How to Check an Auto Locksmith Near Keller Is Licensed and Insured
Texas regulates locksmiths through the DPS Private Security Program. How to look up a Keller-area auto locksmith license, what to ask about insurance, and red flags.
Rewritten October 2026. The earlier version of this page told you what licensing means. This version tells you how to check it yourself, which is more useful.
Anyone can put "licensed and insured" on a website. In Texas you do not have to take a locksmith's word for it, ours included, because the state publishes the answer. If you would rather talk it through, call or text (817) 968-3866.
Quick Answer
In Texas, locksmith companies are regulated by the Texas Department of Public Safety through its Private Security Program. To check an automotive locksmith near Keller, ask for the company license number, then search it on the DPS Private Security public lookup before the technician arrives. Ask for proof of liability insurance in writing, and expect any legitimate locksmith to check your ID and proof of ownership before making a car key.
Current as of October 2026.
Who Regulates Locksmiths in Texas
Locksmithing in Texas falls under the state Private Security Act, and the agency that administers it is the Texas Department of Public Safety, Private Security Program. It is the same program that oversees alarm companies and security guards.
Two things follow from that.
- The company holds a license. A business that offers locksmith services to the public in Texas is expected to hold a company license issued through DPS. The license has a number, and the company is expected to show that number in its advertising.
- The individuals are registered. The people doing the work are registered with DPS under that company and are issued a pocket card that identifies them.
A common mistake is to look for locksmiths under the state agency that handles trades such as electricians and air conditioning contractors. Locksmiths are not there. If someone tells you their locksmith license is with any agency other than Texas DPS, that is a reason to look more closely.
How to Check a License in Two Minutes
- Ask for the company license number. Do it on the phone, before you agree to a visit. A legitimate company gives it without hesitation, and it usually appears on the website, the invoice and the vehicle.
- Search it on the DPS Private Security lookup. Texas DPS runs a public online search for private security licenses. Search for "Texas DPS Private Security license search" and use the official state site. You can search by company name or license number.
- Check three things on the result: that the company name matches who you called, that the license status is active, and that the license covers locksmith services.
- When the technician arrives, ask to see the pocket card. It should carry the technician's name and tie back to the company you hired.
That is the whole process. It costs nothing, and it works for any company, at any hour.
What "Insured" Should Mean, and How to Ask
Insurance matters on automotive work because a locksmith is opening your door, connecting equipment to your vehicle's computer, and sometimes taking apart a steering column.
The question to ask is simple: "Can you send me a certificate of liability insurance?" A certificate is a one-page document issued by the insurer. It shows the company name, the policy type and the policy dates. A company that has one can email it in a minute.
What to be wary of is the word on its own. "Fully insured" with no certificate behind it is a slogan. The same goes for "bonded", which is a specific financial instrument and not a general promise of honesty. If it matters to you, ask what it covers and ask for the paper.
What a Legitimate Auto Locksmith Asks You
This is the part people do not expect. A trustworthy automotive locksmith checks you, too.
Before cutting or programming a key for a vehicle, a professional will ask for a photo ID and something that ties you to the car: registration, title or an insurance card in your name. If the name does not match, expect questions. Programming a key touches the immobilizer, which is the vehicle's security system, and the industry has a recognized framework for accessing it responsibly through the National Automotive Service Task Force vehicle security registry.
If a locksmith is willing to make a key for a car without asking who owns it, that is not convenience. It means they would do the same for someone standing next to your car.
Red Flags on the Phone and in the Driveway
- A price that is too good. An advertised $15 or $19 service call is bait. The realistic mobile service call around Keller is $45 to $95, and it is quoted before the visit.
- No company name. The phone is answered "locksmith" or "service", and nobody will say which company you have reached.
- No license number, or a reluctance to give one.
- A quote that changes on arrival. The number you hear on the phone should be the number on the invoice unless the job turns out to be different, and then you should be told why before work starts.
- Drilling as the first suggestion. Modern vehicle lockouts and key jobs almost never require destroying a lock.
- Cash only, no invoice. A written, itemized invoice with the company name and license number is normal.
- An unmarked vehicle and no identification.
What Honest Pricing Looks Like
A licensed, insured business still has to tell you what the job costs. These are the ranges we publish across this site, so you can compare them with any quote you are given.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Mobile service call to your location | $45 – $95 |
| Basic key or lock diagnosis, applied to the repair | $0 – $95 |
| Transponder chip key, cut and programmed | $95 – $220 |
| Remote head key, cut and programmed | $140 – $300 |
| Proximity smart key, cut and programmed | $200 – $450 |
| Broken key extracted from an ignition or door | $85 – $185 |
| After-hours surcharge | ~$100, quoted up front |
The full breakdown of fees is in auto locksmith service call and diagnostic fees. If your situation is a snapped key, see broken car key extraction cost. And if you are deciding between a locksmith and the dealer, read auto locksmith versus dealership for car key replacement.
Ask Us the Same Questions
Everything above applies to us exactly as it applies to anyone else. When you call, ask for the company license number and look it up. Ask for the insurance certificate. Ask what the job will cost before we drive to you. We would rather you check than take our word for it, and a company that is uncomfortable with those questions has told you something.
We cover Keller, Southlake, Colleyville, Watauga, Haslet, Argyle, Justin and North Richland Hills, and we handle automotive work only: car keys, fobs, lockouts, ignitions and immobilizer programming.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I verify a locksmith is licensed in Texas?
Ask for the company license number and search it on the Texas Department of Public Safety Private Security public license lookup. Confirm that the company name matches, the status is active, and the license covers locksmith services. When the technician arrives, ask to see the DPS pocket card.
Which agency licenses locksmiths in Texas?
The Texas Department of Public Safety, through its Private Security Program. Locksmiths are not licensed by the state agency that handles other trades, so a license claimed from anywhere else deserves a second look.
How do I confirm a locksmith is insured?
Ask for a certificate of liability insurance. It is a one-page document from the insurer showing the company name, the type of policy and the dates it is in force. A business that carries insurance can usually email it within minutes.
Why does a locksmith ask for my ID and registration?
Because making a car key gives someone the ability to drive the vehicle away. A legitimate automotive locksmith confirms that the person asking for the key has the right to it. Being asked is a good sign, not an inconvenience.
What is a fair service call fee for a mobile locksmith in Keller?
A realistic mobile service call is $45 to $95, quoted before the visit. Advertised fees far below that are usually bait, with the real price presented once the technician is standing at your car.
Should the price change when the locksmith arrives?
Not without a reason you are told about first. If the job is genuinely different from what was described on the phone, the technician should explain why and give you the new figure before starting, so you can decline.
Check First, Then Call
Look up the license, ask for the certificate, and get the price before anyone drives to you. Call or text (817) 968-3866 with the year, make and model and what happened, and ask us anything on this page.
Written by the Keller Locksmith automotive team.
Need a locksmith now?
Licensed mobile automotive locksmith serving the area. 30-90 minute response.
Call (817) 968-3866