The board
Locksmith Prices in Vista, Posted Before You Call
Trip fee plus labor plus parts. Every number on this page is the number you hear on the phone.
How we price
A trip fee of $65 covers the drive anywhere in Vista and the first look, and it is credited toward the job when we do the work. Labor is by the task, not the hour, so a rekey is a rekey whether it takes us forty minutes or sixty. Parts are listed at what they cost. Anything over $500 gets a written quote before we start. There is no "$19 service call" here, because that number has never been what anyone paid.
Three numbers to remember
- Trip fee
- $65
- Rekey per cylinder
- $25
- Home lockout
- $125
Rekeys, deadbolts, and smart locks
| Job | Price |
|---|---|
| Rekey, standard cylinderper cylinderKwikset, Schlage, and most residential brands. Two keys included. | $25 |
| Extra keys cut on siteper key | $4 |
| Deadbolt install, new boreper door, plus hardware | $130 |
| Smart lock installper door, plus hardwareIncludes pairing and a mechanical key test. | $125 |
| Lock change, like for likeper door, plus hardware | $85 |
| Lever handle swap (accessible hardware)per door, plus hardware | $95 |
Flat fees, quoted on the phone
| Job | Price |
|---|---|
| House or apartment lockoutflat, daytimeTrip fee included. ID check before entry. Non-destructive first. | $125 |
| Car lockoutflat, daytimeTrip fee included. Entry only. We do not cut or program car keys yet. | $95 |
| Business suite or roll-up door lockoutflat, daytimeTrip fee included. Proof of tenancy or authorization before entry. | $145 |
| After-hours surchargeadded to any lockout outside regular hours | $50 |
Commercial ranges
Ranges depend on the hardware grade and the door. The walkthrough turns a range into a number.
| Job | Range |
|---|---|
| Commercial rekey, mortise or rim cylinderper cylinder | $45 |
| Exit device repairper device, plus parts | $125 to $275 |
| Exit device replacementper door, installed | $450 to $900 |
| Door closer adjust or replaceper door | $95 to $395 |
| Master key system, design feeper system, credited on install | $295 |
| Master key system, per doorper door, standard keyway | $55 to $95 |
| Restricted keyway upgradeper door | $145 to $245 |
| Access control, standalone keypadper door, installed | $450 to $950 |
| Access control, networked readerper door, installed | $1,250 to $2,450 |
What changes a price
- High-security and restricted cylinders cost more per cylinder than standard keyways, and the keys cost more to cut.
- Drilling. If a lock has to be drilled, the replacement is added at the parts price on this page. We tell you before, not after.
- After hours. Lockouts outside regular hours add the surcharge above. Scheduled after-hours work is quoted in writing.
- Distance. The trip fee covers Vista. Edges just outside the city may carry a small addition, said on the phone.
- Hardware you supply. We will install locks you bought, at the labor price, and we will tell you honestly if what you bought is not going to last.
Money questions
Is there a trip fee?
Yes, $65 anywhere in Vista, and it is credited toward the job when we do the work. It covers the drive and the first look. We say it on the phone before we roll, and there is no trip fee inside the Business Park for buildings on a service contract.
Do you charge more after hours?
Lockouts outside regular hours carry a $50 surcharge, stated on the phone. Scheduled after-hours commercial work is quoted in writing ahead of time at the rate on the quote, with no surprise added on the night.
Do you take cards?
Yes. Cards, tap-to-pay, and business checks. Commercial and contract customers can be invoiced with net terms after the first job.
Will I get a written quote?
Any job over $500 gets a written quote before work starts, with parts and labor on separate lines. Lockouts and single-door rekeys are quoted verbally on the phone and confirmed at the door before we begin.
Is there a military discount?
Yes. Active-duty, reserve, and retired military, including Camp Pendleton families living in Vista, get 10% off. Mention it when you call and show a military ID at the door.
Why is my quote different from another locksmith's?
Usually because the other number was not a quote. A "$19 service call" advertised online is a fee to show up, and the real price is decided at your door by a subcontractor. Our number on the phone is the number on the invoice, from a licensed and insured local company. Compare the total, not the headline.
Want a number for your door?
Say the job and the neighborhood and you get the price on the phone. Business owners: the walkthrough turns a range into a written quote.