Question 1

Is it cheaper to rekey or replace a lock?

Accepted Answer

Rekeying is almost always cheaper because the hardware stays in place and you pay for labour and a small set of pins rather than new hardware plus fitting.

Question 2

How long does rekeying take?

Accepted Answer

Roughly 15 to 25 minutes per cylinder. A typical three-door house is usually finished in under an hour and a half.

Question 3

Should I rekey or replace after buying a house?

Accepted Answer

Rekey in most cases. Unless the existing hardware is worn, damaged or very low grade, rekeying kills every old key at a lower cost than replacement.

Question 4

Can any lock be rekeyed?

Accepted Answer

Most pin tumbler locks can. Locks that are corroded, damaged, or from obscure brands with no available pinning kit often have to be replaced instead.

Question 5

Do old keys still work after rekeying?

Accepted Answer

No. Rekeying changes the pin combination inside the cylinder, so every previously cut key stops working immediately.

Question 6

Should I rekey or replace after a housemate leaves?

Accepted Answer

Rekey. The lock is fine and only the key situation has changed, which is exactly what rekeying addresses, at lower cost than replacement.

Question 7

How much does a replacement car key cost in Kenner?

Accepted Answer

Basic mechanical: $15 to $65. Transponder: $95 to $250. Remote head: $150 to $300. Smart key: $200 to $625. All keys lost (no working key exists) adds $85 to $250 to any of the above.

Question 8

What is "all keys lost" and why does it cost more?

Accepted Answer

If you have any working key we can use it to program a duplicate. If you have no working key at all, we have to originate a new key from the vehicle VIN and pair it to the immobiliser without a reference. That is a longer, more involved procedure with different equipment. Adds $85 to $250 depending on vehicle.

Question 9

How much does key fob programming cost in Kenner?

Accepted Answer

$75 to $150 to program a fob to your vehicle, plus the cost of the fob itself if you need a new one. A total transponder key with programming runs $125 to $250; a push-to-start smart key is $200 to $400.

Question 10

Will the lost key still start my car?

Accepted Answer

Only if it is not deleted from the car memory. Always confirm that the old key is removed from the immobiliser when a new one is programmed.

Question 11

Is a locksmith cheaper than the dealership for car keys?

Accepted Answer

Usually yes. A locksmith works at your vehicle so there is no tow, and pricing is not built around dealer parts markup.

Question 12

Can a locksmith make a car key with no original key?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The mechanical cut is derived from the vehicle identification number and the transponder is then programmed to the car immobiliser, both at the roadside.

Question 13

Do I have to rekey between tenants in Louisiana?

Accepted Answer

There is no Louisiana statute compelling it in every case, but it is standard risk management and many insurers and lease templates expect it. You cannot know how many copies a departing tenant made. Rekeying at $95 to $185 first door invalidates all of them at once. Take legal advice on your specific lease obligations.

Question 14

Should landlords change locks between tenants?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and rekeying rather than replacing. Returned keys prove nothing because copies can be cut cheaply and anonymously, so the pin combination needs changing each turnover.

Question 15

Can a tenant change the locks?

Accepted Answer

Usually not without permission. Most leases treat a lock change as an alteration requiring written landlord consent, and many require the landlord be given a working key.

Question 16

What is the difference between Grade 1, 2 and 3 locks?

Accepted Answer

Grade 1 is the commercial standard and survives the hardest durability and force testing, Grade 2 is the sensible residential grade, and Grade 3 is basic builder-fitted hardware.

Question 17

What grade lock do I need for my front door?

Accepted Answer

Grade 2 as a minimum for most homes, and Grade 1 if the door is street-facing and not overlooked.

Question 18

Are smart locks more secure than deadbolts?

Accepted Answer

Not inherently. Resistance to forced entry comes from the bolt grade and the strength of the strike and frame, not from electronic access. Smart locks add access control, not force resistance.

Question 19

Is rekeying enough security on its own?

Accepted Answer

It is enough for the key problem, which is usually the actual concern. It does nothing for forced entry, because doors fail at the frame rather than at the cylinder.

Question 20

What is the cheapest way to make a door more secure?

Accepted Answer

Three-inch screws through the strike plate into the wall stud, plus a reinforcement plate. Around thirty dollars of parts, and it outperforms most lock upgrades.

Question 21

How do I know if my lock is broken or just stuck?

Accepted Answer

Try it with the door open. If it works, the fault is door alignment. If it is still stiff, try an unused spare key. If the spare works the key is worn, and if not the cylinder needs cleaning.

Question 22

Are you licensed and insured?

Accepted Answer

Our Louisiana State Fire Marshal licence application is in progress. We carry general liability insurance and workers’ compensation. Louisiana requires all of it, plus fingerprint background checks and a physical office inside the state. Ask us for the number and then go and check it.

Question 23

How does the locksmith scam work?

Accepted Answer

A very low price — typically $19, $29 or $39 — gets you to agree on the phone. An unvetted subcontractor arrives, reclassifies your ordinary lock as "high security", often recommends drilling, and presents a bill of $250 to $390 or more, usually demanding cash with no itemised invoice.

Question 24

Is a $19 locksmith always a scam?

Accepted Answer

A $19 service call can be legitimate if it is part of a total that was quoted to you up front. What is never legitimate is advertising $19 as the headline price with no total, then multiplying it on arrival. If a company will not tell you the full amount before dispatch, treat the low number as advertising rather than pricing.

Question 25

What are the warning signs of a locksmith scam?

Accepted Answer

A quote under $50 with no total; no licence number; an unmarked vehicle; no identification; pressure to drill immediately; the price changing on arrival; cash only; no itemised invoice; and a cluster of five-star reviews all posted within a short window.

Rekeying & replacing locks