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Rekey the locks, or replace them?

Rekeying explained, replacement explained, and the one question that decides between them.

Delete the lost key

Programming the new key can erase the lost one, so whoever finds it holds a useless piece of plastic.

Why not the dealer

No tow truck, no service-department waitlist, no leaving the car overnight. The truck comes to the key problem.

Locksmith opening a locked car door in Mountain View, CA

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Domestic, Japanese, European

Domestic pickups, Japanese sedans, and most European cars too.

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Fleet and work trucks

Multiple keys, recorded and organized for the company, keyed alike where the fleet allows it.

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Old cars welcome

Pre-transponder classics get simple mechanical keys cut from the door lock.

The word people look up

Rekeying is changing the key a lock accepts while leaving the lock itself in place. Inside every cylinder is a row of pins; a new set of pins means a new key, and every old key becomes a piece of metal. Minutes per lock, done at your door.

New house, lost key, old tenant, ex-partner, the cleaner who no longer comes: those are rekey calls.

Car key programmer plugged into the OBD port, CA

Key cutting machine in the service vehicle, CA

When the hardware itself goes

A lock change removes the hardware and installs new. That's for locks that are failing (stiff, loose, corroded, forced in the past) or the wrong kind for the door (a knob where a deadbolt belongs), and for upgrades like keypads and heavier grades.

Ask one thing: is the hardware sound? If yes, rekey. If no, replace.

Deciding at the door

The technician checks each lock. Sound hardware is rekeyed; failing or flimsy hardware is replaced. The typical outcome in Mountain View is a new deadbolt on the front, rekeyed locks everywhere else, and a single key for the lot.

One key for the whole house is normal, brand mix included; exceptions are rare and named up front.

You've just bought the place

Moving in is the classic rekey. The old owners' keys, the agent's lockbox key, the relative's spare: all dead after one visit. Check the garage door into the house at the same time; it's the door people forget and the one that matters.

Between tenants a rekey is standard practice and takes minutes per door.

How it goes

Proof that the locks are yours to change comes first. Then the work, door by door, rekeying or replacing as agreed. New keys are cut on site, and the technician checks every door closes and locks cleanly before leaving.

Under an hour for most homes; longer for a building with many doors or a master key system.

Things people are told

Rekeying is a stopgap. It's as permanent as the lock. One key per brand. Most brands key alike. Replacement is always the secure choice. Grade decides that, not age. Lost a key, so replace everything. Rekey everything instead; same result, less time.

Questions we get asked

Can all my doors be on one key?

Usually. Rare exceptions get named before any work.

How long does a rekey take?

Short. Most houses are done inside an hour.

Do you need to see ID?

Always. It's the check that makes sure the person changing the locks is allowed to.

Should I rekey after a break-in attempt?

Rekey, and replace any lock that was damaged. One visit covers both.

Can you add a deadbolt where there's only a knob?

We do, routinely. It's the single most useful upgrade on most doors.

Call and it's handled

Tell us your street and we send a tech.

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