Frequently Asked Questions - Locksmith
Straight answers to the questions Los Angeles homeowners and business owners ask us most. If you don't see yours here, call (409) 405-4485 and we'll answer it directly.
Pricing & Cost FAQs
A locksmith visit in Los Angeles typically costs $75 to $185 for common jobs like lockouts, rekeys, and lock changes. High-security work, like Medeco or Abloy cylinder installation, runs $150 to $400 per lock depending on the hardware. Every Preston Locksmith & Security job gets a written price before any work starts, so the number you hear on the phone is the number on your invoice. Call (409) 405-4485 and we'll quote your exact job in minutes.
Rekeying a standard lock in Los Angeles usually costs $25 to $50 per lock when done during a regular service visit. If you have multiple locks, most of the cost is the first lock; additional locks are less. Rekeying is almost always cheaper than replacing hardware and works fine when your existing locks are in good shape. We give you a flat per-lock price before we start. Call (409) 405-4485 for an exact quote.
Most locksmiths in Los Angeles add an after-hours trip fee, typically $30 to $80 above the standard rate. We are open Sunday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM and closed Saturdays. When you call within those hours, there's no after-hours surcharge. We tell you the full price on the phone before anyone is dispatched. No fee appears on arrival that you didn't already approve. Call (409) 405-4485 to confirm current pricing.
Deadbolt installation in Los Angeles typically runs $95 to $180 for a standard single-cylinder deadbolt, including the hardware. High-security deadbolts like Schlage B560 or Medeco Maxum run $200 to $400 installed. The door itself matters: steel doors with mortise cuts take longer than standard wood doors. We quote a fixed price before we begin and send photos of the finished work. Call (409) 405-4485 for a quote on your door.
Yes, typically less for labor only. Installing customer-supplied hardware in Los Angeles usually runs $65 to $120 per lock, but it depends on how well the lock fits your door. Some big-box locks need modification to fit older doors, which can add time. We'll tell you honestly after seeing the lock. If the hardware isn't a good match, we carry Schlage, Kwikset, Medeco, and Abloy on the truck. Call (409) 405-4485 and describe what you bought.
Service & Process FAQs
A locksmith uses specialized tools like air wedges, long-reach rods, and pick tools to open car doors without damage. Modern cars with side-impact airbags and electronic locks require care; the wrong tool can dent a door or crack a window seal. We don't recommend improvising with coat hangers or screwdrivers. Every Preston Locksmith & Security location is required to work to The Relay Standard. Call (409) 405-4485 and we'll connect you with the local team nearest your address.
Yes, most lockouts are resolved by picking the lock or using bypass techniques, not drilling. Drilling destroys the cylinder and means you'll need replacement hardware, which adds cost. We only drill if the lock is broken, worn out, or a previous attempt damaged it. Before any drilling happens, we show you the situation and get your approval on the cost. Call (409) 405-4485 and describe what you're locked out of.
Arrival time around Los Angeles depends on where the nearest Preston Locksmith & Security location is and traffic at that hour. When you call (409) 405-4485, our coordinator connects you with the local team that covers your address and gives you a live arrival time you can track. You won't get a four-hour window. Our locations work Sunday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and closed Saturdays.
For most jobs, yes, someone needs to be present to verify the property and sign off on the written price. For some planned jobs like leasing office rekeys or vacant-home work, arrangements can be made with proper documentation. We don't perform work on a property without verified authority from the person who controls it. That protects everyone. Call (409) 405-4485 and explain your situation; we'll tell you what's possible.
We accept cards, cash, and digital payment through a secure link. After every job, we text a digital invoice you can pay from your phone. No paper receipt in a truck. You'll know the amount before work starts, and that's exactly what the invoice shows. If you need a different payment arrangement, say so when you call (409) 405-4485 and our coordinator will confirm before dispatch.
Rekeying changes the internal pins so old keys no longer work, but keeps the existing hardware. Replacing removes the old lock entirely and installs new hardware. Rekeying costs less and makes sense when you lose a key or buy a new home and the existing locks are solid. Replacing makes sense when the lock is worn, rusted, or you want upgraded security like a Medeco or Abloy cylinder. A local team member can look at your lock and tell you which route is worth it.
Brands & Parts FAQs
We regularly recommend Schlage, Kwikset, Medeco, and Abloy for Los Angeles homes. Schlage and Kwikset offer solid residential deadbolts at fair prices. Medeco and Abloy are high-security options with restricted keyways, meaning keys can't be copied at a hardware store. Coastal air near the beach promotes corrosion, so a finish rated for marine environments matters. We stock several of these brands on the truck. Call (409) 405-4485 for a recommendation based on your door and neighborhood.
For many young homeowners in Los Angeles, yes. Smart locks let you lock or unlock from your phone, issue temporary codes to dog walkers or cleaners, and see who came and went. They work with most standard deadbolt cutouts, so swapping a Schlage or Kwikset deadbolt for a smart lock is usually straightforward. Keep in mind they run on batteries, and if the batteries die while you're out, you still need a key or backup code. We install them regularly.
