a marked pocket in the console. Also find the hidden keyhole on the driver's door handle and practice using the emergency blade.
  • Photograph the back of your fob and any key tag that came with the car. The FCC ID, part number and key code printed there make ordering a replacement faster and more accurate. Store the photos somewhere you can reach from any device, not only on the phone that might go missing along with the keys.
  • On any vehicle with a turn-key ignition, keep the key ring light. A heavy cluster of keys, tools and charms swings with every bump and slowly wears the ignition wafers and the key itself. When the key starts to stick or needs a wiggle to turn, deal with it early, before it stops turning entirely.
  • Never hide a spare key or fob on the outside of the car. Magnetic boxes in wheel wells and under bumpers are the first places a thief checks, and with a proximity fob, a hidden key can let anyone open the doors and drive away. Keep the spare at home or with someone you trust.

Proof of ownership

Not every situation fits the simple case, so here's how we handle the common exceptions. For a leased or financed vehicle, a registration that lists you as the registered owner or lessee works with your ID. If you just bought the car, bring the signed title or bill of sale along with your ID. For a company or fleet vehicle, we need written authorization from the business plus the driver's ID. If the car belongs to a family member, the registered owner should be present or provide signed permission and a copy of their ID. Rental vehicles go through the rental company.

Need a 2020 Toyota Mirai key?

The quickest route to a working key for a 2020 Toyota Mirai starts with a short phone call. Dial (951) 903-3193, share the VIN and where the car is parked in Southern California, and we'll tell you whether it's an on-site job, a dealer job, or a mix of both. No pressure and no surprise charges, just a straight plan.

Frequently asked questions

Can a locksmith make a key for a 2020 Toyota Mirai?

We can usually add spare keys on site; some situations, such as all keys lost on certain trims, need extra steps or a dealer-supplied part. Adding a fob is often possible with current tools. All-keys-lost on this low-volume car may need smart key ECU access or a Toyota fuel-cell dealer. The 2020 Mirai uses a smart proximity key with push-button start.

Why does my Mirai crank but not start with a newly cut key?

That pattern points to the immobilizer, not the engine. The blade is cut correctly, so the ignition turns, but the car doesn't recognize the chip and blocks fuel or spark. A flashing security light usually confirms it. The key either wasn't programmed, carries the wrong chip type, or is an unprogrammed copy from a hardware store. Programming a correct key to your 2020 Toyota Mirai resolves it.

Can you program a key fob I bought online for my 2020 Mirai?

Sometimes. The fob has to match your vehicle's FCC ID, frequency and chip type, and it can't already be locked to another car, which is common with used smart keys. Send us a photo of the fob, the listing and your VIN before the appointment. If it's compatible, we'll cut and program it. If it isn't, we'll tell you before charging for an attempt, and we can supply a part we know will work.

What happens to the key I lost? Can it still start my Toyota?

When we program new keys, we can usually erase lost keys from the immobilizer, which stops them from starting the engine. On some systems the car only remembers the keys present during programming, so the lost one drops off automatically. Keep in mind that a lost key's metal blade can still open the doors, so if it went missing with something that shows your address, ask about rekeying the door locks.

When can you come out to Southern California for a car key?

We work every day from 6:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., weekends included. Weekends are included. Call (951) 903-3193 and we'll give you an honest ETA to Southern California based on where we are at the time. If you're stuck outside our hours, it's usually smarter to leave the car parked and locked, get home safely, and call when we open than to pay for an overnight tow.

Can you make a Mirai key from the VIN alone?

The VIN is a starting point, not a finished key. For many vehicles, the factory key code can be obtained from the VIN through manufacturer channels once ownership is verified, which lets us cut a blade that matches your locks. The chip or fob still has to be programmed at the vehicle, so we need access to the car itself. Where no code is available, we decode a lock instead.

Is the 2020 Toyota Mirai push-to-start?

Yes. The 2020 Mirai uses push-button start with a smart proximity key, so a replacement has to be a programmed smart fob, not just a cut blade. The fob also hides a mechanical emergency blade for the doors.

Other Mirai years

Call now(951) 903-3193

Daily 6:30am–11:30pm