Get Quotes from Top Locksmiths in Chicago, IL

Are You Licensed to Practice as a Locksmith in Chicago?

All locksmiths that wish to operate in Chicago are statutorily required to obtain a state-issued occupational license from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) before they can legally do so. Locksmiths that offer services in the city without being appropriately licensed by this department are considered guilty of a Class A misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class 4 felony for subsequent offenses. These licensing violations also carry administrative fines of $10,000 per offense in addition to the statutory penalties attached to them.

Locksmiths that wish to be licensed by the IDFPR must meet certain qualification criteria, which include:

• Being at least 18 years old
• Being of good moral character
• Passing a background check
• Passing a licensing examination
• Paying all stipulated fees

Interested parties that wish to obtain locksmith licenses from the IDFPR may apply to the department through its Online Services Portal. Note that these applicants will have to create a user account on the portal before they can initiate the application process. Alternatively, locksmith license applications can also be made by completing and submitting a pdf Application for Licensure and/or Examination Form, along with all required supporting documentation and fees, to the department at

Note that licensed locksmiths who employ other locksmiths are also typically required to register as locksmith agencies with the IDFPR. Inquiries concerning the IDFPR's locksmith licensing and locksmith agency registration requirements and procedures can be directed to the department online or by calling 1-888-473-4858 and 1-800-560-6420.

You can also confirm that the IDFPR has properly licensed your preferred locksmiths in Chicago through the department's License Lookup platform.

Do You Hold Any Certification as a Locksmith?

Professional certification and other credentials, like membership with a reputable trade association, are crucial areas to consider when searching for good locksmiths in Chicago. Certification and membership with a reputable association is usually an indication of the locksmith's expertise and professionalism, and these types of locksmiths generally have several advantages over their counterparts, such as:

• They are usually better trained and more competent
• They are more likely to be adequately insured and bonded
• They typically have better access to state-of-the-art tools and equipment
• They are more likely to be informed on current lock and security system-related technological developments and advancements

In addition, locksmiths that hold professional certifications or belong to reputable trade associations are generally held to higher professional standards than their counterparts. This usually means that these locksmiths are more respectable, dependable, and professionally behaved, which in turn translates to optimal service delivery when you engage their services. To this end, you should strongly consider looking for locksmiths with these additional credentials when searching for locksmith services in the city. However, it should be noted that having these credentials does not negate the need to ensure that your preferred locksmith also holds a state-mandated occupational license.

Some organizations and trade associations that professional locksmiths in the Chicago area typically obtain certifications from or belong to include the Associated Locksmiths of America (ALOA), the Society of Professional Locksmiths (SOPL), the Greater Chicago Locksmiths' Association, and the Illinois Locksmith Association. Some of the certification programs that these organizations offer to interested locksmiths include:

• ALOA Fundamental Locksmith Certification
• Registered Locksmith Certification
• Certified Registered Locksmith Certification
• Certified Professional Locksmith Certification
• Certified Master Locksmith Certification
• Certified Automotive Locksmith Certification
• Certified Master Automotive Locksmith Certification
• Certified Professional SafeTech Certification
• Certified Master SafeTech Certification
• Certified Forensic Locksmith Certification
• Certified Electronic Locksmith Certification
• Certified Master Electronic Locksmith Certification
• Certified Institutional Lockshop Manager Certification
• Institutional Certified Registered Locksmith Certification
• Institutional Certified Professional Locksmith Certification
• Institutional Certified Master Locksmith Certification

Remember that you should always verify any additional credentials your preferred locksmith claims to hold with the appropriate organizations before you finalize any hiring arrangements with the locksmith.

How Much Do You Charge Compared to Other Locksmiths in the City?

