Where Locksmiths Buy Key Fobs in Canada (2026): Suppliers Compared

Canadian locksmiths buy key fobs mainly from a handful of domestic wholesale suppliers: KeyDirect (Concord, Ontario), Auto Lock Supplier (Kitchener, Ontario), Keys R Us (North York, Ontario), Maple Key Supply (North York, Ontario) and Car Key Source (Ontario stock for Canadian orders), with some shops also ordering from US distributors such as UHS Hardware. The practical differences are whether pricing is trade-gated, whether the stock physically sits in Canada (which decides whether you pay duty and brokerage), the currency you are billed in, the free-freight threshold and the returns or programming guarantee. This guide states only what each supplier says on its own website, then explains how to weigh those factors for a working shop.

Who the main suppliers are

Every supplier below sells automotive keys and remotes to the trade. Some also sell locks, door hardware and machines; some are automotive-only. The facts in each section are taken from the supplier's own site as of September 2026 and are marked "per their website". Anything not stated there is left out.

KeyDirect (Concord, Ontario)

Per their website, KeyDirect describes itself as a "Wholesale Locksmith & Automotive Supplier" based in Concord, Ontario, and states that it supports "businesses and locksmith experts in Canada and in the US". Pricing is trade-gated: product listings show "Login to see prices", and the registration page says "Only businesses who are interested in purchasing products for the purpose of resale may register. Not open for the general public." The site offers a CAD/USD currency selector, advertises free shipping over $250 and pickup, and lists keys and remotes, machines and programmers, locks and cylinders, door hardware and tools as its main lines.

Auto Lock Supplier (Kitchener, Ontario)

Per their website, Auto Lock Supplier is based in Kitchener, Ontario and describes itself as "your local Canadian wholesale keys & locks supplier". Prices are shown publicly in Canadian dollars without a login. Product emphasis is remotes and fobs, transponders and shells, Lishi tools, key machines, programming tools (Lonsdor and OBDSTAR are named) and ignition cylinders; brands featured include Xhorse, Lishi and Autel. The site states "Free Shipping Over $250 Purchase" and that it ships nationwide.

Keys R Us (North York, Ontario)

Per their website, Keys R Us is in North York, Ontario. Prices are public in CAD with an option to switch to USD, and the site says "While Keys R Us primarily serves locksmiths and security professionals, individuals are also welcome to purchase", with wholesale pricing for locksmith businesses available on contact. The catalogue is broad: key blanks, key machines, car remote keys, locks, programmers, with ILCO, Xhorse, Lonsdor, KeyDIY and Lishi among the brands named. They state they ship to all Canadian provinces and territories.

Maple Key Supply (North York, Ontario)

Per their website, Maple Key Supply is in North York, Ontario and addresses "Locksmiths and automotive professionals in Canada". Pricing is trade-gated ("Login to view price"). Lines include transponder keys, smart keys, flip keys and fobiks, programmers and key machines, locks and cylinders, door hardware and accessories; brands named include Lishi, Lonsdor, OBDSTAR, Xhorse, Autel, KYDZ and Medeco. The site has a CAD/USD toggle and states free delivery on orders over $235 (terms apply).

UHS Hardware (Hollywood, Florida)

Per their website, UHS Hardware is a US distributor based in Hollywood, Florida. Prices are public in US dollars. Lines cover automotive (transponder keys, remote head keys, smart keys, fobiks, keyless entry remotes), residential and commercial hardware, machines and programmers, and tools. The site refers to "worldwide shipping" and delivery to all 50 US states; it does not describe Canada-specific shipping terms on the pages checked, so any Canadian order is an import: you are the importer of record and duty, tax and brokerage are charged on top of the invoice.

Car Key Source (Ontario stock for Canada)

Car Key Source is a trade-gated automotive key and remote supplier serving locksmiths in Canada and the US. Canadian orders ship from Ontario, nothing crosses the border, so there is no customs, duty or brokerage for the buyer. Pricing is in CAD for Canadian accounts. Trade pricing is unlocked with an approved wholesale account, and most applications are approved instantly (apply here). Free freight over $250 CAD, counted on list prices. The catalogue is automotive-only: vehicle-specific fobs and keys (deepest in Toyota, Honda, Ford, Nissan, Chevrolet, Hyundai, Dodge, Lexus, Mazda and GMC), universal remotes from Xhorse, Lonsdor, KEYDIY and Autel, Original Lishi tools, and a small genuine OEM line. Every listing states its grade (aftermarket or genuine OEM).

