Car Locksmith Services – What You Need to Know

In this article, we’ll explain what a car locksmith does, including services like car key duplication, key replacement, vehicle unlocking, ignition repair, and what to do if you’ve lost your only car key.

What Is a Car Locksmith and How Can They Help?

A car locksmith is a professional who specialises in vehicle lock and key systems. Unlike a general locksmith who may only be able to unlock certain car doors, a car locksmith can provide a wide range of services specifically for vehicles.

Common Car Locksmith Services Include:

• Car key duplication
  
• Replacing lost car keys
  
• Repairing or replacing car locks
  
• Ignition repair and replacement
  
• Unlocking all vehicle types, including those requiring specialised tools
  
• Lock replacement for vehicles
  
• Extracting broken keys from locks
  
• Reconstructing broken car keys
  
• Remote key duplication
  
• Immobiliser/keyless entry system repair
  
  

What to Check Before Hiring a Car Locksmith:

Before calling a car locksmith, here are a few important things to ask and confirm:

• Does the locksmith have the tools and skills for your specific car model?
  
• Are you speaking directly to the locksmith who will perform the job, or is it a middleman? (Booking directly can save time and money.)
  
• Provide your car’s make, model, and year—a photo of the car registration can help.
  
• Describe the issue clearly and accurately.
  
• Ask for a price estimate in advance. In some cases, an on-site assessment is required for an accurate quote.
  
  

Car Locksmith vs Dealership Service – Which is Better?

In most cases, it’s more efficient and cost-effective to hire a car locksmith. While dealerships may refer you to them anyway, locksmiths:

• Offer on-site solutions
  
• Operate outside normal business hours
  
• Cost less than dealership services
  
• Save you from towing your car and waiting days for parts
  
  

Car Key Duplication vs Key Replacement – What’s the Difference?

Key Duplication:
This can only be done if you still have at least one working key. If you have only one key, we highly recommend duplicating it. It’s quicker, cheaper, and avoids the hassle of being locked out completely.

Key Replacement (Reconstruction):
This is done when all keys are lost. It involves unlocking the car, reconstructing the mechanical key, and then coding a new chip to match your car’s immobiliser system. It’s more complex and expensive than duplication.

What Is Car Lockout Service and Are All Cars Unlocked the Same Way?

Unlocking a car without the original key or remote is called vehicle lockout service. There are two main types:

• Standard Unlocking – Used on most cars, requires basic tools.
  
  
• High-Security Unlocking – Some vehicles (especially German models like VW, Audi, Skoda, SEAT) use double locking systems and require specialised tools and advanced knowledge. These usually cost more.
  
  

🚨 Always hire an experienced car locksmith to avoid damage to your vehicle during the unlocking or key recovery process.