Locksmith questions & answers

It depends on the job. At Charlotte Metro Locksmith a house or car lockout starts at $65, lock rekeying at $29 per lock, key duplication at $29 and car key replacement at $99. The technician gives you a firm price before any work starts, the estimate is free, and the price is the same day or night.

Car lockouts in Charlotte start at $65. That covers opening the door or trunk with manufacturer-specific tools, with no damage to the lock, window or paint. Most cars are open within a few minutes of the technician arriving.

House, apartment and bedroom-door lockouts start at $65. We pick or bypass the lock whenever possible, so in most cases the same lock and the same keys keep working afterwards. If a lock has to be drilled, you hear the price for that before we start.

Yes. We cut a new key from the vehicle's key code (looked up by VIN after proof of ownership, or decoded from the lock) and program it to the car on site. You don't need the old key and the car doesn't need to be towed to a dealer. Car key replacement starts at $99.

Yes. We program remotes, transponder keys and push-to-start smart keys for most makes and models at your location, using the same diagnostic equipment as a dealer. Key fob programming starts at $120, and we can supply the fob or program one you bought, if it's compatible.

Yes. For most house, mailbox and cabinet locks we can either decode the lock and cut a key to match, or rekey it to a brand-new key. Rekeying is usually the faster and cheaper option, and it also means any lost key stops working.

Rekeying starts at $29 per lock plus the service call. A typical Charlotte house with a front door, back door and garage entry is rekeyed in one visit, and every lock can be set to the same new key. It costs much less than replacing the locks and is just as secure when the hardware is in good shape.

Most calls in Charlotte are reached within 20 to 40 minutes. Our technicians are mobile and work 24 hours a day, and the dispatcher gives you an arrival time when you call 704-286-1483.

Most car keys are cut and programmed within 30 to 60 minutes after the technician arrives. Some European models and push-to-start systems take longer because of the manufacturer's security, and we tell you that up front.

Reputable locksmiths do, and we always ask. For a home we check a photo ID with the address, a lease or a utility bill. For a car we check the ID against the registration or title. It protects you, because nobody else can get a locksmith to open your door or make a key to your car.

Not usually. Lockouts are opened with picks, bypass tools and air wedges, not drills or slim jims. Drilling is a last resort for high-security or broken locks, and if it's needed we explain why and give you the price before we touch anything.

Yes. We open home and office safes and gun safes when the combination is forgotten, the keypad is dead or the key is lost, using manipulation and bypass methods first. Safe opening starts at $99, and we can reset the combination or replace the lock afterwards.

Charlotte Metro Locksmith is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays, and a real dispatcher answers the phone. We quote the same way at any hour, and you always hear the full price before the technician starts.

A locksmith is usually cheaper and much faster. A dealer often needs the car towed in and may have to order the key, which can take days. We come to you, cut and program the key on site, and car key replacement starts at $99.