Letting someone work on the locks of your home is an act of trust. A locksmith who opens your door, rekeys your cylinders or cuts your keys knows how to get into your property. That is exactly why New South Wales treats locksmithing as a regulated security activity, and why it is worth spending two minutes checking who you are dealing with before they arrive.
This guide explains, in general terms, how locksmith licensing works in NSW, how to check a licence, and the other practical checks that help you tell a genuine local tradesperson from an advertising operation that simply passes your call to whoever is free.
Please note: licensing rules are set by the NSW Government and can change. This article is general information. Always confirm the current requirements with the NSW Police Force Security Licensing & Enforcement Directorate (SLED) or Service NSW.
Why locksmiths are licensed in NSW
In NSW, many security activities are regulated under the Security Industry Act 1997. Locksmithing falls within that framework. In broad terms, people who carry out locksmith work for others are generally expected to hold an appropriate security licence, and businesses that supply those services are generally expected to hold a master licence.
The aim of licensing is simple. Before a licence is granted, applicants are generally subject to identity and criminal history checks and must meet training requirements. That gives the public some assurance that the person opening a door has been checked and is accountable.
How to check a licence
The NSW Government provides a way for the public to check whether a security licence is current. In practice:
- Ask for the licence number. A genuine licensed locksmith will give it to you without fuss, on the phone or on arrival.
- Check it on the official public register. The NSW Government's security licence check, available through Service NSW and the NSW Police Force SLED, lets you confirm that a licence exists, who holds it and whether it is current.
- Match the name. The name on the licence should match the person or business you are dealing with.
- Ask to see the licence card on arrival. Licensed individuals typically carry photo identification issued with their licence.
If someone is reluctant to give a licence number, or the number does not match, treat that as a reason to pause.
Our own licence details will be published on the About page once they have been supplied for publication. Until then, ask us on the phone and we will answer.
Licensing is necessary, not sufficient
A licence tells you that a person has passed certain checks. It does not tell you whether they quote fairly, whether they are local, or whether they will turn up. These further checks are just as useful.
Is the business genuinely local?
The locksmith industry has a well-known problem with lead generation. Some websites and adverts look like local businesses, with a suburb name and a local-looking phone number, but they are really call centres that sell your job to whichever contractor answers. The person who arrives may not be the business you thought you called, and the price may change.
Signs of a genuine local business:
- a real street address that you can find on a map, ideally a workshop or shopfront;
- the same business name, address and phone number on the website, the invoice and the van;
- a person on the phone who can answer specific questions about your lock;
- a clear explanation of which suburbs they cover, rather than "all of Sydney".
Our workshop is at 15 Vaughan St, Lidcombe NSW 2141. You can read about the six suburbs we cover on our service areas page.
Do they quote before starting?
A trustworthy locksmith gives you a price range on the phone and a fixed price on site before work starts, and stops to agree a new price if the job changes. Be wary of very low advertised call-out prices that do not include any actual work. Our locksmith cost guide explains what goes into a fair quote.
Do they ask for proof of ownership?
This one surprises people, but it is a good sign. A locksmith who opens a door without checking you live there would do the same for anyone. We always ask for ID linking you to the address, or the owner's authority, before a lockout opening.
Do they try non-destructive entry first?
Drilling a lock is sometimes necessary, but it should not be the first thing that happens. A skilled locksmith opens most residential locks without damage. If someone insists on drilling before trying anything else, ask why.
Do they provide a tax invoice?
You should receive an itemised tax invoice showing the business name, the work done and the parts supplied. That protects you if something goes wrong, and it is a basic sign of a legitimate business.
Are their claims realistic?
Be cautious about claims that cannot be checked. "24/7 response in 15 minutes anywhere in Sydney" is not something a small local business can honestly offer. We are open 7 days, 7:00 AM to 12:00 AM, and we say so plainly. We also do not publish ratings or awards we cannot show you.
Insurance
Ask whether the business holds public liability insurance. Damage during lock work is rare, but if a door is damaged or someone is hurt, insurance matters. A legitimate business will tell you what cover it holds. As with our licence details, our insurance details will be shown on the About page once supplied for publication.
Questions to ask on the phone
A short call can tell you a lot. Try these:
- "What is your licence number?"
- "Where are you based?"
- "Will the person who comes out work for your business?"
- "Can you give me a price range for this job?"
- "What will you need from me before opening the door?"
- "Do you provide a tax invoice?"
Our article on questions to ask before hiring a locksmith goes through more.
What to do if something goes wrong
If you have concerns about a locksmith's conduct, pricing or licensing:
- For licensing concerns, contact the NSW Police Force Security Licensing & Enforcement Directorate.
- For consumer issues such as misleading pricing or poor workmanship, contact NSW Fair Trading.
- If you believe a crime has been committed, contact the police.
Keep your invoice, any messages and the business details. They make any complaint far easier to resolve.
Why this matters for local businesses too
Shops, offices and strata buildings have extra reasons to check. A commercial locksmith may be given access to master keys or entire buildings. Ask for licence details, check them, and keep a record. See our commercial locksmith page.
Our approach
We are a locally operated locksmith working from Vaughan Street in Lidcombe. We answer the phone ourselves during opening hours, we quote before we start, we ask for proof of ownership before any lockout, and we give you an itemised tax invoice. We would rather you checked us than trusted a website, including this one.
Talk to us
If you are in Lidcombe, Auburn, Berala, Regents Park, Homebush or Strathfield, call 02 4503 6922 and ask us anything in this article. We are open 7 days, 7:00 AM to 12:00 AM. You can also request a quote or read about the workshop.
- licensing
- NSW
- trust