Every question,
answered.
No runaround.

Our rolling 30-day median arrival across the Houston metro is 35–45 minutes. Inside the Beltway it's usually 25–35 minutes; outer suburbs run 40–55 minutes depending on traffic. Between midnight and 6 AM, ETAs are often faster because the roads are clear. Your dispatcher gives you a realistic ETA when you call — not a marketing number.

No. Our emergency rate is identical at 3 PM on a Tuesday and 3 AM on Christmas morning. There is no night surcharge, no weekend premium, and no holiday markup. We staff rotating shifts so we never need to penalize customers for the hour they call. The firm quote you get by SMS is the final price.

A photo ID and one of the following: a piece of mail with your name and the address, a utility bill, a lease agreement, a mortgage statement, or — for a vehicle — your registration or insurance card. This is a legal requirement in Texas and it protects you as much as it protects us. If you've just moved and don't have mail yet, we can usually work with alternative verification — ask the dispatcher.

In 94% of lockouts, no. Our default is non-destructive entry — picking, raking, or bumping techniques that open the lock without damaging the cylinder or door. Drilling is only used when the lock is already broken, keyed from the inside, or un-pickable due to a mechanism failure. If drilling is required, we tell you the exact cost to replace the cylinder before we start, and you approve it in writing.

Yes. Every one of our emergency units carries automotive opening tools that work across all major makes and models — domestic, Asian, European, and luxury brands. We do not break windows. Once the vehicle is open, we can cut and program a replacement key or fob on-site for most vehicles.

Rekey if the existing hardware is decent (Schlage, Kwikset, Baldwin, Emtek), opens smoothly, and matches the rest of your home — it changes who has access without changing the look or hardware. Replace if the lock is builder-grade, sticky, wobbly, damaged, or you want a higher security grade. Our technician inspects on-site and gives an honest recommendation, even when the cheaper option is the right one.

About 15 to 20 minutes per cylinder once we're on-site, assuming the lock is a standard brand and in reasonable condition. A five-door rekey typically takes just over an hour including setup, testing, and handing over new keys. Every rekey includes two fresh keys at no extra cost.

Yes — this is one of our most common jobs. We can rekey every lock in your home to a single new key, so one key opens the front door, back door, garage entry, and any other exterior door. Different brands can usually be rekeyed to match, though they may require separate keys if the hardware is from very different families. The technician will tell you what's possible before starting.

Every rekey includes two fresh keys cut on-site at no extra charge. Additional copies are $6–$9 each and can be cut in the van before we leave — no separate trip to a hardware store. If you need five or more keys, we can cut them all on the same visit.

Always. You have no idea how many spare keys are floating around from the previous owner, their family, contractors, real estate agents, and handymen. Rekeying is the cheapest way to guarantee that only you and the people you choose can get in. A standard rekey runs $40–$85 per cylinder and takes about 20 minutes per lock.

Yes — most commercial installs are scheduled after hours or on weekends to avoid disrupting your operation. Overnight rekeys, weekend master key projects, and early-morning pre-opening work are all routine. There is no extra scheduling surcharge for after-hours project work under a maintenance contract.

Yes. Verified business accounts can be set up with Net-30 terms. We require a signed service agreement, a W-9 on file, and a business credit check for accounts over $5,000 per month. Maintenance contract accounts get Net-30 automatically without additional checks.

Usually yes. If your system uses standard commercial hardware (Schlage, Yale, Corbin Russwin, Sargent), we can continue or extend it. If your hardware uses a restricted keyway we don't stock, we'll tell you up front whether the system can be maintained as-is or needs a redesign. We never claim compatibility we can't deliver.

Every commercial job includes a written scope of work, a key matrix (levels, doors, and who holds what), a signed work authorization, and a digital warranty certificate. Maintenance contract accounts also receive quarterly audit reports showing hardware condition, keyholder changes, and recommended actions.

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Domestic and Asian vehicles often accept aftermarket blanks. Most European vehicles (BMW, Mercedes, Audi, VW) require OEM or dealer-grade keys because the immobilizer uses encryption that aftermarket blanks can't match. Send us the listing before you buy and we'll tell you honestly whether it will work.

That's an all-keys-lost service. We originate a new key from your VIN, wipe the old key memory from the immobilizer, and program the new key directly into the vehicle. It takes 60–90 minutes on-site and runs $300–$650 depending on the vehicle — still cheaper than a dealer all-keys-lost service plus a tow.

Yes. We program keys for BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, VW, Porsche, Jaguar, Land Rover, and Volvo. European vehicles use different immobilizer systems and often require OEM blanks. Pricing is higher for these brands because the keys and programming time cost more — but still significantly less than a dealership.

Typically 30–50% cheaper for equivalent work, before you factor in the tow you'd need for a dealership visit. A dealership key replacement often runs $350–$600 plus a 1–5 day appointment wait. We do the same work on-site, usually same day, for $200–$450 depending on the vehicle and key type.

For most homeowners, the Schlage Encode is the safest all-around choice — ANSI Grade-1 rated, built-in Wi-Fi with no hub needed, and supports up to 100 access codes. For Apple Home users, the Yale Assure 2 is excellent. For renters who can't change the exterior hardware, the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is the best retrofit. We'll give you an honest recommendation based on your actual door and situation.

If you have a standard single-cylinder deadbolt with a 2-3/8" or 2-3/4" backset — about 94% of Houston front doors — most full-replacement smart locks fit directly. Mortise locks, jimmy-proof deadbolts, and multi-point systems require on-site assessment. Send us a photo of your door edge and lock, and we'll tell you in under two minutes.

In 92% of cases, no. Our first choice is always non-destructive entry — dial manipulation for mechanical locks and electronic bypass for keypad locks. Drilling is only used when the lock mechanism is broken, a relocker has triggered, or the electronic lock has completely failed. If drilling is required, we repair or replace the damaged lock so the safe is fully functional when we leave.

Yes — that's one of the most common reasons customers call us. We don't need the combination. For mechanical dial locks, we use manipulation techniques to identify the gate positions. For electronic locks, we diagnose the fault and either restore power, reset the lock, or replace the keypad. The original combination becomes irrelevant once the safe is open, and we can set a new one that you choose.

Standard lockout service runs $75–$150. Rekeying is $40–$160 per lock. Lock replacement is $130–$500 depending on hardware. Automotive key programming runs $120–$650 depending on vehicle and key type. All rates are published on our pricing page and confirmed by SMS before dispatch.

No. Our published rate card applies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. There is no night premium, no weekend premium, no holiday premium, and no separate truck or dispatch fee. The firm quote we text you before dispatch is the final price you pay.

Yes — that's how every Quick Key job works. You describe the situation on the phone, we ask a few clarifying questions, and we text you the exact total. You reply YES to authorize dispatch. If the invoice ever shows more than the SMS quote without your written approval, we refund the difference on the spot.

Cash, all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover), Apple Pay, Google Pay, and business checks for commercial accounts. There is no surcharge for card payments. Net-30 invoicing is available for verified commercial accounts.

Yes. We hold Texas Locksmith License #B13281 and carry $1M general liability insurance plus a $25K surety bond. Every technician passes a seven-year national criminal background check and re-verification every 24 months. A certificate of insurance is available on request.

No. This is one of the biggest problems in our industry — call centers selling jobs to whoever picks up first. Every job we accept is completed by a Quick Key technician in a Quick Key van, in Quick Key uniform, with their photo and license number texted to you before arrival. If the person at your door doesn't match that description, do not let them work and call us immediately.