Vauxhall Key Programming: Complete Locksmith Guide (All Models)

Vauxhall key programming is some of the most routine work in a UK auto locksmith's week, and that is exactly why it catches people out. A Corsa or an Astra on a driveway looks like a twenty-minute add-key. Most of the time it is. But the badge on the bonnet stopped telling you what is behind the dashboard some years ago, and the same nameplate now covers three different engineering lineages.

Until 2017 Vauxhall was General Motors. On 1 August that year Groupe PSA completed its £1.9 billion purchase of Opel and Vauxhall, and every Vauxhall designed from that point onward sits on Peugeot hardware. Running alongside both, the Vivaro and Movano vans have been Renault-built for most of their lives. A GM Delphi BCM, a PSA BSI and a Renault UCH want different menus, different precautions and, on the vans, a very different attitude to risk.

This guide is organised the way the work actually splits. Four families, what each needs, the procedures pulled from the Keysolved database, realistic job times, and a straight answer on where each tool falls short.

The four Vauxhall security families

Establish which family you are looking at before you quote. Model year is a clue, not an answer.

GM IMMO II and III, Hitag 2 (roughly 2000 to 2010). The Corsa C and Astra H are the reference cars. A BCM-integrated immobiliser, HU100 blade, Hitag 2 transponders from the PCF7946 and PCF7947 family, and a PIN that every mainstream tool reads from the BCM over the port. Cloning is available. The database grades add-key beginner and all-keys-lost intermediate.

GM Delphi BCM, Hitag 2 Extended (roughly 2006 to 2021). The commercial heart of Vauxhall work: the Corsa D, Astra J, Astra K, Mokka and Mokka X and the Insignia B. ID46 throughout — PCF7941 on the Corsa D, PCF7937E on the Astra J, Astra K, Mokka and Insignia B — on the HU100 blade. The split inside this family is the security code: a 4-digit Car Pass code on the earlier cars, and a code held on GM's server from model year 2016 onward.

Renault-built vans (2001 to 2021). The Vivaro A is a Renault Trafic II, the Vivaro B is a Trafic III, and the Movano B is a Master III. The immobiliser host is a Renault UCH, not a GM BCM, and tools must be pointed down the Renault path. This is where the bricked vans come from.

PSA and Stellantis BSI, Hitag AES (2017 onward). The Corsa F, Grandland X, Crossland X, Combo E and Vivaro C. ID4A Hitag AES keys on the HU83 blade, a 4-digit PIN held in the BSI, no cloning, and a Peugeot 208 or Citroën Berlingo underneath. Treat these as PSA jobs that happen to wear a griffin.

The full list of 29 Vauxhall models, with every variant, sits on the Vauxhall make page.

The GM cars: Corsa D, Astra J and the Car Pass code

This is the work that pays the bills. The Delphi BCM handles transponder authentication, and on the Corsa D the BCM, instrument cluster, airbag module and engine ECU are all matched to one another — which matters if anyone has swapped a module before you arrive.

The security code is a 4-digit number printed on the Car Pass card the customer was given at purchase. You do not need the card. The database records that Smart Pro, OBDSTAR and the other mainstream tools extract the code from the BCM over the port. The Corsa D port sits in the lower centre console near the cigarette lighter socket; on the Astra J it is in the driver's footwell above the pedals. Neither needs trim removed.

Add-key procedure, Corsa D (2006 to 2014):

1. Verify the vehicle, the V5C and the customer's identification.
2. Connect to the port in the lower centre console.
3. Select Vauxhall/Opel, Corsa D, Body, BCM, Immobiliser Programming.
4. Let the tool extract the 4-digit code from the BCM, or enter it from the Car Pass if the customer has it.
5. Select the transponder key programming routine.
6. Insert the new key and turn the ignition ON when prompted.
7. The tool programmes the transponder and pairs the remote in the same routine.
8. Cycle the ignition off and on, test the start and the remote, and clear fault codes.
9. Time: 15 to 25 minutes.

