If you’ve ever locked yourself out of your car or misplaced your only set of keys, the fastest way to get back on the road is to call your trusty auto locksmith!
And one of the first things you might ask yourself when Googling for a car locksmith that offers emergency service is the question of price – how much
can you expect to pay out of pocket?
The answer? Well, it depends on quite a few factors…
- Where are you right now?
- What time of day is it?
- Which service do you need?
- What type of car do you drive?
- Did you call them directly?
All of these variables can affect the quote or service fee you receive. But how?
Where are you right now?
Let’s say one of your kids missed their bus home and is stranded in the next suburb over.
Okay, no problem: you drop what you’re doing, pick up your keys and drive out to pick them up.
Now let’s say the same thing happens, but this time they’re on the other side of Melbourne!
While we don’t speak for everybody, we feel pretty confident saying that you’re a lot grumblier about the latter situation!
We’re not implying that all auto locksmiths are like overburdened parents (although some of us are both). But that said, the same principle applies!
Most locksmiths have a set service area where we can offer speedy service and a reasonable fee. Take us for example: as a car locksmith in Moorabbin, we’re
happy to help stranded motorists out to Cheltenham, Oakleigh and even as far as South Yarra, no problem!
We’re more than happy to help you in this area – most are. If you break down outside your auto locksmith’s area however, you might face a premium call-out
fee to cover a number of factors (more on these below).
Did you call direct?
Did you call your locksmith directly or through a third-party tradesperson site?
Because if you called the second, you’d best be prepared to pay an additional mark-up. It could be a flat fee or a percentage. Either way, the result is
the same – your quoted price goes up!
Third-party tradie sites need to make money as well. We’re not begrudging them for that… but if your goal is to find the best deal, we recommend
cutting out the middleman and calling your locksmith directly. And thanks to the power of Google, that’s completely doable.
It’s a matter of time…
As an auto locksmith, we understand that key disasters can strike at any time. In fact, since most of us work 9 to 5, the vast majority of car-related
callouts will happen immediately before or after work.
We locksmiths are proud of our emergency callout services and are more than happy to help you get back on the road when you need it.
Of course, your auto locksmith is only human – we have families we spend time with and hobbies aside from playing around with locks!
Accordingly, most locksmiths will charge extra for an out-of-hours call. All tradies do the same.
How fuel prices change what your auto locksmith charges
If you’ve been following the news, you’ll know that fuel prices are at the highest they’ve been for three years.
We can all relate. You’ll finish topping up your tank and look at the pump, only to turn pale at the price.
Of course, most of us don’t spend our entire day roaming around Melbourne for a living!
While we’re an auto locksmith in Moorabbin, our calls see us driving all over Melbourne. It’s not too uncommon to finish a day with the tank sitting close
to empty, and that’s before the emergency calls from stranded motorists commuting home.
As you can imagine, your auto locksmith visits the fuel pump a lot more than most others.
We don’t have the privilege of switching to public transport or waiting for prices to drop: fuel prices are just another example that can influence a call-out
fee.
What service do you need, and how does that influence your service fee?
How much you pay might also be influenced by the type of service demanded of your auto locksmith.
Certain services demand a higher fee. For example, any locksmith worth their salt will be able to unlock your car doors (that’s exactly why Galmier Locksmiths
doesn’t charge if we can’t get you back into your car).
As a result, car lockouts are often the cheapest services a car locksmith might offer.
On the other hand, something more complex and time-intensive like programming a transponder key or replacing a lock will usually leave you paying more.
Luxury cars generally feature more complex locking
systems than your more common Holden or Toyota models.
Not sure if your car is covered? We service the vast majority of makes – give us a call to see if we can get you back into yours: 0407 022 234.
What you’re paying for when you call an auto locksmith in Moorabbin
One mistake a lot of motorists make is thinking that since we fix their problems so efficiently and often with minimal fuss, that somehow, it’s an “easy”
job that shouldn’t demand the price it does.
Needless to say, people who think this way don’t understand the full story.
Yes, we might be able to get you into your car fast. That’s not because it’s easy, but because we’re just that good at our jobs!
- Sure, you might be able to pick a lock – but can you do it consistently?
- Car locks are different from house locks – can you pick them too?
- Do you know how to program a transponder key?
When you pay your car locksmith, you’re paying for specialised knowledge and experience, as well as the confidence that we’re getting the job done safely,
correctly, and without damage.
Choose an experienced and qualified car locksmith in Moorabbin
We hope you now have a better understanding of what an auto locksmith’s charges actually include, and how it goes beyond the specific service performed.
As the leading car locksmith in Moorabbin and throughout Melbourne’s
south-east, Galmier Locksmiths is proud to offer quality service for all your auto lock and key related problems.
If you need someone to get you back on the road, get in touch now – send us a message or call Alex on 0407 022 234.
Better yet, why not save our number in your phone? You never know when you might need us!
