Locksmith FAQ

In most areas of Northwest Florida, we arrive in 15-20 minutes. For Fort Walton Beach, Mary Esther, and Shalimar, response time is often under 15 minutes. Outlying areas like DeFuniak Springs or Panama City Beach may take 30-45 minutes depending on traffic.

Locksmith Chick serves all of Northwest Florida including Fort Walton Beach, Destin, Pensacola, Navarre, Niceville, Crestview, Milton, Gulf Breeze, Pace, Mary Esther, Shalimar, DeFuniak Springs, Santa Rosa Beach, 30A, Perdido Key, Eglin AFB, Hurlburt Field, and surrounding communities.

Yes. Locksmith Chick is fully licensed and insured to operate in the state of Florida. We carry liability insurance and all our technicians are background-checked and trained professionals.

Great question — locksmith scams are real. Locksmith Chick is a licensed, insured, locally-owned business. Our technician will arrive in a marked vehicle, show ID, and provide a written quote before touching anything. We never inflate prices on-site.

Lockout pricing depends on the type — residential lockouts start around $65, car lockouts from $55, and commercial lockouts from $75. We always quote upfront before any work begins, so there are no surprises. Call (850) 964-5254 for an exact quote.

No. We provide free phone estimates for all standard locksmith services. For complex commercial projects or large rekeying jobs, we may schedule a free on-site assessment.

Yes! We accept all major credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and cash. Payment is collected after the job is complete.

Standard car keys start around $75. Transponder keys and key fobs range from $100-$250 depending on the make and model. This is typically much less than the dealership charges, and we come to you. Learn more in our car lockout guide.

Absolutely. Rekeying is one of our most popular services. We can rekey every lock in your home or business to work with a single key — usually in under an hour. It costs a fraction of replacing locks entirely.

Yes. We cut and program transponder keys, key fobs, and standard car keys for most makes and models. We can also replace lost car keys entirely — no need to tow to the dealer.

Yes. We install and service all major smart lock brands including Schlage, Yale, August, Kwikset, and more. We'll help you choose the right smart lock for your needs and make sure it's properly installed and connected.

Yes. If your door doesn't have a deadbolt, we strongly recommend adding one — it's the single biggest upgrade for door security. We install single-cylinder and double-cylinder deadbolts on any standard door.

Yes. Broken key extraction is a common service call. We remove the broken piece without damaging the lock, and we can cut a new key on the spot.

Yes. We open combination safes, electronic safes, and lockboxes. In most cases, we can open the safe without damage. If you've lost the combination or the electronics failed, give us a call.

Yes. We replace and rekey mailbox locks, including USPS-approved community mailbox locks. If you've lost your mailbox key, we can pick it open and provide new keys.

We install keypad locks on garage entry doors (the walk-through door), not the main garage door opener itself. For keyless entry on your garage door, we recommend consulting a garage door specialist.

Yes, Locksmith Chick is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year — including holidays. Emergencies don't wait, and neither do we. Read about our 24/7 emergency service.

Call us. We dispatch a locksmith immediately, even at 2 AM. Our average overnight response time is 15-25 minutes in the Fort Walton Beach area. There's a small after-hours fee, but we quote it upfront before dispatching.

First, call 911 and make sure you're safe. Then call us. We provide emergency lock changes and security upgrades after break-ins. We can replace damaged locks, add deadbolts, reinforce strike plates, and assess your overall security — often the same day.

For most homes in Northwest Florida, we recommend Grade 1 or Grade 2 deadbolts from Schlage or Kwikset. For added security, Medeco or Mul-T-Lock high-security cylinders resist picking and bumping. Read our guide to choosing locks for your Florida home.

Absolutely — this is one of the most important things to do after moving. Previous owners, their family, friends, contractors, and real estate agents may all have copies of the old keys. Rekeying is fast, affordable, and gives you total peace of mind. Learn more about rekeying vs. changing locks.

Yes, modern smart locks from reputable brands are very secure. They use AES encryption, have built-in tamper alerts, and many include auto-lock features. We recommend models with both keypad and physical key backup for maximum reliability.

Rekeying changes the internal pins so old keys no longer work — same lock, new key. Changing locks replaces the entire lock hardware. Rekeying is cheaper and faster. We recommend changing locks only if the hardware is damaged, outdated, or you want an upgrade. Full comparison here.

Hide a spare key in a lockbox (not under the mat), give a spare to a trusted neighbor, install a smart lock with keypad entry, or use a Bluetooth-enabled lock that opens from your phone. We can help set up any of these solutions.

Yes! We proudly serve the military community near Eglin AFB and Hurlburt Field. Active duty, veterans, and military families receive a discount on all services. Just mention it when you call.

We frequently work on military base housing near Eglin AFB and Hurlburt Field. We can handle rekeying, lockouts, deadbolt installations, and lock changes. Note that some on-base work may require base access approval.

We stand behind every installation. If a lock we installed has an issue, contact us and we'll make it right. For manufacturer warranty claims, we can help facilitate the process with brands like Schlage, Kwikset, and Medeco.