Locksmith Questions, Answered Honestly
Updated September 2026
Straight answers to the questions we hear most, on the phone, at the door, and in the middle of the night. No jargon, no runaround. For neighborhood-specific questions, every area we serve has its own page on our Brooklyn neighborhoods we serve hub.
Pricing Questions
How much does a locksmith cost in Brooklyn?
Most jobs fall into clear ranges: car lockouts start around $145, home lockouts around $175, rekeying from $145, and lock replacement from $175 depending on the hardware. Night calls cost more than daytime ones. We quote a clear number before any work starts, and the full breakdown is on our locksmith pricing page.
Do you work at night and on holidays?
Yes, genuinely 24/7. Lockouts don’t check the calendar, so neither do we. Night and holiday calls carry a higher service rate than daytime ones, and we tell you the number upfront when you call.
Lockouts & Getting Back In
Will a locksmith damage my lock or door to open it?
A good one won’t, in most cases. We use non-destructive entry first: picks and specialized tools, not a drill. Drilling is a last resort for a small minority of high-security or badly failed locks, and we’ll tell you before we touch it, not after.
I lost all my keys. What do I do?
Don’t panic; this is routine work for us. For a home, we open the door with careful methods, then rekey or replace the locks so the lost keys go dead. For a car, we can make new keys on site for most vehicles, including transponder and chip keys. Either way, one visit usually solves it.
What should I do while I wait for the locksmith?
Stay put if you can, we’re usually minutes away. Don’t force the door, don’t push a credit card into the frame, and don’t keep twisting a stuck key, all three usually turn a cheap job into an expensive one. If it’s late, wait somewhere lit and warm nearby, and keep your phone handy so the tech can reach you on arrival.
Keys, Cars & Locks
Should I rekey or replace my locks?
Rekey when the hardware is fine and you just need old keys to stop working: after a move, a lost key, a roommate change. Replace when the lock itself is worn, outdated, or unreliable. Rekeying is cheaper, and honestly, it’s what most people calling about “changing the locks” actually need. We look at your lock first and tell you straight which one it is.
Can a locksmith make a key without the original?
Yes, in most cases. For house locks we can cut a new key from the lock itself, by decoding or disassembling the cylinder. For cars we make replacement keys on site for most makes and models, including transponder and chip keys, no original needed. Bring proof of ownership, we’ll ask for it, and that’s a good sign, not a hassle.
Can you open any car without damage?
Nearly all of them, yes. We use tools designed for vehicle entry that don’t pry the door frame or tear the weather stripping. Modern cars with advanced locking systems occasionally take longer, but damage-free entry is the standard we work to on every vehicle.
Trust & Service
How do I know a locksmith is legitimate and not a scam?
Fair question, because fake locksmiths are a real problem in NYC. Green flags: a real local address, a clear price quoted before work starts, a marked arrival and ID you can check, and no sudden price jumps once the door is open. If someone quotes $29 on the phone and $400 at your door, close the door. We give our estimate before we start and stick to it.
How fast can you get to me in Brooklyn?
Typically 20 to 35 minutes anywhere in the borough, day or night. Exact timing depends on traffic and where our nearest technician is. We dispatch around the clock, weekends and holidays included, from our base at 342 E 9th St in Kensington.