What does an automotive locksmith actually do in West Hills?
An automotive locksmith works on the locks, keys, ignitions and key-related electronics of a vehicle, and does it where the vehicle is sitting. For most West Hills customers that means a driveway on a quiet ranch-tract street, a shopping center lot, or a curb somewhere you never planned to be stranded. We bring the tools to you instead of asking you to arrange a tow.
The work falls into a few groups. Some of it is getting you back into a vehicle without damaging it. Some of it is making a key that works when you have lost every copy. Some of it is repairing what has worn out, such as an ignition cylinder that no longer turns smoothly or a door lock that sticks. And some of it is planning ahead: spare keys, fleet key control, and re-keying after a vehicle changes hands.
This page is the overview for all of that. If your situation is one specific problem, we have pages that go deeper, and we link to them below so you can jump to the one that matches what you are dealing with.
Which vehicles do we work on?
Wilshire Lock & Key has been in business since 1987, and the range of vehicles that come through that experience is wide. We service the following:
- Passenger cars, including sedans, hatchbacks, coupes and SUVs
- Pickup trucks and vans, both personal and work-related
- Motorcycles, where the key, ignition switch or storage compartment lock is the issue
- RVs and motorhomes, which often have a separate cab key, door key and storage bay locks
- Fleet vehicles for small businesses, contractors and delivery operations
When do you need an emergency car locksmith?
Most calls we get fall into a handful of situations. Knowing which one you are in helps us bring the right tools on the first trip.
If your keys are inside the vehicle and the doors are locked, that is a lockout, and we cover it in detail on our car lockout page. If the keys are gone entirely and you have no spare, that is a different job, because a key has to be made or programmed rather than just bypassing a door. Our lost car key replacement page explains how that works.
Other situations show up often as well: a key that snapped off in the ignition or a door, a key that turns only with effort, a fob that stopped responding after the battery was replaced, a steering column that will not release, or a vehicle that was recently bought used and still has unknown keys floating around. Each one points to a slightly different fix, and a short phone call usually sorts out which.
- Keys locked inside the vehicle
- All keys lost, with no spare
- Key broken off in a door or ignition
- Ignition that sticks, binds or will not turn
- Fob that no longer locks, unlocks or starts the vehicle
- Used vehicle where you want to be sure you hold the only working keys
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366How we handle an automotive call, step by step
We keep the process simple and we explain each stage before we do it. Here is how a typical call goes.
- You call (213) 577-1366. A person answers, any hour. We ask where the vehicle is, its make, model and year, and what exactly is happening.
- We ask a few questions that affect the job: whether you have any working key, whether the vehicle has a push-button start, and whether there are warning lights or a security indicator flashing.
- We tell you what the job looks like and what drives the cost, so you are not surprised on arrival. If something depends on the vehicle's VIN or an in-person look, we say so plainly.
- A mobile van comes to your location. We confirm that you are the owner or authorized driver before we open or cut anything.
- We do the work: gain entry, cut or program a key, repair the lock or ignition, or whatever the job calls for. Where possible we choose methods that do not mark the paint, door seal or trim.
- We test everything with you before you leave: every key, the door locks, the ignition, and the fob functions if they apply.
What affects the cost of automotive locksmith service?
We do not publish numbers on this page because the honest answer is that vehicles vary too much for one figure to mean anything. What we can do is tell you what moves the cost up or down, so you can judge any quote you get from us or anyone else.
The biggest factor is the type of key. A basic metal key with no electronics is a very different job from a transponder key, a smart key, or a push-button-start system. The more security built into the key, the more equipment and time it takes to produce one that the vehicle accepts.
The second factor is whether you have a working key. Copying an existing key is usually the more economical route. Creating a key from nothing when every key is lost takes more steps. For that reason, if you have one key and are thinking about a spare, making it now is usually less involved than waiting until the last key disappears.
Other factors include the time of day, how far we travel, the condition of the lock or ignition, and whether parts are needed. A worn ignition cylinder that has to be replaced costs differently from one that can be cleaned and adjusted. We will walk through which of these apply to you before work begins.
- Key type: mechanical, transponder, smart key or push-button start
- Whether any working key exists to copy from
- Make, model and year, which determine tools and procedures
- Whether the lock or ignition is damaged or worn
- Time of day and distance to the vehicle
- Whether parts, a new cylinder or a replacement fob are needed
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366What can we do, and when is the dealer the only route?
Most vehicles can be handled by a mobile locksmith. Some cannot, and it is better to say that up front than to have you wait in a parking lot for a van that cannot finish the job.
Vehicle security differs by manufacturer and by model year, and the information on what a particular system accepts is not always consistent between sources. So we do not rely on a general chart. We confirm by VIN or in person: we look at the actual vehicle, its key type and its immobilizer system, and then tell you whether we can complete the work. A small number of vehicles have systems that only the dealer can authorize, and when that is the case we say so instead of promising a result we cannot deliver.
If you already know you need a replacement key or fob, our pages on car key replacement and key fob replacement cover the details, including what information to have ready. For the electronic side of a modern key, see our transponder key programming page.
If the problem is the ignition itself, such as a key that will not turn or a cylinder that has failed, that is covered under ignition repair.
Motorcycle, RV and fleet work
Motorcycles are a different kind of job. Keys are small, ignition switches are exposed to weather, and the lock for a seat, helmet lock or storage box may use a separate key. Because there is less vehicle around the lock, the repair approach is often more delicate, and we confirm the model before anything is taken apart.
RVs have several locks on a single vehicle: the cab door, the entry door, storage bays, and sometimes a separate ignition. Owners often find that one key operates only some of them. If you are buying a used RV, ask whether you have every key, and consider having the locks changed to a new set so earlier owners no longer have access.
