Using automotive locksmith services offers numerous benefits and solutions for vehicle owners, addressing a wide range of issues related to vehicle access, security, and functionality. Protect Lock & Key lists several compelling reasons to use the services of an automotive locksmith:

Expertise & Specialized Knowledge

Automotive locksmiths possess specialized training and expertise in dealing with various vehicle makes and models. Their knowledge extends beyond standard lock and key mechanisms to include advanced electronic systems such as transponder keys, key fobs, and smart keys. This expertise ensures that any issues with your vehicle’s locking and security systems are handled professionally and effectively.

Emergency Assistance

One of the primary reasons to use automotive locksmith services is for emergency assistance. Lockouts can happen at any time, often at the most inconvenient moments. Whether you’ve locked your keys inside your car, lost them, or broken a key in the lock, a locksmith can provide swift and efficient help. Many automotive locksmiths offer 24/7 emergency services, ensuring you are never stranded for long.

Key Replacement & Duplication

Losing your car keys can be a major inconvenience and security risk. Automotive locksmiths can create new keys on the spot, even without the original. This includes traditional keys, transponder keys, and key fobs. Additionally, having duplicate keys made can save time and hassle in the future, ensuring you have a spare key readily available in case of emergencies.

Cost-Effective Solutions

While dealership services for key replacement and lock issues can be expensive, automotive locksmiths often provide a more cost-effective solution. They typically charge less than dealerships for similar services and offer competitive pricing for their expertise and convenience.

Advanced Security Services

Modern vehicles are equipped with sophisticated security systems, including transponder keys, keyless entry, and smart keys. Automotive locksmiths have the tools and knowledge to repair, replace, and program these advanced systems. This capability is crucial for maintaining the security of your vehicle and ensuring that only authorized individuals can access it.

Broken Key Extraction

Keys can break off in locks or ignition cylinders due to wear and tear or force. Extracting a broken key requires precision and the right tools to avoid damaging the lock. Automotive locksmiths can safely remove broken keys and provide replacements if needed, restoring your access to the vehicle without further complications.

Rekeying & Security Upgrades

If you’ve lost your keys or fear they’ve been stolen, rekeying your vehicle’s locks is an important security measure. Automotive locksmiths can change the internal components of your locks to work with new keys, rendering the old keys useless. This service is crucial for preventing unauthorized access and enhancing the security of your vehicle.

Convenience & Mobile Services

Many automotive locksmiths offer mobile services, coming directly to your location to assist. This level of convenience means you don’t have to tow your vehicle to a dealership or locksmith shop. Mobile locksmiths are equipped with all the necessary tools and technology to perform services on-site, saving you time and hassle.

Locksmith Services in Killeen, Temple, San Marcos, College Station, Portland, Aransas Pass & Waco, Texas

Using automotive locksmith services offers numerous advantages, from expert knowledge and emergency assistance to cost-effective solutions and advanced security services. Their ability to provide mobile, on-site services adds an extra layer of convenience, making them an invaluable resource for any vehicle owner facing lock and key issues. Give Protect Lock & Key a call to get help with your automotive services.

It is fairly customary that applicable manufactured products have some kind of grading system to help consumers understand the quality of different products. This grading system is imposed on the different locking mechanisms used for residential use as well as commercial. A separate entity from the manufacturer takes the product at hand where a team of experts band together and inspect the specs, run diagnostic testing, as well as undertake experiments to test the performance where an overall grade is given to determine the quality. With that in mind, we at Protect Lock & Key would like to take the opportunity to discuss the various grades given to the different locks to help you better understand the level of security they offer.

ANSI Grade 1, 2 and 3 Locks

When it comes to grading the locks, the American National Standards Institute or ANSI, which is a private, nonprofit that administers voluntary performance standards of builder’s hardware with a team of specialists, tests and evaluates locking products. A series of operational and security tests to identify the ANSI rating is conducted to determine the overall durability and quality of the lock-sets. The grading system is associated with three levels of security and durability, or grades. These grades are as follows:
Certification Grade 1 – Highest grade of security and the strongest grade of durability is recognized by the ANSI for any residential home, or commercial business.
Certification Grade 2 – High grade of residential security engineered and designed to excel in security and durability for residential homes, and a few light commercial applications.
Certification Grade 3 – Basic grade of residential security, which the lowest grade designated by ANIS, and offers the minimal security in residential home’s locks and not ideal in the commercial setting.

How Are Locks Graded?

Below are just a handful of the main criteria points used in testing locks to determine ANSI grades to give you an idea how locks are graded and tested.
1) Projection of Latch Bolt: A point noted is the limited extent of the latch bolt projection outside the lick case. The harder it is to be jimmied open, the further it extends. To create a higher level of security they further it will project beyond the strike plate, the longer the latch bolt.
2) Projection of Dead Bolt: Much like the latch bolt test, the dead bolt undergoes similar endurance testing. The latch bolt need only be ½” long and the mortise lock is required to be ¾” long, however the Grade 1 dead bolts have to be 1” long.
3) Impact Strike Resistance: An extremely important part of the process is the strike impact test or the hammer test. A potential thief attempting to bash or kick the lock open rates the impact of this rather basic concept of the testing process. To earn the Grade 1 the locks need to be designed to take over 2 times as much force as Grade 3 locks. A Grade 3 can only endure 3 hammer strikes whereas the Grade 1 deadbolt can withstand up to 10 hammer strikes for an example. .
4) Cycles: The smoothness of function, longevity in way of durability and the overall performance is done with the cycle test. Turning the knob or lever handle to totally retract the latch, and then letting it to fully re-latch voluntarily or manually counts as one cycle. The Grade 1 locks will continue to cycles through far more than the other grades will. To earn the Grade 1 lock it has to reach a minimum of 800,000 cycles, where the Grade 3 knob lock only have a minimum of 200,000 cycles, for example.

Locksmith Services in Killeen, Temple, San Marcos, College Station, Portland, Aransas Pass & Waco, Texas

If you are looking to upgrade your locks and want to ensure the highest grade and quality locks for your home or business, contact the professionals of Protect Lock and Key and our specialists will help you find the most optimal lock for your needs and get it installed quickly and efficiently.