KEY CARE
KEY CARE (Keycare Limited) is a UK-authorized (FCA No. 309514) direct-to-consumer provider of key insurance and recovery subscriptions, serving over 2 million UK households with tiered annual products (SmartFob, Keycare Plus, Keycare, Recovery & Assistance).
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1977
- HeadquartersShipley, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
KEY CARE firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- KEY CARE
- Legal name
- Keycare Limited
- Website
- https://keycare.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1977
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- KEY CARE (Keycare Limited) is a UK-authorized (FCA No. 309514) direct-to-consumer provider of key insurance and recovery subscriptions, serving over 2 million UK households with tiered annual products (SmartFob, Keycare Plus, Keycare, Recovery & Assistance).
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
KEY CARE industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Key Insurance
- NAICS
- Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (524210), Security Systems Services (except Locksmiths) (561621), Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities (5242)
- SIC
- Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411), Accident & Health Insurance (6321)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Key Management, Duplication & Locksmith Services (HSAHAEAD)
Keywords
Where KEY CARE is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Shipley
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
KEY CARE business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Key Insurance Subscriptions: Keycare generates revenue through annual insurance subscription policies. Customers pay a yearly premium (ranging from £24 to £64 per year depending on product tier) to receive coverage for lost/stolen keys, replacement locks, locksmith charges, vehicle hire, and onward transport costs up to defined annual limits (£1,000–£1,500). Policies are sold directly to UK consumers on a direct-to-consumer basis.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | SmartFob — £64.00 per year — highest tier with Bluetooth tracking + key insurance |
| Subscription | Annual | Keycare Plus — £54.00 per year — standard key insurance + wallet/phone recovery |
| Subscription | Annual | Keycare — £48.00 per year — standard key insurance |
| Subscription | Annual | Keycare Basic — £30.00 per year — entry-level cover |
| Subscription | Annual | Recovery & Assistance — £24.00 per year — no insurance, recovery only |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
KEY CARE product offering
Product offeringCore offering
KEY CARE is a UK-based insurance and assistance provider specializing in key protection. The company sells annual subscription policies covering lost or stolen keys, replacement locks, locksmith call-out charges, vehicle hire, and onward transport costs. Its portfolio includes the SmartFob Bluetooth LE key tracker plus insurance, Keycare Plus (key insurance with wallet/phone recovery), standard Keycare insurance, and a Recovery & Assistance service. Policies are sold direct-to-consumer via its own website and telephone sales channel.
Product overview
KEY CARE is a UK-based key insurance and tracking provider offering a tiered product portfolio. The core offerings consist of SmartFob (Bluetooth LE key tracker with insurance at £64/year), Keycare Plus (key insurance with wallet/phone recovery at £54/year), Keycare (standard key insurance at £48/year), and Keycare Recovery & Assistance (recovery-only service at £24/year). SmartFob is the technology-forward product featuring Bluetooth connectivity to a companion smartphone app for key locating via GPS timestamps and phone-finding functionality. Higher-tier products add insurance coverage for replacement keys, locks, and locksmith charges up to £1,500 annual limit, plus vehicle hire and transport cost benefits. The company serves over 2 million customers and is FCA authorised and regulated.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- SmartFob A Bluetooth LE-enabled key tracker with companion smartphone app that enables users to ring their keys, locate them via last-seen GPS timestamps on a map, and find their phone from the fob. Includes key insurance cover up to £1,500 per year for lost/stolen keys, replacement locks, and locksmith charges, plus vehicle hire and onward transport benefits. Priced at £64/year.
- Keycare Plus Key insurance product with up to £1,500 annual cover for lost/stolen keys, replacement locks, and locksmith charges, plus vehicle hire up to £50/day for 3 days and onward transport up to £100 per claim. Adds a recovery-only service for mobile phones (sticker identifier) and wallets/purses (card insert); phones and wallets are not insured. Priced at £54/year.
- Keycare Standard key insurance product providing up to £1,500 annual cover for lost/stolen keys, replacement locks, and locksmith charges. Includes 24/7 emergency helpline, access to nationwide approved locksmith network, up to 3 days vehicle hire at £50/day, onward transport up to £100/claim, £10 reward scheme for key finders, no excess. Priced at £48/year.
