Usually, when you need a locksmith for cars, you’re in a bit of a dire situation.  It tends to be at the least convenient times when we find ourselves locked out of our cars.  But when you type “locksmith near me for cars” into a search engine, how do you know that you’ll find a trustworthy auto locksmith?  That’s why Locksmith Geeks is providing these pointers for finding a locksmith for cars in Upland, CA.  We know how important it is for you to have honest and efficient service in such a stressful situation.  These tips will help you differentiate between locksmiths who are trustworthy and those who are not.

How to Tell if You Can Trust an Auto Locksmith

It is crucial that you find an auto locksmith who you deem to be trustworthy.  Many locksmiths nowadays are dishonest and find ways to slip in extra charges.  In fact, some locksmiths don’t even have legitimate business licenses.  First of all, you should be very weary of accepting charges which are tacked on after the fact.  Do some research and see which locksmiths are trusted in your area.  Compare Yelp reviews and the like.

  • Make Sure the Locksmith Really Is Local

As stated above, many locksmiths which claim to be local aren’t local at all.  They are instead ran by call centers, which are often out of state, who dispatch unqualified locksmiths to various locations.  The best way to make sure that a locksmith for cars truly is local is to do a bit of online research.  Look for a street address associated with the business.  Is that address already being used by another business?  Call them and ask as many questions as you can think of to confirm their legitimacy.  Do they answer the phone with a generic phrase (“Hello, locksmith?”) or refrain from announcing a company name?  Are they using a 1-800 phone number?  If the answer to any of these question is “yes,” then chances are, that locksmith is not legitimate.  Any local locksmith should be able to readily provide their official company name and be easily located, just like any other business.  For example, you can see that at Locksmith Geeks, we keep our street address posted on our website here.  A bit of research in this area, even during a lockout situation, can end up saving you a lot of money.  After all, if you’re searching for a “locksmith near me for cars,” then you should make sure that the locksmith you hire truly is near you.  

  • Check Their Business LicenseMake sure you choose a licensed locksmith

When an auto locksmith arrives, the first thing you should do is ask to see their business license.  In California, it is illegal to advertise or to work as a locksmith without a locksmithing license.  If any locksmith cannot show you their California locksmith license, you should be extremely skeptical.  Similarly, if they claim to have a license from a state which does not require a locksmith license, that is also another cause for concern.  If a locksmith arrives in either an unmarked vehicle or a vehicle which is obviously from another company, you should caution.  This is another sign that they are not legitimate and most likely, not qualified.  Lastly, a legitimate locksmith should ask to see your ID before performing any services.  This is to make sure that it is indeed your car, home, safe, etc. that they are opening for you.  If a locksmith skips this step, it may be a clear red flag that they are not trustworthy.    

  • Ask for an Estimate Before They Arrive

This is the easiest and most straightforward precaution you can take with a locksmith for cars.  Those that function through call-centers usually bait customers with prices that seem too low to be true… that’s because they usually are.  When the locksmith then arrives, they end up claiming that the job is more complicated than they thought it would be, for some reason or another, and then start raising the price.  A quality locksmith generally costs about $60.  If someone is advertising their services for less than that, you should be extremely cautious with them.  Consider that you have someone driving out to your location to then perform a service: that calls for a bit of overhead.  Thus, it is pretty unrealistic that any locksmith for cars is only charging $20 for their services and thriving.  If, for some reason, a locksmith will not give you an estimate, then you should not pursue business transactions with them.  This gives them the freedom to fluctuate the price as much as they’d like to.  By locking down an estimate, you can greatly reduce the risk of being charged any extra or hidden fees.  However, it’s not the only step that you can take to prevent yourself from being scammed.      

Keep a Duplicate of Your Car Key

This is the best preventative measure you can possibly take.  Although it may seem like an obvious precaution to take, you might be surprised to find out just how many people have only one copy of their car keys.  Even if you are only given one copy when you purchase the vehicle, it is very much worth it to take that key to a hardware store or auto locksmith to have a copy made.  If you go to a trustworthy locksmith, this should hardly cost you much.  This can save you a lot of money in the future if you happen to lose your key or lock it inside of your car.  Most people choose to keep their spare key at home, so it can be easily retrieved if the time ever comes. Just don’t make the mistake of carrying the two keys together at the same time!

Locksmith Geeks are the most trusted and the most qualified auto locksmiths in Upland and the greater surrounding area.  We pride ourselves on our quick response times and expert service.  No matter what your locksmith needs are, we are sure that we can exceed your expectations!  So the next time you’re in a situation where you’re typing “locksmith near me for cars” into that search bar on your phone, remember that Locksmith Geeks is always here to help!  Visit our website or give us a call at (909) 774-1444 to find out about our special offers!