Get Quotes from Top Locksmiths in Lincoln, NE

Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Lock Smith or Pop a Lock in Lincoln

Every year, one in 16 Americans loses their car or house keys. Lincoln has over 122,500 houses, 10,000 businesses, and 250,000 vehicles. That equates to a lot of missing keys. Luckily, there are over 120 locksmiths in Nebraska ready to help replace lost keys, repair broken locks, open faulty safes, upgrade to smart locks, or duplicate new keys at a moment's notice.

However, before hiring a locksmith in Lincoln, ask the following crucial questions to ensure you choose the best professional for the job:

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

Locksmiths do not need any occupation-specific license to operate in Lincoln. However, they may obtain voluntary certifications from professional associations. As such, consider a locksmith's qualifications before choosing the one to work with. Other factors that should be considered when searching for locksmiths in Lincoln include:

  • The locksmith's current location and availability
  • The urgency of the situation
  • The locksmith's rates

Lastly, no matter how urgent you need a locksmith service, do not hire a locksmith without finding out the exact locksmith services they provide. In Lincoln, locksmiths are classified into traditional or auto locksmiths, depending on the nature of their services. Traditional locksmiths focus on buildings (whether residential, commercial, or industrial), while auto locksmiths deal with vehicles.

Are You Licensed as a Locksmith in Lincoln?

Professional locksmiths in Lincoln do not need any occupation-specific license before offering their services to city residents. However, these professionals must complete relevant training and obtain voluntary certifications from professional associations like the North American Locksmith Association and the Aloa Security Professional Association, Inc. These associations offer a variety of locksmith certifications, including apprentice, master, automotive, and electronic locksmithing certifications. Before allowing anyone to work on your home's or vehicle's lock, confirm they are certified by a professional association.

Confirming your prospective locksmith is certified ensures you work with someone who understands and adheres to the locksmith industry standards. You can verify your prospective locksmith's certification status by requesting to see their certificate and contacting the relevant association for confirmation.

What Rates Do You Charge for Your Locksmith Services in Lincoln?

Professional locksmiths in Lincoln charge between $21- $60 per hour. However, some locksmiths in the city do not charge hourly rates; they charge per lock with a flat fee for the visit. City residents should expect the total cost of a locksmith job to be between 80 - $250, depending on the nature of the required service (whether house, car, or safe-related) and other factors like:

  • The urgency of the situation
  • The time of day
  • Your location
  • Trip fees
  • The lock type
  • The complexity of the task

Before choosing which locksmith to work with, getting a realistic approximation of the cost of the service is crucial. Do this by contacting multiple locksmiths for estimates of the required services and comparing their rates. This helps you identify the average market price for the service and fraudulent contractors who scam you by inflating their costs.

What Kind of Locksmith Services Do You Offer?

Residents of Lincoln can choose from a wide range of locksmith services provided by professional locksmiths in the city. Listed below are commonly requested locksmith services in Lincoln and the average price range for these services:

Key duplication:
$5 - $25
House/building lockout:
$40 - $200
Door lock repair:
$35 - $200
Door lock installation:
$80 - $350
Deadbolt installation:
$80 - $300
Electronic lock installation:
$200 - $550
Smart lock installation:
$100 - $650
Key extraction:
$40 - $200
Key replacement:
$60 - $125
Rekeying house locks:
$70 - $165
Safe opening:
$150 - $450
Changing locks:
$150 - $555
Filing cabinet lock replacement:
$55 - $85
Mailbox key replacement:
$40 - $80
Auto locksmith services:
$20 - $375
Emergency services (in addition to regular charges):
$80 - $300

Do You Provide Auto Locksmith Services in Lincoln?

An auto locksmith offers a broad range of services, including but not limited to unlocking vehicles, removing broken keys from car locks, creating new keys, and replacing the locks on a customer's car door and the entire ignition system. Other services provided by automotive locksmiths in Lincoln include:

  • Trunk reopening
  • Key fob programming
  • Ignition repair
  • Door actuator replacement

Each of the services above is related to vehicles, so hiring an automotive locksmith in situations involving motorcycles is not a good idea. This is because motorcycle keys have a different coding system from other keys and require specialized equipment to cut. Hire a skilled, experienced, and well-equipped motorcycle locksmith to handle lock-related problems on your motorcycle.

