Pricing · Starting prices, and what moves them
What a Locksmith Costs in Santee (Our Actual Prices)
These are our real starting prices, not a number designed to get the van rolling. Call with the year, make and model or the number of doors and you will get the exact figure before we leave.
How we price
Every job has up to three parts: a service call for the trip, labor for the work, and parts if a key, fob or lock is supplied. We tell you the total on the phone. That total is the invoice unless you add work once we are there (a second fob, an extra door), and we will tell you the add-on before doing it. No "starting at" that becomes something else in the driveway.
Every price on this page already includes the service call inside Santee. The one exception is commercial rekeying, which is per cylinder plus the service call. The service call on its own is what you pay when we make the trip and no work gets done.
| Service call, Santee 92071 / 92072 (already in the prices below) | $65 |
|---|---|
| Lakeside and the edges of our area | + $20 |
| Evening call after posted hours, when we agree to one | + $50 |
Car lockout cost
| Car, truck or SUV unlock | from $95 | details |
|---|---|---|
| Trunk-only lockout (trunk isolated from the cabin) | from $125 |
What moves it: a luxury or exotic model with an unusual door, a trunk that has to be picked directly, or a late-evening call. Kids or pets inside: call 911 first, then us.
Car key replacement cost
| Key type, all keys lost | From | |
|---|---|---|
| Metal key, no chip (older trucks and cars) | $85 | details |
| Transponder (chipped) key, cut and programmed | $175 | |
| Laser-cut / high-security key, cut and programmed | $225 | |
| Push-to-start smart key, all keys lost | $325 |
The dealer comparison: their key for the same car is usually a similar or higher figure, plus a tow from Santee to El Cajon or Mission Valley, plus the wait while it is ordered. Ours is done where the car sits, most days the same day.
Spare fob and push-to-start key cost
| With one working key present | From | |
|---|---|---|
| Remote-head key or plain remote, programmed | $145 | details |
| Flip key, cut and programmed | $185 | |
| Proximity / push-to-start smart key, programmed | $225 | |
| New shell for your existing fob, blade and electronics moved over | $75 |
What moves it: original-manufacturer versus aftermarket fob (we explain the difference on the phone), and models that require the factory part.
House lockout cost
| Home, condo, apartment or garage-to-house door | from $110 | details |
|---|
What moves it: a high-security cylinder that will not pick, or a failed lock that has to be drilled and replaced (only with your OK, and only after we quote the replacement).
Rekey cost per lock
| First lock, including the service call | $95 | details |
|---|---|---|
| Each additional cylinder, same key | $30 | |
| Whole-house move-in bundle, up to six exterior locks on one key | $195 |
The move-in bundle is built for closings in Weston, Riverview, Walker Trails and the resale tracts: front, garage-to-house, side, back, slider and a gate padlock, all on one key, in about an hour. What moves it: a cylinder too worn to pin, which we replace and quote first, and odd brands that need a matching cylinder to share the key.
Smart lock installation cost
| Install and app setup, your lock | from $125 | details |
|---|---|---|
| Install and app setup, lock we supply (keypad deadbolt) | from $245 |
What moves it: a door that needs the strike moved or the bolt hole deepened, a Wi-Fi bridge, or a lock model that costs more than a keypad deadbolt. Repairs on an existing smart lock are usually a service call plus a short labor charge.
Business work
| Commercial cylinder rekey, per cylinder, plus the service call | from $35 | details |
|---|---|---|
| Master key systems, exit devices, closers, storefront hardware | quoted per job |
Systems and door hardware get a quote after a short visit or a few photos, because the number depends on door count and what is already on the doors. A master key consult is free with the job.
Questions about price
Why won't most locksmith websites give a price?
Because many of the "Santee locksmith" sites you will find are lead-generation fronts that sell your call to whoever is nearest, and the number they quote on the phone is not the number on the invoice. We publish starting prices and quote the actual job before we drive, and that quote is what you pay unless you add work once we are there.
Do you charge to come out if you can't open it?
If we cannot open a lock without damage and you decide not to have it drilled and replaced, you pay the service call, not the opening. We tell you before we start if something looks like it will not pick.
Do you take cards, Zelle or cash?
All three. You get an itemized invoice with our license number on it either way.
Is there an after-hours or weekend fee?
Saturday and Sunday inside our posted hours are the same price as a weekday. After 9pm we are generally not dispatching; text us and we reply by 8am with the first available time. If we do agree to a late call, the evening add-on is listed above and quoted before we come.
Why is a spare fob cheaper than an all-keys-lost job?
When the car already recognizes one key, adding a second is a short programming session. When every key is gone, we have to cut a blade from code, get the car to accept a key it has never seen, and often sit through a security timer built into the immobilizer. More parts, more time, and a much bigger favor to your future self if you add the spare now.
Prices valid as of September 2026 and shown before tax on parts. Quoted on the phone before dispatch.
Want the exact number?
Call with the year, make and model, or the number of doors. You get the price before we drive, and that is the price.