Common questions. Straight answers.

Standard residential and automotive lockouts run $85 to $150 during the day. After-hours (10pm to 6am) adds a $45 surcharge. Broken-key extraction and lock damage repair run $120 to $250. We quote a firm price before we start — no bait-and-switch.

From central San Diego, Mission Valley, La Jolla, and Kearny Mesa: usually 20 to 30 minutes. From the coast, North County, and South Bay: 30 to 45 minutes. From Julian or the backcountry: 60 to 90 minutes. We tell you a real window when you call, not a vague "as soon as possible".

No. Standard residential and commercial deadbolts get picked or bumped — no drilling. We only drill in two cases: high-security locks where picking would take too long, or locks that are already damaged. We explain the approach before starting, and if drilling is needed we quote the replacement cost up-front.

Yes. Before we open any lock we ask for ID matching the address or registration — driver's license, utility bill on your phone, lease, or vehicle registration. No ID, no unlock. This protects you and us.

Rekeying changes the internal pin configuration so old keys stop working, using the same hardware. Replacing swaps the entire lock for new hardware. Rekeying is 70 to 80 percent cheaper, takes 10 to 15 minutes per lock, and is the right call when your hardware still looks and operates fine.

Just moved in. Lost a key. Ended a roommate, tenant, or contractor relationship where they had a working key. Want multiple doors keyed alike so you carry one key instead of four. These are all rekey situations — cheaper and faster than replacement.

The lock is sticky, wobbly, or loose. The finish is pitted or corroded. It's builder-grade (ANSI Grade 3) on an exterior door and you want Grade 1 or Grade 2 security. You want to switch to a smart lock. In these cases, replacement makes more sense than rekeying old hardware.

$25 to $40 per cylinder, plus a $29 service call (waived on 3+ locks). A typical two-exterior-door home with matched keys runs $80 to $110 all-in. Higher for restricted-keyway systems (Medeco, Mul-T-Lock).

Yes, and most customers want this. We rekey your front deadbolt, back deadbolt, side-door knob, and garage-to-house lock all to the same new key. One key on your chain opens everything.

For most vehicles, yes. We use the VIN to cut a key to the factory code, then program the transponder or fob to the car's immobilizer on-site. Some makes (certain Mercedes, BMW, and newer Hyundai / Kia) require a dealer for all-keys-lost scenarios — we tell you honestly when that's the case.

Transponder keys for most older vehicles (1998 to 2010): $150 to $220. Laser-cut transponder keys (2010 to 2018): $220 to $320. Smart / proximity fobs (2015+ luxury): $300 to $450. The dealer typically charges 40 to 60 percent more for the same key and makes you tow the car in.

Yes. Reprogramming an existing fob, programming brand-new fobs, replacing batteries, reshelling worn-out fobs, and troubleshooting push-button start systems. Most programming runs 20 to 45 minutes at your location.

Sometimes. If the fob is genuine OEM or high-quality aftermarket with the right chip, yes. If it's a knockoff with a cloned chip, usually no — most won't pair. We can tell when we see it. If it won't pair, we provide a known-good blank and credit your time.

Most reliable keypad: Schlage Encode Plus. Best for rentals: Yale Assure Lock 2 (great app, simple code management). Best budget: Kwikset Halo. Avoid the $50 no-name smart locks on Amazon — the failure rate is high and the apps often stop getting updates.

For ANSI Grade 1: Schlage B60 or B62, Medeco Maxum, Mul-T-Lock Hercular. For Grade 2: Kwikset 980 or 985, Schlage B250. Avoid builder-grade Kwikset 600-series and anything Grade 3 on an exterior door.

Yes, measurably. Grade 1 survives 10 impact strikes from a 100-pound load; Grade 3 fails at 2. Cylinder pick-resistance is also stronger. But hardware alone does not protect you — the strike plate and door frame matter just as much. We install a 3-inch-screw reinforcement on every deadbolt call.

Yes. Every reputable smart lock runs on batteries (usually 4x AA) and works with or without power or Wi-Fi. You lose app control during a Wi-Fi outage, but the keypad and physical override key still work.

Yes. Swift Key San Diego operates under California BSIS locksmith licensing. Every tech is bonded and background-checked. We'll show our license on request — ask when we arrive.

Locked out of your home, car, or business. A child or pet locked inside a vehicle (call 911 first if the child is in distress). Recent break-in where doors are no longer secure. A lost or stolen key where you can't secure the property until morning. We prioritize these.

Yes — $45 on top of standard rates for calls between 10pm and 6am. There's no double-time upcharge on the actual work. Weekend daytime calls are billed at standard rates.

Yes. Master-key systems, restricted keyways, electronic access control, panic hardware, and service contracts for property managers and multi-site operators. Same-day rekeys between tenants; scheduled work for system design and installation.