Comparison table

Only what each supplier states publicly is filled in. "Not stated" means the site did not say, not that the answer is no.

How to choose a supplier

The right supplier is the one that gets the correct part into your van without surprises. Work through these in order.

Domestic stock and currency. If the product ships from a Canadian warehouse and is billed in CAD, the price you see is the price you pay. If it ships from the US, add duty where applicable, GST/HST at the border, a brokerage fee and the exchange-rate spread on your card. Those costs are real and they are rarely printed on the product page. See Buying Car Keys Wholesale in Canada: Dispatch, Freight and Why Customs Never Applies.

FCC-ID matching. A supplier is only useful if the listing shows the FCC ID, part number, frequency, chip and button count so you can match the customer's fob exactly. A fob with the right shape and the wrong board is a wasted trip. If you are not sure how to read a fob, start with How to Find the FCC ID on a Key Fob.

Grade stated plainly. Aftermarket and genuine OEM parts both have a place, but you need to know which one you are buying. Prefer suppliers that label grade on every listing. Our guide Aftermarket vs Genuine OEM Car Keys covers when each is the right call.

Approval speed. Trade-gated suppliers protect their pricing, which is good for you once you are in. What matters is how long the gate takes. Ask what documents are needed and how quickly an account is live; see How to Open a Wholesale Car Key Account.

Freight threshold and dispatch cutoff. Know the free-freight line and whether it is counted on list or discounted prices, and know the order cutoff for same-day dispatch. Batch your stock orders to clear the threshold.

Returns and programming guarantee. Ask two questions: can I return unused stock, and what happens if a correctly matched key will not program on the vehicle? Read the actual policy, not the headline.

What Car Key Source stocks for Canadian locksmiths

Car Key Source is automotive-only, so the depth is in the keys and remotes a mobile locksmith actually fits rather than door hardware.

Policies that apply to every Canadian order: In-stock orders placed by 4 PM ET (Mon–Fri) leave the warehouse the same business day. Standard transit is 4–8 business days in Canada; expedited 1–2 business days, counted from dispatch, not guaranteed. Volume ladder: 5–9 units −5%, 10–24 −10%, 25+ −15%. 30-day returns on unused, unprogrammed stock. If a key or remote won't program on the vehicle we listed it against, it is refunded within 30 days of delivery and we pay the return freight. Full terms are at /shipping and /returns.

FAQ

Do Canadian locksmiths need a licence to buy wholesale key fobs?

Most Canadian provinces do not issue a specific automotive locksmith licence, so suppliers verify the business itself: a business registration or listing, a website or storefront, and a working phone number. Where a province does license locksmiths, expect to be asked for it.

Is it cheaper to buy fobs from a US supplier?

The sticker price is sometimes lower, but a Canadian buyer pays duty where applicable, GST/HST at the border, a brokerage fee and the card's foreign-exchange spread on top, plus longer transit. Compare the landed cost in CAD, not the USD list price.

Which Canadian suppliers gate their pricing behind a trade account?

Per their websites, KeyDirect and Maple Key Supply show prices only after login, and Car Key Source unlocks trade pricing with an approved wholesale account. Auto Lock Supplier and Keys R Us show public prices, with Keys R Us offering wholesale pricing to locksmith businesses on contact.

How fast does a Car Key Source order reach a Canadian shop?

In-stock orders placed by 4 PM ET (Mon–Fri) leave the warehouse the same business day. Standard transit is 4–8 business days in Canada and expedited is 1–2 business days, counted from dispatch and not guaranteed.

What if the fob I ordered will not program?

If a key or remote won't program on the vehicle we listed it against, it is refunded within 30 days of delivery and we pay the return freight, provided the vehicle matches the listing and the part comes back resaleable.