Cost estimates for commonly requested auto locksmith services in Lincoln are provided below (always confirm your intended car or motorcycle locksmith has ample experience working with your specific vehicle make and model):

Key duplication:
$5 - $50
Rekeying:
$30 - $130
Car lockout:
$75 - $150
Key extraction:
$40 - $200
Door lock repair:
$40 - $160
Car ignition repair:
$130 - $350
Changing locks:
$50 - $175
Transponder key reprogramming:
$50 - $220
Keyless fob replacement:
$150 - $300
Key replacement:
$75 - $275
Bike lock change:
$70 - $150
Motorcycle key replacement:
$80 - $120
Car door and trunk lock repair:
$50 - $250
Motorcycle seat lock repair/replacement:
$10 - $40
Motorcycle steering/wheel lock repair/replacement:
$20 - $50
Motorcycle gas cap lock repair/replacement:
$10 - $25
Mobile services (in addition to regular charges):
$100 - $250

Do You Provide Emergency or 24-hour Locksmith Services?

Residents of Lincoln may require emergency locksmith services for many reasons, including:

  • You are locked out of your home or vehicle
  • You suspect a break-in
  • You need to change your locks after a burglary
  • You have forgotten the combination to your safe
  • Your key broke inside the lock
  • You have misplaced your keys

When you experience the situations above, get a Deletequalified locksmith nearby who can address the issue. Always consider the proximity of the locksmith and whether the locksmith operates from a mobile shop. Mobile locksmiths offer 24/7 services and a much faster response rate than ordinary locksmiths. Although knowing what to do during a locksmith emergency is essential, remember the easiest way to handle lock emergencies is to prevent their occurrence.

You can prevent lockouts and other locksmith-related emergencies by taking the following actions:

  • Get spare keys
  • Use lockboxes
  • Install smart locks
  • Save the contact details of at least two trusted nearby locksmiths.

You can consider self-service locksmith brands such as KeyMe and MinuteKey, which offer digital key copying and duplication services.

Do You Conduct Background Checks on Your Employees?

Anyone who provides locksmith services, whether in a customer's house or car, is in charge of their security. They must maintain honesty and confidentiality regarding their clients' security. Before allowing anyone to work on your home's or vehicle's lock, determine if the individual has passed the necessary background checks. You can do this by requesting information about the background checks and the name and description of the locksmith heading to you. Ensure they provide a corresponding ID before granting them access to your home or vehicle.

Reputable locksmith companies in Lincoln perform several background checks on each prospective employee before hiring them. These include:

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

By ensuring that the necessary background checks are conducted on prospective employees, locksmith companies in the city ensure that only reputable and trustworthy professionals are sent to a customer's location.

Do You Offer Any Warranties on Your Locksmith Services?

Professional locksmiths in Lincoln provide warranties that assure your repaired, retooled, or installed locks will function optimally. Before hiring a locksmith in the city, confirm you will be offered a warranty. Locksmiths in the city typically offer two types of warranties:

  • A manufacturer's warranty that covers any defects and issues with the actual locks (usually valid for about a year)
  • A workmanship warranty that covers defects or errors caused by the locksmith

Note that These warranties' specific terms and conditions vary by product and locksmith. However, city residents should remember warranties are generally voided under certain conditions. These include:

  • Misuse, negligence, or vandalism
  • Unauthorized repairs
  • Natural disasters

We recommend requesting a written copy of your warranty to familiarize yourself with its terms and conditions.

How Do I Resolve Any Issue I Have with a Locksmith's Services in Lincoln?

Many scammers in Lincoln pose as locksmiths to access your property by making a copy of your key. The following signs show you may be dealing with a fraudulent locksmith:

  • Insistence on upfront payment
  • Reluctance to provide proof of licensing.
  • Deceptively low advertised prices
  • High-pressure sales tactics, intimidation, and outright threats to get you to pay for unnecessary services
  • A business without a local listing on reputable sites like BBB and Yelp

Report suspected fraudulent locksmiths and also resolve any other issues with your locksmith by calling the Nebraska Attorney General's Office at (402) 471-2682 and (800) 727-6432 or using their online complaint form. You may also mail a completed complaint form to:

Consumer Affairs Response Team
Nebraska Attorney General's Office
2115 State Capitol,
Lincoln, NE 68509

Lastly, contact the Lincoln Police Department immediately if your locksmith threatens you.