7 Questions to Ask a Locksmith Before They Head Your Way
Ask these seven things before any locksmith heads your way: the legal name of the business, a total price range for your job including the trip fee, the night or weekend surcharge, how they plan to open the lock, whether they carry insurance, whether you'll get an itemized invoice, and an ETA with a callback number. A legitimate shop gets through the whole list in about two minutes. A scam outfit starts dodging around question two.
Start with the name
"What's the legal name of your business?" A real locksmith answers without a pause, because that name is printed on the van and the insurance paperwork. You should be able to type it into a state license lookup or a business registry and find a match. The dodge sounds like "locksmith service" or "this is the dispatch center." If the person taking your call can't name the company that's about to charge your card, hang up. Our guide on how to find a locksmith you can trust walks through the verification step by step.
Pin down the money
Question two is the one that saves you real money: "What's the total range for this job, with the trip fee included?" A good answer has actual numbers in it. Trip fees typically run $30 to $100, and a routine house lockout usually lands between $50 and $150 all-in. The dodge is a teaser: "it starts at $19" or "the technician will assess it on site." Starting prices are bait. If you want to know what fair numbers look like before you dial, read our breakdown of how locksmith pricing works.
Question three: "Is there a surcharge for nights or weekends?" The honest answer is usually yes, often 1.5 to 2 times the daytime rate, and a legitimate company says so plainly. The dodge is a vague "we'll see" or a cheerful "no extra charge!" from the same voice that just quoted $19. Somebody driving to your house at 2 a.m. is charging for it somewhere.
Ask how they'll open it
Question four catches more scammers than any other: "How will you get it open, pick or drill?" A trained locksmith picks or bypasses most house and car locks and treats drilling as a last resort, and they'll say exactly that on the phone. The dodge is "we'll probably have to drill it" from someone who hasn't seen your door. Drilling destroys the lock, which conveniently sets up the sale of a new one at whatever price they feel like naming. That two-step is the engine of the classic bait-and-switch scam.
Question five: "Are you insured?" The good answer is a plain yes, with an offer to send a certificate of insurance. That coverage is what pays if a tech gouges your door or cracks a window frame. The dodge is taking offense at the question. An uninsured stranger with a drill at your front door is not a combination worth testing.
Get the paperwork and the clock
Question six: "Will I get an itemized invoice with the business name on it?" Yes is the only acceptable answer, and the invoice should show parts and labor separately. The dodge is "cash only" or a receipt that somehow never appears. Without an invoice you have no warranty and no way to dispute the charge later.
Question seven: "When will you arrive, and what number do I call if you don't?" A good dispatcher gives a specific window and a callback number that reaches the same company, not a call center that hands you to a stranger. The dodge is "someone's in your area," which usually means nobody is. Ask for the tech's name while you're at it. It's harder to run a scam on a customer who's expecting Mike in a marked van at 9:40.
Two minutes now beats an argument in the driveway
Save these seven in your phone's notes app tonight, while nothing is wrong. When the day comes, work down the list before anyone dispatches. If the answers wobble on two or more, call the next company. Even at midnight most towns have several locksmiths within driving distance, and the good ones expect these questions. The bad ones are counting on you being too flustered to ask.
