If your keys are lost or stolen, rekey every lock those keys opened as soon as you can, the same day if your address was with them. Rekeying keeps your hardware and makes the missing keys useless. We come to you anywhere in San Diego County, rekey front, back and garage doors in one visit, and cut a fresh set of keys on the spot.
What you get
- Same-day visits when keys go missing with your address
- Every exterior lock done in one trip
- Fresh keys cut on-site, extras on request
- Roommate, ex-partner and contractor keys handled discreetly
What to do in the first hour
- Retrace the obvious places once. Most keys turn up in a jacket or a car seat.
- Decide how exposed you are. Keys alone, with nothing identifying, are low risk. Keys with your ID, a bag with mail, or a fob with your address are a different matter.
- If your address was with the keys, book a same-day rekey and do not wait for the keys to turn up.
- List every lock those keys opened: house, garage side door, gates, mailbox, office, a relative's house.
- Car keys are a separate system; contact your dealer or an automotive locksmith for those.
Which locks need rekeying
Every lock the missing key could open. That usually means the front door, back door, the door from the garage into the house, any keyed gate, and a detached garage or shed. If the house was keyed alike, the good news is that one visit covers everything, because every cylinder gets the same new pins.
People forget the door into the house from the garage most often. Someone with your old key and a garage door that is left open during the day has a direct path inside. We walk the property with you so nothing is skipped.
Not sure whether any locks need replacing as well? Rekey vs. change locks settles it, and what rekeying costs in San Diego covers what to expect on the bill.
Need lost or stolen keys rekey today?
Call or text with your address and door count. You get a firm price before we roll.
Stolen bag or purse with your address
This is the one case where we say do it today. A thief with your keys and your driver's license knows exactly where the keys work. Rekey the house the same day, then deal with cards and ID. If a garage remote was in the car or the bag, clear the opener's memory and re-pair the remaining remotes; the steps are on the opener unit itself.
A police report is not required for us to rekey, but it is worth filing for insurance and in case the bag is recovered.
Keys that never came back
Not every missing key is lost. A former roommate, an ex-partner, a house cleaner you let go, a dog walker, a contractor whose job ended months ago, or the last tenant in a rental. Any of them may still have a working copy, and you have no way to know whether they made more.
Rekeying settles it quietly with no confrontation. For rentals, this is the everyday turnover rekey; for a home, it is a standard rekey visit. If you are tired of handing out keys, a keypad deadbolt lets you give people a code you can delete.
After a break-in or attempted entry
Rekey every door, and let us look at the one that was attacked. Even when a lock held, the jamb, strike plate or hinge screws are often damaged or loosened. We repair strikes, install reinforced plates with 3-inch screws, and replace a deadbolt that was drilled, pried or bent. Photograph the damage before we start if you are filing an insurance claim.
So lost keys stop being a problem
Once you have rekeyed, the cheapest insurance against doing it again is a keypad. A smart lock or a simple electronic keypad deadbolt on the door you use most means the family carries no key at all, visitors get a temporary code, and a lost key ring is an inconvenience rather than a security problem. We can install one in the same visit as the rekey.
Fast help across San Diego
Lost-key rekeys are same-day work for us in most cases. Student rentals in Pacific Beach and the College Area, downtown condos, and family homes in Chula Vista, La Mesa, Mira Mesa and Oceanside are all inside our normal same-day range. Call or text with your door count and whether your address was with the keys, and we will give you a time and a price straight away.
Lost or Stolen Keys Rekey: common questions
How fast can you get here after I lose my keys?
Usually the same day during business hours. Tell us whether your address was with the keys so we can prioritize. Because we are mobile and carry pins and blanks for every common keyway, the visit itself takes under an hour for most homes.
Do I need to change the locks or just rekey after losing keys?
Rekey. The locks are not the problem; the missing key is. Rekeying makes that key useless and gives you new ones for a fraction of the cost of new hardware. We only suggest replacing a lock if it is worn, damaged or a weak builder unit on an important door.
My car keys were on the same ring. Can you help with those?
We focus on rekeying and smart locks for doors, so car keys are outside what we do. Contact your dealer or an automotive locksmith for the vehicle. We can still rekey the house the same day so at least the home side is handled quickly.
My ex or former roommate still has a key. Can I rekey without their permission?
If you own the home, yes. If you rent, the lease usually requires the landlord's permission and a copy of any new key, so check it first or have the landlord book us. If the other person is still a tenant on the lease, talk to the landlord before changing anything.
Should I file a police report?
It is not required for us to rekey. File one if the keys were stolen, if ID or cards were taken with them, or if you plan an insurance claim. The report number is useful later if the bag turns up or the cards are used.
Can you cut extra keys while you are here?
Yes. We cut a starter set with the rekey and as many additional copies as you want at the per-key price on our pricing page. They are cut fresh from the new bitting, so every copy works as well as the first one.
More answers on the FAQ page. Not sure what your door has? Send us a photo and we will tell you.
Where we do this
We do this everywhere in San Diego County, same day in most cases. Some of the places we cover:
Related guides
- Rekey vs. Change Locks: Which Do You Actually Need? – Rekeying keeps your locks and kills old keys. Replacing swaps the hardware. Decide in two minutes with costs, timing and San Diego examples.
- How Much Does It Cost to Rekey a House in San Diego? (2026) – 2026 San Diego rekey costs: service call, per-cylinder fees, keyed alike, examples for a condo, house and rental, and how to avoid surprise pricing.
- Best Smart Locks for San Diego Homes (2026 Installer Picks) – An installer's picks for the best smart locks in San Diego by use case: keypad with key backup, retrofit, Airbnb, no-app keypad, Apple Home and budget.
- Rekey After a Breakup, Divorce or a Roommate Moving Out – An ex or former roommate still has a key. When a rekey is the right move, the legal line for renters and co-owners, and the full access checklist.
Ready to get it done today?
Call or text for a straight answer and an upfront price. Mon–Fri 7am–8pm · Sat–Sun 8am–6pm.