► Frequently Asked Questions

Our average arrival across Vancouver is around 20 minutes. That covers most of the city — Downtown, Kitsilano, the West End, Mount Pleasant, Yaletown, Fairview, and beyond. If you're in a further area like Marpole or Hastings-Sunrise, add a few minutes. We'll give you a real ETA when you call — not a range so wide it's useless.

Yes. We operate 24/7, seven days a week, including holidays. If you call 604-227-9083 at 2 am on a Sunday, a person answers. Lockouts don't schedule themselves, and neither do we.

Stay somewhere safe and visible — a nearby café, a neighbour's entry, or inside a parked car if it's late at night. Don't try to force the lock; you'll damage the cylinder and increase the job cost. Have your ID ready so we can verify you're the resident or owner. For car lockouts, stay near (but not behind) the vehicle, especially on busy roads.

Almost never. For most residential lockouts — standard deadbolts, knob locks, lever sets — a licensed technician picks or bypasses the lock without destroying it. Destruction (drilling) is a last resort, used only when a lock is already damaged, seized, or when there's no other safe entry method. We'll tell you upfront if drilling looks necessary and what it costs before we start.

A standard residential lockout runs somewhere in the range of $80–$150 depending on the lock type, time of day, and location. After-hours (nights, weekends, holidays) calls carry a service premium, which we quote on the phone before dispatch. There are no hidden fees — the number we say on the call is the number on the invoice. Car lockouts are similar; high-security or newer vehicle platforms can run higher.

We quote a single all-in price on the phone. That quote includes arrival, labour, and any standard parts for the job described. If the job turns out to be more complex once the tech is on-site — a seized lock that needs drilling, or a vehicle that needs a secondary bypass — we'll let you know before continuing. You're never surprised at the end.

We accept credit and debit cards, cash, and e-transfer. Payment is collected on completion of the job. We don't require a deposit for standard service calls, though large commercial or multi-door projects may require a partial deposit agreed in writing beforehand.

Rekeying means we change the internal pins of your existing lock so old keys no longer work — only the new key does. The hardware stays. It's faster and cheaper than a full lock change, and it's the right call after a move, a breakup, or a lost key when the lock itself is in good shape.

A lock change means we remove the old hardware entirely and install a new lock. You'd choose this when the existing lock is worn, low-grade, or you want to upgrade to a higher-security deadbolt or a smart lock. Both jobs are same-day; read our full guide on rekeying vs. changing locks for the breakdown.

Yes, and we'd say always. You have no idea how many copies of the previous key exist — previous tenants, building supers who kept a copy, real estate agents. In a strata building you may be limited to what you can change (some require building-approved cylinders), but rekeying the suite-side of the lock is almost always permitted. We can advise on the right approach for your building type.

For most makes and models, yes. We carry cutting and programming equipment in the truck for common domestic and import vehicles. Transponder keys (the chip-in-the-key kind) and key fobs need programming to your car's ECU — we handle that on-site. Newer vehicles with advanced proximity keys (some European makes, newer North American trucks) may require a dealer step; we'll tell you honestly on the phone if that's your situation before we roll out.

Often, yes. Mobile automotive locksmiths typically come in well below dealer pricing for key cutting and programming. The exception is some late-model vehicles with manufacturer-locked programming that requires dealer equipment — but that's a minority of the fleet. Call us with your year, make, model, and VIN and we'll quote you a firm number on the spot. Read more on our car key replacement page.

In most cases, yes. Standard condo doors with a Schlage or Kwikset-prep bore pattern can accept most smart locks without modification. Some older buildings have non-standard door prep or strata rules about lock hardware — it's worth a quick check with your strata council first. We'll assess on arrival and let you know if the door needs any prep work. For product guidance, see our smart lock installation page or the Vancouver smart lock buyer's guide.

We work with most major brands — Schlage Encode, Yale Assure, August, Kwikset Halo, and Ultraloq are the ones we install most often. We stock a selection on the truck; if you want a specific model, let us know when you book and we'll confirm availability. We don't push a particular brand — we'll recommend based on your door prep, connectivity preferences (Wi-Fi vs. Z-Wave vs. Bluetooth), and budget.

Yes. All our technicians hold valid BC Security Services Act licences for locksmithing. We carry liability insurance covering every job. If you want proof before we arrive — some commercial and strata property managers ask — we can send documentation by email. Call 604-227-9083 and ask dispatch.

A scam locksmith (sometimes called a "bait and switch" operator) will quote $15–$35 on the phone, show up, claim the job is "high-security" or "complex," and present a bill for $300–$600 before leaving. Red flags: no physical business address, no licence number they'll share, price doubles after arrival, they can't show ID.

Our practice: we quote a firm price on the phone for the job described, we show ID on arrival, and we carry a BC Security licence. The number we quote is the number you pay — if anything changes on-site, we tell you before we continue. You can always call 604-227-9083 to verify a quote before committing.