Published 2026-04-06 · Lone Star Lock Co
5 Questions to Ask a Locksmith Before You Book
Quick answer: 5 questions, 90 seconds. (1) What's your Texas DPS PSB locksmith license number? (2) Can you email a Certificate of Insurance right now? (3) What's the price range for this job? (4) What's the ETA in minutes? (5) Who's the tech rolling out? Real shops answer all five fast. Bait operators deflect.
Question 1: What's your Texas DPS PSB locksmith license number?
Texas requires a state locksmith license under DPS PSB Chapter 1702. A legitimate Houston shop has the license number ready on the dispatch call and will spell out the licensee name. The dispatcher should know the company license number (B-prefix or A-prefix on the number) and ideally the individual license of the tech rolling out.
The right answer: "Yes, our company license is B-XXXXX-XX, licensed to Lone Star Lock Co LLC. The tech rolling out is licensed individually under his own number." Honest. Fast. Specific.
The wrong answer: "We don't need a license for residential work." (False under Texas law.) Or: "I'd have to check with the office." (A real dispatcher knows.) Or: "We'll bring proof when we arrive." (You should be able to verify before the truck rolls.) Any of those, move on.
Verify the license at dps.texas.gov. The public lookup confirms Active status and the company name. Takes 90 seconds.
Question 2: Can you email a Certificate of Insurance right now?
A real Houston locksmith carries general liability insurance and bonding. The carrier is usually a recognized name (State Farm, Travelers, Hartford, Liberty Mutual, Nationwide, USAA Commercial, etc.). The dispatcher should be able to email a current Certificate of Insurance inside 5 minutes. The COI shows the carrier, the policy effective dates, the insured business name, and the coverage limits.
The right answer: "Yes, I'll send it to your email right now. What's the address?" The COI arrives in 2 to 5 minutes. The insured name matches the website. The carrier is recognized. The effective dates are current.
The wrong answer: "We'll bring it." (Useless before the truck rolls.) Or: "Our policy is private." (Not how COIs work.) Or: "I don't have access to that." (A real dispatcher does.) Or just silence. Any of those, move on.
Question 3: What's the price range for this job?
A real Houston locksmith quotes a range on dispatch, not a fixed teaser. The range is narrow enough to be useful (within $50 to $100) and the dispatcher can explain the variables that move the price within the range. Standard residential lockout in Houston usually runs $65 to $200 standard hours, $150 to $300 after hours. Auto lockout $75 to $200. Rekey $150 to $300 for 4 to 6 cylinders.
The right answer: "Standard residential lockout, looks like a Schlage from your description, $85 to $140 for this one. Plus the $50 after-hours premium if it's between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m." Specific. Range-quoted. Premium disclosed.
The wrong answer: "$19 service call, plus parts and labor." (No range, bait setup.) Or: "Depends what we find when we get there." (Refusal to quote.) Or: "I can't quote until the tech sees the lock." (Untrue for standard jobs.) Any of those, move on.
Question 4: What's the ETA in minutes?
A real Houston locksmith quotes an ETA in minutes, not "soon" or "right away." The ETA reflects realistic Houston traffic and the dispatch base's actual location. Inner Loop 20 to 35 minutes. Inner Beltway 25 to 45. Outer Beltway 8 (Sugar Land / Pearland / Katy / Spring / Woodlands) 35 to 60. The dispatcher should also tell you what affects the ETA (traffic on I-10 east, a Texans game letting out, recent rain on the bayou crossings).
The right answer: "Tech is en route from the East End base. ETA 28 minutes. Light traffic on I-69 right now, should be on the early end." Specific. Defensible. Time-bound.
The wrong answer: "Soon." Or: "Right away." Or: "Within the hour." (All non-committal.) A vague ETA is a stalling tactic that lets the operator dispatch from wherever is cheapest without committing to a window.
Question 5: Who's the tech rolling out?
A real Houston dispatcher knows the tech's name and can tell you on the call. The bigger shops have 3 to 8 techs on-call across Harris County, and dispatch routes based on proximity and skill match. Once a tech accepts the dispatch, the dispatcher can name them and tell you a bit about them (years experience, specific certifications, native English speaker if relevant).
