How to choose a locksmith

The Federal Trade Commission has told consumers to research a locksmith the way they would a plumber or an electrician, and to do it before they are locked out. The same 2008 notice says some advertisers who look local may not be local and may not have professional training. This guide is that research, written as questions. It does not explain how to open a lock.

During posted hours, use the referral call page for this service. This guide does not display a routing number.

Author: Dial Home Help editorial desk
Editor: Dial Home Help
Updated: October 22, 2026
Policy: Editorial policy

Do the research before the emergency

Save the legal name and the number of a locksmith you have already checked, the same way you would save a plumber. Searching only after you are locked out is how a vague advertisement gets the call. The FTC's point is timing: the choice is harder when you are standing outside.

If a person answers with a generic phrase instead of a business name, ask for the legal name and where they operate. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection and the Minnesota attorney general both tell consumers to walk away if the caller will not give a business name. Some legitimate shops are mobile or work from home and will not publish a house number. Write down what they do say.

Price before work, in words you can repeat

Ask for the service call, the trip, after-hours charges, and parts before you agree. Ask again when they arrive and have seen the lock. Consumer offices in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and California all describe the same failure: a price on the phone that changes in the driveway. If the numbers do not match, you can still send them away.

California's Department of Consumer Affairs tells residents to verify a locksmith license with the state bureau and to ask to see the license when the person arrives. That is California law as that agency describes it, not a rule this page applies to every state. In another state, ask what license or registration that state requires, and do not assume the California step is universal.

Identification, drilling, and a blank form

Ask for a photo identification and a business card that match the name on the invoice and, if there is a vehicle, the name on the vehicle. You are letting a stranger work on the door of your home. The Minnesota attorney general says not to sign a blank work order. Do not.

Be cautious if someone says the lock must be drilled before they have looked at it. State consumer pages describe drilling as something an experienced locksmith often avoids. This site cannot judge the lock from here. It can tell you that an immediate drill is a reason to pause and ask why, not a reason to agree on the spot.

What this page refuses to be

There are no instructions here for picking, bumping, shimming, or bypassing a lock. Those are not homeowner tips. If you are locked out of a car, your auto insurer may have a benefit. California's consumer page says to check that first. We do not know your policy.

Dial Home Help does not employ the locksmith and does not publish reviews of locksmiths. If you use Call Now, the person who answers is an independent provider and may pay Dial Home Help. Ask them the questions above before they start. The editorial policy explains why there is no star rating to lean on.

Steps

Pick a business before you need one. The FTC says to research a locksmith in advance. Save the legal name, not only a search result.
Ask for the legal name and the location they claim. If they refuse, call someone else. A mobile shop may not list a house number. Write down the answer they give.
Get the full estimate before work. Service call, trip, after-hours, and parts. Ask again after they see the lock. A mismatch is a reason to stop.
Check identity on arrival. Photo identification and a card that match the invoice. Do not sign a blank form. Ask why if they want to drill immediately.
Keep an itemized invoice. Parts, labor, trip, and the business name. You cannot dispute a charge you cannot describe.

Questions

Does this guide explain how to open a lock?

No. It is about hiring. It does not describe bypass methods.

Are locksmith advertising rules the same in every state?

No. California publishes a license check. Other states differ. Use your state's rule, not a national assumption.

Why does the FTC mention locksmiths at all?

In 2008 the FTC said some advertisers may not be local and may not be trained, and it told people to research a locksmith before they are locked out.

Who arrives if I use Call Now?

An independent provider, not an employee of Dial Home Help. That provider may pay Dial Home Help. Ask for the estimate and the identification before work starts.

Sources