Check the license
In California, locksmith companies are licensed by the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS), part of the Department of Consumer Affairs. A licensed company has a license number beginning with LCO, and the technicians who work for it are registered with the bureau too. You can check any license for free at search.dca.ca.gov: choose the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, search by name or number, and see whether it is current. Ours is LCO8511, and it is on every page of this site.
How the lockout scam works
The pattern is well known. An ad or a listing with a very low price, often a generic name and a call center that answers for "your local locksmith". A technician arrives in an unmarked car, says the lock cannot be picked, drills it, and presents a bill many times the quoted price, now with a new lock you did not choose. Warning signs:
- a price that seems too low for anyone to drive out for,
- no business name, or a name that appears nowhere except the ad,
- no license number, or one that does not match the name,
- a reluctance to give the total before arriving,
- drilling an ordinary lock straight away.
Get the price first
An honest locksmith can give you a firm price before driving over, especially from a photo of the lock. Texting the photo and your ZIP code is the easiest way to get one in writing. If the price changes once they are there, you should hear why, and agree, before any work starts.
What an honest locksmith asks you
Expect to be asked to prove you live at the house or own the car: an ID with the address, a lease, the registration. It can feel like a nuisance when you are locked out, but it is the best sign you have found the right person. A locksmith who opens anything for anyone will open yours for someone else.
Other good signs
- A real local presence: reviews that name real places, a business profile, an address.
- A clear answer about what they do not do, rather than yes to everything.
- Damage-free entry tried first, and drilling explained before it happens.
- An itemized invoice in the business name.
That is how we work: licensed, price first by text, damage-free wherever the lock allows, across the Santa Clarita and San Fernando Valleys. If you are locked out right now, our house lockout guide covers the first ten minutes.
Questions people ask
How do I check a California locksmith license?
At search.dca.ca.gov, choose the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services and search by the company name or its LCO number. It shows whether the license is current.
Is it normal for a locksmith to ask for ID?
Yes, and it is a good sign. An honest locksmith confirms you live at the property or own the car before opening anything.
Should a locksmith drill my lock?
Rarely. Most ordinary locks open without damage. Drilling is a last resort and should be explained, with the cost, first.
What is a fair way to get a price?
Text a photo of the lock and your ZIP code. A real locksmith can give a firm price from that, before anyone drives over.