Locking yourself out of a car can be a big problem. You could be late for appointments or even to pick up your kids. That’s why it’s so important to get the help of a quality locksmith when you’re locked out of your vehicle. But with more than 12,000 locksmiths across the United States, choosing the right business to help can be difficult.
Many people aren’t sure what they should be looking for when they’re hoping to hire a locksmith. Most people don’t know much about this specialist service, so it can be hard to choose the right company.
Want to learn about the features you ought to look for when hiring a car lockout service in Austin? We’re here to help. Read on to learn everything you need to know about choosing the best company to suit your needs.
1. Check Reviews
It’s easy to listen to a company make great claims about themselves. But for a consumer to find out how a company really operates, it’s important to check reviews from real people. This is the best way to ensure a company can live up to the hype.
There are lots of websites online where you can check out reviews for a given company.
Beware of companies with reviews that seem too good to be true. Even the best businesses in the world sometimes get bad reviews. So, if you’re scrolling through a list of reviews and you notice the company has never received anything lower than five stars, it could be a sign you’re not looking at the real deal.
At Austin Locksmiths, we’re proud to say we’ve been serving the local community well for years. We have all kinds of great reviews, and we’re happy to share our testimonials from local people on our website. Our reviews are genuine, and when you use our service, you’ll see how good we are.
2. Ensure They Offer the Right Services
Locksmithing is a fairly broad field. Different companies offer all kinds of different services. Ensuring that your chosen company offers the services you actually require could save you time and money.
Some locksmiths may only work with residential locks. Or they may not be adept at opening older locks, which function quite differently from modern locking systems.
We offer all the different locksmithing services you could ever need. Whether it’s a classic car or the latest Tesla, we know how to get you back inside and on your way. You can rely on us to use our broad knowledge and experience in the world of locksmithing to help you out of a jam.
3. Check Response Times
When you’re locked out of your vehicle, you need to get the problem solved fast. If you’re waiting around for hours for a locksmith to come out to you, that could cause all kinds of problems for you and your family.
That’s why it’s so important to check the expected response times offered by a given locksmithing company. If you’re going to be waiting an entire afternoon while waiting for a lockout service to arrive, you could be seriously inconvenienced.
Here at Austin Locksmiths, we understand when people call us, they need the quickest response possible. We serve customers all across the Austin area and its surrounding areas, and we aim to get out as quickly as possible. When you contact us, we’ll give you an honest quote of when you can expect us to arrive.
Still, it’s worth taking precautions when you’re locked out of your vehicle, even for a short time. Ensure you’re waiting away from traffic and in a safe, well-lit area. It may be a good idea to visit a nearby store and pick up some water, if possible, to avoid becoming dehydrated in that hot Texas sun.
4. Ensure Your Chosen Company Services Your Location
Most companies give their clients at least a vague idea of the area they service. But if you don’t live in a major urban area, it might be unclear whether or not you’ll be able to get service.
We’re willing to go the extra mile, literally! Wherever you are in Austin or surrounding districts, we can help. We’re willing to travel to out-of-the-way areas to help members of the community when they need it.
5. Opt For Experience
Getting back into your car is extremely important. You’ll face all kinds of issues without your vehicle and you could even end up stranded.
That’s why it’s vital to choose a company with plenty of experience for this important job. Experienced lockout services can deal with any problems that may arise.
We have all the experience we need to get the job done right the first time. We’ve been in the business for more than five years and some of our staff members have been working in the field for longer than they’d like to admit! You’ll get the benefit of our experience on your side when you work with us.
6. Check Licensing
Locksmithing companies can apply for licensing from state and city authorities. This demonstrates a level of trust placed in the company by regulating bodies. When a company has proper licensing, you’re not likely to be ripped off.
In the state of Texas, licensing for locksmiths isn’t legally required. On the other hand, if a company is fully licensed, it demonstrates they are a professional outfit. It means your chosen company is recommended by the relevant authorities and has the right credentials to do a good job.
We have full licensing and bonding, so you can be sure we’re a reliable outfit. Just ask us if you want to find out more or see our documents.
7. Check for Insurance
Insurance is a vital issue when it comes to lockout services. A good Austin car lockout service should have the proper insurance to ensure that both they and you stay safe. This will cover the costs in the event of any unexpected damage to your vehicle.
