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What Do I Need to Know Before Hiring a Locksmith in Reno?

All locksmiths in Reno need a county-issued locksmith license and a business license before offering their services to residents. Always check for these licenses before hiring. In addition, you should confirm the following before choosing a locksmith in Reno:

• Local reputation
• Location and availability
• The urgency of the situation
• Fees

Besides considering the factors listed above, confirm the locksmith's area of expertise is related to your required services to ensure the tasks are performed correctly. Depending on the situation, you may need a traditional locksmith or an auto locksmith. Traditional locksmiths generally focus on installing and repairing locks for buildings, while auto locksmiths specialize in installing and repairing locks for vehicles.

Are You Licensed as a Locksmith in Reno?

All individuals who make, install, and repair locks and keys in Reno must first obtain a locksmith license from the Washoe County Sheriff's Office. Similarly, all locksmith companies in Reno must obtain a business license issued by the Reno Department of Business and Industry before offering their services to residents.

To ensure you are dealing with qualified professionals, hire only licensed locksmiths. Before finalizing hiring agreements with Reno locksmiths, request proof of licensing and contact the Work Permit Division of the Washoe County Sheriff's Office at (775)328-3023 to verify the license (you can also call this office for more info on Reno locksmith licensing requirements). Similarly, you can verify a locksmith's business license online via the city's One Regional Licensing and Permits portal. Taking these actions helps ensure you don't fall victim to fraudulent locksmiths.

What Rates Do You Charge for Your Locksmith Services in Reno?

Professional locksmiths in Reno usually charge an average of $55 - $100 for locksmith services; they may also charge an hourly rate of about $20 - $50. Nonetheless, the actual cost of locksmith services in Reno usually depends on the type of service you require and other factors like:

• The urgency of the situation
• The complexity of the task
• The time of the day
• Your location

Before finalizing negotiations, get estimates from up to three locksmiths and compare their rates. This helps to give an idea of the actual rate of your required service, thereby protecting you from being overcharged by dishonest locksmiths. However, you should beware of locksmiths with significantly lower rates, as fraudulent locksmiths employ this method to reel in susceptible customers.

What Kind of Locksmith Services Do You Offer?

Licensed locksmiths in Reno offer many services, from key duplication and replacement to the installation of high-security locks. Listed below are commonly requested locksmith services and their estimates:

Always confirm a locksmith's area of specialization and expertise before hiring. You should also discuss the cost of your required services to prevent misunderstandings and conflicts (which may arise when the task is completed).

Do You Provide Auto Locksmith Services in Reno?

While traditional locksmiths provide locksmith services for buildings, auto locksmiths focus on vehicles. These professionals specialize in providing locksmith services for cars, trucks, motorcycles, and other vehicles. They are experts in handling the following tasks:

• Ignition repair
• Trunk reopening
• Key fob programming
• Broken key extraction
• Unlocking car doors
• Door actuator replacement
• Key replacement or duplication

If the vehicle involved is a motorcycle, you should confirm that the auto locksmith company you contact has a skilled and experienced motorcycle locksmith. This is to ensure your motorcycle locks will be handled by a professional with the appropriate skills and equipment, as motorcycle keys typically have a different coding system from other keys.

Some commonly requested auto locksmith services and their estimates are listed below:

Do You Provide Emergency or 24-hour Locksmith Services?

Lock-related situations are typically emergencies; however, some must be addressed more urgently than others. Examples include:

• Your keys broke inside the lock
• Your keys are stolen or misplaced
• You suspect a break-in or attempted burglary
• You need to change a lock after a burglary

When faced with these emergencies, contact a licensed and reliable locksmith who can fix the issue immediately. You should also consider contacting a mobile locksmith. As the name implies, these locksmiths operate out of mobile workshops and are known to offer several benefits, like:

• 24/7 availability
• Faster response time
• Availability is not restricted by location
• Little to no towing fees for auto emergencies

Alternatively, sign up with locksmith brands like MinuteKey and KeyMe for fast key copying and duplication services. However, you should be aware that signing up with alternative companies can expose copies of your keys to unauthorized parties in case of a data breach.

Lastly, you can prevent or minimize the occurrence of lock-related urgencies by adopting the following precautions:

• Always have spare keys
• Put lockboxes in your front door
• Install smart locks in your home and vehicles
• Have at least two trustworthy locksmiths on speed dial

Do You Conduct Background Checks on Your Employees?

Before they are licensed, all locksmiths in Reno must undergo and pass a criminal background check. It is in your best interest to ensure that your intended locksmith has passed a criminal background check and evaluates his employees to ensure they have clean criminal records. In addition to criminal background checks, reputable locksmith companies in Reno conduct the following background checks on their employees:

• Civil record checks
• Driving records checks
• Random drug screenings
• Previous employment verifications

Confirming that your intended locksmiths and their employees have clean background records reduces the likelihood of theft and other similar crimes.

Finally, always ask for the name and description of the locksmith heading to you and ensure they provide a corresponding ID before letting them into your home or vehicle.

Do You Offer Any Warranties on Your Locksmith Services?

Warranties guarantee that the newly installed or altered lock will function as intended. Therefore, it is important to confirm you will be offered these warranties when negotiating with your intended locksmith. Professional locksmiths in Reno offer two major types of warranties to their clients:

• Manufacturer's warranty:This warranty covers errors with the lock used for the locksmith job. It usually lasts for a year.
• Workmanship warranty: This warranty covers errors in the repair or installation caused by the locksmith.

The terms and conditions of each warranty vary among products and locksmiths. However, standard locksmith warranties do not cover damages caused by any of these situations:

• Natural disasters
• Unauthorized repairs
• Improper lock installation
• Negligence or vandalism

Request a written copy of your warranty before the project. Endeavor to read it and familiarize yourself with the specific terms and conditions to avoid future misunderstandings.