Published 2026-04-14 · Lone Star Lock Co

How to Verify a Locksmith in Texas: License + Insurance + COI

Why Texas licensing matters more than in unlicensed states

Most US states have locksmith licensing of some kind. Texas is among the stricter ones. The Texas DPS Private Security Bureau requires both a company license and individual licenses for each working locksmith. The licensee passes a background check, gets fingerprinted, and meets continuing education requirements. Companies post a surety bond. Unlicensed locksmith activity in Texas carries criminal penalties under Chapter 1702 of the Texas Occupations Code.

The result, in the Houston market specifically: a higher floor of legitimacy than in unlicensed states like Wisconsin, Missouri, or Wyoming. But the bait-and-switch operators have not disappeared. They have adapted. Many run unlicensed and gamble on the slow pace of enforcement. Others register companies under one name and operate under another. The verification work is still worth doing.

The 5-minute Texas verification checklist

1. Ask for the Texas DPS PSB locksmith license number on the dispatch call. A legitimate Houston shop has the number ready and will spell out the licensee name. The dispatcher should also know whether the company holds a company license (B-prefix or A-prefix on the number) and whether the tech rolling out holds an individual license.
2. Confirm at dps.texas.gov. The DPS Private Security Bureau maintains a public license lookup. Enter the company name or license number. The lookup shows status (Active / Expired), issue date, and any disciplinary actions. A real license confirms active and the company name matches.
3. Ask the dispatcher to email a Certificate of Insurance. A real shop with general liability and bonding can send a current COI from a recognized carrier (State Farm / Travelers / Hartford / Liberty Mutual / Nationwide, etc.) inside 5 minutes. Look at the carrier name and the policy effective dates. Confirm the insured business name matches the website and the DPS license.
4. Match the brand name across all three. Website. License. COI. All three should show the same legal entity name, even if the public-facing brand is different (e.g., "Lone Star Lock Co" public brand, "Lone Star Locksmith LLC" legal entity). Mismatches are a red flag.
5. Get a price range and arrival window. A real quote sounds like "$65 to $200 for a standard residential lockout, looks like a Schlage from your description, $85 to $140 for this one. Tech is en route, ETA 28 minutes." Vague answers ("depends on what we find") are the bait setup.
6. Search the company plus "BBB" before arrival. A real shop usually has a BBB profile and reviews that mention specific Houston neighborhoods. A bait shop has a 1-star wall complaining about $400 bills on a $19 quote.

What "fully insured" should actually mean

General liability insurance for a small Houston locksmith shop runs about $500 to $1,000 per year. Bonding (which protects the customer if the locksmith damages property or steals during a job) runs another $150 to $400. Workers' comp if they have employees. A real shop carries all three and the Certificate of Insurance shows the policy numbers and effective dates. If the dispatcher cannot or will not send the COI, the shop probably isn't insured at the level required for the work.

Texas business registration is a separate verification: search "Texas Secretary of State" plus the company name at sos.state.tx.us. Real businesses appear with a registration number, a registered agent, and a status of "In Existence." Bait operations sometimes show up but more often don't, or they're registered as a different name than what's on the website. Texas also has a Comptroller of Public Accounts lookup that shows sales tax registration, which legitimate businesses maintain.

Red flags during the call

• Dispatcher refuses to provide the Texas DPS PSB locksmith license number
• Dispatcher says "we don't need a license for residential work" (false in Texas)
• Dispatcher refuses to email a Certificate of Insurance ("we'll bring it" / "our policy is private")
• Quote sounds like "$19 service call, plus parts and labor" with no range on parts and labor
• Dispatcher pressures you ("you need to commit now or we'll lose the slot")
• Caller ID shows a number different from the website
• Company can't name the specific tech who's coming
• Address on the website is a UPS Store mailbox or a residential address with no shopfront
• License lookup at dps.texas.gov shows Expired, Revoked, or no record

Green flags during the call

• DPS PSB license number provided verbally and via email, confirmed active at dps.texas.gov
• COI arrives in your email inside 5 minutes, from a recognized carrier
• Dispatcher quotes a specific range: "between $X and $Y"
• ETA in minutes, not "soon" or "right away"
• Company has a BBB profile and reviews mention specific Houston neighborhoods
• Dispatcher names the tech: "Mike will be there in 28 minutes"
• Phone number on caller ID matches the website
• Business address is a real Houston-metro location, ideally with a visible shopfront on Google Maps
• License / COI / website / business registration all point to the same legal entity

What to do if you've been scammed in Houston

Multiple paths work in parallel. The fastest is a credit card dispute filed within 60 days of the charge. Provide the original dispatch quote (text / voicemail / screenshot of the ad), the final invoice, and timestamps. Most card issuers reverse bait-and-switch overcharges with that documentation. If you paid cash, photo every step and proceed to the next paths.

File a complaint with the Texas Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division at texasattorneygeneral.gov. File a Better Business Bureau complaint at bbb.org. Most importantly for unlicensed activity: report to the Texas DPS Private Security Bureau at dps.texas.gov. DPS can pursue criminal and civil enforcement against unlicensed locksmith activity. The Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act allows for triple damages on knowing violations, and small-claims court in Harris County handles disputes up to $20,000 without an attorney.

Verify Lone Star Lock

We carry a Texas Department of Public Safety Private Security Bureau locksmith license, plus general liability and bonding above industry minimums. Ask on dispatch and we email proof before the truck rolls. The license is searchable at dps.texas.gov. Our BBB profile is public. Our address is a real Houston-metro location.

Frequently asked

Verify and request service

Call (346) 594-6316 for 24/7 dispatch across Harris County. See our about page for license and credential details, our posted cost guide for transparent pricing, and our Houston scam warning signs guide for the full pattern breakdown.

Last updated: 2026-04-14.