What is an Automotive Locksmith?
First of all not everyone knows about what an automotive locksmith so we should answer that question first. Automotive locksmith is a locksmith that works on car key replacement, ignition repair or replacement, door and trunk lock rekey or replacement. Automotive locksmiths are almost always going to be mobile so they can meet you at your location or at any remote location. These locksmiths are great because they give you an option of not having dealership as the only place where you can get new car keys. In fact most people choose an automotive locksmiths for their car’s locksmith needs because they can get same day mobile services for a cheaper price than the dealer. You can find an automotive locksmiths simply by doing a search on Google, but keep in mind that they can travel so you do not have to hire the one that’s closest to you. We would recommend any automotive locksmiths with more than couple hundred 5 star reviews on Google and within 30 miles of where you live. It is also important that the automotive locksmith has a shop because in case the keys they made stops working or you need more service, you know exactly where to go for help!

emergency services such as car lockouts which have about 20 minute response time. Car lockouts are not as uncommon as you may think because automotive locksmiths provide lockout services almost on a daily basis. If you are in a rush or if the keys fall out of your pocket and you lock the doors then you have to get a professional to unlock your car without damaging your car. Locksmith technician can unlock your car in less than 5 minutes and they guarantee not to damage your car so it is the safest option to choose when you are in an emergency lockout situation.

Cut Keys – Automotive locksmith can cut car key blanks in order to make spare keys or keys from scratch. They have both a traditional cutter as well as a high precision laser cutter for advanced keys. Typically cars that were made before the late 1990s use non-transponder keys which do not have a chip. Cars made after late 1990s are most likely using transponder car key which are keys that contain a small chip inside the plastic cap of the key. Automotive locksmith can cut and program this chip into your car so you will have a working key.

Remote Programming – Automotive locksmith can program car remotes by using their special programmers. They have advanced programmers that can access your car’s immobilizer system and add a new remote or remove a lost remote from the system. Important information to know is that when you buy a remote online it will not come programmed into your car’s system so make sure you are aware of the fact that you will still have to take your car to the dealer or to an automotive locksmith in order to get it programmed. Locksmiths charge about the same price as online for a car remote, however if you choose to purchase the remote online you will not receive a warranty from the locksmith since they are not the ones providing the parts.

Provide Keys and Remotes – Another great benefit of an automotive locksmith is that they can provide all the parts and materials needed to make a new key for your car. Trying to get the correct key blank and a remote that will match your car can be a hassle due to the fact that there are tons of keys that look exactly the same but serve different cars. Another issue with ordering online is that pictures can be misleading because you may buy a remote thinking it will work for your car, but it might end up being just a shell without the chip. Also keep in mind that the locksmith will not guarantee any parts that you provide them with since it’s not their own part that they know the condition off. Overall it is not worth all the effort of finding a correct key or remote online since an automotive locksmith will charge you almost the same exact price that you can purchase it online.

Ignition Repair and Replacement – Ignition problems are not a common issue for most car, but with that being said it is also something that automotive locksmiths work a lot on. The most common way a damage occurs to ignition is during attempted theft cases where the thieves insert foreign objects into the ignition and damage the wafers. A mobile automotive locksmith can come to your location, take out the ignition cylinder and replace the wafers. A lot of ignition damage is repairable by a professional technician, however there are cases where it is beyond repairable and therefore must be replaced. Automotive locksmith can replace the whole ignition and make new keys that will match the new ignition. All of this can happen right on the spot in less than an hour so you can get back in your car and start driving again.

Car Door Lock Rekey and Replacement – A typical car has two door locks, one for the driver’s door and one for the front passenger side door. Newer cars come with keyless entry or cars with a remote rarely use the key to unlock the doors, but these door locks are very important. Since remotes and smart key fobs botch use batteries they are going to run out of battery at some point so in order to get into your car you must use the metal key to unlock the door locks. If your door lock is damaged then you will be locked out of your own vehicle and will end up paying money for a lockout service. A professional auto locksmith can either replace or rekey your door locks. Why rekey? In cases where you have to get a new ignition it is wise to rekey your door locks to the new key that the ignition uses so you don’t have to carry two different keys to use your car. Replacing door locks becomes necessary when the door lock is damaged to the point where it cannot be repaired.

As you read above an automotive locksmith can do a lot of things for your car at a much more affordable rates than the dealership. Automotive locksmiths are easily reachable and you can find one in all major cities, but since they are mobile they can travel to all types of locations. If you are looking for a more affordable option then automotive locksmith would be the best option for you because they are guaranteed to be the cheaper option. Finally if time is an issue for you then again automotive locksmith is going to be a better fit for you because they can come to any location, including your work, and make a key right on the spot in 15-20 minutes. It is truly a great convenience and you will be able to get a key made the same day you make your call for service!