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Guide

Is this locksmith quote fair?

A fair quote is one total, given before work starts, that includes the trip, labor, parts and any after-hours charge, and lands near the published ranges. A quote that only covers the trip, or a price that changes once the locksmith arrives, is the warning sign.

Updated October 28, 2026 ยท Sources listed at the end

On this page
  1. Check it line by line
  2. Red flags
  3. You can say no
  4. If it already happened

Check it line by line

LinePublished rangeWhat to ask
Trip or service call$25 to $100 trip, $100 to $200 service call (Fixr)Is this included in the total?
After-hours surcharge$150 to $250 (Fixr)Does it apply right now?
House lockout labor$50 to $175 all in (Fixr)Will you pick it or drill it?
Rekey$70 to $160 a job, $20 to $30 per extra cylinder (Fixr)What is the price per lock?
New lock$150 to $550 changed (Fixr)Which brand and grade? Can I supply it?
Car key or fob$125 to $250 transponder, $200 to $400 smart key (KBB)Original or aftermarket? Is programming included?

Red flags

  • The price went up on arrival. The BBB's advice: if the price on site doesn't match the phone quote, use someone else.
  • "It has to be drilled." ALOA says a locksmith who goes straight to drilling is often a scammer. Standard locks can usually be picked.
  • A blank form to sign. The FTC warns against signing a blank authorization.
  • Cash only, and no invoice. Pay by card and get an itemized invoice with the business name and address.
  • No name. A phone answered "locksmith services" with no business name.

You can say no

If the price on site is higher than you agreed, you can decline before work starts. Some locksmiths charge the trip fee if you send them away; that is why you agree on the trip fee on the phone too. Once a lock is drilled, the argument is over, so ask first.

If it already happened

Keep the invoice and any texts. Dispute a card charge with your bank. You can file a complaint with the Nebraska or Iowa Attorney General's consumer protection office and the BBB. In Omaha, the BBB that handles complaints is BBB Midwest Plains, which recorded 28 in 2021, 25 in 2022, 40 in 2023 and 48 in 2024 locksmith scam complaints, according to InvestigateTV.

Questions people in Omaha ask

Is $150 for a house lockout fair?

It is inside the published ranges: Fixr lists $50 to $175 and This Old House $169 to $205. After hours, expect more.

Can a locksmith charge me if I refuse the work?

They may charge the trip fee you agreed to. That is why you agree on the total, including the trip, before they drive out.

Sources

  1. Fixr: Locksmith Prices (updated January 31, 2025)
  2. Kelley Blue Book: Key Fob Replacement (July 14, 2025)
  3. Better Business Bureau: BBB Scam Alert, Locked out? Don't fall for a locksmith scam (July 24, 2020)
  4. Associated Locksmiths of America: How to Spot a Scammer
  5. FTC Consumer Information: Finding a Locksmith (archived copy)
  6. InvestigateTV / WTOC: Predatory locksmiths accused of overcharging customers (July 21, 2025, updated September 17, 2025)