Get Quotes from Top Locksmiths in Anchorage, AK
Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Lock Smith or Pop a Lock in Anchorage
Every year, one in 16 Americans loses their car or house keys. Anchorage has over 115,000 houses, 13,000 businesses, and 342,000 vehicles. That equates to many missing keys. Fortunately, there are over 30 locksmiths in the Alaska area ready to help replace lost keys, repair broken locks, open faulty safes, upgrade to smart locks, or duplicate new keys at a moment's notice.
However, before you hire a locksmith in Anchorage, ask the following questions as part of your research:
- What Do I Need to Know Before Hiring a Locksmith in Anchorage?
- Are You Licensed as a Locksmith in Anchorage?
- What Rates Do You Charge for Your Locksmith Services in Anchorage?
- What Kind of Locksmith Services Do You Offer?
- Do You Provide Auto Locksmith Services in Anchorage?
- Do You Provide Emergency or 24-hour Locksmith Services?
- Do You Conduct Background Checks on Your Employees?
- Do You Offer Any Warranties on Your Locksmith Services?
- How Do I Resolve Any Issue I Have with Locksmith's Services in Anchorage?
What Do I Need to Know Before Hiring a Locksmith in Anchorage?
Contact a professional locksmith to handle your lock-related problems, especially when you notice the following:
- You are locked out of your own home
- Your house has been burgled
- You have a broken key or lock
- You forgot the combination to your safe
- You need a duplicate key
Anchorage locksmiths do not require occupational-specific licenses to provide services to city residents. However, it is recommended that these professionals complete relevant training and obtain certifications from professional associations. Always consider the certification status of your prospective locksmith before signing any agreement.
You should consider your prospective locksmith's current location and availability and their rates for the required services. Finally, consider whether the locksmith specializes in providing the exact services you need. You may require a traditional or an auto locksmith when dealing with lockouts. Traditional locksmiths generally focus on buildings, while auto locksmiths on vehicles.
Are You Licensed as a Locksmith in Anchorage?
Anchorage locksmiths do not need any occupation-specific license to operate in the city. However, they may complete relevant training and obtain voluntary certifications from reputable professional associations like the Aloa Security Professional Association, Inc. and the North American Locksmith Association. These professional associations offer various locksmith certifications, including master, electronic, and automotive locksmith certifications.
Confirming whether your prospective locksmith is certified by a professional association is one way to guarantee you will end up with a locksmith that adheres to industry standards. You can verify a locksmith's certification by requesting a copy and contacting the appropriate association.
What Rates Do You Charge for Your Locksmith Services in Anchorage?
Locksmiths in Anchorage typically charge between $25 - $60 per hour, but some locksmiths charge per lock with a flat fee for the visit. Regardless of the billing method a prospective locksmith uses for the project, city residents should remember that a typical locksmith job in Anchorage costs an average of $100 - $250, depending on the nature of your required service and other factors like:
- The urgency of the situation
- The time of day
- Your location
- Trip fees
- The lock type
- The complexity of the task
We recommend you always obtain and compare estimates from multiple locksmiths in the city before choosing the one to work with. This will help you identify unscrupulous individuals who intend to scam you by inflating the cost of the required services.
What Kind of Locksmith Services Do You Offer?
Anchorage locksmiths provide various services, from unlocking buildings and vehicles to installing high-security locks in buildings and key cutting and copying. Listed below are the average prices for commonly requested locksmith services in Anchorage:
Before choosing the locksmith to work with, confirm they are certified to do the work. This will ensure you receive optimal service. You should discuss and agree on the cost of the service before the locksmith commences work. This will help prevent misunderstandings and disputes after the task is completed.
Do You Provide Auto Locksmith Services in Anchorage?
Auto locksmiths in Anchorage offer several services, such as vehicle unlocking, car key replacement and duplication, extraction of broken keys from vehicles, key fob programming, and door actuator replacement. These services are specifically performed on vehicles, so if you need a lock-related service for your motorcycle, consider hiring a professional motorcycle locksmith instead.
Unlike vehicles, motorcycle keys have a different coding system from other keys, and require specialized equipment to cut. Contact your auto locksmith company to send a motorcycle locksmith with the necessary skills and equipment to your location.
