Keys & Locksmith
Automotive locksmith near you
An automotive locksmith opens locked vehicles without damage, extracts broken keys and repairs or replaces worn ignition cylinders and door locks.
- Time at the shop
- 30 min
- about
- Mobile service
- Available
- at your address
- Shops in Canada
- Joining soon
- doing this work
- Your price
- You set it
- shops bid on it
You set the budget
Shops near you send their bids
Free to post, no obligation
Keys & Locksmith
What an automotive locksmith visit is
An automotive locksmith deals with the lock side of a vehicle. By far the most frequent job is a lockout, when the keys are inside or a fob has failed, and the technician opens the door with an air wedge and a long-reach tool, which do not mark the paint when used properly. Other jobs are extracting a key that has snapped in a door or ignition, freeing a key that will not turn, and repairing or replacing a worn ignition cylinder or door lock.
Ignition and door-lock work usually ends with new keys cut to the new cylinder and programmed to the vehicle. Lockouts and extractions take about half an hour on site. Have your ID and proof of ownership ready, and if a child or an animal is locked inside in the heat, call 911 before anything else.
- For cars, EVs, motorcycles, vans and trucks
- Takes about 30 min
- Can be done at your address
What does an automotive locksmith visit cost?
It depends on your vehicle and the shop. Post a job with your budget and compare the bids shops near you send.
Get bids
Name your budget. Shops near you bid.
Shops across Canada that do automotive locksmith see your request.
What to expect
Automotive locksmith, step by step
What the job normally covers, what to mention in your request, and the signs that it is time. Every shop says what its bid includes.
The job
What’s included
- Ownership check with photo ID and the vehicle permit before any lock is opened
- Door opened with an air wedge and long-reach tool, using non-marring tools and care around the paint and seals
- Broken key fragment extracted from the door, trunk or ignition without harming the cylinder
- Worn or jammed ignition cylinder or door lock diagnosed, then repaired or replaced
- New keys cut to the replacement cylinder and programmed to the immobilizer
- Trunk and glove box locks opened or repaired on request
- Lock, key and ignition run through repeated cycles before handover
Checklist
Before you post
- 01Share the exact location, the vehicle’s make, model and year, and whether it starts with a key or a push button
- 02Ask for the total including the call-out before the technician is sent, and be wary of a very low ‘from’ price
- 03Be ready to show ID and proof of ownership; a legitimate technician will not open a vehicle without them
- 04Ask whether non-marring tools are used and what happens if the door, weatherstripping or paint is damaged
- 05If the ignition was damaged in a theft, say so; the steering column may need work, and a new cylinder means new keys
- 06For a stuck key, do not force it; ask the technician to try extraction before replacing the cylinder
Signs
When you need it
- You have locked the keys, or the fob, inside the vehicle
- A key has snapped off in the door, the trunk or the ignition
- The key turns with difficulty, sticks or will not come out of the ignition
- The ignition or a door lock was damaged in a theft attempt
- A door, trunk or glove box lock no longer turns with the key
Sound familiar?Tell shops near you what you need and what you want to spend.
Get bidsHow it works
Get an automotive locksmith visit done in four steps
You set the budget and choose the shop. Posting is free, and you pay the shop you hire once the work is 100% done.
- 01
Post your job
Choose the service, describe the job and your vehicle, and set your budget. It takes two minutes and costs nothing.
- 02
Shops compete
Nearby shops that do the work see your request and send their best offer: price, when they can start, what is included.
- 03
Accept the best offer
Compare bids, ratings and distance, then hire one shop. The others are told, politely.
- 04
Talk and get it done
Your conversation with the shop opens right away to agree on the day. You pay only after the job is complete.
Keep exploring
Related services
Car key replacement
Car key replacement: a new or spare key cut and programmed to your vehicle, from a plain transponder key to a smart fob, even when every key is lost.
Car key & fob repair
Key fob repair for a dead or damaged fob: new battery, worn buttons or a cracked shell fixed, or the fob re-paired when it stops responding.
Auto Electrical
Ignition system repair
Ignition system repair for misfires, hard starts and rough idle: worn spark plugs, failed coils or a faulty ignition switch replaced, then road tested.
Auto Electrical
Power door lock installation & repair
Power door lock repair and installation: actuators, switches and wiring fixed so every door locks from the button and remote, or power locks added.
Towing, Roadside & Transport
Roadside assistance & battery boost
Roadside assistance that comes to you: a battery boost, a flat changed to the spare, fuel delivered or a locked door opened, with a battery test.
Questions
Questions about automotive locksmiths
General answers for drivers in Canada. The shop you hire confirms the details for your vehicle.
Will opening my car damage the door or the paint?
Not when it is done properly. The technician slides an inflatable wedge into the top of the door frame to open a small gap, then uses a long-reach tool to press the unlock button or pull the handle. Modern doors contain airbag and window wiring, so old coat-hanger and slim-jim tricks can cause expensive damage, which is the reason to call a professional.
What should I do when my key breaks in the lock or ignition?
Stop turning it, and do not try to pry it out with pliers; that pushes the fragment deeper and can damage the cylinder. A locksmith removes it with extractor tools, usually within half an hour, and can cut a new key from the lock or the code. If the head has broken off but the blade is intact, keep both pieces, since they help identify the key.
My key will not turn in the ignition. What can I do?
First try turning the steering wheel gently back and forth while you turn the key; a locked steering column is the most common cause. Then check that the vehicle is in park or neutral, and try the spare key. If the key is worn, the cylinder is dirty or the key still sticks, do not force it: a locksmith can repair or replace the ignition cylinder.
Can an automotive locksmith fix a car that was damaged in a break-in?
Often, yes. A locksmith can repair or replace a punched door lock or a damaged ignition cylinder, cut matching keys and program them to the vehicle. Damage to the steering column, wiring or the door’s internal parts may also need a body shop or a mechanic, and your insurer will want the police report number.
Something else to ask? Once you hire a shop, you talk to it directly in your request’s conversation.
Ready when you areTell shops near you what you need and what you want to spend.
Get bidsFor automotive locksmiths
Sign up as a business
Automotive locksmiths across Canada: drivers post their Keys & Locksmith requests here. Publish your weekly flyer, open the appointment windows you can take and bid on the jobs near you. Free while we launch, no commission.