Frequently asked questions
Locksmith FAQ
The questions we answer on the phone every day, grouped by topic. If yours is not here, call and ask. We would rather explain something than have you guess.
- Licensed & insured
- Serving Birmingham since 2018
- Fully mobile, we come to you
Coverage and dispatch
About our service
What areas do you serve?
Birmingham and all of Jefferson County, Alabama, plus the immediately surrounding communities. That includes Hoover, Vestavia Hills, Homewood, Mountain Brook, Bessemer, Trussville, Gardendale, Center Point, Irondale, Hueytown, Fultondale, Pleasant Grove, Leeds, Clay, Pinson, Fairfield, Midfield, Adamsville, Graysville, McCalla and every other city and community on our service area list.
Are you a mobile locksmith?
Yes. Express Key Locksmith is fully mobile, which means we come to you. Keys are cut and programmed, locks are rekeyed and hardware is installed at your vehicle, home or business. There is no shop to drive to and no vehicle to tow.
What services do you offer?
Three main categories. Automotive: car lockouts, car key replacement, transponder and fob programming, ignition repair and broken key extraction. Residential: house lockouts, rekeying, lock and deadbolt installation, lock repair, key duplication and smart locks. Commercial: business lockouts, commercial rekeying, master key systems, access control, panic hardware and high-security locks.
How long have you been in business?
Express Key Locksmith has served the Birmingham area since 2018, handling automotive, residential and commercial lock and key work across Jefferson County.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. We are a licensed and insured locksmith company. You are entitled to ask any locksmith for this before work starts, and you should.
What it costs
Pricing and payment
How much does a locksmith cost in Birmingham?
It depends entirely on the job. A house lockout, a rekey and a proximity smart key replacement are three very different pieces of work. Tell us what happened and what vehicle or lock is involved, and the technician confirms the price with you on site before any work starts.
When do I find out what the job costs?
On site, before any work starts. The technician looks at the vehicle or the lock, tells you the price, and waits for your go-ahead. Nothing is started and nothing is charged until you have agreed to it.
What payment methods do you accept?
Cash, credit and debit cards, and common mobile payment methods.
Why are car keys more expensive than house keys?
A house key is cut metal. A car key usually contains a transponder chip, and often a remote or a proximity smart key, which must be programmed to the vehicle with specialized equipment. The hardware itself and the programming both add cost, and a push-to-start smart key is the most expensive type.
Hardware and keys
Locks, keys and security
Should I rekey or replace my locks?
Rekey when the hardware is in good condition and you simply want old keys to stop working: after a move, a lost key or a tenant change. It is the cheaper option. Replace when the lock is worn, damaged or low grade, or when you want a different function such as a keypad or smart lock.
Can all my locks be keyed to one key?
Usually yes. Locks sharing a compatible keyway can be keyed alike so one key opens the front door, back door, garage entry and storm door. Where one lock uses an incompatible keyway, replacing that cylinder brings it into the same key system.
Will you damage my lock or door when opening it?
Normally no. Automotive and residential lockouts are opened with non-destructive methods that leave the lock, door and frame intact. Drilling is a last resort for locks that are already seized or broken, and we always discuss it with you first.
Do you need proof of ownership?
Yes, always. Before opening a vehicle we ask for photo ID plus registration, insurance or title. Before opening a home we ask for photo ID plus a lease, utility bill, mail or ID showing the address. For a business, documentation or an owner or manager confirming authority. This protects you, and any locksmith who skips it should not be trusted.
Can you make a car key if I have lost every key?
Yes. That is an all-keys-lost job. We originate a new key from the vehicle, cut the blade and program the chip or fob so the vehicle unlocks and starts, all at the vehicle, with no tow to a dealership.
Do you work on high-security and commercial hardware?
Yes. Mortise locks, aluminum storefront hardware, cylindrical levers, exit devices, door closers, interchangeable cores, restricted keyways and high-security cylinders are all standard commercial work for us.
Avoiding scams
Choosing a locksmith safely
How do I avoid locksmith scams?
Ask how the job is priced, confirm the company name and check that it matches what arrives, expect an ID and ownership check, be wary of anyone who immediately wants to drill a standard lock, and get the price confirmed with you before work begins. Our guide to choosing a locksmith in Birmingham goes through this in detail.
Is it cheaper to use a locksmith or a dealership for car keys?
A mobile locksmith is usually less expensive, largely because there is no tow and no dealer service appointment. A small number of very new vehicles restrict key programming to franchised dealers, and we will tell you if yours is one of them rather than charge you for a trip.
Do I need to be there when you arrive?
Yes. Someone authorized needs to be present to verify ownership or right of entry, and to approve the work and price.
Go deeper
Guides that answer more
How to Choose a Locksmith in Birmingham (and Avoid Scams)
The questions to ask, the red flags to walk away from, and what a legitimate locksmith always does.
Read the guideLocked Out of Your Car? What To Do (and What Not To Do)
What to check first, why improvised tools cause expensive damage, and when to call 911 instead.
Read the guideRekeying vs Changing Locks: Which Do You Actually Need?
Two different fixes for two different problems, and how to tell which one you are buying.
Read the guideStill have a question?
Call (205) 259-8892 and ask. No obligation.