FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Safe & Secure Locksmith serves Vancouver and the broader Lower Mainland, including Burnaby, Richmond, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Coquitlam, Port Moody, New Westminster, Surrey, Delta, and Langley. If you’re unsure whether we cover your area, call us at 604-734-7233 and we’ll let you know immediately.

Our mobile technicians are stationed across the region to ensure fast response times throughout our service territory, including outlying neighbourhoods and municipalities.

Yes. We operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year — including weekends, evenings, and holidays. Lockouts and lock emergencies don’t follow a 9-to-5 schedule, and neither do we.

When you call after hours, you reach a live dispatcher, not a voicemail. We dispatch immediately and give you an estimated arrival time on the call.

Our average arrival time across our service area is 20–30 minutes. For core Vancouver neighbourhoods and primary service areas, arrival is often faster. Rural or outlying areas may take slightly longer, but we always give you an honest ETA when you call.

We dispatch the closest available technician immediately after your call and keep you updated if anything changes.

Yes. Safe & Secure Locksmith is a fully licensed and insured locksmith company operating in British Columbia. All of our technicians are trained professionals with verified backgrounds.

We carry general liability insurance and are happy to provide proof of insurance for commercial clients or strata corporations that require it. When you invite us to your home or business, you can trust you’re dealing with a legitimate, vetted operation.

We provide upfront pricing over the phone for most services before we even arrive. For standard lockouts, rekeying, and common lock replacements, we can typically give you an accurate quote based on your description.

For more complex work — such as master key system design, commercial hardware installs, or high-security upgrades — we provide a detailed written estimate after a brief on-site assessment. There is no charge for the initial assessment on most commercial projects. Call 604-734-7233 and we’ll walk you through expected costs before you commit to anything.

Call us at 604-734-7233 right away. We’ll dispatch a technician to your location immediately — no need to wait for a scheduling window. Our locksmiths use professional non-destructive entry techniques to open your door without damaging the lock, door frame, or the door itself.

While you wait, stay in a safe, visible location — particularly if it’s late at night. Avoid attempting to force entry yourself, as this frequently causes costly damage to both the lock and the door.

Rekeying reconfigures the internal pins of your existing lock so it works with a new key. It’s faster and less expensive than a full lock change, and is the right choice when your hardware is in good condition but you need to void old keys — such as after moving into a new home, following a breakup or roommate change, or if your keys were lost or stolen.

Changing locks (replacing the entire hardware) makes sense when your existing locks are worn, damaged, low-security, or you want to upgrade to a higher-grade or smart lock. Our technicians can assess your current hardware and give you an honest recommendation either way.

Yes. We supply and install smart locks from leading brands including Schlage, Yale, Kwikset, and August. Smart locks offer keypad access, smartphone control, and auto-lock features that improve both convenience and security.

We handle the full installation, including removing your old hardware, installing the new smart lock, programming access codes, and walking you through the app setup. Most standard door preps accept smart locks without any modification to the door itself.

Cost depends on the type and grade of lock, the number of doors, and whether any door prep work is required. Standard residential deadbolt replacements with mid-grade hardware are typically very affordable, while high-security or smart lock installations cost more.

We provide a clear, upfront quote before starting any work. There are no hidden service call fees or surprise charges. Call 604-734-7233 and describe your situation — we can usually give you a solid estimate over the phone.

Yes. We can cut and program a new car key without the original for most vehicle makes and models. We decode the key code directly from the lock cylinder or use on-board diagnostic tools to generate the correct cut, then program a new transponder or smart key to your vehicle’s immobiliser.

You’ll need to provide proof of ownership (vehicle registration or title) before we can complete this service. Call us with your year, make, and model and we’ll confirm availability and pricing upfront.

Yes. We program transponder keys, proximity (smart) keys, and key fobs for a wide range of vehicles. Modern vehicles require a key that is both cut to the correct profile and electronically programmed to the vehicle’s ECU — a dealer-style process we perform on-site from our mobile unit.

