What does an automotive locksmith actually do?
An automotive locksmith works on the parts of a vehicle that lock it and start it: door locks, trunk and tailgate locks, ignition cylinders, mechanical keys, transponder chips, remote fobs, and the steering column lock. It is a different trade from house work, even though some tools overlap. A car lock has to be opened by one specific key, from the outside, in sun and rain, for years. On many vehicles the key also has to communicate electronically with the car before the engine will run. That is why a car key problem is rarely just a matter of cutting metal.
Wilshire Lock & Key has been doing lock and key work since 1987, and vehicle work is a regular part of it. Our mobile locksmith vans carry key-cutting and programming equipment, so most vehicle jobs are done right where the car is sitting: a driveway, a shopping center lot, a curb, a roadside. Our storefront is at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood, about 24 miles from Whittier, so we are upfront that a Whittier vehicle call is a mobile call, not a walk-in.
This page covers cars, trucks, motorcycles, RVs, and business fleets. Where a single problem deserves its own full explanation, such as a lockout or a broken key, we point you to the page built for it rather than repeating everything here.
What goes wrong with car keys and locks?
Most calls to an automotive locksmith fall into a handful of situations. Knowing which one you are in tells us what equipment to bring and what questions to ask first.
- Keys locked inside the vehicle. This is the most common call, and the details are covered on our car lockout page.
- All keys lost. If you have no working key at all, a new one has to be created from the vehicle itself, which is more involved than copying one. See lost car key replacement.
- A key snapped off in a door lock, trunk lock, or ignition. That needs careful removal before anything else, and it has its own page on broken key extraction.
- The key turns but the engine will not start, or the dash shows a security light. That points to the chip or the immobilizer rather than the metal blade.
- A remote fob that has stopped working, lost its range, or been dropped in water.
- A worn or sticking ignition: the key goes in but will not turn, the steering wheel is locked solid, or the key has to be wiggled. Ignition work is covered under ignition repair.
- A door, trunk, or glove box lock that no longer responds, or one that was damaged in an attempted break-in.
- Fleet needs: extra keys, keys for new vehicles, or re-keying vehicles after an employee leaves.
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
The process is simple, and we would rather explain it than leave you guessing while you wait on a curb.
- Call (213) 577-1366. The line is answered 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Tell us the year, make, and model, exactly where the vehicle is, and what happened.
- We ask a few questions: Do you have any working key? Is the vehicle a car, truck, motorcycle, or RV? Is anyone or any animal inside? Do you have the VIN handy? The VIN is the most reliable way for us to confirm what key and programming your vehicle needs.
- We explain what the job involves and what drives the cost, before anyone drives out. If your vehicle is one that only a dealer can complete, we tell you that on the phone instead of sending a van for nothing.
- A technician arrives in a mobile van. Before work starts we ask you to show that the vehicle is yours, typically photo ID plus registration or other paperwork that matches. We ask this of everyone, and it protects you as much as anyone.
- We do the work: opening the vehicle with methods that aim to avoid damage, cutting a key by code or from the lock, programming a chip or fob, or repairing the lock or ignition.
- We test everything before we leave: the key in the door, the trunk, the ignition, the fob buttons, and starting the engine. We also talk through a spare key so you are not back in the same spot next month.
Cars, trucks, motorcycles, RVs, and fleets: what is different?
A key is not just a key. The same word covers a plain metal blade and a smart key with its own battery and encrypted signal, and the vehicle type changes how we approach the job.
- Cars: the widest range of key types, from basic cut keys to chipped keys, flip keys, and push-button start fobs. We confirm what yours uses by VIN or in person instead of guessing from how it looks.
- Trucks: pickups and work trucks often have a tailgate or toolbox lock in addition to the cab doors and ignition. If a work truck is your livelihood, tell us on the call so we can prioritize getting it back on the road.