Hiring a locksmith in Chicago will usually cost you an average of $100 - $220 per service. However, the actual fees that the locksmith will charge you for their services will be influenced by variables like

• The exact nature and scope of the services you request
• The types of locks involved
• The urgency of the required services and the time of day
• The complexity of the job
• Your location within the city
• Trip fees

It is always a good idea to get a cost estimate from your preferred locksmith and agree on their rates before any work commences. Failing to do this increases the chances of arguments or misunderstandings concerning payments at the end of the day. You should also consider getting and comparing rates from several other locksmiths in the city before making your final hiring selection to avoid hiring a shady locksmith that overcharges for their services. Note that you should also be suspicious of locksmiths whose rates are significantly lower than the competition, as this tactic is often used by shady locksmiths in the city to entice unsuspecting clients.

What Kind of Locksmith Services Do You Offer?

Professional locksmiths in Chicago generally offer four main types of overarching services, namely residential services, commercial services, automotive services, and emergency services. Many skilled locksmiths in the city also typically specialize in offering one or more distinct types of services under these four groups, such as

• Key replacements
• New lock installations
• Existing lock repair
• Broken key removal
• High-security lock installations
• Key cutting and copying
• Home and office security lock upgrades
• Re-keying
• Building lockout services
• Car lockout services
• Auto and motorcycle lock services
• Door and window lock repair
• Electronic access installation
• Smart lock installations
• Safe selection and installation
• Safe unlocking and repair
• Access system installation, replacement, and repair
• Mobile locksmith services
• Emergency locksmith services

However, even though many professional locksmiths in the city offer a broad scope of services, you should always confirm that your preferred locksmith is experienced enough to satisfactorily deliver the specific types of services you require. Ensure that you do this before finalizing any hiring arrangements with the locksmith, and also make sure that you discuss and agree on the cost of providing these services before the locksmith begins any work. Lastly, you should strongly consider getting any agreements, promises, and guarantees made concerning your requested locksmith services in writing. This helps to a great extent in averting future disputes and misunderstandings.

Listed below are average price ranges for commonly requested locksmith services in Chicago:

Estimates for locksmith services based on the type of service:

Estimates for locksmith services based on the type of lock being installed/replaced (materials only):

Estimates for locksmith services based on the locksmith's expertise/level of experience

Do You Provide Auto Locksmith Services in Chicago?

Over 20 million Americans lose their car and house keys every year, making these some of the most commonly misplaced items in the country. Losing your car keys can be a frustrating ordeal that also puts the safety of your vehicle and any important items inside it at risk, and it is crucial to act fast when faced with these situations. To this end, you should always seek out the services of a professional auto locksmith as soon as you discover that you have misplaced your keys or gotten locked out of your vehicle.

If the affected vehicle is a motorcycle, it is vital to ensure that the automotive locksmith agency you intend to engage for the job has skilled and equipped motorcycle locksmiths on staff. This is due to the fact that motorcycle manufacturers generally utilize a type of coding for their vehicle keys that is usually different from other types of keys. As such, specialized training and tools are often required to cut new motorcycle keys, regardless of whether you still have the original key.

Also, always confirm that the auto locksmith or motorcycle locksmith you intend to hire to help you regain access to your vehicle is experienced and equipped to work on the specific make and model of the vehicle in question. You should also ask if they have mobile locksmith service options or only offer in-shop services, and how much it would cost to have your vehicle towed to the shop if necessary.

Listed below are services commonly provided by car locksmiths and motorcycle locksmiths in Chicago, as well as cost estimates for these services:

Do You Provide Emergency Locksmith Services?

While key and lock-related situations are generally considered urgent, you might need to look for local Chicago locksmiths who can provide their services immediately or in as little time as possible under specific emergency scenarios, like

• Your house just got robbed
• You locked your keys inside your home or car
• Your keys got stolen
• You are locked out of your home, office, or vehicle
• You just moved into a new apartment and need the locks changed
• You have misplaced your keys
• You cannot remember the combination to your safe
• Your home's access control system is malfunctioning
• Your lock is damaged, or the key is broken inside
• You suspect that someone has gained unauthorized access to your personal space

Despite the urgency of these situations, it is crucial to keep a level head and ensure that the locksmith you engage is properly licensed, certified, experienced, and close enough to get to your location promptly, otherwise, you may end up worsening the matter. One way to find licensed and qualified emergency locksmiths around your vicinity is by using online directories provided and maintained by organizations like the Associated Locksmiths of America and the Better Business Bureau. Note that locksmiths usually charge additional fees for emergencies, especially when these emergencies occur outside regular business hours.

