Finding a legitimate locksmith sounds like it should be easy — search online, pick one, done. But the locksmith industry has a serious scam problem in the US. Fake locksmith operations buy thousands of Google ads, list fake addresses across hundreds of cities, quote $29 to unlock your door, and then charge $300–$600 once they're standing at your home or car.
The good news: once you know what to look for, spotting a real locksmith takes about 5 minutes. Here's exactly what to do.
Why Locksmith Scams Are So Common
The conditions are ripe for fraud:
- You're often in an emergency — stressed, locked out, not thinking clearly
- You need someone quickly — you don't have time for thorough research
- The industry has uneven regulation — some states require licensing, others don't
- Google Ads are easy to abuse — a scam operation can appear at the top of search results for any city
The Federal Trade Commission has warned consumers about locksmith scams. The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and numerous TV stations have run investigations on this exact problem. It's real, it's widespread, and it specifically targets people in vulnerable moments.
Step 1: Check Licensing (If Your State Requires It)
The first and most powerful filter is state licensing where it exists.
States That Require Locksmith Licensing
These states have meaningful locksmith licensing laws — ask for the license number and verify it:
- California: Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS) — search at dca.ca.gov
- Texas: Texas Department of Public Safety (TX DPS) — verify at license.dps.texas.gov
- New York (NYC): NYC Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) — specific to NYC
- Illinois: Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)
- New Jersey: State Police (NJ Locksmith License)
- Connecticut, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Nevada, and others also have licensing
States Without Locksmith Licensing
Arizona, Colorado, Washington, Florida, Michigan, Ohio, and many other states do not require state locksmith licenses. In these states, skip to Steps 2–5 below.
How to use licensing: Before the locksmith arrives, ask: "Can I get your [state] locksmith license number?" Then verify it on the state's website. A legitimate locksmith will give you the number without any pushback. If they refuse or can't provide one, move on.
Step 2: Verify the Business Address
Every legitimate locksmith operates out of a real location. Before you hire anyone, verify their address.
How to do this:
- Get the business address from their website or Google listing
- Search it on Google Maps and look at Street View
- Does it look like a real business? A shop, office building, or commercial space?
Red flags:
- The address is a residential home with no business signage (possible but suspicious)
- The address is a vacant lot, parking lot, or doesn't exist
- The address resolves to a UPS Store, mailbox service, or virtual office
- The website doesn't list a physical address at all
Many scam locksmith operations rent a virtual mailbox address in dozens of cities to appear local. They have no actual presence there.
Step 3: Read Reviews on Multiple Platforms
Reviews are a powerful filter when you know what to look for.
What good reviews look like:
- Span multiple years (not all in the last 2 months)
- Come from reviewer profiles with photos, other reviews, and activity history
- Mention specific details about the experience (the locksmith's name, what was done, the address)
- Mix of 4 and 5 stars (a business with exclusively perfect reviews is suspicious)
What bad reviews look like:
- Dozens or hundreds of 5-star reviews all posted in the same month
- Generic reviews with no specific details: "Great service, fast, professional!" x50
- Reviewer profiles with one review, no photo, and no other activity
- Suspiciously similar language across many reviews
Where to check: Google, Yelp, BBB (bbb.org), and Angi. A real local business has a presence on multiple platforms. A scam operation may have gamed one platform but not others.
Step 4: Search the Phone Number
This is a quick and powerful scam detector:
- Copy the locksmith's phone number
- Search it in Google (in quotes: "555-867-5309")
- See how many different business names that number is connected to
Scam locksmith operations use one call center with many local numbers. If you search the phone number and find it connected to 15 different business names ("All City Locksmith," "Fast Lock Service," "24/7 Locksmith Pro," etc.), that's a fake operation.
A legitimate local locksmith has one business name per phone number.
Step 5: Get a Price Before They Come Out
A clear price estimate is one of the clearest signals of a legitimate business.
What to ask:
- "What is your service call fee?"
- "What's the estimated total to unlock a standard deadbolt at my address?"
- "Are there any other fees I should know about?"
What a legitimate locksmith will say:
- "Our service call fee is $X"
- "For a standard lockout with a Kwikset or Schlage deadbolt, our total is usually around $Y to $Z, depending on the lock"
- "If there are complications — high-security lock, broken key — I'd call you before doing anything extra"
What a scam will say:
- "Our price is just $29 to come out" (with nothing about total cost)
- "I'll need to see it before I can give you any price"
- Extreme vagueness about anything related to cost
A real locksmith can't give you an exact price without seeing the lock, but they can give you a realistic range. If they refuse to give any range at all, move on.
Step 6: Check the Vehicle and ID When They Arrive
When the locksmith arrives:
Look for: Marked company vehicle with the business name, work uniform or branded clothing, business card, license and ID on request.
Red flags at arrival:
- Unmarked personal vehicle (some solo operators do use personal vehicles, but combined with other red flags it matters)
- No company ID or identifying information
- Unwilling to show any identification before starting work
- A license plate that doesn't match the state where they claim to operate
Ask to see their ID and, in licensed states, their license card. Any professional will comply immediately.
Step 7: Use Community Recommendations
One of the most reliable ways to find a trustworthy locksmith is asking people you know.
- Ask neighbors who they've used
- Post in your local Nextdoor, neighborhood Facebook group, or community forum
- Ask your apartment building manager who they use
- Ask a real estate agent — they deal with locksmiths constantly
Personal referrals cut through the scam risk almost entirely. A locksmith that your neighbor used and vouches for is almost certainly legitimate.
Red Flag Summary
These are warning signs that you may be dealing with a scam:
| Red Flag | What It Suggests |
|---|---|
| Quote of $29–$49 over phone | Bait-and-switch pricing |
| Unlicensed (in licensed state) | Operating illegally, no accountability |
| Won't give any price range | Planning to improvise the bill |
| Address doesn't check out | Fake local presence |
| Phone number = 10 business names | Scam call center |
| Only accepts cash | No paper trail for overcharging |
| Arrives in unmarked van, no ID | No accountability |
| Wants to drill immediately | Unnecessary upsell |
| Bill is dramatically more than quoted | Classic bait-and-switch |
| Reviews all from the same month | Fake review farm |
Any one of these could be coincidence. Multiple red flags together means walk away.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if a locksmith is legit before they arrive?
Check their license (in licensed states), verify their physical address on Google Maps, search their phone number for multiple business names, read reviews across multiple platforms, and get a price estimate over the phone. Legitimate locksmiths pass all of these checks easily.
Is it safe to use the first locksmith in Google search results?
Not automatically. Sponsored results at the top of Google searches are paid ads, and scam operations buy many of these. Scroll past the ads and look at businesses with real reviews, verifiable addresses, and an established online presence.
What should I do if a locksmith charges much more than quoted?
Refuse to pay the excess. Pay the originally quoted amount and document everything. If you paid by credit card, dispute the overcharge. Report the business to your state licensing board (if applicable), the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov, and the BBB.
Can I find a locksmith through ALOA?
Yes. The Associated Locksmiths of America (aloa.org) maintains a member directory. ALOA members have agreed to a code of ethics and passed competency assessments. This is especially useful in states without mandatory licensing.
What's a realistic price range for a locksmith so I know if I'm being scammed?
A legitimate residential lockout during business hours in a typical US city costs $85–$200. A car lockout runs $70–$175. Anything quoted at $29–$49 is not the real final price. These are bait prices used to get someone in your driveway.
Should I verify the license before the locksmith comes or when they arrive?
Before. Ask for the license number when you call. Verify it online before they leave to come to you. This way, if they can't provide one or it doesn't check out, you haven't wasted their trip or yours.