- Motorcycles: small ignition keys, seat or helmet locks, and sometimes a steering lock. Some motorcycles carry chip technology and some do not; we confirm by VIN or in person before promising anything.
- RVs: an RV is really several lock systems. The cab and ignition work like a truck, while the living area door, storage compartments, and sometimes a separate entry have their own locks and keys. Tell us which one is the problem.
- Fleets: for businesses with several vehicles, we can cut and organize spare keys, handle keys for new vehicles, and re-key when staff changes. Fleet work benefits from one company who knows the setup, which is part of how we run it.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Chips, fobs, and the dealer question: honest answers
The question we hear most is whether a locksmith can really do what the dealer does. In many cases, yes. But it depends on the vehicle, and we will not pretend otherwise.
Whether your key has a chip cannot be answered reliably from the outside. Two vehicles that look alike may use different systems. That is why we confirm by VIN or in person before quoting a specific approach. If you are curious about how chipped keys get matched to a vehicle, our page on transponder key programming walks through it, and the separate key fob replacement page covers remotes and smart keys.
Some vehicles, usually certain newer or brand-specific systems, can have steps that only the manufacturer or dealer can complete. When that is the case, we say so plainly. We would rather lose a job than have you wait for a van that cannot finish the work. And if we cannot confirm what your vehicle needs until we see it, we will tell you that too, so there are no surprises.
What affects the cost of automotive locksmith work?
We do not quote numbers on a web page, because the honest price depends on your vehicle and your situation. What we can do is explain exactly what moves the cost, so a quote over the phone makes sense.
The main factors are the vehicle itself (make, model, and year), the type of key it uses, and whether you have a working key to start from. Having one working key and wanting a spare is usually the more economical route compared with starting from zero after losing every key. A basic cut key, a chipped key, and a smart key are different products with different amounts of work behind them.
The situation matters too. A routine lockout is different from a broken key inside an ignition, and a worn ignition that needs repair or replacement adds parts and labor. The number of keys you want, the time of day, and how far the van has to travel also play a part. We are 24 miles from Whittier at the shop, which is something we factor in honestly rather than hiding.
One more point worth knowing: towing a vehicle to a dealer has its own costs and delays, and for many vehicles a mobile locksmith is the more practical route. For others it is not, and we will tell you which camp yours is in. For fleets, the cost conversation is about quantity and the setup you need, and we put it in writing before we start.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for your vehicle?
There are plenty of listings that look like local locksmiths and are really call centers. Here is what is actually true about us:
- We have been in business since 1987.
- We run a real storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood, plus mobile service vans.
- We are one company, not a dispatch service passing your job to whoever is available. The person you speak with works for the same company as the technician who shows up.
- David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work.
- The phone is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round, at (213) 577-1366.
- We serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, Whittier included.
Is your locksmith licensed? A fair question to ask
California requires locksmith companies to hold a license from the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS), called an LCO license. Ask any locksmith for it before they begin work, whether it is us or anyone else. A reputable company will not mind the question. It is also worth watching for anyone who will not give a company name over the phone or who quotes one thing and charges another at your car door.
Automotive locksmith service across Whittier
Whittier covers a lot of ground, from the older streets around Uptown Whittier and College Hills to the hillside homes of Friendly Hills and Rideout Heights and the mid-century tracts of East Whittier. ZIP codes 90601 through 90606 are all within our service area, and a vehicle call in any of them starts the same way: we ask where the car is, what happened, and what the vehicle is.
Location detail matters more than people expect. In an area with apartment stock concentrated near Uptown and along Whittier Boulevard, many residents park in shared lots or on the street, so we ask for the exact spot and any gate or access instructions. On hillside streets in Friendly Hills and Rideout Heights, the position of the vehicle can affect where a technician parks and how we work, so we ask about that too.
Student situations come up around Whittier College. A typical one is a student in a College Hills rental or a nearby apartment who has locked keys in the car and needs it opened without a dealer visit. For that, a car lockout call is usually the fastest fix, and we ask about the vehicle and who owns it before heading out.