All-keys-lost, Corsa D: cut the HU100 blade from VIN or lock decode, select All Keys Lost, let the tool extract the code (some tools need an internet connection for the PIN recovery), erase every stored key, then programme the new one. The database grades this beginner. Programme a second key while you are connected. Time: 30 to 45 minutes including cutting.

Two notes from the database save wasted blanks. The Corsa D ran one chip — Hitag 2, ID46, PCF7941 — across the whole 2006 to 2014 run, with no change at the 2011 facelift. And Xhorse VVDI clone remotes built on the PCF7946 chip do not work with the Corsa D Delphi BCM. Use OEM or aftermarket keys carrying a genuine PCF7941.

On the Astra J the chip is PCF7937E, also labelled PCF7941E or ID46E, and the procedure is the same shape. The OBDSTAR X300 DP Plus route recorded in the database carries two details worth knowing before you start: select Opel, not Vauxhall, because the Vauxhall menu on that tool only lists the Vivaro and Movano, and expect a 10-minute wait during all-keys-lost. Time: 30 to 45 minutes for all-keys-lost.

Astra K, Mokka X and Insignia B: the server-held code

From model year 2016 onward GM stopped issuing Car Pass cards. The code lives on GM's central server and the tool retrieves it — from the BCM or the server — during the routine. The customer has nothing to give you, and does not need to.

The practical consequence is connectivity. The Astra K records in the database state plainly that an internet connection is required. Check your signal on the driveway before you commit, not halfway through an all-keys-lost.

All-keys-lost procedure, Astra K (2015 to 2021):

1. Verify the vehicle and proof of ownership.
2. Cut the HU100 blade from VIN or lock decode.
3. Connect to the port in the driver's footwell, left of the pedals above the bonnet release.
4. Select Opel, Astra K, All Keys Lost. The tool retrieves the security code from the BCM or the GM server.
5. Erase all previously programmed keys.
6. Switch the ignition off for 5 seconds, then on.
7. Wait for system configuration — approximately 10 minutes.
8. Switch the ignition off, remove the key, open and close the driver's door.
9. Insert the new key, ignition ON, and wait for final configuration.
10. Test the start and the remote, then programme a second key while connected.
11. Time: 35 to 50 minutes including cutting and the configuration wait.

The Astra K kept the same ID46 chip through the 2019 facelift, even though the facelift brought PSA engines. The Insignia B is the same family with a proximity key; the database grades both add-key and all-keys-lost beginner, and its port sits behind a small storage compartment lid below the headlight switch. The Lonsdor K518 record notes the Insignia B may not appear under its own menu — use the Astra K smart key path — and that add-key is confirmed while all-keys-lost is not.

The Renault-built vans: Vivaro and Movano

Read this section before your next Vivaro B. It is the Vauxhall most likely to cost you money.

The Vivaro B (X82, 2014 to 2019) is a rebadged Renault Trafic III. The immobiliser host is a Renault UCH, the key is a PCF7961M Hitag AES ID4A remote on a Renault blade, and tools must be directed down the Renault Trafic III path rather than the GM path. The database records three conditions that turn a routine job into a dead van.

Battery support at 13.5V minimum, throughout. Power loss during all-keys-lost can corrupt the UCH.

Every module VIN must match. A second-hand ABS unit or airbag module carrying a different VIN will cause the UCH to brick the van during key programming. The database calls this the single most common cause of UCH failures on this vehicle. Scan every module first.

The all-keys-lost cannot be abandoned. During the PIN read every existing key is erased. At least one new key must be completed in the same session.

All-keys-lost procedure, Vivaro B (2014 to 2019):

1. Verify the vehicle, the V5C and the customer's identification.
2. Connect battery support and confirm at least 13.5V.
3. Scan all modules and confirm every VIN matches. Stop here if one does not.
4. Unclip the small panel below the steering column and connect to the port.
5. Select Renault, Trafic III, or Opel/Vauxhall, Vivaro B, depending on the tool.
6. Start All Keys Lost. The PIN read takes roughly 2 minutes and erases every stored key.
7. Insert and programme the first new key, then add further keys up to the maximum of four.
8. Test every key and every remote.
9. Time: 20 to 30 minutes with Smart Pro; allow up to 2 hours on tools that run the long cycle.