- Keycare Recovery & Assistance Basic key recovery and assistance service providing a unique key fob with identifier for lost key return, access to 24/7 emergency helpline, and trusted locksmith network. Does not include insurance cover; locksmith costs are paid by the customer. Includes £10 reward scheme for key finders. Priced at £24/year.
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to a third of lost keys are returned thanks to the £10 reward scheme and service
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use KEY CARE
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
KEY CARE technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
KEY CARE partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- DefaqtominorDefaqto is an independent UK financial product rating agency that provides star ratings for insurance and financial products. Keycare's SmartFob and Keycare Plus products carry a 5-star Defaqto rating, which serves as a quality endorsement.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
KEY CARE competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Tile: Bluetooth LE key and item tracker with a crowdsourced finding network and companion smartphone app. Direct hardware competitor to Keycare's SmartFob product on the tracking/loss-prevention side, though Tile does not offer insurance.
- Domestic & General: UK specialist in appliance and home warranty subscription products sold direct and via retailer partners. Comparable business model of long-duration, annually-renewed consumer warranty/subscription contracts bundled with repair/replacement service.
- RAC: UK roadside assistance and insurance provider with key loss and lockout cover bundled into membership tiers. Shares Keycare's annual subscription mechanic, 24/7 emergency helpline, and focus on lockout/vehicle key recovery for UK consumers.
- AA (The Automobile Association): UK motoring organisation offering breakdown cover, key replacement assistance, and vehicle insurance. Directly comparable to Keycare in providing subscription-based key/vehicle emergency cover to UK consumers with a 24/7 helpline and nationwide service network.
- British Gas HomeCare: UK home cover and emergency service subscription product including locksmith callouts and home security components. Comparable as a UK consumer subscription combining an annual fee with access to a nationwide tradesperson network for home access and lock emergencies.
- HomeServe: UK home emergency services and insurance provider (heating, plumbing, electrical, locks) with a subscription model and nationwide engineer network. Closest comparable to Keycare in combining a membership-style fee with access to a tradesperson network and ancillary insurance coverage.
Emerging players
- Chipolo: Bluetooth key and item tracker with companion app, focused on the value tier of the consumer tracker market. Partial overlap with SmartFob on form factor and app-based key finding, though Chipolo is hardware-only and does not offer insurance.
Broad incumbents
- Aviva: One of the UK's largest general insurers with home and motor policies that can absorb key-cover as a low-cost add-on. Represents the most likely bundling threat to Keycare's standalone key-insurance proposition given Aviva's scale and distribution.
- Samsung SmartTag: Samsung's Bluetooth/UWB item tracker integrated with the SmartThings ecosystem. Competes with SmartFob on hardware, leveraging Samsung's global smartphone base to build a crowdsourced finding network.
- Apple AirTag: Apple's Bluetooth/UWB key and item tracker with a global Find My network of nearly a billion iPhones. A broad incumbent in the same key-tracker category as SmartFob, with materially larger R&D, marketing, and installed-base advantages.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
KEY CARE compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
KEY CARE financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
KEY CARE leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
KEY CARE subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
KEY CARE funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
KEY CARE M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about KEY CARE
What does KEY CARE do?
KEY CARE is a UK-based insurance and assistance provider specializing in key protection. The company sells annual subscription policies covering lost or stolen keys, replacement locks, locksmith call-out charges, vehicle hire, and onward transport costs. Its portfolio includes the SmartFob Bluetooth LE key tracker plus insurance, Keycare Plus (key insurance with wallet/phone recovery), standard Keycare insurance, and a Recovery & Assistance service. Policies are sold direct-to-consumer via its own website and telephone sales channel.
Is KEY CARE a public or private company?
KEY CARE is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was KEY CARE founded?
KEY CARE was founded in 1977. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is KEY CARE based?
KEY CARE is headquartered in Shipley, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does KEY CARE make money?
One revenue line is on record: key Insurance Subscriptions.
Who are KEY CARE's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Tile, Domestic & General, RAC, AA (The Automobile Association), British Gas HomeCare and HomeServe. Chipolo is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Aviva, Samsung SmartTag and Apple AirTag.
Does KEY CARE have an API?
No public API is recorded for KEY CARE.
What industry is KEY CARE in?
KEY CARE's product category is Key Insurance. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSAHAEAD, Key Management, Duplication & Locksmith Services. Its NAICS code is 524210 and its SIC code is 6411.