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Locksmith guide · Vancouver

Locksmith FAQ

The questions the shop gets asked every week, answered once and kept in one place. Each answer links the page that covers the job in full.

Call 604-734-7233

How to use this page

This is the only page on the site that carries a question and answer block. Everything else is a service page that explains one job properly, and every answer here points at the one that applies to you.

If your question is really "what will this cost", the whole price sheet is one page and it is the figure we quote. If it is "can you come now", that is emergency locksmith. If it is anything else, 604-734-7233 reaches the shop at 4105 Macdonald Street.

Still not answered

Call 604-734-7233 and describe the door, the lock or the vehicle. A person at the shop will tell you the band, whether it is a job worth doing today, and roughly how long it takes.

For scheduled work you can book online and pick a date and an arrival window. For anything else, contact us or come to the counter at 4105 Macdonald Street. Everything we run is listed on our services.

Where to next

Related locksmith services.

When you are ready to act on the guide: one licensed Vancouver team for home, auto and business.

Residential Locksmith

Re-keys, lock changes & deadbolt upgrades for homes and condos.

Read more →

Auto Locksmith

Car keys, fob programming, ignition repair & all-keys-lost.

Read more →

Commercial Locksmith

Master-key systems, access control & door hardware for business.

Read more →

Safes & Vaults

Safe sales, install, combination changes & opening.

Read more →

Locksmith Resource Hub

More guides on home, auto & commercial security.

Read more →
Good to know

Prices and quoting

How much does a locksmith cost in Vancouver?+
The service call is $75 in standard hours and the work is priced per job on top. Common jobs: lockouts $80-$160, rekeys $25-$45 per cylinder, car keys from $180. The full sheet is on the prices page and the number you are quoted on the phone is the number on the invoice.
Do you charge more after hours?+
Yes, and we tell you before dispatching. After-hours labour starts at $150 between 5 pm and 9 pm and is $250/hour from 9 pm to 8:30 am. There is no separate dispatch fee, fuel surcharge or assessment fee. See prices.
Are there any hidden fees?+
No. If the job on site turns out to be different from what was described on the phone, we stop and re-quote before doing the extra work rather than adding it at the end. Every band we quote from is published on the price sheet.
How fast can you get to me?+
Across Vancouver the technician normally arrives in 20-30 minutes from our shop on Macdonald Street. Further out in Metro Vancouver takes longer and we give you the real window on the call. Coverage by city is on service areas, and the job itself is on emergency locksmith.
Will you damage my door to get me in?+
Almost never. Most lockouts on modern hardware are picked open with no damage to the door, the frame or the cylinder. Drilling is a last resort and it never happens without telling you first and quoting the repair. See emergency locksmith.
What do you need before you open a door for me?+
Proof you are entitled to be there. For a home that is photo ID matching the address, a lease or a landlord who can confirm it. For a business it is a lease, a card matching the signage or a manager on the phone. Details on commercial locksmith.
Should I rekey or replace my locks?+
Rekey if the hardware is sound and you only need the old keys to stop working: $25-$45 per cylinder, or $60-$120 per cylinder on high-security hardware. Replace if the lock is worn, seized or too low a grade: $80-$160 installed. See lock rekey and lock change.
How much is a spare key?+
House and office keys are $5-$15 each, or $8-$30 for specialty and commercial blanks. Restricted high-security keys are $30-$80 cut to registered code with written authorisation. Bring the key to the counter: see key cutting.
I lost my only house key. What now?+
We let you in, then rekey the cylinder so the missing key stops working. A new copy of the same key solves the access problem and leaves the security problem exactly where it was. See all keys lost.
Can you make a car key with no spare?+
Yes. We originate the key from the vehicle, so no existing key is needed. Transponder keys are $180-$280 cut and programmed, proximity smart keys $280-$420, European luxury $400-$900. Bring ID and the registration. See car key replacement.
My safe will not open. Do you have to drill it?+
Usually not. A dead keypad battery is a quick fix and a forgotten mechanical combination can often be manipulated open. Residential opening is from $150 and commercial TL-15 or TL-30 from $300. See safes.
Do you set up master key systems?+
Yes, from $300 setup plus $30-$80 per cylinder, or $60-$200 per cylinder on a restricted keyway. That includes the keying chart and the key registry, so future copies need written authorisation. See commercial locksmith.
Ready when you are

Have a lock or key question? Just call.

Licensed, insured and local since 1992. Call now or book online: home, auto or business, we answer 24/7.

604-734-7233
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