Fleet locksmith work is about control as much as repair. A West Hills contractor, delivery operation or small business with several vehicles needs to know who holds which keys, that spares exist, and that a lost key can be dealt with quickly. We can help set up a simple system, keep spares organized and handle replacements as drivers and vehicles change. If your fleet work also involves a shop or office, our commercial locksmith page covers the building side.
Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for your vehicle?
Plenty of companies advertise a local number that actually routes to a call center, which then sends whoever is free. We work differently, and that matters when someone is working on your car.
We have been in business since 1987. We run a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood and mobile service vans, so the people answering the phone are the same company that sends the van. There is no dispatch middleman between you and the technician. David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work, which means there is someone accountable for how a job is done and what you are told about it.
We answer 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year-round. Vehicle problems do not wait for business hours, and you should not have to wait for a morning to find out your options. We also serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, so West Hills is a regular part of our coverage, even though it sits about 23 miles from our Westwood base.
If you are not sure whether you need a vehicle-specific visit or a general one, our mobile locksmith page explains how our vans operate, and the emergency locksmith page covers urgent calls of every type.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Automotive locksmith service across West Hills
West Hills is almost entirely residential, built mostly on 1950s to 1970s single-story ranch tracts, and that shapes how vehicle problems show up here. People park in driveways and on suburban streets, often with more than one car per household, and a lost or broken key can leave a whole family short a vehicle. Lots grow larger and more private toward Valley Circle Boulevard and the hillside edge near Castle Peak, which means a vehicle may be a long walk from the street or tucked beside a side gate. We find the car, not just the address.
Lockouts are a common reason for calls around the Fallbrook Center and Platt Village shopping areas. A quick errand, a door that closes behind you, and the keys are still on the seat. Most of the time that is a fast, damage-free entry, and the job is finished without any key work at all. The same applies along the Sherman Way west corridor and the Valley Circle Boulevard corridor, where people are in and out of their cars throughout the day.
Our service area here covers both ZIP codes, 91307 and 91304. If you are near Shadow Ranch Park, Orcutt Ranch, Knapp Ranch Park or the El Escorpion Park and Castle Peak area, tell us which side of the neighborhood you are on when you call, and we will route the van accordingly. The same goes for the UCLA West Valley Medical Center campus: if you are visiting or working there and have lost a key, give us the lot or street where the vehicle is sitting.
Summers in this far-west corner of the Valley run hot, and sun exposure along the western hillside edge is real. Heat is hard on plastic key shells, fob batteries and worn ignition parts, and a key that has been on its last legs often fails on a hot day. If your key is cracked, the buttons are flaky or the ignition feels gritty, that is a good time to get a spare made rather than wait for the failure. For home-side hardware, such as the garage entry door or side-gate lock that many West Hills lots have, see our residential locksmith page.
How do you know a locksmith is legitimate?
California requires locksmith companies to hold a locksmith company license from the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, known as a BSIS LCO license. You should ask any locksmith for that license number before they start work, whether it is us or anyone else. A real company will give it to you without hesitation.
A few other warning signs are worth knowing. Be cautious if the person who arrives works under a different company name than the one you called, if the quote changes sharply once they are at your car, or if they want to drill a lock that could have been opened without damage. And be wary of anyone who will open or make a key without asking you to show that the vehicle is yours. A legitimate locksmith will ask for registration or ID, because that protects you.
We ask the same of ourselves. If anything about a job feels unclear, ask us. We would rather explain than have you guess.
Frequently asked questions
Can you come to my car anywhere in West Hills?
Yes. Our mobile vans go to driveways, streets, parking lots and similar locations across West Hills, including both ZIP codes 91307 and 91304. When you call (213) 577-1366, give us the closest cross street or a landmark such as a park or shopping center so we find the vehicle quickly.
Is there an automotive locksmith available at night or on weekends?
Yes. Our phone is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round. Nights, weekends and holidays are handled by the same company, and the same people who answer the phone dispatch the vans.
What do I need to show before you open my car or make a key?
We need to confirm you are the owner or an authorized driver. Registration, a title, or a matching ID is typically what we ask for. This protects you and the vehicle, and any legitimate locksmith should ask for it.
Can you make a key if I have lost all my keys?
In many cases, yes, but it depends on the vehicle. Whether we can finish the job at your location depends on the key type and the vehicle's security system, and we confirm by VIN or in person. If your vehicle turns out to need a dealer-only step, we will say so honestly.
Is a locksmith usually a more economical route than the dealer?
Often it is, because we come to you and there is no tow. But it depends on the vehicle and on what the job requires, so we do not promise it. Ask us what applies to your car, and compare that to what the dealer tells you.
Do you work on trucks, motorcycles and RVs, or only cars?
We handle cars, pickup trucks, vans, motorcycles, RVs and fleet vehicles. Each type has quirks, so we ask for the make, model and year on the call and tell you what to expect.
Can you set up key service for a small business fleet?
Yes. We can help organize spare keys, replace lost ones and keep track of who holds what, so a missing key does not take a vehicle off the road. Call us and describe how many vehicles you run and how they are used.
Will opening my car lock damage the door or paint?
We choose methods that avoid damage and use tools made for the purpose. Some vehicles are more delicate than others, and we tell you beforehand if there is any risk specific to your car.
Should I get a spare key before I lose the last one?
Yes. Copying a key you still have is usually the more economical route compared with creating one from nothing after every key is gone. It is also less stressful, since you are not stuck waiting at the roadside.
How do I check that a locksmith is properly licensed in California?
Ask the locksmith for their company's BSIS LCO license number, which California requires of locksmith companies. You can then check it with the state before they begin work. A legitimate company will provide it freely.
More locksmith help in West Hills
Automotive Locksmith near West Hills
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.