The locks in your car can be challenging to work with if you need to change them. The cylinders in the doors and the trunk of the car are often a matched set, and if you need to replace one, you will need to replace all of them.

Lock Damage

Lock damage can be the result of a lot of things. Someone trying to pick the lock on your car can damage the cylinder and make it hard to open. Sometimes vandals will force paper or glue into the lock to deliberately damage the lock.  And sometimes, the lock cylinder breaks after years of use. 

No matter what causes the damage, if you have to replace the lock cylinder, you may want to have the cylinder keyed to match the original lock or change both door locks and the trunk cylinder to keep them all the same. 

An automotive locksmith can help you set the cylinder for the existing key and can install new locks in the car if you decide to go that route instead.

Lock Outs

If your keys get locked in your car and you can not gain access, an automotive locksmith can come to your location and unlock the vehicle for you. The locksmith carries many different tools that allow them to work on the lock and open the vehicle without damage to the lock.

The cost of a locksmith can be considerable, but if you do not have any other option and need to get into the car, your options may be limited. Sometimes a road service club can send someone to try and open the door for you, but the locksmith is the one person that is going to have the correct tools for the job.

Locks and Old Cars

If you are restoring an old car, the locks on the vehicle may not be available anymore, and the ones you have might not work correctly. You can have an automotive locksmith work on the locks to get them clean and free moving, so they are usable again, and if you are missing the keys for them, most locksmiths can make replacement keys for you as well.

Check with the locksmith in your area and see if they can work on the locks for you, then take them out of the car and drop them off at the locksmith's shop. It is a good idea to put them in a container or bag together so the locksmith knows they are a complete set and will treat them as such when they are working on them.

For more information, contact a company like ASAP Mobile Locksmiths.