24/7 emergency locksmith across San Diego County
Last reviewed June 2026 · Swift Key San Diego
Lockouts do not wait for business hours. Our trucks are on the road seven days a week, and every tech carries the tools to get you back into your car, home, or business without damage. Most calls run 20 to 40 minutes from dispatch to open door.
What's included in this service?
- Residential and commercial lockouts, no drilling on standard residential doors
- Automotive lockouts for sedans, SUVs, trucks, and most luxury makes
- Broken-key extraction from deadbolts, knobs, and ignitions
- Emergency rekey after a break-in, burglary, or stolen-key incident
- Lock repair when a tenant or previous owner damaged the hardware
- After-hours rekey for landlords between tenant move-outs
When do you need this service?
- Locked out of your home, car, or office outside business hours
- Key broke off in the lock or ignition
- Lost keys and need the locks secured before morning
- Just had a break-in and need doors re-secured tonight
- Ex-roommate or former tenant still has a working key
What do homeowners ask about Emergency?
How much does an emergency locksmith cost in San Diego?
Standard residential and automotive lockouts run $85–$150 during the day. After-hours calls (10pm to 6am) add a $45 surcharge. Broken-key extraction and lock damage repair run $120–$250. We quote a firm price before we start work, no bait-and-switch.
How fast can you actually get here?
From central San Diego, Mission Valley, La Jolla, and Kearny Mesa: usually 20–30 minutes. From the coast, North County, and South Bay: 30–45 minutes. From Julian or the backcountry: 60–90 minutes. We tell you a real window when you call, not a generic "as soon as possible".
Will you damage my door or lock?
No. Standard residential and commercial deadbolts get picked or bumped open, no drilling. We only drill in two cases: high-security locks where picking would take longer than you want to wait, or locks that are already damaged. We explain the approach before we start.
Do you handle car lockouts for any make?
We handle most domestic and foreign vehicles, GM, Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mazda, Subaru, Hyundai, Kia, VW, BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Lexus, and Acura. We also do trucks and most RVs. Exotic and some European cars with proximity-only keys can be trickier, we tell you honestly when we should refer you to the dealer.
How do I verify the locksmith you send?
Every tech we dispatch is background-checked and carries ID. California requires locksmiths to hold a BSIS license. Ask for the LCO number and verify it at search.dca.ca.gov before work begins.
Where do we offer Emergency in San Diego County?
We provide emergency in every city and community in San Diego County. Pick your city for local climate notes and service specifics.
See emergency in all 67 cities
Homeowners who hired us for this
Examples of the kind of feedback we work to earn on every job. Verified reviews from real customers live on our Google Business Profile and Yelp pages.
Locked keys in the car at Target parking lot on a Sunday afternoon. Called and the tech was there in 25 minutes. Used some kind of inflatable wedge and a rod, no damage to the door. Paid what they quoted, no surprises.
Just bought our first house and wanted all the locks rekeyed. Four doors, keyed alike, done in under an hour. The tech explained everything and even showed us how a rekey works. Way cheaper than replacing all the locks like we thought.
My late father's safe had been sitting locked for ten years, we had no combination. Swift Key opened it non-destructively, then helped me change the combo so I could actually use it. Took about 90 minutes. Professional and careful with the safe.
Need emergency in San Diego County?
Call for a free quote. Most work scheduled within the week.