California is one of the few states with a strict statewide locksmith licensing requirement. Every legitimate Los Angeles locksmith must hold a Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS) Locksmith Company license, format LCO #####. We’ve verified 65 Los Angeles locksmiths across the metro, every one with a current BSIS license on file.
Los Angeles has hundreds of legitimate locksmith businesses, many family-run for decades. The BSIS licensing requirement makes LA one of the more verifiable markets — you can check any locksmith’s license through the state’s public lookup in 30 seconds. The challenge: LA’s sprawl is massive, and a locksmith based in Santa Monica isn’t always practical for an emergency call in the Valley. Pick a locksmith local to your specific neighborhood.
How to verify a California BSIS locksmith license
California requires every working locksmith to hold a BSIS Locksmith Company license. The license number format is LCO followed by 5-6 digits (for example: LCO 12345 or LCO 123456). It must appear on every legitimate California locksmith’s vehicle, business card, website, invoice, and advertising.
Before hiring an LA locksmith, ask for the BSIS LCO number on the phone or check their website. Verify it through the BSIS public lookup at the bsis.ca.gov website. A real LA locksmith’s record will show “Active” status. Anyone working without a current BSIS LCO is operating illegally in California.
Every Verified locksmith in our Los Angeles directory has submitted a current BSIS license that we’ve checked.
LA is huge: pick a locksmith local to your area
Greater Los Angeles spans over 4,750 square miles from the San Fernando Valley to Long Beach to Eastside to West LA. A locksmith based in Santa Monica isn’t practical for an emergency call in Pasadena — the drive is 45 minutes without traffic, much longer with. Tell whoever you call where you actually are. A real LA locksmith will tell you upfront whether they serve your area; a dispatch operator won’t care.
Top-rated Los Angeles locksmiths
Five of the highest-rated locksmiths in our Los Angeles directory, ranked by real Google reviews. Each links to a full listing with hours, services, BSIS license number, and verification details.
- LA Best Locksmith — 4.9 stars from 626 reviews. 1801 S La Cienega Blvd #1, Los Angeles, CA 90035
- Hal’s Locksmith 24-7 — 5 stars from 490 reviews. 123 E Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90015
- A+ Security Lock & Key — 5 stars from 420 reviews. 1501-1/2 S Robertson Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035
- Master Locksmith LA — 4.9 stars from 381 reviews. 8564 W Pico Blvd #2, Los Angeles, CA 90035
- Surelockhomes LA — 4.9 stars from 364 reviews. 1514 S Holt Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90035
Fair Los Angeles locksmith pricing in 2026
LA pricing runs slightly above the national average due to operating costs. Real LA pros stick to ranges:
- Residential lockout in LA: $80–$190 daytime; $140–$280 after-hours
- Car lockout: $50–$160 (check roadside assistance first)
- Rekey service: $45–$110 total
- New deadbolt installed: $170–$330 total
- Lock replacement: $85–$220 per lock plus labor
- Smart-lock install: $150–$350 labor + hardware
See our national pricing guide for context.
Where in Los Angeles our directory covers
Our 65 verified Los Angeles locksmiths cover the full metro:
- Westside — Santa Monica, Venice, Brentwood, Westwood, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Culver City
- Central LA — Downtown, Koreatown, Mid-City, Hancock Park, Echo Park, Silver Lake
- San Fernando Valley — Sherman Oaks, Encino, Studio City, Burbank, North Hollywood, Van Nuys, Woodland Hills
- Eastside / South LA — Boyle Heights, East LA, Highland Park, Eagle Rock
- South Bay — Torrance, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, El Segundo
- Pasadena and the Valley — Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank, La Cañada, Altadena
Other California metros (San Francisco, San Diego, San Jose) are listed separately. Browse the full California locksmith directory.
How to spot a real LA locksmith
Real LA locksmiths share these signals:
- Active California BSIS Locksmith Company license (LCO #####)
- Real local LA-area address verifiable on Google Maps Street View
- Current liability insurance
- Phone quote with service call, labor, and parts itemized
- Credit card acceptance
- Established Google reviews 12+ months old
- Consistent business name and phone across website, vehicle, and invoice
Locked out in Los Angeles right now?
Locked out in LA? In an apartment: call after-hours management or property manager. In a high-rise (Downtown, Westwood, Brentwood): the building’s 24-hour concierge often has master access. Otherwise, search our verified LA directory and confirm the BSIS LCO number before they dispatch.
Are you a locksmith in Los Angeles?
This page is for consumers. If you operate a BSIS-licensed locksmith business in the LA metro, you may already be in our directory among the 65 LA locksmiths we track. Claim and verify your listing, or add your business if not listed. We require a current BSIS LCO, current liability insurance, and verifiable business address.