Feel free to ask us about our insurance. We’ll be happy to show you the details of our policies. If anything goes wrong, the costs will be covered and you won’t have to worry.
On the topic of insurance, it’s a good idea to check your own insurance policies to check they’ll cover the cost of a car lockout service. While basic policies don’t tend to stretch this far, more expensive policies should cover it. Take a look at your policy documents or give your provider a call to thrash out the details.
8. Ask For a Satisfaction Guarantee
What would happen if you called for a locksmith and got poor service? If they left you hanging for hours or failed to get the job done properly, you could be seriously inconvenienced. In that situation, would you still be expected to pay for a call-out?
A good company should offer its clients a satisfaction guarantee. That means if you’re not happy with the service you’ve received, you won’t find yourself out of pocket, and your chosen company will do everything possible to make things right.
We’re committed to sending our customers on their way with smiles on their faces. You can be sure when you work with us that we won’t leave you hanging. We’ll do everything in our power to help you get back in your car and go about your day.
8. Ask For Personal Recommendations
Many people find services by asking friends and family members for tips. After all, if a close relative is happy to recommend a service, you can probably trust their opinion. So, your first step when choosing a company will probably be talking to people close to you.
We’re confident that lots of people in the Austin area will recommend our service to you! If you don’t know anyone who can personally recommend our services, check reviews and testimonials on websites like Trustpilot, and you’ll see we’re recommended by lots of Austin’s fine citizens.
9. Look For a 24/7 Service
Some car lockout services are 9-5 affairs. While it’s understandable that these companies stick to regular business hours, it won’t be much help to you if you’re locked out of your vehicle at night. Before you call out a company, be sure they operate out of hours.
Day or night, rain or shine, we’ll be there as fast as we can to help you out! If you do happen to be in trouble out of hours, remember to take proper safety precautions. Try to go to a well-lighted area like a store or a friend’s house while you wait for help to arrive.
10. Ask For Transparent Pricing
When you call out Austin car lockout services, you might worry about the price. This can be an issue with companies that charge lots of different fees, including hidden costs. Some businesses make an initial quote, then throw on additional fees for a call out, parts, service, and all kinds of other things.
We understand that our customers don’t need any added stress at a time they’re already locked out of their vehicles! That’s why we give a full and honest breakdown of the expected price over the phone. We’ll let you know exactly what you need to pay without adding any hidden charges.
We also do our best to keep prices reasonable. You might be surprised at how little it costs to get an expert locksmith out to your location in double-quick time.
11. Look for a One-Stop Shop
When you call an auto lockout service, you might also need additional locksmithing services. Perhaps you’ve lost a ring of keys, including car keys and house keys. If that’s the case, you might need a little extra help.
A company that provides a one-stop shop for locksmithing services should be your first port of call. Luckily, that’s exactly what Austin Locksmiths provide! We’re a one-shop stop for all your locksmithing needs, so we can help with all your issues in one convenient visit.
Whether it’s a car lockout, deadbolt locks, or repairing burglary damage, we do it all. We can help you with your security needs too and help you feel safe in your home or vehicle.
12. Find Out About the Tools a Company Uses
Even the greatest lockout services can’t do their jobs with just their bare hands. Professionals use a variety of tools to get the job done safely and efficiently. The best companies keep pace with advances in technology to ensure they have the latest equipment close to hand.
With this in mind, it can be a good idea to ask a prospective company what kind of tools they use. This will help you to get an idea of whether your chosen companies are professionals who can get the job done well. A business that doesn’t have the modern tools needed to deal with the latest vehicles might not be the best option to help you.
Here at Austin Locksmiths, you can rest assured we use the latest tools to ensure we get the job done right. Over the years, we’ve invested our profits back into the business to ensure we keep up with the times.
The Best Car Lockout Service in Austin
When disaster strikes and you find yourself locked out of your vehicle, you need fast, efficient help! There’s no need to spend lots of time looking for a reliable company with the right skills and experience to help. The best option to help you out of your problem is right here at your fingertips!
Need help from the best car lockout service in Austin? We’re only a click or a call away. Contact us today and let us help!
