How To Choose A Licensed Locksmith In Sacramento
In short: California requires every locksmith to hold a BSIS license. Ask for the number, verify it, expect to be asked for proof of ownership, and get the price basis before work starts.
Ask for the license number, then check it
California regulates locksmiths through the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services. Individual locksmiths and locksmith companies must be licensed, and the license number should be given to you on request without hesitation. A 24 Hour Locksmith holds California BSIS License No. LCO 6830. You can check any license number, including this one, on the BSIS public license lookup before work begins.
Expect to be asked for proof of ownership
A legitimate locksmith will ask for identification and evidence that the property or vehicle is yours, and will decline the job if you cannot provide it. This is not bureaucracy. It is the single clearest signal that you are dealing with a real trade rather than someone who opens doors for whoever is standing next to them.
Get the price basis before anyone starts
You should understand what determines the price before work begins. Be cautious of a very low advertised service call fee quoted without any question about what the job actually is, particularly where the figure rises sharply once a technician has arrived and the door is already open.
Watch for the practical warning signs
Unmarked vehicles, no written estimate, refusal to give a license number, insistence on cash only, and an immediate move to drilling a lock that could be opened non-destructively are all worth pausing over. Drilling is sometimes genuinely necessary; being the first suggestion on an ordinary residential cylinder is unusual.
Check the company is insured and bonded
Insurance and bonding matter if something is damaged during the work. A 24 Hour Locksmith is insured and bonded in addition to being licensed.
About this guide
Written by A 24 Hour Locksmith, a licensed Sacramento locksmith. California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services License No. LCO 6830. License numbers can be verified on the California BSIS public license lookup. Nothing on this page is a priced offer; call (916) 244-3934 for an estimate for your situation.
Common questions
How do I verify a California locksmith license?
Search the license number on the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services public license lookup. The company here is LCO 6830.
Is it normal to be asked for ID?
Yes, and it is a good sign. A locksmith who does not ask should not be opening your door.
Why will nobody quote a fixed price on the phone?
Because the price genuinely depends on the lock, the vehicle and the situation. What you should get is the basis for the price and an estimate before dispatch.
Questions about your own locks?
Call and you will get a straight answer, whether or not it turns into a job.
Call (916) 244-3934