Quick answer: a legit locksmith answers the phone with a real business name, gives you a total price before anyone drives out, shows up in a marked vehicle, carries liability insurance, can be checked on Google, the BBB and industry groups, and hands you an itemized invoice. For car keys, a legit locksmith also asks for proof that the car is yours. If two or more of those are missing, hang up and call someone else. Below is how to check each one in a couple of minutes, and how to check us the same way.
Why it pays to check before you call
Most locksmiths are honest working tradespeople. The problem is the search results. Many listings that look local are national call centers that take your call under a generic name, quote a low “starting at” price, and send whoever is free. The difference usually shows up on the bill, after the work is done and it is hard to say no. The checks below take two minutes on the phone and work whether you are locked out, need a car key, or want your new house rekeyed.
1. Ask for the business name and who is coming
A real business answers with its name. If the person on the line says something generic like “locksmith service” and will not give a company name, treat that as a warning. Ask two questions: what is the name of your company, and is the person I am talking to the one who will come out? A local owner-operator can tell you in one sentence who is coming and roughly where they are.
2. Get the total price before anyone drives out
Ask for the total, not a starting price. A real quote covers the service call, the labor and any parts, and it is given before the technician leaves. Be careful with ads that promise a very low service call. That number is usually the trip fee only, and labor gets added on site. A good question is: if everything is as I described, is that the price I will pay? A straight answer is a good sign. A vague one is not.
For reference, here is how we price a home rekey: a $75 service call (it varies a little with distance, and we tell you on the phone) plus $25 per standard residential lock. A front door with a deadbolt and a keyed knob is two locks, so that is $50 plus the service call. Car keys depend on the year, make and model, so we quote those on the phone once we know the vehicle.
3. Check that they are real and local
You can check these yourself before you commit:
- Google reviews. Open the business’s own Google listing and read the recent reviews. Real reviews describe the actual job and often the actual person who did it.
- The Better Business Bureau. Look the company up on bbb.org. Check the rating, how long the file has been open, and whether it is accredited.
- The company itself. In Arizona you can look up any LLC on the Arizona Corporation Commission’s business search and see when it was formed and who is behind it.
- Industry groups. Membership in the Associated Locksmiths of America (ALOA) and, for car keys, registration with the National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF) are checkable signs of someone who works in the trade.
4. Ask about insurance, not a license
You will see locksmiths advertised as “licensed.” Arizona does not have a state locksmith license, so in Arizona that word does not tell you much. What matters is that the business is a registered company and carries liability insurance, because someone is about to work on your door, your lock or your car. Ask whether they are insured. A real business can send you its certificate of insurance.
5. Watch how they open the door
Most home and car lockouts can be opened without damaging anything. If a technician says the only option is to drill the lock before they have even tried, that is a red flag, especially when the next sentence is a bigger price and a new lock to sell you. Drilling is sometimes the right call on a damaged or high-security lock, but it should come after an honest attempt and a clear explanation.
6. Look at the vehicle, and expect proof of ownership for car keys
A working locksmith arrives in a vehicle with the business name on it, and you are entitled to ask who they are and who they work for. For car keys, a legitimate locksmith asks for proof that the car is yours, usually your ID and the registration. That check protects you, because it means a stranger cannot get a key made for your car.
Our van: the business name, phone number and BBB seal are on the side.
7. Get an itemized invoice and know how you will pay
You should get a written invoice that lists what was done and what it cost. Be wary of a demand for cash only at the door, or a price that changes after the work is done. Ask about payment on the phone, including any card fee, so there are no surprises. Ours is simple: cash or card, with a 4 percent fee on card payments, and we say so on the call.
8. Know the red flags
- No business name when the phone is answered.
- A “starting at” price that is very low, with no total.
- Different company names on the ad, on the phone and on the invoice.
- Insisting on drilling before trying to open the lock.
- Cash only, or a price that goes up after the work is done.
- A technician who cannot tell you the company name.
If you see two or more of these, you can say no, even after they arrive, and call someone else.
Check us the same way
We would rather you check than take our word for it. Here is everything above, applied to Desert Locksmith, with links so you can verify it:
- Business name: Desert Locksmith LLC, a family-owned and owner-operated mobile locksmith based in Phoenix. The person who quotes your job is the person who does it.
- Reviews: read them on our Google listing and on Yelp.
- BBB: accredited with an A+ rating, accredited since 2016.
- Industry memberships: ALOA member, and an active NASTF member and registered vehicle security professional, which is how we get the security information many newer cars need for key programming.
- Government work: GSA and Kaba X-09 certified for government safes and locks.
- Insurance: fully insured. We can send the certificate on request.
- Experience: 20+ years of locksmith experience.
- Pricing: quoted on the phone before we drive out. Home rekeys are a $75 service call plus $25 per standard lock. See our rekey page for details.
- Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 6 pm, serving Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Glendale, Peoria and Paradise Valley.
You can read more about who we are on our about page, and see the work we do for car keys, car lockouts, homes and businesses.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if a locksmith is legit?
Ask for the business name and a total price before they drive out, check their Google reviews and BBB profile, ask whether they are insured, and make sure they arrive in a marked vehicle and give you an itemized invoice. A legit locksmith will answer all of that without hesitation.
Do locksmiths need a license in Arizona?
No. Arizona does not have a state locksmith license. Instead, check that the business is a registered company with the Arizona Corporation Commission, that it carries liability insurance, and that it has a track record you can see in reviews and on the BBB.
How much does a locksmith cost in Phoenix?
It depends on the job and the distance. For a home rekey we charge a $75 service call plus $25 per standard residential lock. Lockouts and car keys are quoted on the phone once we know where you are and what you need. Whoever you call, ask for the total before they come out.
Should a locksmith ask for my ID?
For car keys, yes. A legitimate locksmith will ask for proof that the car is yours, usually your ID and registration, before making a key. That is there to protect you.
Is it a bad sign if a locksmith wants to drill my lock?
Only if they want to drill before trying anything else. Most lockouts can be opened without damage. Drilling is a last resort for damaged or high-security locks, and a good locksmith explains why before doing it.
Who is the best locksmith in Phoenix?
The best one for you is the one that passes the checks on this page: a real local business, a clear total price, insurance, good recent reviews and an itemized invoice. We would like to be on your list. Call Desert Locksmith at (602) 301-5243 and we will give you the price before we head out.
Need a locksmith in the Valley? Call or text (602) 301-5243, tell us where you are and what you need, and we will give you the price before we drive out.