What locksmith problems can't wait until morning?
A simple test: can you get inside, lock up and stay safe tonight? If not, call now. If you can, a daytime visit is often the better deal.
| Problem | Call tonight? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Locked out of your home or car | Yes | You need to get in. See home lockouts or car lockouts. |
| Door won't lock after a break-in | Yes | An unlocked door overnight is the real risk. |
| Key snapped off in the only door you use | Yes | You can't lock or open it with a key until the piece is out. |
| Lock jammed so the door won't latch | Yes | Same problem: the place can't be secured. |
| Store or office won't lock at closing | Yes | Leaving a business open overnight isn't an option. |
| Keys lost, but you're inside with the doors locked | Usually can wait | Rekey in the morning, unless someone may have the keys and your address. |
| Stiff lock or a key that's hard to turn | Can wait | Book a daytime repair. Don't force it tonight. |
| New deadbolt or smart lock | Can wait | That's a daytime install. |
Does an after-hours locksmith cost more in Toronto?
It can, and you should know that before you call. Late-night, weekend and holiday calls can cost more than the same job on a weekday afternoon. It won't be a surprise on the bill: dispatch tells you the price on the phone, and the technician confirms it before starting. There's no call-out fee at any hour.
If your problem is on the can-wait side of the table above, ask dispatch for a daytime visit instead. We'd rather tell you to wait than charge you for a night call you don't need.
Need after-hours locksmith now? A real person answers 24/7.
Call (647) 367-8113What should I do after a break-in at night?
- If you think someone is still inside, or you feel unsafe, leave and call 911.
- If they're gone, report it to Toronto Police. For a break-in that isn't happening right now, use the non-emergency line, 416-808-2222. Write down the report number for your insurer.
- Take photos of the door, the frame, the lock and anything damaged before anything gets fixed.
- Call us to make the door lockable again.
On a break-in call, we repair or replace the damaged lock, rekey it if keys were taken, and fit a heavy-duty strike plate with long screws if the old one tore out of the frame. Boarding up a smashed window or a split door is not locksmith work. For that, call a board-up or restoration company, and your insurer may be able to suggest one. Once the door or frame is fixed, we can fit the lock.
When things settle down, a security upgrade visit can look at why the door gave way and what would stop it next time.
Is a locksmith really open on weekends and holidays?
Yes. Dispatch runs 24/7, including Christmas, New Year's Eve, and long weekends like Victoria Day, Canada Day, the August Civic Holiday and Thanksgiving. A real person answers, not a service that takes a message for the morning.
Holidays bring their own lockouts: heading out to a party, getting home late, or coming back from a cottage weekend to find the house keys still up north. Arrival can take longer on the busiest nights, and dispatch will give you a realistic time.
What should I expect when a locksmith comes at night?
- Dispatch gives you an arrival time, so you're not waiting outside longer than you need to.
- Wait somewhere lit. If you're alone and uneasy, sit in your car with the doors locked or in a nearby open business.
- Have your ID ready, or tell the technician it's inside. You'll show proof you live there or own the car before they leave.
- Hear the price again before work starts. It should match what dispatch told you.
At 2 a.m. it's tempting to call the first number you see. Before you do, ask for a real price on the phone. Night callers are a favourite target for bait-and-switch locksmiths who quote low, then charge much more once you're committed.
What happens when you call?
Tell us what can't wait
Locked out, door won't lock, key broken in the lock. Dispatch will say honestly if it can wait until morning.
Hear the after-hours price
You get the price on the phone, including any night or holiday cost, before anyone drives out.
Meet somewhere safe
Wait in a lit spot. Have ID ready, or tell the technician it's inside.
Secure the door tonight
We get you in or make the door lockable again, and tell you if anything else is better left for daylight.
Page reviewed October 2026 by the LocksmithGT team.