In short:
- Every visit starts with an R250 call-out. That is the only fixed figure we publish.
- The technician looks at the job on site and gives you a price before touching anything. Nothing is done until you agree.
- The price depends on what the job involves: the type of lock or mechanism, parts, how much work is needed, and access.
- Clear photos and a good description on the phone help the technician come prepared and quote accurately at the door.
- Payment is by EFT, cash or card.
The two numbers you can count on
Locksmith pricing can feel opaque when you're standing outside a locked door. Ours is built on two fixed points, and everything else is agreed face to face.
- The R250 call-out. This is what it costs to have a technician drive out to you, wherever you are in the area we cover. R250 call-out fee.
- The on-site quote. The technician assesses the job on site and gives you the price before any work starts. Nothing is done until you agree. You hear the figure, you ask your questions, and then you decide.
We don't publish a price list for individual jobs, and there's a practical reason. Two calls that sound identical on the phone ("my front door won't lock") can turn out to be a loose screw on one property and a worn-out lock body on the next. Quoting on site, with the door or car in front of the technician, avoids guesswork in either direction.
Whether you're at home in Eldoraigne or Wierda Park, or at an office in Highveld Techno Park, the visit runs the same way.
How a call-out unfolds, step by step
Knowing the order of events takes a lot of the stress out of a call-out.
Use step 4. Ask what the quote includes, whether parts are being repaired or replaced, and what the total comes to. Confirm the full figure, call-out included, before you say yes.
What makes one job cost more than another
Without putting numbers to it, these are the factors that move a quote up or down. None of them are hidden extras. They're simply what the job involves.
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Type of work | Getting you back in through a locked door, extracting a broken key, adjusting a lock and fitting a new one are different amounts of work |
| Repair or replace | A lock that only needs adjusting or a new part costs less in parts than one that has to be swapped out entirely |
| The hardware itself | Higher-security cylinders, heavy-duty mortice locks and specialised commercial hardware cost more to supply than basic units |
| How many locks | Doing several doors in one visit is one call-out, but each lock still has its own parts and labour |
| Condition of the door or frame | A warped door, a split frame or a misaligned strike can add work before the lock will run properly |
| Vehicles | Make, model, year and the kind of key or remote the car uses change what's involved in car key work |
| Safes, shutters and gates | The make of safe, the type of roller shutter mechanism or the brand and model of gate motor all affect parts and time |
| Access | A lock high up, behind burglar bars, or inside a secured area may take more setting up |
Notice what is not on the list: the size of your house, the suburb you live in, or how stressed you sound on the phone.
Help us quote accurately before we arrive
The quote is given on site, but what you tell us on the phone decides how well-prepared the technician is when they get to you. The more they know, the more likely the right parts are already in the vehicle.
- A photo of the lock face, straight on, plus one of the door edge showing the faceplate and any brand name.
- What happened. Locked out, key snapped, lock stiff for weeks, door damaged in a break-in, safe code forgotten, gate motor stopped.
- For a car: make, model, year, and whether it has a turn key, a remote or a push-button start.
- For a safe, shutter or gate motor: the brand and model from the label, if you can see it.
- Access details: estate gate, business-park security, a gate code, or where to park.
If you're locked out right now, our emergency locksmith service page explains how lockouts are handled.
What isn't part of the service
Being clear about what we don't do saves you a wasted call-out. We don't do key cutting or key duplication, and we have no shop or counter: the service is fully mobile. If a lock or cylinder is replaced, the new one comes with its own keys from the manufacturer.
Everything else on our list of services is quoted the same way: house, office and car lockouts, lock repairs and replacements, broken-key extraction, break-in repairs, safe opening and safe repairs, car keys, and roller shutter doors and gates, including their locks, mechanisms, springs, motors and gate motors.
Comparing quotes sensibly
It's reasonable to shop around, especially for planned work like a lock upgrade. A few points make comparisons fairer:
- Compare totals, not headlines. A low figure on the phone means little if it grows at the door. Ask any locksmith how their call-out and the work fit together.
- Compare like with like. A basic cylinder and a high-security one are not the same purchase, even if both "fix the lock".
- Ask about the method. We try non-destructive entry first. If a method would damage the lock or door, you should hear that before work starts, not after.
- Know your rights. Section 15 of the Consumer Protection Act deals with estimates and getting a consumer's authorisation before charging for repair or maintenance work. It's worth knowing about whichever trade you hire.
Proof of ownership is part of every opening job
Before opening a door, car or safe, the technician asks for proof that you own it or live there. That might be ID with a document showing the address, or the vehicle's papers. It protects you as much as anyone, because it stops a stranger from getting the same service at your property. Have it ready if you can, or tell us on the phone if it's locked inside, and we'll talk through what else will do.
For a calm walk-through of an after-dark lockout, read locked out late at night: a calm checklist. To see everything we offer, visit our Centurion mobile locksmith homepage.
Questions
Can you give me a price over the phone?
We can confirm the R250 call-out on the phone. The price for the work itself is given on site, once the technician has seen the lock, car, safe or gate. That way the figure reflects the actual job, and nothing is done until you agree.
Do I have to pay in cash?
No. You can pay by EFT, cash or card, whichever suits you.
Why does the same problem cost different amounts at different properties?
Because the hardware and the cause differ. A door that won't lock may need a small adjustment on one property and a new lock body on another. The on-site quote is based on what the technician finds, not on a guess made over the phone.
Need a locksmith to look at it?
If this hasn't solved the problem, our emergency lockouts service covers it. We're a mobile locksmith in Centurion, so we come to your door.
Sources and further reading
- Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008, section 15: Pre-authorisation of repair or maintenance services (Acts Online) — Rules on estimates and consumer authorisation before a service provider may charge for repair or maintenance work.
- Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 (South African Government) — Official government listing of the Act.
- ASSA ABLOY: Product care and maintenance — Manufacturer care guidance for cylinders, lever locks and padlocks; context for why lock condition affects whether repair or replacement is needed.