Ever wondered why you would need to call an automotive locksmith in Portland OR, or maybe just wondering if a locksmith is the solution to your current problem? Read on for 5 common reasons why people call for a locksmith in Portland OR.
Locksmith Portland Use #1: Locked Keys in Car
Have you ever locked your keys in your car and wondered what the next step is? This is one of the most common reasons that people call for a locksmith in Portland. While breaking your car window is an option, it’s an expensive one and can lead to injuries.
Instead, you can call a locksmith in Portland to unlock your car. Our professional Portland locksmiths can open virtually any kind of car within a matter of minutes, getting you on your way quickly and saving you the hassle of being stuck in the rain, missing appointments, and being unable to access your car.
Locksmith Portland Use #2: Lost Car Keys
Lost your car keys and need a replacement car key? Never fear, this is also one of the major reasons that people call for service from a locksmith in Portland. If you need a car key replacement, you can just call a locksmith in Portland about making new one - professional Portland locksmiths can usually cut and program your car key on the spot.
At 24 Hour Lock and Key, we make car key replacements for almost every year, make and model of car. You do not need the original car key in order for us to make the car key replacement; all you need is valid ID and documentation showing you own (or rent) the car.
If you have a key FOB or transponder key, we can also program transponder keys and make new key fobs. Our locksmiths in Portland use specialty programming equipment to ensure that your new car key is programmed correctly and will work as good as new.
If you’re wondering if your car key is a transponder key, that is something that our Portland locksmiths can look up before coming to you to perform the service. In general, most car makers started including transponder chips in their keys in the late 1990s, and most cars (although not all) from 1998 to present use transponder chips.
If your key has a transponder chip, that just means it needs to be programmed in order to start your car. Our Portland locksmiths are able to program most years, makes and models of cars, which we will go into further below.
Locksmith Portland Use #3: Ignition Replacement
If your vehicle's ignition has been damaged, our automotive locksmiths in Portland can replace ignitions for nearly every year, make and model of car.
If you're wondering what the difference is between needing a new car key and needing an ignition replacement, there are a few key differences.
If your car has the original, undamaged ignition and car door locks, usually you will only need a replacement car key (see above).
However, if your car's ignition has been damaged, our locksmiths in Portland may recommend replacing it. For example, if there has been an attempted theft and someone damaged your ignition while trying to steal your car, we would recommend replacing it.
Sometimes ignition replacements are needed due to wear and tear and not one major incident. For example, we often see vehicles from the early 2000s whose ignitions have simply stopped turning because they have ground down over years of use. Likewise, if your ignition has been replaced previously, we generally need to replace it again in order to make a replacement car key.
Our locksmiths in Portland can always look at your specific vehicle and recommend whether you need an ignition replacement or simply a replacement car key.
Locksmith Portland Use #4: Need to Rekey Vehicle Locks
Unfortunately, Portland OR is a hotspot for vehicle theft, and we have had many customers calling to replace their vehicle door locks for those reasons.
If your car has been stolen or if you've been the victim of attempted car theft, our locksmiths in Portland can rekey your vehicle locks to ensure that any stolen keys will no longer work to unlock your car. For more on this, please check out our post on what to do if your car has been stolen or broken into.
Apart from theft, occasionally car door locks will simply wear out over years of use, also requiring new car door locks be installed in order for your car key to successfully unlock your vehicle. If that's the case, our automotive locksmiths in Portland can both repair and replace vehicle door locks, and we can always send a technician to give an estimate depending on the state of your current locks.
Locksmith Portland Use #5: Car Key Programming
While we already mentioned that our Portland locksmiths make car key replacements, we also program car keys that you already have. Many of our customers have car keys or key fobs that stop working and need to be reprogrammed.
If you purchase a new transponder key or key FOB and need to program it, we can also program those. We do recommend buying replacement car keys through us so that we can guarantee that it is the correct key, although we are also happy to do car key programming for car keys that you purchase through the dealership or other reputable suppliers.
We program car keys for most years, makes and models of cars. If you have a specific question about car key programming, we can answer any questions you have via email or by calling our office.
In short, some of the top reasons why people choose to use a Portland locksmith are if their keys are locked in their car, they lost their car keys, they are locked out of their apartment or house, they need to rekey locks or they need to have a car key programmed.
Locksmith Portland: About 24 Hour Lock and Key
At 24 Hour Lock and Key, our locksmiths in Portland frequently perform all of these services and can walk you through the process for your individual project.
If you would like to know more about our locksmith Portland qualifications, visit our about page to see info on our licenses and accreditations. We are a family-run business that has operated as a locksmith service in Portland OR since 2018. We also have locksmiths in southern Washington, including Vancouver locksmiths, Camas locksmiths and Battleground locksmiths.
For more information on what our automotive locksmiths in Portland can help you with, read our answers to Common Questions About Replacement Car Keys.
If you're interested in what services we provide for our residential and commercial customers, check out 5 Reasons to Call a Residential Locksmith and 5 Reasons to Call a Commercial Locksmith.