Our automotive locksmith equipment covers the majority of domestic and import vehicles including Toyota, Honda, Ford, GM, Chrysler, Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes, and many others. Call us with your vehicle details to confirm compatibility.

Pricing varies significantly based on the vehicle and key type. A basic metal key cut is much less than a programmed transponder key, which is in turn less expensive than a proximity smart key or push-button fob. High-security keys for luxury vehicles cost more due to advanced encryption.

In most cases, we are considerably more affordable than a dealership for the same service, and we come to you. Call 604-734-7233 with your vehicle year, make, model, and VIN and we’ll give you an accurate quote on the spot.

Yes. We handle ignition repairs and replacements for many vehicles. Common ignition problems include keys that won’t turn, keys that are stuck or seized, worn wafers that cause the key to slip, and damaged cylinders from attempted theft.

Depending on the issue, we may be able to repair the existing ignition cylinder or will replace it entirely. We carry common replacement cylinders and can order specific ones. If your ignition problem involves the electrical steering lock or immobiliser system, we can diagnose that as well.

A master key system allows different keys to open different combinations of locks within the same building, while a single master key opens all of them. For example, each tenant can have a key that opens only their suite, while the building manager holds a master key that accesses every unit.

Systems can be designed with multiple levels — grandmaster, master, sub-master, and change keys — to match your organizational hierarchy. We design, supply, and install master key systems for apartment buildings, office complexes, hotels, schools, and retail properties of any size.

Yes. We install, repair, and maintain panic bars (also called crash bars or push bars), exit devices, and fire door hardware for commercial buildings. These devices are required by BC fire code on many commercial exit doors and must function correctly at all times.

We work with hardware from Von Duprin, Falcon, Sargent, Dorma, and other major manufacturers. Whether you need a new installation, a broken mechanism repaired, or an existing device retrofitted with a lockset, we can handle it.

Absolutely. We perform large-scale commercial rekeying projects for apartment buildings, office complexes, strata corporations, and retail chains. Building-wide rekeying is often needed after a property management change, a security incident, or when consolidating keys across multiple units.

We schedule this work to minimize disruption — often completing entire floors or sections in a single visit. We also provide a detailed key schedule and can issue a controlled number of keys per unit for record-keeping. Contact us for a commercial site assessment and quote.

Yes. Restricted keyway systems use patented key profiles that cannot be duplicated at a hardware store or general locksmith. Duplication requires written authorization from the key holder and can only be done by an authorized dealer — giving you full control over who has access to your property.

We supply and install restricted keyway cylinders from leading manufacturers including Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, Abloy, and BEST. These are ideal for businesses that need verifiable key control, such as medical offices, financial institutions, data centres, and multi-unit residential buildings.

An emergency call is any situation where you need a locksmith immediately and cannot safely wait for a scheduled appointment. Common examples include being locked out of your home, car, or business; a broken lock after a forced entry or break-in attempt; a key snapped in a lock; a lock malfunction that prevents you from securing your property; or keys lost in an unsafe situation.

If you’re unsure whether your situation qualifies, just call us. We’d rather you check and not need us urgently than hesitate and be left in an unsafe position. We handle all calls — emergencies and scheduled work alike — with the same level of professionalism.

After-hours and emergency calls may carry a different rate than standard daytime service calls — this is standard in the locksmith industry and we are transparent about it. We will always tell you the applicable rate before we dispatch, so there are no surprises when the technician arrives.

We do not charge hidden trip fees or inflate labour charges without disclosure. The quote you receive on the phone is what you pay, barring any unexpected complications discovered on-site that we would discuss with you before proceeding.

Yes, and this is exactly the situation we’re built for. If you’ve lost all copies of your house keys, we can get you back inside using non-destructive entry and then rekey your locks on the same visit so that the lost keys no longer work. We can also cut new keys before we leave so you’re not left without a spare.

If your car keys are gone, we can make a new key — including programming a new transponder or smart key — without needing the originals, as long as you can provide proof of ownership. Call 604-734-7233 and we’ll walk you through the options based on your specific situation.