That spread in time is the tool, not the van. The database records Smart Pro completing Vivaro B all-keys-lost in approximately 3 minutes of programming, with no UCH corruption reported, while the OBDSTAR X300 DP Plus runs an approximately 90-minute cycle and requires the green Renault gateway adapter. The Lonsdor K518Pro is add-key only on the Vivaro B.

Autel deserves its own sentence. In January 2025 Autel removed Renault all-keys-lost from the IM508, IM608 family and KM100 in every region, along with the Renault 39-digit PIN read through the APB131. A February 2025 update restored add-key and PIN reading on some Renault and Dacia models but not all-keys-lost. The database now marks Autel as not recommended for Vivaro B all-keys-lost. If you own an Autel and a Vivaro B customer has lost every key, you need a second tool.

The same Renault logic applies to the older Vivaro A (Trafic II) and the Movano B (Master III): select the Renault or Opel path to match the module fitted, and treat the job as intermediate rather than beginner. Time: 30 to 45 minutes for add-key on either.

The PSA-era cars: Corsa F, Grandland X, Combo E and Vivaro C

From 2017 the new Vauxhalls are Peugeots under the skin. The Corsa F shares the CMP platform and the Delphi EL3 BSI with the Peugeot 208 II. The Grandland X is EMP2, a sibling of the Peugeot 3008. The Combo E is a Berlingo III and the Vivaro C is an Expert III. The BSI holds a 4-digit PIN, the keys are Hitag AES ID4A on the HU83 blade, and nothing clones.

Start with the port, because the Corsa F moved it. It is no longer under the driver's dash. It sits inside the glove compartment behind a small cover on the inner face — on a UK car, the left side of the dashboard. Every earlier Corsa has it on the driver's side. The OBD port location guide covers the other outliers.

Add-key procedure, Corsa F (2019 to 2024):

1. Verify the vehicle, the V5C and the customer's identification.
2. Open the glove compartment and remove the small cover to reach the port.
3. Switch the ignition ON with a working key in the barrel.
4. Navigate the PSA path — Peugeot/Citroën, BSI, Read PIN, Key Learning — or Opel/Vauxhall, PSA, Corsa F, depending on the tool.
5. Let the tool read the 4-digit BSI PIN.
6. Select Add Key and insert a virgin NCF2960M ID4A flip remote blank when prompted.
7. Cycle the ignition, test the start, the remote and the boot.
8. If the remote does not respond, hold Lock for about 10 seconds with the ignition ON to resync.
9. Time: 20 to 30 minutes.

All-keys-lost, Corsa F: the same OBD route, and bench work is not required. The catch is the Delphi UDS BSI, which can drop into a wait or sleep mode before it releases the PIN. The database records extraction taking up to 30 minutes on tools without a bypass, and names Abrites PN018 as the tool that skips it — the PN018 documentation lists Delphi UDS BSI 2016+ support with no tokens required, subject to an active AMS. Hold battery voltage above 13V throughout; a BSI that loses power mid-write may need PSA Diagbox to recover. Time: 40 to 70 minutes depending on the tool and the wait.

The Grandland X follows the same BSI route with its port behind a pull-off panel under the steering column, and the database grades both add-key and all-keys-lost intermediate. Time: 30 to 60 minutes for all-keys-lost.

The Combo E and Vivaro C are where the PSA family hardens. On 2021-onward Stellantis firmware the database records that OBD PIN extraction may be blocked, leaving a bench EEPROM read of the BSI or online server authentication. Both vans are graded expert for all-keys-lost. On pre-2021 builds the OBD route still works, and the OBDSTAR record for the Vivaro C puts a full all-keys-lost at approximately 90 minutes. Time: add-key 30 to 45 minutes; all-keys-lost 90 minutes to half a day if the BSI has to come out.

Tool compatibility, honestly

On Vauxhall the useful question is not which tool is best but which family you intend to serve. The GM cars are covered by almost everything. The vans and the Stellantis cars are where the gaps open.

