All posts tagged auto lock

What to Do When You’ve Locked Yourself Out of Your Car + Tips on Choosing an Auto Locksmith

Locking yourself out of your car – it can happen to the best of us. Particularly after a long and tiring day at work, you may come back to your car only to realize that you’ve left the keys inside, and locked yourself out in the process. When you’ve already had a long day, there’s nothing more frustrating or stressful than being stuck in this predicament.

There are plenty of hacks and guides on the internet teaching you how to break into your own car, which you may be tempted to try in a moment of desperation. However, these methods are more likely to cause further damage than to help you out. Instead, you should always turn to a skilled auto locksmith to rescue you when you’re in a pickle.

The best thing you can do, of course, is to already have the details of a trusted local locksmith on hand. By doing your research in advance, you’re likely to save yourself money and receive quality service when you do need to call an emergency auto locksmith.

If you start desperately searching for a locksmith upon realizing you’ve locked yourself out of your car, you won’t have time to properly do your research and find one that is licensed, qualified and has a good reputation in the community. By doing your research ahead of time, you ensure that you won’t be ripped off by an emergency locksmith that charges an exorbitant call-out fee when you need their service the most.

But how do you go about choosing the right locksmith in the first place? We’ve got some tips for you so that you can always have the name and number of an auto locksmith on hand, in case of emergencies.

  1. Go Local: When you need an auto locksmith in a pinch, it is obviously useful if they are in your local area. Look for a locksmith that services the area around your home, workplace or your children’s school, for example, as these are areas that you frequent and are more likely to require their assistance in. Going for a local locksmith is also likely to result in lower fees, as they won’t be charging you for the extra travel time required to reach you.
  2. Opt for a Well-Established Company: It’s generally better to go for a company that has proven their reliability after years of servicing your area. This means you can rest assured that this company has earned their reputation, while a newer company may still be getting their bearings in their industry.
  3. Reviews: One of the best ways to find an incredible locksmith is through word-of-mouth. By tuning into what your friends or family are saying, as well as reviews online, you can gain a well-rounded picture of the locksmith’s reputation. It’s not enough to simply read the testimonials on the locksmith’s own website: have a look at third-party websites to see real customers’ honest reviews of the service they received.
  4. Get an Overall Understanding of the Locksmith: This involves simply browsing their website, looking at their services, prices, areas of service and operating hours. If these things line up with what you’re looking for, keep this locksmith in mind as your go-to auto locksmith.
  5. Check the Locksmith’s Credentials: Before deciding on a locksmith, always check to see if they are licensed, insured and bonded. It’s particularly good to check if they are a member of the Master Locksmiths Association of Australia. This will give you peace of mind that the locksmith is truly skilled to handle the job, and has insurance in case any accidental damage is done to your property. Reputable locksmiths will proudly display their credentials on their website.
  6. Always Double Check the Price: Once you’ve decided which company will be your go-to auto locksmith, always double check the price with them if you ever need to call them for help. You may have seen an indication of the prices on their website or in reviews, but always ask for the price again before confirming your call-out.

By doing your research and choosing a qualified, well-known local locksmith ahead of time, you can save yourself a major headache (and not to mention, extra expenses!) in the event that you need an auto locksmith urgently.