Get Quotes from Top Locksmiths in Irving, TX
Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Lock Smith or Pop a Lock in Irving
Approximately one in 16 Americans misplace their house or car keys yearly. In a distinctively diverse and thriving city like Irving that boasts over 90,000 houses, over 25,000 businesses, and more than 30,000 vehicles, this equals many keys lost yearly. Thankfully, Irving has a large pool of skilled locksmiths to assist you when you lose your keys. Whether it's rekeying homes and auto locks, installing keyless entry systems, replacing lost keys, or repairing broken locks and safes, these locksmiths are one phone call away, ready to address all your locksmithing needs.
Before hiring any locksmith in Irving, ensure they are licensed and experienced. This way, you can be confident of getting a high-quality service that is truly worth your money. Additionally, asking these questions can be helpful:
- What Do I Need to Know Before Hiring a Locksmith in Irving?
- Are You Licensed as a Locksmith in Irving?
- What Rates Do You Charge for Your Locksmith Services in Irving?
- What Kind of Locksmith Services Do You Offer?
- Do You Provide Auto Locksmith Services in Irving?
- Do You Provide Emergency or 24-hour Locksmith Services?
- Do You Conduct Background Checks on Your Employees?
- Do You Offer Any Warranties on Your Locksmith Services?
- How Do I Resolve Any Issue I Have with a Locksmith's Services in Irving?
What Do I Need to Know Before Hiring a Locksmith in Irving?
Locksmiths in Irving have to be licensed before offering services. Ensure your chosen locksmith's legitimacy by requesting proof of this licensure before finalizing hiring agreements. Consider these factors to make an informed decision:
- The locksmith's location and accessibility
- Their ability to respond quickly to emergencies
- The locksmith's rates
Hiring an accessible professional who responds promptly to emergencies ensures a swift and effective resolution of any situation you may encounter. Furthermore, knowing what type of locksmith is required for the situation is crucial. For instance, you are better off getting auto locksmiths for car-related problems instead of traditional locksmiths (who focus on buildings).
Are You Licensed as a Locksmith in Irving?
Per state law, any person or entity that offers locksmith services in Irving must have an Individual Locksmith License or a Class B - Security Contractor Company License from the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Hiring an unlicensed locksmith could result in a fine of up to $10,000. Hence, it is crucial to verify that a locksmith is properly licensed before engaging their services. Doing this prevents potential sanctions and ensures you hire a qualified professional capable of delivering a standard service. You can easily verify a locksmith's license through the DPS' TOPS platform. Furthermore, if you need more information on licensing requirements for locksmiths in Irving, contact the DPS at (512)424-7293.
What Rates Do You Charge for Your Locksmith Services in Irving?
Locksmiths in Irving charge an average of $30 - $65 per hour. Rates are influenced by the nature and complexity of your required services. Other factors that may also affect the total cost of hiring locksmiths in Irving include:
- The urgency of the situation
- Your location
- Time of the day or night
- Trip fees
Before deciding who to hire as your locksmith, it is advisable to get and compare cost estimates from two or three local locksmiths. This gives you an idea of the potential cost of fixing your locksmithing issue and ensures you don't get overcharged by a dishonest locksmith looking to exploit uninformed clients. However, be wary of locksmiths who offer unreasonably low rates, as some scammers use this tactic to rope in unsuspecting consumers.
What Kind of Locksmith Services Do You Offer?
Locksmiths in Irving offer many services to meet the lock and key needs of consumers across commercial, residential, and industrial sectors. Listed below are some of the services and their potential costs:
It is essential to confirm your chosen locksmith's area of specialization and ensure their expertise covers the locksmithing issue you are facing. Failing to do this can result in unsatisfactory service delivery.
Do You Provide Auto Locksmith Services in Irving?
Auto locksmiths provide several services for cars, vans, trucks, motorbikes, and other motor vehicles. They are experts in carrying out the following tasks:
- Broken key extraction
- Car key programming
- Unlocking cars or car trunks
- Ignition repair or replacement
- Car handle repair or replacement
Always confirm your auto locksmith is familiar with your vehicle's make and model before committing to their services. In motorcycle-related issues, you may need to go a step further by also confirming that the auto locksmith specializes in motorcycle locksmithing or has someone on staff who does. This is because motorcycle locks and keys have a distinct programming code that requires specialized knowledge and equipment to fix them properly.
