Get Quotes from Top Locksmiths in Portland, OR

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

Portland locksmiths specialize in servicing, installing, repairing, repining, and adjusting locks, safes, vaults, and mechanical or electronic security systems. Contact a licensed locksmith in Portland if you are facing any of the following problems:

• 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

Before choosing a locksmith to work on your locks, always ensure the individual holds the proper license for the job. Next, consider your prospective locksmith's current location and availability, the urgency of the situation, and the locksmith's rates. Afterward, find out if the locksmith offers the specific service you need. Locksmiths in Portland are classified as traditional locksmiths or auto locksmiths. Traditional locksmiths specialize in securing buildings (such as residential, commercial, or industrial), while auto locksmiths focus on vehicles.

Are You Licensed as a Locksmith in Portland?

Per state law, anyone servicing, installing, repairing, repining, and adjusting locks, safes, vaults, and mechanical or electronic security systems must obtain a locksmith certification from the Oregon Construction Contractors Board (CCB). However, locksmiths' certificates must be linked to a residential construction contractor license or a residential locksmith service contractor license issued by the CCB before they are activated. If a locksmith provides services beyond fixing locks, such as repairing a damaged door, they must have a residential construction contractor license. However, if they exclusively offer locksmith services, they must obtain a residential locksmith service contractor license.

Portland locksmiths who have associated the appropriate residential contractor license with their locksmith certificate may contact the CCB at (503) 378-4621 to activate their certificate. Queries about licensing requirements for locksmiths in Portland may also be directed to the CCB at (503) 378-4621. You can verify your prospective locksmith's license status online via the CCB contractor license search portal.

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

Portland locksmiths charge between $23 - $50 per hour, depending on the service they will provide. Some locksmiths may charge a flat fee for their visit and a fee per lock that is repaired or replaced. However, you should expect to pay an average cost of $100 - $250, depending on factors like:

• The urgency of the situation
• The time of day
• Your location
• Trip fees
• The lock type
• The complexity of the task

Nevertheless, before hiring a locksmith in Portland, you must ask at least three locksmiths for quotes to get a more accurate estimate. Doing so will help you avoid getting ripped off by dishonest contractors trying to increase their rates.

What Kind of Locksmith Services Do You Offer?

Portland locksmiths typically provide a broad range of lock installation, repair, and re-opening services to the general public. Listed below are commonly requested locksmith services in Portland and the average price range for these services:

Always ensure your prospective locksmith specializes in providing the exact service you need. Before the locksmith starts any work, discuss and agree on the price. After that, ensure this fee and any other guarantees or promises the locksmith makes are included in your service contract.

Do You Provide Auto Locksmith Services in Portland?

Locksmiths in Portland are typically classified as traditional locksmiths or auto locksmiths. An auto locksmith is trained to provide various car lockout services, including but not limited to removing broken keys from locks, making new keys, and even replacing both the locks on your car doors and the entire ignition system.

Not every auto locksmith can provide locksmith-related services for your motorcycle. This is because motorcycle keys typically have a different coding system from other keys, requiring specialized equipment to cut new keys, even if you still have the original one. Before you hire anyone to provide lock-related services on your motorcycle, ensure that the individual is a skilled, experienced, and well-equipped motorcycle locksmith.

Cost estimates for commonly requested auto locksmith services in Portland are provided below (always confirm that your intended car locksmith or motorcycle locksmith has enough experience working with your specific vehicle make and model):

Do You Provide Emergency or 24-hour Locksmith Services?

Residents of Portland may require emergency locksmith services for a variety of reasons, including:

• Keys were stolen
• The home was burgled
• To decode an electronic keypad lock
• Keys are locked inside the house or car
• Keys have been misplaced
• The homeowner forgot their safe combination
• The access control system is malfunctioning
• The homeowner is afraid that someone has access to home security

When faced with any lock emergencies, hiring the first locksmith you find may be tempting. You must understand that lock-related emergencies are different from other emergencies, and hiring a dishonest locksmith exposes you to various risks, including high fees, property damage, theft, and other security concerns. We recommend running a background check on prospective locksmiths to determine their criminal history and whether they are appropriately licensed. You should also bear in mind that emergency locksmith services usually incur additional fees. However, you can reduce costs during a lock-related emergency by contacting a mobile locksmith. These locksmiths typically 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

While it is impossible to entirely prevent lock emergencies from happening, take the following 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

You can reduce the chances of being locked out of your home or car by signing up with self-service locksmith brands like KeyMe and MinuteKey that provide digital key copying and duplication services (note that there are downsides to this, like data breaches and limited availability of self-service kiosks for immediate key duplication).

Do You Conduct Background Checks on Your Employees?

Portland locksmiths must undergo a criminal background check before being licensed by the Oregon Construction Contractors Board (CCB). Always ensure your prospective locksmith has passed their background check by verifying the individual's license with the CCB. However, given that most locksmiths have employees who can provide the same lock-related services in their absence, you should always ensure that anyone sent to fix or replace your lock has passed both criminal and other background checks like:

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

Ensuring your prospective locksmith runs a background check on employee they send helps reduce the risk of criminal activities such as fraud, violence, abuse, and burglary. To ensure the individual sent to you has undergone a background check, you can ask for their complete name, a matching ID, evidence of education, work history, and a list of references that can be verified. Once you have completed that step, contact the relevant agencies, educational institutions, and individuals for further information regarding the locksmith.

Do You Offer Any Warranties on Your Locksmith Services?

A locksmith warranty is a written statement of assurance a locksmith gives a prospective client about the quality of the service they will provide and the equipment used to provide the services. Portland 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 terms and conditions of locksmith warranties will mostly rely on the locksmith you hire and the items they use for the work. Always request a written copy of your warranty to understand its terms and conditions fully. Note that warranties do not cover damages caused by:

• Improper lock installation
• Misuse, negligence, or vandalism
• Unauthorized repairs
• Natural disasters