The right answer: "Mike is rolling out, 8 years with us, ASE-certified for automotive work. He'll text you when he's 5 minutes out." Specific. Named. Accountable.
The wrong answer: "We route to whichever van is closest." Or: "I'll send someone right over." Or just no answer. The pattern with bait operators is that the dispatch doesn't know who will pick up the call because they're routing to an aggregator network rather than a known team.
What "good" looks like on a real Houston dispatch call
Here's a transcript of what a real verification call sounds like, condensed:
"Hi, I'm locked out of my house in Montrose. Before I have you dispatch, can I get your Texas DPS PSB license number, an emailed COI, a price range, and the tech's name?"
"Sure. Our company license is B-12345-67. I'll email the COI to you right now, what's the address? Standard residential lockout in Montrose, $75 to $130 for this one if it's a standard Schlage or Kwikset cylinder. Tech is Mike, 6 years with us, ETA 24 minutes. He'll text you when he's 5 minutes out."
Total time: 90 seconds. Total information: license, insurance, range, ETA, tech name. You can verify the license at dps.texas.gov while the COI lands in your inbox. The whole verification fits comfortably inside the lockout window.
What "bad" looks like
The bait operator version of the same call:
"Hi, I'm locked out of my house in Montrose. Before I have you dispatch, can I get your Texas DPS PSB license number, an emailed COI, a price range, and the tech's name?"
"We're licensed and insured, don't worry about that. $19 service call, plus parts and labor depending on what we find. Tech is on the way, should be there soon. You need to commit now or we'll lose the slot."
Every red flag in one paragraph. No specific license number. No COI offered. No price range, just "depends." No specific ETA. No tech name. Pressure tactic to commit fast. Hang up. Call the next shop.
Frequently asked
How long does the verification call take?
About 90 seconds for the 5 questions, plus a few minutes waiting for the COI to land in your inbox. Total: under 5 minutes. A legitimate Houston locksmith answers all 5 quickly and sends the COI inside 5 minutes. A bait operator either deflects or stalls, and the deflection itself is the answer.
What if I'm already in an emergency situation?
Even at 2 a.m. you have 4 minutes for verification. The cost of taking those 4 minutes is a slightly longer wait. The cost of not taking them is $200 to $500 in bait-and-switch overcharges. The math favors verification almost every time. The exception is a true life-safety emergency (child trapped in a hot car, elderly parent locked in a freezing home, active break-in), in which case dispatch first and verify by text while the tech is en route.
What if the dispatcher gets defensive when I ask these questions?
Hang up. A legitimate Houston locksmith expects these questions and answers them quickly. Defensiveness, evasion, or pushback ('why are you grilling me?') is a sign the operator doesn't have honest answers. Move to the next shop on your list.
Do real Houston locksmiths always answer these questions?
Yes. The 5 questions are standard verification practice that real shops have built into the dispatch workflow. Texas DPS PSB licensure expects locksmiths to disclose the license number on demand. General liability insurance is standard. Price ranges are standard. ETA in minutes is standard. Tech name on dispatch is standard. If any of these isn't standard for the shop you're calling, that's the signal.
Can I just text these questions?
Yes, and many real Houston shops prefer text for the dispatch conversation. Text creates a written record that's useful for documentation later. A real shop replies inside 2 to 3 minutes with the license number, an emailed COI, and a price range. If they don't reply or reply with a sales pitch instead of the requested information, that's the warning.
What about Yelp or Google reviews?
Reviews are a secondary check, not the primary one. The 5 dispatch questions tell you most of what you need before the truck rolls. Reviews add context for choosing between two legitimate shops that both pass the verification check. Look for reviews that name specific Houston neighborhoods, name techs, and describe specific jobs. Generic 5-star reviews from accounts with no review history are often purchased padding.
Call us and run the check
Call (346) 594-6316 and run the 5 questions. We answer all five quickly. See our Texas verification guide, our scam warning signs, and our about page for license details.
Last updated: 2026-04-06.