Below are some cost estimates for commonly requested auto locksmith services in Irving:
Do You Provide Emergency or 24-hour Locksmith Services?
Lock and key problems require immediate attention. However, some situations can be more pressing than others, like when:
- You lose your key
- You suspect a break-in
- Your door won't stay closed
- Your key snaps inside the lock
- You are locked out of your house or car
- Your key gets stuck in the lock on the outside
Engaging a reliable locksmith who provides responsive and timely services is essential. We recommend making mobile locksmiths your go-to option in lock-related emergencies. These locksmiths operate out of mobile workshops and are experts at providing quick and effective fixes to key and lock problems. Other benefits that mobile locksmiths offer include:
- 24/7 availability
- Quicker response time
- Better accessibility to remote locations
- Minimal towing fees for auto emergencies
Signing up with self-service brands such as KeyMe, MinuteKey, and other companies that offer digital key copying and duplication services is another option for dealing with locksmith emergencies.
Taking the following measures can help you avoid lockouts in your building or vehicle:
- Get spare keys
- Install keyless entry systems
- Entrust a spare key with a neighbor or friend
- Store a digital copy of your house key on your mobile phone
- Save the contact details of at least two trusted nearby locksmiths
Do You Conduct Background Checks on Your Employees?
Locksmiths have to pass a fingerprint-based criminal background check conducted by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) before being licensed to operate in Irving. Always confirm your intended locksmith has undergone this mandatory background check by verifying their license status. Go a step further by ensuring your chosen locksmith properly vets their employees. Many professional Irving-based locksmith companies utilize an employee vetting process that involves the following background checks:
- Criminal background checks
- Credit checks
- Civil record checks
- Driving record checks
- Random drug screenings
- Previous employment verifications
Additionally, request the name and description of the locksmith assigned to handle your problem and ensure their ID matches this description before granting them access to your home or vehicle.
These precautionary measures assure you of the locksmith's professionalism and reduce the chances of incidents like theft, robberies, and other similar issues.
Do You Offer Any Warranties on Your Locksmith Services?
Warranties assure your newly installed, retooled, or repaired locks will function as expected. Always confirm you will be offered one before finalizing hiring agreements with locksmiths. Locksmiths in Irving usually offer two types of warranties:
- A workmanship warranty that covers defects in the locksmith's service
- A manufacturer's warranty that covers any defects with the actual locks (usually valid for about 12 months)
Although these warranties' scope of coverage varies depending on the product type and the specific locksmith involved, most warranties do not cover damages that are caused by:
- Incorrect installation and unauthorized repairs
- Natural disasters
- Normal wear and tear
- Misuse, negligence, or vandalism
How Do I Resolve Any Issue I Have with a Locksmith's Services in Irving?
Dishonest locksmiths in Irving often use tactics like deceptive pricing, inflated charges, and fake websites to scam unsuspecting consumers. However, spot these scams by watching out for the following red flags:
- Insistence on upfront payment
- Quotes that are significantly lower than the competition
- Hesitance to provide proof of licensing
- High-pressure tactics and intimidation to get you to pay quickly for a service
- No local listing on reputable platforms like BBB and Yelp
The Texas Attorney General's Office is Irving's primary consumer protection agency; you can file complaints concerning unsatisfactory locksmith services and scams with this office's Consumer Protection Division online or by downloading, completing, and mailing a Consumer Complaint Form to:
Office of the Attorney GeneralP.O. Box 12548
Austin, TX 78711-2548
You can also report locksmith-related issues in Irving to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) online or by submitting a signed and dated PSP-22 complaint form to:
Texas Department of Public SafetyRegulatory Crimes Service
P.O. Box 4087
Austin, TX 78773
Table of Contents
- What Do I Need to Know Before Hiring a Locksmith in Irving?
- Are You Licensed as a Locksmith in Irving?
- What Rates Do You Charge for Your Locksmith Services in Irving?
- What Kind of Locksmith Services Do You Offer?
- Do You Provide Auto Locksmith Services in Irving?
- Do You Provide Emergency or 24-hour Locksmith Services?
- Do You Conduct Background Checks on Your Employees?
- Do You Offer Any Warranties on Your Locksmith Services?
- How Do I Resolve Any Issue I Have with a Locksmith's Services in Irving?