Tier 1 — covers all four families

Advanced Diagnostics Smart Pro — the database calls it the UK trade standard for Vauxhall, with confirmed records across GM, Renault and PSA Vauxhalls. It is also the fastest and safest route on the Vivaro B. PSA coverage comes through separate software; Advanced Diagnostics' ADS2188 PSA update extended coverage to more than 80 Peugeot, Citroën, DS and Opel models. The honest cost is tokens: roughly one to two per operation on the vans, and software modules bought per family.

Abrites AVDI — the strongest tool on the PSA-era cars, because PN018 skips the Delphi UDS wait mode and handles the 2021-onward Combo E and Vivaro C where others stall. It is also the tool that can repair a Vivaro B UCH left with an internal dongle error by a failed attempt from another device. Where it falls short: the AMS subscription, which the database puts at around £1,200 a year for the full package, plus the right licence per family — PN018 for PSA, ON013 or OP004 for the GM cars. ON013 does not cover the Corsa F.

Tier 2 — strong, with named gaps

OBDSTAR X300 DP Plus — broad coverage across GM, Renault and PSA Vauxhalls, with free PIN reading on the PSA BSI. The limitation is time and adapters: approximately 90 minutes for van all-keys-lost, the green Renault gateway adapter on the Vivaro B, and the Opel-not-Vauxhall menu trap on the Astra J.

Lonsdor K518Pro — good on the GM cars and the PSA BSI with no per-vehicle token fee. Add-key only on the Vivaro B, add-key only confirmed on the Insignia B, and the database flags 2021-onward Stellantis coverage as limited.

Autel MaxiIM IM608 Pro II — full coverage on the GM cars and confirmed on the Corsa F, provided you use the Peugeot menu for ID4A key learning rather than the Opel one. After the January 2025 Renault changes it is not the tool for Vivaro B all-keys-lost. Buy it for the breadth; do not buy it for Vauxhall vans.

Tier 3 — useful if you already own one

OBDSTAR X300 Mini PSA — a dedicated PSA and Opel unit with no per-vehicle token fee. Sensible if your patch is full of Corsa Fs and 208s. It does nothing for the GM cars or the Renault vans.

IEA ZedFull — confirmed on the Astra K, Mokka, Insignia B and Corsa F. A capable tool for the GM family. Not worth buying specifically for Vauxhall.

Xhorse VVDI Key Tool Plus — covers the Corsa E, and the database lists Vivaro C coverage as inferred from the platform rather than confirmed. Verify the model year before you attend.

The 2026 car key programmer comparison has the full coverage counts if you are deciding what to buy.

Common pitfalls

Bricking a Vivaro B with a donor module A van with a second-hand ABS or airbag unit carrying a different VIN will brick its UCH during key programming. Scan every module and compare VINs before you start the key routine. It takes two minutes and it is the single most expensive check you will skip.

Starting a Vivaro B all-keys-lost with an Autel Renault all-keys-lost was removed from the Autel MaxiIM range in January 2025 and has not come back. The procedure also erases every key the moment the PIN read starts. Confirm the tool before the customer's keys are wiped, not after.

Looking for the Corsa F port under the steering column It is in the glove compartment, behind a small cover. Every earlier Corsa has it on the driver's side, and plenty of locksmiths have spent ten minutes on their back in the wrong footwell.

Using the Opel menu for a Corsa F on an Autel The database records the Opel route not always completing ID4A key learning on the Corsa F. Select Peugeot. The same logic applies more widely: on the PSA-era cars, if the Vauxhall path fails, try the Peugeot or Citroën sibling.

Ordering Corsa C and Corsa E blanks from memory The database currently records the Corsa E as PCF7953 Hitag Pro with no cloning. A subscriber field report on a 2015 Corsa E records the original key cloning successfully onto an Xhorse XT27A and a 10-minute "configuring system" wait, which points to the ID46 Hitag 2 family used on the Astra J and Mokka from the same Delphi generation. The Corsa C record carries a similar split between PCF7946 and an ID40 reference. Until those records are confirmed, read the customer's original key with a transponder reader before ordering blanks. It is thirty seconds, and it is cheaper than a wasted chip.