Business vehicles are the other side of the picture. Commercial areas such as Whittwood Town Center and the Greenleaf Avenue business district in Uptown Whittier have work vans, delivery vehicles, and employee cars that cannot sit around waiting. If your business has several vehicles, tell us on the first call so we can discuss spare keys and fleet key organization, not just the single emergency.
The Santa Ana winds and the warm weather against the Puente Hills are a reminder that a locked car gets uncomfortable fast. If a child or a pet is inside a locked vehicle, call 911 first, then call us if you still need help afterward. For everything else, call (213) 577-1366 and we will work out the plan with you. You can also see our wider Whittier locksmith services page.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366What to have ready before you call, and what to avoid
A few small things make the call go faster and the job go more smoothly. Have the year, make, and model ready, and the VIN if you can see it through the windshield or find it on your registration or insurance card. Know where the vehicle is, including a cross street or parking lot name. Tell us how many keys you have, if any, and whether the vehicle has been to the dealer for key work before.
What we would steer you away from is forcing your own way in. Coat hangers, wedges, and pry tools can scratch paint, tear weatherstripping, and damage the wiring and linkage inside a door. A careful professional opening usually costs less in the long run than a repair after a bad attempt.
Finally, once you are back on the road, get a spare. Having a second working key made while you still have the first is usually the more economical route, and it saves you a stressful call on the worst possible day.
Frequently asked questions
Can you make a new car key if I have lost every key?
In many cases, yes. We create a new key from the vehicle itself rather than copying an existing one, and we program it if it uses a chip. Whether we can finish the job on your particular vehicle depends on its make, model, and year, which is why we confirm by VIN or in person. If your vehicle turns out to be dealer-only, we will tell you that plainly.
Will my old lost key still start the car after you program a new one?
It depends on the vehicle. On many vehicles, the lost key can be removed from the system so it no longer works, which is worth doing if you think it was stolen. We confirm what is possible for your vehicle before promising it.
How quickly can you get to me in Whittier?
We do not promise a fixed time because traffic, the time of day, and where our vans are all change the answer. Our storefront is in Westwood, about 24 miles away, and our mobile vans are what come to you. When you call (213) 577-1366 we give you an honest estimate based on that moment.
How much does an automotive locksmith cost?
It depends on your vehicle, the type of key it uses, whether you have a working key, how many keys you want, the time of day, and whether lock or ignition parts need replacing. We explain these factors and quote before work begins instead of posting a number that would not fit your car.
Do I have to go to the dealer for a car key?
Not always. Many key and fob jobs can be done by a mobile locksmith, and it can be the more practical route since you do not have to tow the vehicle. Some vehicles, however, have steps only the dealer can complete. We will tell you which is true for yours before sending a van.
Can you open my car without damaging it?
Our methods are chosen to avoid damage, and we use tools made for the job. Every vehicle is different, so we cannot promise a result in advance, but careful professional entry is far less risky than trying to force it yourself.
Do you work on motorcycles and RVs, or only cars?
We handle cars, trucks, motorcycles, RVs, and fleet vehicles. On an RV, tell us whether the problem is the cab, the ignition, the living area door, or a storage compartment, because those can be separate lock systems. For motorcycles, we confirm the key type by VIN or in person.
What do you need from me to prove the vehicle is mine?
We ask for photo ID and paperwork that matches the vehicle, such as a registration. We ask this of every customer, and it is what keeps a locksmith from opening or keying someone else's vehicle.
Can you handle keys for a business fleet in Whittier?
Yes. We can cut and organize spare keys, handle keys for new vehicles, and re-key vehicles when staff changes. Tell us how many vehicles you have and what you need when you call (213) 577-1366, and we will talk through a setup that fits.
More locksmith help in Whittier
Automotive Locksmith near Whittier
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.