What’s the best way to pick a reputable locksmith? Consider researching locksmiths before you need one, the same way you would a plumber, electrician, or other professional. That works well if you’re looking to have some security work done at your home, like installing deadbolts on the exterior doors of your house, or a safe in your bedroom.

But if you’re dealing with an emergency, like being locked out of your car, you really don’t have much time for thorough research.

Regardless of whether you are locked out of your car or home, you need new locks installed, or you require other security work, the FTC offers these tips to help you hire a legitimate, local locksmith.

In emergency situations:

• If you’re locked out of your car and have a roadside assistance service, call them first. These services sometimes are included with the purchase of a car, or as an add-on through your insurance company. You also can buy this service separately. Roadside assistance plans often have a list of pre-approved companies to perform services like unlocking cars, jump-starting batteries, changing flat tires, delivering gasoline, and towing.
• Call family or friends for recommendations.
• If you find a locksmith in the phone book, on the Internet, or through directory assistance, and a business address is given, confirm that the address belongs to that locksmith. Some disreputable companies list street addresses to give the impression that they’re local. But the addresses may belong to other businesses or vacant lots, if they exist at all. You can verify addresses through websites that allow you to match phone numbers with street addresses. Some legitimate locksmith companies may not include a street address in their listing either because they operate a “mobile” business or they operate their business out of their home and may be reluctant to list that address. If you call a locksmith who doesn't list an address, ask why. If the answer is that it's a “mobile” business, you will understand they have no storefront.
• Write down the names of several businesses, their phone numbers, and addresses for future reference, in case you don’t want to go with the first locksmith you call.
• If a company answers the phone with a generic phrase like “locksmith services,” rather than a company-specific name, be wary. Ask for the legal name of the business. If the person refuses, call another locksmith.
• Get an estimate for all work and replacement parts from the locksmith before work begins. In cases of “lock-outs” (being locked out of your car or home), most legitimate locksmiths will give you an estimate on the phone for the total cost of the work.
  • Ask about additional fees before you agree to have the locksmith perform the work. Companies may charge extra for responding to a call in the middle of the night. Ask if there is a charge for mileage, or a minimum fee for a service call.
  • If the price the locksmith provides when he arrives doesn’t jibe with the estimate you got on the telephone, do not allow the work to be done.
  • Never sign a blank form authorizing work.
• Find out if the locksmith is insured. If your property is damaged during a repair, or if faulty work leads to loss or damage, it’s important for the locksmith to have insurance to cover your losses.
• When the locksmith arrives, ask for identification, including a business card and, where applicable, a locksmith license. Ten states require locksmiths to be licensed: Alabama, California, Illinois, Louisiana, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee and Texas. In addition to a business card, check to see if the invoice includes the company’s name, and whether the locksmith’s vehicle has a name that matches the business card, invoice, and/or bill.
• Expect the locksmith to ask you for identification, as well. A legitimate locksmith should confirm your identity and make sure you’re the property owner before doing any work.
• Some locksmiths will work out of a car for quick or emergency jobs, but most will arrive in a service vehicle that is clearly marked with their company’s name.
• In the case of a lock-out, be cautious if you’re told up front that the lock has to be drilled and replaced. An experienced legitimate locksmith has invested in the tools and education to provide quality service, and can unlock almost any door.
• After the work is completed, get an itemized invoice that covers parts, labor, mileage, and the price of the service call.

In situations where you have more time, check out locksmiths with your state Attorney General, local consumer protection agency, and the Better Business Bureau to make sure there are no unresolved complaints on file. This is true whether you need a locksmith for a one-time job, or you want to hire someone to work for you on a continuing basis. You must be able to trust your locksmith. You don’t want to give access to the locks for your home, car, or place of business to just anyone.

A classic in the arsenal of scam locksmith companies: You have locked yourself out of your home or business. It’s a horrible feeling. We have all been there. The "$15 locksmith" ad that you called promises you a low price to get you back inside your residence or office. When the locksmith arrives, he sticks to the original ‘lowball’ quote that you were promised. They start their lock picking procedure. After 5 minutes they announce that there is a problem. “You have an un-pickable lock”, they announce. They site one or more reasons for this:

1. The lock is "high-security".
2. It is an unconventional lock.
3. It is an overseas lock and they don’t recognize it.
4. It has been previously rekeyed to be "un-pickable".
5. One of the pins is "stuck".

They then pretend to walk away, knowing that you will say, "What am I supposed to do now?” They then start to give you the only "options" available to you. Telling you that the lock might be able to be drilled or pulled open. Of course, the lock will be useless to you at that point (they know this). The technician will then say something like, “I MAY be able to drill it and replace it. I think I have a few "extra" one in my car. Unfortunately we are talking much more money for this service...”

You're screwed. What else can you do? You are locked out. You need back in! So....you pay. $149-$349 is what they typically ask for. This practice (unlike some of the other scams) is completely illegal, not to mention unethical and immoral. It is hard for the authorities to prove this. So this scam continues to this day.

The truth about picking a lock: Picking a residential or commercial lock requires more skill than opening a car door. It requires training and experience. Some locks may be harder to pick than others. Some locks cannot be picked, but it is rare. For example a KWIKSET SMARTKEY ™ deadbolt, cannot be picked. It must be drilled.

How can you protect yourself? Simple. Get a price over the phone. A reputable locksmith company will give you a flat price to pick any lock. If they charge to drill and/or replace a lock – they will give you an upfront price for that too. Most real locksmith companies will not even charge extra to drill and replace a lock (as long as the lock is a standard one). They don’t charge for this because they feel that it is not your fault that the lock is "hard to pick".

A side note to this scam: The really bad scam companies, don’t even train a technician to pick a lock. They literally instruct them to never pick a lock. Instead, they tell their tech to always "drill and replace" or they will be fired. This is, unfortunately, a fact. The company implements this policy for two main reasons. Number one: The company makes up to 5 times the profit from selling new locks versus just picking an old one. And number two: They save money because they don’t have to hire real locksmiths. They can literally hire anyone off the street because they don’t have to teach or actually train the technician any kind of real skills. They can hire anyone and have them working within hours of filling out the application. Their gain, and definitely, your loss...