Fitting clone remotes to the GM Delphi BCM Xhorse VVDI clone remotes built on the PCF7946 chip do not work on the Corsa D or Astra K Delphi BCM. They cut and read correctly and then fail to programme. Use keys with a genuine PCF7941 or PCF7937E.

Reusing a Hitag AES key Once an ID4A key has been programmed to a BSI it cannot be reprogrammed to a different one. Always start with a virgin blank. On keyless PSA blanks, the database also notes checking that the first two EEPROM bytes read 01 before finalising — a C6 or other header means the wrong blank type and a remote that will not work.

Losing signal on an Astra K The post-2016 GM cars fetch the security code from GM's server. No signal, no code. Check your connection before you erase anything.

Cutting a Vivaro blade without decoding The database lists different blade profiles across Vivaro generations, and a subscriber field note records a different profile again for the Vivaro A. Decode the lock before you cut on any Vivaro rather than trusting the generation alone.

Working without proof of ownership Every procedure here assumes legitimate work: V5C or equivalent, photographic identification matching the keeper, and a record kept. Master Locksmiths Association members work to this as a condition of membership, and with SERMI live in the UK since 1 April 2026 the expectation across the trade has hardened. The paperwork standard applies whatever tool you use. For warning lights that turn out not to be key faults at all, the immobiliser fault diagnosis guide works through the symptoms.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need the Car Pass card to programme a Vauxhall key?

No. On the Corsa D, Astra J and pre-facelift Mokka the 4-digit code is printed on the Car Pass, but professional tools extract it from the BCM over the port. From model year 2016 onward — Astra K, Mokka X, Insignia B — no card is issued at all and the tool retrieves the code from the BCM or GM's server, which needs an internet connection.

Where is the OBD port on a Vauxhall Corsa?

On the Corsa C and Corsa E it is under the driver's side of the dashboard. On the Corsa D it is in the lower centre console near the cigarette lighter socket. On the Corsa F (2019 onward) it is inside the glove compartment behind a small cover, on the left side of the dashboard on a UK car.

Why do Vauxhall Vivaro vans get bricked during key programming?

The 2014 to 2019 Vivaro B uses a Renault UCH. If any module carries a different VIN — typically a second-hand ABS or airbag unit — the UCH can brick during key programming. Power loss during all-keys-lost does the same. Scan every module for matching VINs and hold battery support at 13.5V or above before starting.

Can I programme a Corsa F key with the Opel menu?

Sometimes, but not reliably on every tool. The Corsa F is a PSA-platform car with a BSI, and the database records the Autel Opel route not always completing ID4A key learning. Select the Peugeot path instead. On Abrites, use PN018 rather than the Opel ON013 licence, which does not cover the Corsa F.

Can Vauxhall keys be cloned?

The GM-era Hitag 2 and ID46 keys — Corsa C, Corsa D, Astra H, Astra J, Astra K, Mokka and Insignia B — can be cloned. The Hitag AES ID4A keys on the Vivaro B and every PSA-era Vauxhall cannot. The Corsa E record is currently under review; read the original key before assuming either way.

How long does a Vauxhall all-keys-lost take?

On the GM cars, 30 to 50 minutes including cutting, with a 10-minute configuration wait on the Astra K. On a Vivaro B, 20 to 30 minutes with Smart Pro or up to 2 hours on the long-cycle tools. On a Corsa F, 40 to 70 minutes depending on the BSI wait mode. On a 2021-onward Combo E or Vivaro C where OBD PIN extraction is blocked, budget for bench work.

The short version

Vauxhall is three manufacturers wearing one badge. The GM cars are among the easiest paying work in the trade. The Renault vans are safe if you check VINs and hold the voltage, and dangerous if you do not. The PSA-era cars are Peugeot jobs, and the fastest way through them is to use the Peugeot menu.

Identify the family before you quote. Browse every Vauxhall in the Keysolved database or search by registration for the exact model and year and you will get the key variants, the transponder, the port location, the procedure and the tools confirmed against that car. The transponder chip cross-reference chart maps the chip families, and the Ford guide takes the same generation-by-generation approach for the other make you will see every day.