You may also consider using a mobile locksmith when dealing with key and lock-related emergencies. These types of locksmiths operate out of mobile workshops, and this gives them certain advantages over in-shop locksmiths for dealing with emergencies, like

• Faster response times
• 24/7 availability
• Better accessibility for difficult-to-reach locations
• No towing fees for car-related emergencies
• More on-the-job experience and efficiency due to the high volume of jobs typically received

Locally available 24/7 locksmith brands like KeyMe and MinuteKey are also helpful alternatives for dealing with certain key-related emergencies. These types of brands typically offer locksmith services that allow you to generate digital copies of your keys, save them online, and then make duplicates of these keys when necessary through available self-service kiosks. However, it should be noted that using these types of services has various drawbacks, such as

• There might not be any available self-service kiosks near you
• The self-service kiosk might not be able to duplicate your key type right away. This often happens with high-security keys
• You run the risk of giving strangers access to digital copies of your key

If you are uncomfortable with these drawbacks or would like to minimize the stress of searching for qualified locksmiths anytime you have an emergency, you should consider keeping the contact information of one or two reliable local locksmiths that you can call on in these situations. In addition, you can reduce the recurrence of lockouts and other similar key-related problems by doing the following:

• Get spare keys
• Keep proper track of all your keys
• Use lockboxes to avoid lockouts
• Install smart locks
• Use locks that suit your lifestyle and familiarize yourself with their features
• Properly maintain your locks

Do You Provide Smart Lock Services?

Smart locks typically utilize Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity to operate and require an app, a fingerprint, or a voice command to open. Since these locks do not use conventional locking mechanisms, specialized knowledge and tools are needed to install, replace, or repair them. In fact, locksmiths that wish to provide smart lock services often require extensive IT and programming skills to work on smart locks in situations where you have been locked out or if the lock has been compromised.

It is estimated that over 11 million households across the country currently have a smart lock installed in their home. However, even though many homeowners in the Chicago area are trading in their traditional locks for smart ones due to benefits like convenience and superior technology, it should be pointed out that these smart locks also have some disadvantages:

Be sure to confirm that your preferred locksmith is suited to handle the problem and get the job done satisfactorily if you find yourself in a situation where your smart lock has been compromised or destroyed, or you have been locked out due to a battery drain. Ensure that the locksmith has the necessary tools, experience, and adequate knowledge of the operating technology used by the lock manufacturer. Common operating technologies that smart lock manufacturers often use for their products include:

• A mobile app and digital key combination to unlock doors wirelessly
• A programmable numeric keypad with PIN codes to unlock doors
• A fingerprint sensor with biometric authorization to unlock doors

Note that some manufacturers may combine two or more of these operating technologies for their products to provide you with multiple door-opening options. Leading smart lock manufacturers in the United States include:

• August
• Schlage
• Lockly
• Kwikset
• Ultralog
• Yale
• Wyze
• Level

Do You Conduct Background Checks on Your Employees?

Professional Chicago-based locksmith agencies typically perform the following types of background checks on their prospective employees:

• Criminal record checks: this is one of the most crucial types of background checks performed by locksmith agencies, and it entails reaching out to local, state, and federal agencies to see if the prospective employee being checked has ever been convicted of a crime or is currently involved in any legal proceedings
• Civil court checks: this involves checking municipal and state courts to find out if the prospective employee is embroiled or has been involved in any non-criminal lawsuits, claims, or judgments
• Credit checks: this involves examining the prospective employee's whole credit history, which often includes their payment histories, unpaid bills in collections, bankruptcies, recent credit inquiries, civil judgments, and tax liens
• Driving record checks: this type of background check is usually performed on prospective employees who will be using the locksmith agency's official vehicles for work-related activities. It entails confirming the validity of the individual's driving license and reviewing their driving history to check for any DUIs/DWIs, license suspensions, and moving violations
• Drug screening: this involves checking the prospective employee for illicit drug use. These drug tests are typically continued even after the individual has been employed and are performed unannounced
• Education and employment verification: this involves validating the prospective employee's educational credentials as well as their previous employment history and work experience, if any
• International background checks: this refers to background checks that are performed on prospective employees who lived, studied, or worked outside the US, and it involves contacting relevant agencies in the appropriate country to get necessary information on the individual

