In fact, duplicate keys are one of the biggest risks for homeowners. Whether you want to prevent someone else from duplicating your keys or you want to ensure you do it the right way, here are some guidelines to consider.

Benefits of Key Duplication

Spare keys have several benefits, among them saving you time if you ever lose the original. Also, just having them gives peace of mind, and can reduce stress. Here are some of the other benefits of duplicating a key:

• You get a backup key for the original.
• You avoid getting locked out of your home.
• You can give one to a trusted friend or family member.
• You can also give one to a neighbor for when you’re out of town.

Key Duplication Safety Tips

While they do have benefits, duplicate keys also have risks. The biggest risk is when someone else has access to your original key for any significant amount of time. Whether it’s a service technician, a home buyer or a neighbor, grabbing a key for duplication and replacing it later isn’t that difficult. This means a stranger has access to your home. To avoid this situation, here are some key duplication safety tips:

• Don’t leave a key (original or duplicate) in an easy-to-access location.
• Only give spare keys to people you completely trust.
• Avoid hiding spare keys in obvious locations, like under the doormat.
• Don’t ignore access points, especially at night.
• Have a home safety plan for when you’re out of town.

Where To Get Keys Duplicated

Keys are often duplicated at those self-service kiosks out of convenience. They’re not the best key duplication solution for giving you peace of mind, as they tend to be inferior quality, not as precise, and less secure than visiting a professional locksmith. At A-1 Locksmith, we’ve duplicated thousands of keys over the years, so we can give you personalized tips about what to do (and not do) with the key duplication process.

If you’d like more advice about key duplication and other locksmith-related topics, stop by any of our A-1 Locksmith locations in Dallas-Fort Worth today, and we’ll help you out.

This is especially true for local locksmiths.

If you need to make a copy of a key, but don’t want to travel far for it, it’s important to have the right considerations in mind. Contrary to popular belief, those kiosks at big-box retailers aren’t the best option. You can still have the professional locksmith experience without traveling too far from your home. Here’s how:

Use the Right Search Terms

If you’re looking for “key duplication near me” and it doesn’t return the results you’re seeking, consider switching up the search terms you’re using. “Duplicate keys,” “key copy” and “spare key creation” are a few examples. Also make sure you’re aware that the top listings are usually paid advertisements, so you might need to scroll down a little when you get your search results in order to consider what type of search result is most relevant to your search query.

Be Selective

Don’t go with the first company that has positive reviews, is closest to you or is the most affordable. Be selective! Sure, it’d be nice to find a local locksmith that can do the job well, but it would be even better to find a local locksmith you can rely on for years to come. If the company does have good reviews, make sure they’re legitimate, and be wary of any business with zero or all-positive reviews. Mentions of key duplication in reviews are also a plus.

Ask Questions!

Once you’ve narrowed down a few options for key duplication near you, ask questions to find the best local locksmith for you. Here are a few examples:

• Do you provide up-front estimates?
• Are you licensed or certified?
• What key duplication equipment or experience do you have?
• Do you guarantee or warranty your work?

Do Online Research

If you want some extra reassurance, research the companies you’re considering after your questions have been answered. Do some final checks to make sure the company is legitimate, has a phone number and website, trains its staff properly, and serves your area. If you don’t have peace of mind about the key duplication locksmith you’re considering, you might as well not even do it.

If you’re looking for the best local locksmith for key duplication near you, look no further than A-1 Locksmith. Drop by any of our Dallas-Fort Worth-area locations today!

Also, did you know that going to a locksmith instead of a car dealership to duplicate your car keys is more affordable? We’ll cover this reason and three others you should choose a locksmith for auto key duplication in this blog post.

1. It’s More Affordable

For starters, every service at a dealership is typically more expensive than if you went somewhere else. This makes sense in a way, as the dealer handles components directly from car brands, and wants to protect the value of its brand, and the cars it sells. But you don’t need to pay Ferrari prices for a Honda-level need. An auto locksmith can duplicate keys of any kind, and give you a cheaper option that saves you money.

2. There Are More Options

Speaking of options, you don’t have to stick with the same key when you choose a locksmith for auto key duplication. A dealer might not give you any choice in the matter, but an auto locksmith will give you the option to upgrade to a high-security key, key fob or another type of car key. You can even make an extra spare key, if you so desire. 

3. It Can Be Faster

It’s often also more convenient and faster to choose a locksmith instead of a dealer for auto key duplication. Not only can a locksmith travel to your location if you need a key duplicated, they can help if you’re locked out of your vehicle, and get you back on the road faster. At a dealership, you might have to wait for other customers, and it usually takes much longer.

4. There’s More Peace of Mind

When it comes to car keys, you can expect the same level of quality from a locksmith that you would from a dealership. In fact, you might experience more peace of mind, as a locksmith lives, and breathes security, whereas a dealer focuses on all aspects of vehicle buying, selling and maintenance. You can trust that the key you’re getting from a locksmith will be of high quality.
These are just a few reasons to choose a locksmith for auto key duplication. If you need a key duplicated for your vehicle, give the A-1 Locksmith team a call today at (972) 284-7500.

Online Services Take Financial Advantage

The biggest risk to using an online service for key duplication is that these companies often utilize tactics to take advantage of the customer. Often times, online key duplication companies will hook customers with the prospect of copying a key at a very low cost—often only a few dollars—and with very little work for the customer – in fact, all you have to do is send in a picture of your key! While this may sound tempting as a time, and money-saver, don’t be fooled; online services often over-promise, and under-sell. While you may be quoted a reasonable price, a bait-and-switch scheme is often in play – after you agree to have your key copied, you may really be charged dozens more than you were originally told.

Keep in mind that when you pay for a service online, handing over your credit card is often the only option; unlike a physical store, you can’t pay cash for online key copying. This means that if you do receive services from a fraudulent company, you may risk handing over your credit card information, which could result in a future credit card scheme with you as the victim.

Putting Your Home, and Family at Risk

In the worst of cases, a scam online key duplication service may use the photo of your key in order to make copies of your key with ill intentions. Because it can be very hard to track down who’s behind online companies, you may be sending a picture of your home or auto key to someone who’s involved in criminal activity, including burglary.

Not a Proper Cut

Another reason that choosing an online service for key duplication isn’t worth it is that often times, a basic photo of a key is not enough to yield a proper cut. This is especially true if the key has been used excessively, and is worn down in certain places. If your key isn’t cut properly, then you’ve not only wasted your money, but you’ve also wasted valuable time as well. In order to ensure that you get an accurate cut, it’s always best to have your key(s) duplicated in-person by a trusted professional.

How to Find a Trustworthy Key Duplication Service

So how do you find a trustworthy key duplication service near you? The best way to find a reputable key copying company in the DFW area is to look for one with years’ of experience, and positive customer reviews. If you need key duplication services today, the professionals at A-1 Locksmith can help. With 60 years’ experience helping customers just like you, we’re ready to get put our expertise to work for you today.