Locked out with the key sitting on the seat? The quickest fix in metro Atlanta is usually a mobile locksmith who drives to the car and opens it where it is parked. If the key is lost or broken, the same van can cut and program a new one on the spot, so the car never needs a tow or a trip to the dealership.
How fast you are back on the road depends on which of those jobs you need and what you have in hand when the technician arrives.
Start with the problem you actually have
Getting back into your car can mean three different jobs, and the fix and the price depend on which one it is.
- Keys locked inside the car. This is a door-opening job, and a car lockout with us starts at $89.
- Key lost, stolen, or snapped. You need a new key made for the car. A regular replacement key starts at $129, a remote key or fob at $159, and a push-to-start smart key at $189.
- The key is in your hand, but the car will not start or the key will not turn. That points to the ignition or the transponder chip inside the key. Ignition repair starts at $199.
The make, model, and year move those numbers, and we confirm the final price before any work starts. Every starting price is on our pricing page.
If a child or a pet is locked in the car, call 911 before you call anyone else. A closed car heats up fast in Georgia weather.
Mobile locksmith, dealership, or tow truck
Most people stuck in a parking lot end up weighing the same three options. They solve different problems, and only one of them comes to you ready to fix the car.
| Option | What happens | What it costs |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile locksmith | Comes to the car and opens it or makes the key there. Our average arrival across metro Atlanta is 15 to 30 minutes. | Lockouts from $89. New keys from $129. |
| Dealership | The car has to be at the dealer before anyone there can make a key. | Dealer fob replacement often runs $400 to $1,000 or more. |
| Tow truck | Moves the car. It does not open it or make a key. | A towing bill on top of the dealer's. |
We cut and program keys for most makes on the road, and you can check yours on our brands page.
What happens after you call
- We ask for the year, make, and model, where you are, and whether any key still works, and we give you an honest arrival time. Every starting price is published on our pricing page.
- When the technician arrives, we check your photo ID and proof that the car is yours before opening anything: registration, insurance card, title, or bill of sale.
- We confirm the final price on-site before we touch the car. If anything changes the scope, we give you the new price before any work starts.
- For a lockout, we open the door on-site without damage and you drive away with the keys you already own. For a lost key, we cut and program a new key at the car and test it before the job is finished.
Have these ready before the van gets there
- A photo ID with your name on it.
- Registration, an insurance card, the title, or a bill of sale. If the papers are locked inside the car, mention it when you call.
- Your VIN. It is on the dashboard at the base of the windshield and on your insurance card, and it helps us arrive with the right key blank already on the van.
- An exact location. In a parking deck, give the level and the nearest stairwell. In a large apartment complex, give the building number.
- Any key or remote you still have, even a broken one.
Need a locksmith in Atlanta, GA right now?
Call (470) 668-2196 with your year, make, model, and location. We work Tuesday through Sunday from 7 AM to 7 PM, Wednesday until 5 PM, and we are closed on Mondays. We cover Atlanta and more than 20 surrounding cities, including Sandy Springs, Marietta, Decatur, and Alpharetta. See the full list on our service area page, or read what Atlanta drivers say on our reviews page.