Get Quotes from Top Locksmiths in Spokane, WA

What Do I Need to Know Before Hiring a Locksmith in Spokane?

Even though there are no mandatory licensing requirements for locksmiths in Spokane, many professional locksmiths opt for voluntary certification to show their expertise and competence. We strongly recommend these certified locksmiths, as they are more knowledgeable and experienced than their non-certified counterparts.

Additionally, it's crucial to ensure your intended locksmith's area of specialization suits your specific needs. For instance, if your issue involves vehicle locks, hiring an auto locksmith instead of a traditional locksmith (who primarily deals with building-related lockouts) would be more appropriate. Other things to consider before hiring a Spokane locksmith include:

• The locksmith's current location and availability
• The urgency of the problem
• The locksmith's rates

Are You Licensed as a Locksmith in Spokane?

While there are no occupation-specific licensing requirements for locksmithing in Spokane, locksmiths need to secure a general business license to conduct business within city limits.

Considering occupational licenses are not required for locksmithing in Spokane, it is advisable to hire locksmiths who have undergone formal training and certification with reputable organizations, such as:

• The Associated Locksmiths of America (ALOA)
• The Institutional Locksmiths Association
• The Society of Professional Locksmiths (SOPL)
• The Safe and Vault Technicians Association (SAVTA)

Opting for certified locksmiths is always a good decision, as these professionals are more knowledgeable and competent than non-certified locksmiths. Certifying organizations also offer their member locksmiths continuous education opportunities, vet them, and hold them to high professional and ethical standards; all these ensure that you'll be working with a qualified and reliable locksmith.

Always verify any certifications your intended locksmith claims to have before committing to them.

What Rates Do You Charge for Your Locksmith Services in Spokane?

Spokane-based locksmiths usually charge between $25 and $55 per hour for their services (note that some locksmiths charge a flat fee per job). Regardless of the billing method your locksmith uses, the overall costs for your services will be determined by factors like:

• The nature and complexity of the job
• The urgency of the situation
• The time of day
• Your location
• Trip fees

You should compare quotes from two or three locksmiths before hiring. This ensures you pay a reasonable rate and protects you from scammers. However, be wary of locksmiths offering significantly lower rates than their competitors, as this is a common technique untrustworthy locksmiths use to deceive unsuspecting clients.

What Kind of Locksmith Services Do You Offer?

Spokane locksmiths offer clients several services, from key duplications and lock repairs to lock upgrades and high-security system installations. Nevertheless, always confirm your intended locksmith can provide your required services. You should discuss and agree on the locksmith's rates before committing to them to avoid disputes later.

Here are some common locksmith services that Spokane locksmiths typically offer and the estimated cost ranges for each service:

Do You Provide Auto Locksmith Services in Spokane?

Auto locksmiths in Spokane specialize in addressing lockouts involving cars, motorcycles, trucks, and other vehicles. These professionals typically offer many services, including:

• Repairing and replacing faulty car and motorcycle locks
• Unlocking car doors
• Programming key fobs
• Replacing or copying vehicle keys
• Extracting stuck/broken keys
• Fixing faulty ignitions
• Changing doors actuators
• Opening locked trunks

When deciding on auto locksmiths, it's important to ensure your chosen professional has experience working with your vehicle's make and model. This is crucial if you need new keys for a motorcycle (specialized knowledge and equipment are usually required to correctly do this because of these motorcycle keys' unique coding).

Cost estimates for some common car and motorcycle locksmith services that Spokane auto locksmiths offer are listed below:

Do You Provide Emergency or 24-hour Locksmith Services?

While lockout situations are generally considered urgent, some scenarios demand immediate attention, such as:

• Being locked out of your home
• Having a key snap in its lock
• Needing to change your locks after a break-in
• Having your keys stolen

Mobile locksmiths excel in resolving lockout emergencies; you should contact one when faced with these situations. These locksmiths operate out of mobile workshops, which afford them certain advantages over regular (non-mobile) locksmiths, like:

• Faster response times
• Easier accessibility to remote and challenging-to-reach locations
• More on-the-job experience due to a higher volume of service requests
• 24/7 availability

You can also consider exploring self-service locksmith options like KeyMe or MinuteKey – these platforms allow you to store digital copies of your keys online and make physical duplicates when needed through a mobile app and self-service kiosk, respectively. However, there are limitations to this option, such as the possible unavailability of nearby kiosks and the risk of data breaches compromising your digital keys.

We recommend adopting the following preventive measures to minimize the likelihood of lockouts:

• Organize your keys
• Get spares
• Use lockboxes
• Install smart locks

Keep the contact info of one or two reputable nearby locksmiths for quick assistance in a lockout emergency.

Do You Conduct Background Checks on Your Employees?

Hiring a trustworthy locksmith is crucial to prevent potential issues like theft, robbery, or blackmail. Therefore, in addition to prioritizing certified locksmiths ( typically vetted by their certifying bodies), ensure that your chosen locksmith also conducts thorough background checks on their employees, especially those directly interacting with customers or handling sensitive information. These background checks should ideally include:

• Criminal background checks
• Civil record checks
• Credit checks
• Previous employment verifications
• Driving record checks
• Random drug screenings

Other precautions that you can take to ensure that you engage trustworthy locksmiths include:

• Looking up reviews and testimonials on them online
• Getting the names and descriptions of the actual locksmiths assigned to your task and insisting on seeing their company ID (to validate this information) when they arrive at your location

Do You Offer Any Warranties on Your Locksmith Services?

Reputable locksmiths offer two kinds of warranties - a Manufacturer's Warranty that addresses product-related issues and a Workmanship Warranty that covers problems arising from the locksmith's work. Always confirm that you'll be offered these warranties before committing to any Spokane locksmiths, as they assure you that the job will be done professionally and with high-quality products.

Be aware the coverage these locksmithing warranties offer varies by locksmiths (and the products used). Nevertheless, most standard warranties typically don't cover issues caused by:

• Incorrect lock installation or unauthorized repairs
• Misuse, negligence, vandalism, and natural disasters

As such, we recommend asking for written copies of your warranties; this allows you to review and familiarize yourself with their specific terms and conditions.