Cost estimates for commonly requested auto locksmith services in Anchorage are provided below (always confirm that your intended car locksmith or motorcycle locksmith has ample experience working with your specific vehicle make and model):
Do You Provide Emergency or 24-hour Locksmith Services?
You may require an emergency locksmith service for various reasons, including:
- You are locked out of your home or vehicle
- You suspect a break-in
- You need to change your locks after a burglary
- You have forgotten the combination to your safe
- Your key broke inside the lock
- You have misplaced your keys
While you may be tempted to hire any locksmith in these situations, do not hire anyone without confirming they are qualified and available for the work. You can confirm whether your prospective locksmith is certified by requesting a copy of the certificate and contacting the appropriate association. Also, find out the prospective locksmith's current location and availability for the work. We recommend using mobile locksmiths during emergencies since they operate out of mobile workshops and offer benefits like:
- Faster response times
- 24/7 availability
- Better accessibility to remote locations
- Little to no towing fees for auto emergencies
You may consider signing up with self-service locksmith brands like KeyMe and MinuteKey that provide digital key copying and duplication services. These brands ensure you can solve lockout emergencies with little or no help from a professional. Lastly, take the following preventive actions to minimize the occurrence of lockouts and other locksmith-related emergencies:
- Get spare keys
- Use lockboxes
- Install smart locks
- Save the contact details of at least two trusted nearby locksmiths
Do You Conduct Background Checks on Your Employees?
Anchorage locksmith companies enforce policies to conduct relevant background checks on prospective employees. Listed below are some types of background checks locksmith companies in the city conduct on prospective employees:
- Criminal records check
- Civil record checks
- Credit checks
- Random drug screenings
- Driving record checks
- Previous employment verifications
Conducting these background checks ensures the company hires honest and reliable professionals who will not expose a client's lock security information to others. Before allowing anyone to commence work on your home or vehicle's lock, contact the locksmith company they work for to determine whether they passed the necessary background checks. In addition, request the name and description of the locksmith heading to you and ensure they provide a corresponding ID before granting them access to your home or vehicle.
Do You Offer Any Warranties on Your Locksmith Services?
A warranty is a statement of assurance that your repaired, retooled, or installed locks will function optimally. As such, always confirm whether you will be offered one during negotiations with a prospective locksmith. Professional Anchorage locksmiths typically offer two types of warranties:
- A manufacturer's warranty that covers any defects and issues with the actual locks (usually valid for about a year)
- A workmanship warranty that covers defects or errors caused by the locksmith
The specific terms and conditions of these warranties vary by product and locksmith. However, locksmith warranties do not cover damages caused by:
- Improper lock installation
- Misuse, negligence, or vandalism
- Unauthorized repairs
- Natural disasters
We recommend obtaining a written warranty and carefully reading its terms and conditions.
How Do I Resolve Any Issue I Have with Locksmith's Services in Anchorage?
Listed below are signs that you may be dealing with a fraudulent locksmith in Anchorage:
- Insistence on upfront payment
- Hesitance to provide proof of licensing
- Deceptively low advertised prices
- High-pressure sales tactics, intimidation, and outright threats to get you to pay for unnecessary services
- A business without a local listing on reputable sites like BBB and Yelp
You can report suspected fraudulent locksmiths in Anchorage by sending a complaint to the Consumer Protection Unit of the Alaska Attorney General's Office. You can call the office at (907) 269-5200 and (888) 576-2529 or reach them via email.
Office of the Attorney General1031 West 4th Avenue,
Suite 200
Anchorage, AK 99501-5903
Lastly, contact the Anchorage Police Department immediately if your locksmith threatens you.
Table of Contents
- What Do I Need to Know Before Hiring a Locksmith in Anchorage?
- Are You Licensed as a Locksmith in Anchorage?
- What Rates Do You Charge for Your Locksmith Services in Anchorage?
- What Kind of Locksmith Services Do You Offer?
- Do You Provide Auto Locksmith Services in Anchorage?
- Do You Provide Emergency or 24-hour Locksmith Services?
- Do You Conduct Background Checks on Your Employees?
- Do You Offer Any Warranties on Your Locksmith Services?
- How Do I Resolve Any Issue I Have with Locksmith's Services in Anchorage?