It should be noted that the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) conducts background checks on Chicago-based locksmiths before licensing them. Nevertheless, it is always a good idea to personally vet your preferred locksmiths and to also make sure that they have done the same for their staff, especially those who will be directly involved in delivering your required services. Doing this ensures that only reliable and trustworthy locksmiths are granted access to your personal space and possessions while lessening the likelihood of theft and robbery.

Therefore, always confirm from the locksmith agency you engage that any locksmiths being dispatched to your location have been thoroughly checked and vetted. Ask for the names and descriptions of these locksmiths and make sure that they subsequently provide photo IDs that can verify this information once they get to you.

You can also use the following techniques to personally vet any Chicago-based locksmiths and locksmith agencies that you wish to hire:

• Searching local law enforcement, court, and correctional facility records, as well as any other available public records, for information on the locksmiths
• Requesting and checking references of the locksmiths' previous customers who can attest to the caliber of their services
• Using reputable background check websites and services
• Researching the locksmiths online using review websites and platforms like the Better Business Bureau, Yelp, and Google Review

Do You Provide a Warranty for Your Locksmith Services?

Warranties are another crucial area to consider when searching for locksmith services in Chicago, as they give you the assurance that the job was completed expertly, done with the right products, and will function as intended. Although these warranties may be implied, written, or verbal, it is advisable to hire locksmiths that offer written ones so that you can be fully aware of the warranty's terms, limitations, and scope.

Professional locksmiths in Chicago usually offer their customers two types of warranties, namely:

• Manufacturer's Warranties: this type of warranty is usually good for a year and covers the locks used for the job. Note that if an installed lock is still covered by warranty, you might need to contact the manufacturer directly to resolve factory-related issues. However, using a reliable and skilled locksmith considerably minimizes the likelihood of this happening as they typically use high-quality materials in their work
• Workmanship Warranties: this type of warranty covers the locksmith's labor and assures you that your locks were professionally installed or replaced per the lock manufacturer's specifications. Workmanship warranties are similar to manufacturer's warranties in that they are also usually valid for a specified length of time, which the locksmith decides

It is important to keep in mind that while the particular terms and conditions of any warranties you are offered will largely depend on the locksmith you choose to work with as well as the products they use, these warranties are often void in the following situations:

• The lock was not installed per the lock manufacturer's specifications
• The lock was repaired by a locksmith or locksmith agency other than the one that handled the initial lock installation or replacement
• The lock was damaged as a result of negligence, misuse, or vandalism
• The lock was damaged as a result of natural disasters

Therefore, you should always take the time to read any warranty you are offered to ensure that you fully comprehend its terms and the scope of coverage it provides.

Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Locksmiths in the City?

Locksmiths that wish to operate in Chicago must carry general liability insurance of at least $1,000,000, as well as state-mandated workers' compensation insurance for any employees they have. Confirming that your preferred locksmith has complied with these insurance requirements before they start any work on your property is of utmost importance. Locksmiths typically face work-related hazards like cuts, tears, abrasions, lacerations, electric shocks, injuries from splinters and metal shavings, and exposure to harmful substances like lead and metal dust. Making sure your preferred locksmith is properly insured shields you from liabilities if they are hurt on the job and ensures that you do not have to pay out of pocket if any property damage occurs.

Therefore, always ask your preferred locksmith to provide a copy of their insurance certificate and validate this document with their insurance provider. Be sure to do this before the locksmith starts any work. It is also a good idea to check if the locksmith carries professional liability insurance to cover damages or defects caused by negligence and errors on their part.

You can get additional information concerning the insurance requirements for Chicago-based locksmiths by contacting the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation at 1-888-473-4858 and 1-800-560-6420 and the local office of the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission at (312) 814-6500.