Locksmith scams work because they catch people at their worst moment: locked out, late at night, in a hurry. Here’s how to tell a real locksmith from a bad one before anyone touches your door.
1. The price that isn’t a price
The classic trick is a tiny quote on the phone, like a low “service call” fee, and then a bill many times higher once the door is open. A real locksmith can give you a realistic price on the phone once they know the lock and the location. Ask for the total, not just the trip fee.
2. They can’t tell you their company name
Ask, “What’s the name of your company?” If the answer is just “locksmith service,” hang up and call someone else. Real businesses answer with a real name you can look up.
3. No license number
In California, locksmith companies are licensed by the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS), and their ads are required to show the license number. No number anywhere on the website or ad is a red flag.
4. The drill comes out first
Most lockouts can be opened without drilling. A technician who reaches for the drill before trying anything else is often turning a simple lockout into a bigger bill.
How to check a California locksmith license in 30 seconds
Go to the free California DCA License Search, choose the locksmith license type, and enter the license number. It shows whether the license is current. Ours is LCO 8459. Check it yourself.
A few more things worth a look
- A real local address and phone number that match across Google, Yelp, and the website
- Reviews spread over years, not dozens posted in one week
- A written invoice with the company name on it
We’re Downtown L.A 24 Hour Mobile Locksmith: licensed, local, serving Los Angeles since 2014, with 200+ reviews on Yelp.
Need a locksmith now? Call (213) 545-6740. You get the price on the phone before we drive out.