Locksmith questions, answered straight
Short, plain answers. If yours is not here, send us your question with the form below.
Prices and paying
How much should a locksmith cost?
It depends on the job, the lock or car, the hour and the drive. Send us your details and you get one all-in price, trip included, before anyone drives.
Is a locksmith free?
No, but your car insurance, roadside plan or motor club may cover a lockout. A child or pet locked in a car? Call 911.
Why is there no price list on your site?
The same job can need very different work on different locks and cars. So you get one price for your exact job, by text, before we drive.
Why do some locksmiths quote a tiny price on the phone?
It is usually just a service-call fee, with labor added at the door. Always ask for the total, trip included.
What is the most I can pay?
The total in the text we send you. Going above it needs a new total that you approve by text.
How do I pay?
Card, Apple Pay, Google Pay or cash, paid when the job is done.
Do you charge if you can not do the job?
No, unless ownership can not be shown or you cancel after the tech is on the way. Then a trip charge applies, and your quote text says what it is.
Is it cheaper during the day?
Yes. Daytime is 7 AM to 7 PM, Monday to Saturday. Evenings, Sundays, overnight and holidays cost more, and your quote already includes that.
Lockouts
How much is a car lockout?
It depends on the car and the hour. Send us the make and model for your all-in price.
How much is a house lockout?
Less if the lock can be picked, more if it has to be drilled and a new cylinder fitted. Drilling happens only after you approve that total by text.
My apartment office is closed. Can you let me in?
Yes, with photo ID or a lease that shows the address. We only open the door; lock changes need your landlord.
Does a locksmith break your lock?
Usually not. Most locks are picked or bypassed without marks. Drilling is a last resort and needs your OK first.
Can I get a key made while you are there?
Yes. A rekey or a car spare on the same visit costs much less than a second trip.
Car keys
Can you make a key if I lost every key?
Yes, for most cars, at the car, with proof you own it. It costs more than a spare, so if you are down to one key, make a spare now.
Is a locksmith cheaper than the dealer for car keys?
Often, and there is no tow. Get an all-in quote from your dealer that includes towing, then compare it with ours.
Which cars do you send to the dealer?
Teslas, some newer BMW, Mercedes and VW cars with every key lost, and GM trucks and SUVs from 2021 on. We tell you first.
Can you program a fob I bought online?
Sometimes. Send us the listing before you buy; many online fobs are the wrong one.
What do I need for a car key?
The car, your photo ID, and the registration or title in your name. Send us the VIN from the windshield or door sticker for an exact price.
Home and business locks
Should I rekey or replace my locks after moving in?
Rekey if the locks work well. It is cheaper, because the hardware stays and each extra lock on the same visit adds little.
Can all my doors use one key?
Usually, if the locks are the same brand family. If not, we can swap a cylinder so they match.
Do you install smart locks?
Yes. We fit one you bought, set up the app, and quote it from a photo of the door and the box.
Do you fix door closers and panic bars?
Yes. Panic bars are repaired on site and worn closers replaced, quoted first.
Trust and safety
Why do you check ID?
So we never help a stranger into your home or car. Every lockout and car key job starts with it.
Who will show up?
We send an available local Memphis locksmith from our team. You get the price by text before anyone drives out, then a text with your tech's first name and arrival time.
Is the price the same whoever comes?
Yes. The price is set and texted before anyone drives out, and the tech can not raise it at the door. Any change needs your approval of a new total by text.
How do I know you are a real local business?
Ask for the total price before anyone drives. A real business answers with a number, in writing.
What if I am unhappy with the job?
Reply to any of our texts. We answer every complaint, and anything above your quote you did not approve is refunded.
More detail: how a job works, what sets the price, avoiding locksmith scams.
Send us your details
Tell us what happened and we'll text or call you back with the all-in price. Got a photo of the lock, key or VIN sticker? Reply to our text with it.