A high-security lock has a restricted keyway and hardened components that resist picking, drilling, and bumping. Medeco and Abloy are the two brands we most often install for clients who want serious key control. The key blanks are patented, so copies can't be cut at a hardware store; every duplicate requires your authorization. For a Los Angeles homeowner, this usually matters after a burglary, a roommate situation, or when a contractor had a key. Call (409) 405-4485 to compare options.
Most standard locks in Los Angeles last 7 to 15 years, but conditions vary. Salty coastal air, constant sun exposure, and hard water can corrode finishes and internals faster, especially in beach neighborhoods. Replace a lock when the key sticks, the latch doesn't sit flush, the cylinder is loose, or the finish is visibly pitted. If you've just moved into a new place, rekey immediately regardless of age; you don't know who holds old keys. Call (409) 405-4485 to schedule an inspection.
Licensing & Insurance FAQs
California does not currently require locksmiths to hold a state locksmith license, which surprises a lot of Los Angeles homeowners. That's why you should ask what a company requires of its team before work starts. Every pro working under the Preston Locksmith & Security name is required to hold the license and insurance their state requires. If a locksmith can't tell you plainly, don't hand over your keys or your address. Call (409) 405-4485 and we'll explain exactly how our locations verify their people.
Every pro working under our name is required to hold the license and insurance their state requires. That includes liability coverage for property damage and injury. When a technician arrives, ask to see the documentation; a legitimate operation shows it without hesitation. We also put the price in writing before any work starts, so there's a paper trail from the first minute. If you have questions about coverage, call (409) 405-4485 and our coordinator will route you to the right local team.
Three things before you open the door: verify the company name matches the one you called, confirm the technician has a marked vehicle or company identification, and get the full price in writing before any work begins. A legitimate locksmith will never pressure you to decide on the spot. We tell you the price on the phone before anyone is dispatched. No bait price, no surprise line items. Call (409) 405-4485 and ask your questions before anyone rolls.
Emergency & Response FAQs
First, call your property manager or landlord. Many Los Angeles apartment buildings have a maintenance team or a designated locksmith already, and some leases require you to use their provider. If they can't help, call (409) 405-4485. We'll connect you with the local team nearest your address, and we'll ask for proof of residency, which is standard for rental locksmith work. Be prepared with your ID and, ideally, a lease or utility bill. This protects you and your neighbors.
Yes, broken key extraction is a common job and usually takes under an hour. The technique depends on whether the key broke at the head or deep in the cylinder. In many cases the lock survives and doesn't need replacement. If the cylinder was already failing or the key was very worn, you may need a rekey or new hardware. We'll show you the condition of the lock before recommending anything. Call (409) 405-4485 and describe what happened.
Our hours are Sunday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and we're closed Saturdays. If you're locked out on a Saturday, plan accordingly; some jobs can wait until Sunday morning, but a lockout can't. We recommend saving (409) 405-4485 in your phone now so you're not searching from the curb. When you call during business hours, our coordinator connects you with the local team nearest your address and gives you a live arrival time.
Call (409) 405-4485 and have your exact address ready, plus a description of the job. Our coordinator connects you with the Preston Locksmith & Security location that covers your area, then texts you a live arrival time you can track. Booking ahead on the phone is faster than filling out forms or waiting for callbacks. We don't do phone tag. You'll know who is coming, when they'll be there, and what it will cost before they're on the road.
Warranty & Guarantees FAQs
The Relay Visibility Guarantee is the promise every Preston Locksmith & Security location works to: a live arrival time you can track to your door, photo updates of the work before and after, and a written price before anything starts. You always know who is coming, when they'll be there, and what it will cost. Book in a tap, no phone tag. Give a live arrival time, not a four-hour window. Send photos of the work. Put the price in writing. Text a digital invoice. That's The Relay Standard, and it's what we run every job on.
Every job is covered by The Relay Visibility Guarantee, which means the scope of work and the price are in writing before we start. If a newly installed or repaired lock fails due to workmanship or defective parts, bring it to our attention and the local team that did the work will address it. Specific warranty terms vary by the hardware you choose; Schlage, Kwikset, Medeco, and Abloy each carry their own manufacturer warranties. Call (409) 405-4485 with any follow-up and we'll route you to the right team.
Tell the team member before they leave the job; it's always easiest to adjust on-site. If you realize after a day or two that the lock doesn't fit your needs, call (409) 405-4485 and our coordinator will connect you with the local team that installed it. We'll walk through your concerns and figure out a fair solution. We want the lock to work the way you expected. That's the whole point of The Relay Visibility Guarantee.
Written by Kevin Yoon, Owner at Preston Locksmith & Security, serving Los Angeles since 2008.
Still Have Questions?
We are happy to help. Call us - same-day and after-hours emergency service available.
(409) 405-4485