3 Key Differences Between An Auto Locksmith & A Traditional One

There are a number of situations in which you might find yourself in need of a locksmith. Often a quick internet search will throw out a handful of results for businesses in your local area. The problem is, with so much choice already, how are you supposed to decide which provider is going to be the best for you. When deciding, you need to take into account the following:

• Distance - how long will it take them to get to you?

• Availability - when will they be able to get to you? Will it be the same day or a couple of days?

• Situation - what is it you need them for? Do you need the situation dealt with immediately or can you wait?

• Services - can they do what you need?

• Price - how much is this going to cost you?

There is also one more thing that you may or may not be aware of when it comes to choosing the right locksmith. You need to take into consideration whether you need an auto or a traditional locksmith. This will also help you to find the most efficient and price-friendly service provider. Not sure what the difference is between these two locksmiths, let alone which one you need?

That’s OK, in this guide we’ll take you through the key differences between an auto locksmith and a traditional one, outlining what each does on a daily basis. This can help you to decide who you need to call.

1. Vehicles Vs Buildings

The most obvious difference between an auto locksmith (also called a car locksmith) and a traditional one (also called a door locksmith) is what they fix. You might have already guessed from the names, but in a nutshell, one fixes cars while the other fixes doors. Do cars not have doors? Yes, of course they do. But a door locksmith fixes locks on doors and windows to building such as houses and offices. While an auto locksmith only concerns themselves with helping people get back into their cars, vans or back on their motorbikes.

So if you're concerned about the security of your home or office, you want locks for your windows and doors, you need a new lock on your security safe or perhaps you simply want a spare key cut for your front door - then a traditional locksmith is your go-to. However, if you need a spare or new key for your vehicle, you’ve locked your keys inside your car or you’ve damaged your key fob, then you need to call an auto locksmith.

2. Keys Vs ‘Keyless’

Another key difference between the two is the role the key plays in a locksmith’s job. The majority of what a door locksmith has to deal with is going to involve traditional keys and locks as we understand them. Whether they're cutting new house keys, adding additional security locks to windows or safes, or repairing a broken door lock. That said, with increasing importance being placed on security and new technologies, some traditional locksmiths have also added supplying and installing electronic control systems to their list of services. But not all of them do this.

Auto locksmiths on the other hand, whilst still dealing with locks, rarely have to deal with keys in a traditional sense. This is because the ever-changing complexity of electronic keys have made car keys as we used to know them (circa 1995) obsolete. Nowadays, auto locksmiths have to concern themselves more with the reprogramming of remote fobs and transponder keys, which requires very expensive, high-tech equipment.

3. Roadside Vs home visits

The final difference on our list is location. As we’ve previously discussed a traditional locksmith focuses on buildings, this means that generally, they will need to come to your home or place of work in order to make their repairs. As these things tend to be less urgent (unless of course, you’ve locked yourself out your house) traditional locksmiths might not be required to make same-day visits. Often you are required to book a slot and have them come round to do repairs.

Auto locksmiths, however, need to be ready to get up and go. If you’ve locked yourself out your car or lost your keys, a large percentage of the time this happens when you're already out and about. As such, auto locksmiths tend to conduct most of their work roadside, or in the car park, you’ve found yourself stuck in.

This also means they need to be able to carry their equipment with them on the move and generally need to be able to get you back into your vehicle and back on the road within a matter of hours. As such, they often carry their expensive, but necessary equipment with them, particularly with regards to the machines they use to reprogram or cut keys. It is usually more important for an auto locksmith to be able to get the job done as quickly as possible on the spot.

Auto locksmith Vs a traditional one

While this guide is set out to help you decide whether you need an auto locksmith or a traditional one, it is also worth noting that many locksmiths have branched out to offer a range of both services. Though not all auto locksmiths will offer traditional services, many door locksmiths have added auto services to their repertoire. But depending on the nature of your situation, it may be better to stick with a locksmith that is an expert in their field. For example, those who offer only auto locksmith services are likely to have more high-tech equipment and therefore be more likely to help you, than those who offer a much wider range of services.

So all in all, it’s a good idea to do a bit of background research before committing to a locksmith, that is unless time is of the essence. Most locksmiths can come out within a matter of hours to help deal with your problem, so you can continue going about your day.