Nobody shops for a locksmith on a good day. You are usually standing next to a locked car or door, which is exactly the position that gets people overcharged. Here is what actually drives the price, and what a fair quote looks like.
The three things that move the price
1. What is locked. A standard residential deadbolt is the cheapest call there is. A push-to-start vehicle with no working key is the most involved, because the key has to be cut and then paired to the immobiliser.
2. When you call. Late evening costs more than mid-morning. That is true of every trade and it is not a scam — it is what it costs to have somebody available at 10pm.
3. Whether a key has to be made. Opening a lock and originating a key are different jobs. A lockout is labour. A key is labour plus a blank plus programming.
What a fair quote sounds like
A fair quote is a single number, given before work starts, that does not change afterwards. It should cover the call-out and the labour together. If the person on the phone gives you a suspiciously low figure and will not commit to a total, that number is bait.
It is also fair for a locksmith to decline to quote a vehicle over the phone. Key type genuinely changes the price, and an honest answer is “I need to see the key or the VIN” rather than a made-up figure.
The tactics worth walking away from
- A $19 or $29 call-out. Nobody drives to you and opens a lock for that. It is a hook, and the real number appears once your car is open.
- Refusing to quote before arriving, then quoting on the doorstep with no paperwork.
- “We have to drill it” on a standard lock. Most locks open non-destructively. Drilling a common deadbolt is a skill problem or a sales tactic.
- No company name on the van, no ID, cash only.
- Never asking for proof it is yours. A locksmith who does not check should worry you more than one who does.
Why the cheapest quote is often the most expensive
The classic pattern: a call centre quotes a low number, dispatches whoever is nearest, and that person arrives with no equipment beyond a drill. The lock gets destroyed, you pay for the “opening” plus a replacement lock at a marked-up price, and the total is triple the honest quote.
You can avoid nearly all of it with one question on the phone: what is the total, including call-out, and will it change when you get here?
Where to go next
Need a locksmith in St. Louis? Call (314) 916-6766. Open daily 5:30am–11:30pm. Price agreed on site before any work starts.
Common questions
Why will you not quote my car key over the phone?
Because the price depends on the key type, and we would be guessing. Give us the year, make, model and whether you have a working key and we can be accurate on site.
Is a call-out fee normal?
Yes, but it should be included in the total you are quoted, not added at the end as a surprise.
Is drilling ever legitimate?
Occasionally – a high-security cylinder, a lock broken internally, or a snapped key jammed in the mechanism. It should be explained and priced before it happens, never after.
Does it cost more at night?
Yes, evening work costs more. We are open daily 5:30am to 11:30pm and the quote reflects the time you call.