Bay Area Best Locksmith FAQ: Pricing, Services & How We Work

Our pricing depends on the service. Home lockout: $85-$150. Car lockout: $65-$120. Rekeying: $25-$50 per lock. Deadbolt replacement (Grade 1, with hardware): $80-$200. Smart lock installation: $100-$250. We provide a firm quote before dispatching and confirm the total in writing before any work begins.

Yes, significantly. Our rekeying service costs $25-$50 per lock and takes about 10 minutes per lock. Replacing a lock costs $80-$200 per lock including hardware. Rekeying is just as secure as replacement when the existing lock is Grade 1 or Grade 2 and in good condition. Our technician will advise you on-site.

Our transponder key programming costs $150-$400 depending on vehicle make, key type, and whether you have a working original key. Honda and Toyota keys typically run $150-$220. Most domestic brands: $150-$250. We always quote the full amount before starting. Dealer rates for the same service typically run $250-$600+.

If you decline our quote after we arrive and assess the job, there is no charge for the call-out. We only charge when you approve the work and we begin.

Yes. Bay Area Best Locksmith holds a valid California BSIS (Bureau of Security and Investigative Services) license. Every technician we dispatch carries an individual BSIS registrant card. You can verify our license at dca.ca.gov/bsis before we arrive.

Yes. We carry general liability insurance on every service call. Our technicians are employed by us directly — not subcontractors — so you are always covered by our policy.

Every technician carries their California BSIS individual registrant card, which includes their photo, name, registrant number, and expiration date. They will present it on request at any job.

Our typical response time is 30-60 minutes. South Bay (San Jose, Santa Clara): 20-40 minutes. East Bay (Oakland, Fremont, Berkeley): 25-45 minutes. San Francisco: 35-60 minutes (parking is a factor). Contra Costa (Walnut Creek, Concord): 35-55 minutes. We give you an honest ETA on the call.

We dispatch to San Jose, Oakland, San Francisco, Fremont, Hayward, Berkeley, Richmond, Walnut Creek, Concord, Antioch, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, San Mateo, Daly City, Pleasanton, Livermore, San Leandro, Union City, Milpitas, Castro Valley, and surrounding areas.

Yes. We handle commercial lockouts, access control installation, master key systems, panic bar installation, and high-security cylinders for offices, retail locations, warehouses, and industrial properties across the Bay Area.

We recommend ANSI Grade 1 for all primary entry doors (front, back, garage access). Grade 1 locks withstand 10 hammer blows against 600 pounds of force. Grade 2 is acceptable for interior doors. We carry and install Schlage B60N, Kwikset 980, Medeco, and other Grade 1 options. Our technician can advise based on your door and situation.

Yes. Our technicians always attempt to pick or bypass a lock before recommending drilling. For most residential locks, we can open the door non-destructively. Only certain high-security cylinders (Medeco, Mul-T-Lock) may occasionally require destructive entry, and we will tell you before proceeding.

Yes. We install and configure Schlage Encode, August Pro, Yale Assure, Kwikset Halo, Ultraloq, and most other major brands. Every smart lock install includes door-prep inspection, proper alignment, app pairing, and backup access verification. Cost: $100-$250 labor, hardware separate.

Yes. California Civil Code Section 1941.3 requires landlords to provide deadbolts on all primary entry doors and to rekey or replace locks between tenants. We work with property managers and landlords across the Bay Area on tenant-turnover rekeying programs.

Yes. We use slim jim tools, air wedge techniques, or vehicle-specific entry methods that do not damage the door or lock mechanism. If a locksmith immediately recommends drilling a car door, that is a red flag — non-destructive entry is achievable on virtually all passenger vehicles.

Yes. We can cut and program a replacement key from the VIN using professional programming equipment. We require proof of vehicle ownership (registration or title) before performing this service. Cost is typically $150-$400 depending on make, model, and key type.

Call us. An all-keys-lost situation requires cutting a new key from the VIN and clearing all previously programmed keys from the vehicle's immobilizer. We handle this on-site. Bring proof of ownership. Always request a spare key at the same appointment to avoid repeating the cost.

Tesla key programming must go through Tesla's app and key card system — no third-party can program Tesla keys. BMW and Mercedes often require factory-level software (XENTRY, ISTA+) that we do not carry; for those models, the dealer is typically required. We will tell you upfront if your vehicle is outside our programming capability before you pay anything.