Locksmiths offer all sorts of services to their clients. There are urgent services, such as getting into a locked car when you don’t have your keys, or residential services for your home. Commercial or industrial services help businesses out as well. Whatever the type of service you need, read on to learn about hiring a locksmith.

Research anyone you plan to hire. You want to be sure the locksmith is ethical and professional. Be careful, there are people out there who will scam you and make unauthorized key duplicates.

Call several locksmiths and get quotes before settling on one. Services come in a wide variety of prices, so you want to be sure you are getting the best one. You don’t have to call every locksmith in the phone book, but you should try contacting between four and six.

When a locksmith comes to help you, always ask to see their ID. In some states, the locksmith has to have a license as well, like in California, North Carolina, New Jersey and Texas. Do your research ahead of time so you know what documentation your locksmith needs to have.

The locksmith should ask you for identification. Any reputable locksmith will want to ensure that you are the actual owner of the property. This may seem like an inconvenience, but you need to realize that a locksmith that asks for indentification is only trying to protect the community from theft.

Do not trust a locksmith that gives you a quote that is far less than any others you have contacted. In some cases, this is done with the intention of reeling you in. Once they begin to service you, they will start to add on additional fees for things like paperwork and the fuel they used to get to where you are.

Do not use any locksmith that changes their quote upon arrival. There are plenty of honest locksmiths out there, so do not do business with someone who isn’t straight with you.

When you call a locksmith company, inquire as to how potential employees are vetted by the administration. It is always good to hear that technicians went through a criminal background check prior to being hired. This should provide you with some peace of mind that the technician that comes out to your location is only there to help you.

Only hire a locksmith that is bonded and has insurance. If he or she messes up on the job, you want to make sure you are protected and that you will be reimbursed for the damages. Knowing that the company has taken this type of precaution should give you peace of mind as the work on your property begins.

When looking for a locksmith, try to avoid any company that does not answer the phone with a specific name. These companies will frequently subcontract the work out to other vendors. You need to have a company that hires their own employees and does not farm out their work to anyone and everyone.

Be sure to request identification from any locksmith you are thinking of hiring. While you are on the phone, tell them you want them to identify themselves. Professionals should be in uniform and have ID on them at all times.

When the locksmith arrives on-site, make sure that the price matches the price you received on the phone. If the two prices do not match, do not let them work on your car or home. There are a variety of reasons the two prices do not match, most of them are not good.

When you encounter a situation that requires the services of a locksmith, but you are unsure where to turn, it always pays to seek personal recommendations. Ask a friend in town or maybe your next door neighbor to see if there is a locksmith from whom they have received great service. In this way, you will have full confidence in the professional you select.

When you need to find a good locksmith, plan on driving around a lot. Rather than simply relying on the information you might get over the phone, visit their businesses in person. This will give you a better feel for the level of professionalism you are dealing with and should get all of your questions answered completely.

Look for a locksmith which not only offers a local phone number, but also a local address. Some unsavory companies use a local number but reroute the call to a national call center, sending out someone who may not be on the up and up. A local address means they really are in your town.

Find a locksmith with a long track record of work in your community. If a prospective locksmith is new in the area, see if they can provide references. Do an Internet search for them to see if online reviews exist.

Don’t just go with the first locksmith on your block. Do some homework before deciding on the best locksmith for you. Sure, having a locksmith that close would be phenomenal, but is that business known for good work? Even if it means a few extra blocks walk or a little longer wait for a locksmith to show up, it’s worth it for quality service.

If you are in the market for a locksmith, you should always do research before hiring one. Find out about a potential locksmith’s experience, insurance, license and references. If anything about them seems off base, you should definitely look for someone else. It is a lot better to err on the side of caution in this case since your security is at risk.


If you need a locksmith in an emergency after hours, make sure you ask the locksmith what the costs are for their help. There are typically additional costs for calling a locksmith out of normal business hours. This can include a fee and gas expenses. It’s best to know what you are getting into with the call.

Many people wouldn’t know who to call in the event of a lockout. The difficulty with that is you might be overcharged. Use the advice in this piece. You will not regret doing so!