Get Quotes from Top Locksmiths in Long Beach, CA

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

Locksmiths in Long Beach must hold a state-issued license before offering their services to interested city residents. Therefore, confirm this before committing to any locksmiths. You should also consider criteria like:

• The urgency of your required services
• The locksmith's current location and availability
• The locksmith's rates

Lastly, contact the right type of locksmith, you may end up with someone ill-equipped or experienced to handle the job. For example, if your lockout situation involves a car, call an auto locksmith – these professionals specialize in vehicle-related locksmithing, unlike traditional locksmiths, who focus on homes, offices, and commercial or industrial properties.

Are You Licensed as a Locksmith in Long Beach?

Any person in Long Beach who wishes to offer services involving installing, opening, repairing, modifying, rekeying, or originating keys for locks must obtain a license from the California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS). Licensed locksmiths must also register their employees and additional branch offices they operate in Long Beach outside their primary place of business.

In addition to a BSIS-issued license, Long Beach locksmiths looking to perform jobs worth $500 or more at any worksite must hold a contractor license issued by the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB). This board offers interested locksmiths two license options, namely:

• A C-28 - Lock and Security Equipment Contractor License
• A C-61/D-16 - Hardware, Locks, and Safes Contractor License

Get more information on Long Beach locksmiths' licensing by contacting the BSIS at (916) 322-4000. You can confirm whether your intended locksmith has been licensed to provide your required services online using the state's DCA License Search platform.

What Rates Do You Charge for Your Locksmith Services in Long Beach?

Long Beach locksmiths typically charge about $30 - $60 hourly. However, some may charge a flat rate per visit. Nonetheless, the overall cost of locksmith services in Long Beach will be determined by factors like:

• The specific nature of your required services
• The urgency of the situation and the time of day
• Your location
• Trip fees
• The complexity of the task

We recommend contacting about two or three locksmiths for cost estimates. Comparing locksmiths' rates before hiring gives you a fair idea of how much your required services would cost. This strategy also helps you spot dishonest locksmiths that overcharge clients or deliberately offer significantly reduced rates to reel unsuspecting customers in before ripping them off.

What Kind of Locksmith Services Do You Offer?

Professional locksmiths in Long Beach are generally equipped to offer many residential, commercial, and industrial services. Some frequently requested locksmith services in the city (along with the average cost estimates for these services) are listed below:

You should ascertain a locksmith's expertise and specialization before hiring. Also, discuss and agree to their cost rates for your required services before committing to them. Taking these actions reduces the chances of disagreements between you and the locksmith after the job is done.

Do You Provide Auto Locksmith Services in Long Beach?

Auto locksmiths specialize in handling car, motorcycle, truck, and other vehicle-related lockout situations, and you should always contact one if you require services that involve:

• Extracting broken keys from vehicles
• Unlocking car doors
• Car lock repair and replacement
• Key fob programming
• Key copying or replacement
• Door actuator replacement
• Vehicle ignition repair
• Trunk reopening

Note that motorcycle keys use a different coding system than other vehicle keys and require specialized equipment to duplicate them, even if the original key is available. Therefore, for motorcycles, go the extra step by confirming that the auto locksmith company you contact has a team of skilled and equipped motorcycle locksmiths.

Listed below are cost estimates for commonly requested auto locksmith services in Long Beach:

Always confirm your preferred car or motorcycle locksmith is experienced in handling issues with your vehicle make and model before committing to them.

Do You Provide Emergency or 24-hour Locksmith Services?

Several locksmith situations require more immediate attention than others. These include scenarios where:

• You are locked out of your home
• You suspect or have experienced a break-in and need to change your locks
• Your key has broken inside the lock
• You have forgotten the combination to your safe
• Your home or office access control system is malfunctioning

Be aware you may have to pay an extra charge on top of the locksmith's regular rates when hiring for emergency services. Consider getting a mobile locksmith for your emergency locksmith services. These locksmiths operate out of mobile workshops and offer several benefits, such as:

• 24/7 availability
• Quick response times
• Better access to difficult-to-reach locations
• Minimal towing fees for auto emergencies

Signing up with self-service locksmith companies that offer digital key copying and duplication services, like KeyMe and MinuteKey, is a good option for getting speedy resolutions to emergency lockout situations. However, there are downsides to this, like:

• Data breaches
• Limited availability of self-service kiosks for key duplication

Finally, reduce the chances of finding yourself in a lockout situation by taking the following precautions:

• Use lockboxes
• Get spare keys
• Install smart locks
• Save the contact details of one or two reliable locksmiths around your vicinity.

Do You Conduct Background Checks on Your Employees?

The state's Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS) typically conducts criminal background checks on locksmiths before licensing them. Regardless, verify your intended locksmith has passed this background check (by confirming their BSIS license status) and screen their staff, particularly those directly involved in delivering locksmith services. Some standard background checks that professional Long Beach locksmith businesses conduct on their employees include:

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

Hiring locksmiths who conduct background checks on their employees gives you peace of mind only respectable and reliable individuals will have access to your personal space and information. It also lowers the chances of theft and other similar crimes.

We recommend requesting the name and description of the locksmiths who will provide your required services and ensuring they have proper IDs to verify this information before letting them on your property.

Do You Offer Any Warranties on Your Locksmith Services?

Warranties are a crucial part of locksmith services and assure your installed, repaired, or retooled locks will perform as intended. Professional Long Beach locksmiths typically offer two types of warranties:

• Manufacturer's Warranties: these cover defects or issues with the actual locks and are usually valid for a year
• Workmanship Warranties: these cover locksmith-caused defects or errors

Always confirm your preferred locksmith will offer these warranties before committing to them. Note that the coverage provided by these warranties varies by locksmith and product; nonetheless, standard warranties do not usually cover damages caused by:

• Improper lock installation
• Unauthorized repairs
• Misuse, negligence, or vandalism
• Natural disasters

Request a written copy of any warranty you are offered to familiarize yourself with its specific terms and conditions.