Locksmith Pricing · Middle Tennessee
Locksmith Prices, Published: What Instant Locksmith TN Charges
Car lockouts start at $55. House lockouts start at $80. The service call is a flat $15 inside city limits or $25 outside. After 8 PM is 1.5×, federal holidays are 2×, and a federal holiday after 8 PM is 3× — and you approve the final price before any work starts.
- Open 24/7/365
- Service call = your deposit
- No surprise add-ons
Standard prices
| Service | Standard service price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Car lockout | From $55 | Non-destructive opening of a car, truck or SUV door. Higher for some luxury or high-security vehicles — quoted before dispatch. |
| House lockout | From $80 | Non-destructive entry to a house, apartment or condo through a standard residential lock. High-security locks are quoted and approved first; drilling, if ever needed, is $200 plus the service call, approved before we drill. |
| Trunk lockout | Quoted before dispatch | Depends on vehicle and trunk-release design. |
| Business lockout | Quoted before dispatch | Depends on door hardware (cylindrical, mortise, storefront deadlatch) and authorization. |
| Car key replacement, lost car keys, transponder, fob & smart keys | Quoted before dispatch | Price depends on year, make, model and key type. Tell us when you order. |
| Rekeying, lock replacement, deadbolt installation | Quoted before dispatch | Depends on number of locks, hardware and whether you supply it. |
| Lock drilling (last resort) | $200 | Plus service call; new lock/cylinder priced separately. Only after non-destructive methods fail, and only with your approval. |
| Electronic & smart lock service | Varies — quoted before dispatch | Depends on brand, model and problem (dead batteries, lost codes, jammed motor, repair or replacement). |
| All other services | Quoted before dispatch | Every quote is confirmed with you before work begins. |
The service call (and why it's your deposit)
$15 inside city limits
Flat fee to send a technician to an address inside a city's limits.
$25 outside city limits
Flat fee for county and rural addresses outside city limits.
The service call is added to the service price — it is not credited against it. When you order online you pay it at checkout as your deposit, through Squarespace's standard secure checkout. It's fully refundable if you cancel before the technician gets in their vehicle and starts driving to you; after that it's non-refundable. Details: Payment & Deposit Policy and Cancellation Policy.
Why a tiny “service call” isn't a red flag here: some advertisers quote a very low service call and reveal the real price only after the locksmith arrives. We publish the service call and the service price, so you know the starting total before you order. How to spot locksmith bait pricing.
After-hours and holiday rates
Instant Locksmith TN is open 24/7/365. Calls after 8:00 PM, calls on U.S. federal holidays, and federal holidays after 8:00 PM are billed at a multiple of the standard service price. The service call stays flat.
| When | Rate | Car lockout, inside city limits (starting) | House lockout, inside city limits (starting) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (before 8:00 PM) | 1× | $55 + $15 = $70 | $80 + $15 = $95 |
| After 8:00 PM | 1.5× | $82.50 + $15 = $97.50 | $120 + $15 = $135 |
| Federal holiday | 2× | $110 + $15 = $125 | $160 + $15 = $175 |
| Federal holiday after 8:00 PM | 3× (1.5 × 2) | $165 + $15 = $180 | $240 + $15 = $255 |
Outside city limits, add $10 to each total (the $25 service call instead of $15). Starting prices; final price is confirmed before work begins.
Federal holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Washington's Birthday (Presidents Day), Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
What can change the final price
Your quote is based on what you tell us. The price only changes if the job turns out to be different — and never without your approval. Common reasons:
- A high-security or specialty lock (restricted keyway, high-security cylinder, electronic lock) instead of a standard one.
- A luxury, European or late-model vehicle that needs a different entry method or key.
- Parts: new locks, key blanks, transponder chips, fobs or hardware.
- Extra locks or doors beyond what was ordered.
- A lock that can't be opened without drilling or replacement: lock drilling is $200 plus the service call (multipliers apply to the $200), and the new lock or cylinder is priced separately — you approve both first.
If you decline a changed price, you pay only the service call.
How our lockout prices compare
Most Middle Tennessee locksmiths don't publish prices. On October 5, 2026 we reviewed local locksmith websites that do: the two Nashville price lists we found advertised car lockouts starting at $65 and $85, and house lockouts starting at $85 and $95–$150. National cost guides put typical home lockouts around $75–$200.
The lowest posted lockout prices we've found in Middle Tennessee — car lockouts from $55+, house lockouts from $80+.*
*Based on our October 5, 2026 review of Middle Tennessee locksmith websites that publish lockout prices. Starting prices are before the $15 (within city limits) or $25 (outside city limits) service call; other companies may structure fees differently. Re-checked regularly.
More context in our Tennessee locksmith cost guide.
Payment
- Online orders: the service call is paid at checkout as your deposit (card, via Squarespace's standard checkout).
- The service price is due when the work is complete.
- If you dispute a charge for work that was performed, our Terms of Service apply, including the chargeback fee.
Pricing questions
Is the $15 or $25 service call included in the $55 or $80 price?
No. The service call is a separate flat fee added to the service price. A standard car lockout inside city limits starts at $70 total, and a standard house lockout inside city limits starts at $95 total.
Does the after-hours multiplier apply to the service call?
No. The 1.5×, 2× and 3× multipliers apply only to the standard service price. The service call stays $15 inside city limits or $25 outside.
How do I know if I'm inside city limits?
Enter your address when you order and we'll apply the right service call. If you're unsure, choose the option that fits best — we'll confirm it before dispatch.
Can I get my deposit back if I find my keys?
Yes, if you cancel before the technician gets in their vehicle and starts driving to you. Once they're on the way, the service call is non-refundable.
Why do some locksmith ads show a lower service call?
Some ads quote a low trip fee and reveal the real price on site. We publish both the service call and the starting service price so you can compare honestly.
How much does it cost to drill out a lock?
Lock drilling is $200 standard plus the $15 or $25 service call, so $215 inside city limits. After 8:00 PM the drilling price is $300, on a federal holiday $400, and on a federal holiday after 8:00 PM $600. The replacement lock or cylinder is extra, and you approve everything before we drill.
Do you charge more on weekends?
No weekend surcharge. Only calls after 8:00 PM and U.S. federal holidays change the rate.
See your exact price in about a minute
Pick your service and location — the order form shows your starting price, any after-hours or holiday rate, and the service call before you pay.
