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(323) 997-8867
Crenshaw Lock

Automotive Locksmith in El Monte · 24/7 mobile

Automotive Locksmith in El Monte, California

Crenshaw Lock Company provides mobile automotive locksmith service in El Monte, California, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We come to your car, truck, motorcycle, RV or fleet vehicle for lockouts, lost keys and key programming. Call (323) 997-8867 and tell us where you are parked.

  • Mobile to your El Monte location
  • Available 24/7
  • Price quoted before we start
Call (323) 997-8867or tap to call — we answer 24/7
Car door handle and keyhole at dusk
Open now(323) 997-8867

A car problem rarely picks a convenient place. In El Monte it might be a locked door in the parking lot at the El Monte Bus Station, a dead key fob after a long shift, or a lost key somewhere between the Valley Mall and the 10 freeway. Our automotive locksmith service is fully mobile, so the work happens wherever the vehicle is sitting. We have no storefront to tow your car to, and you should never have to pay for a tow just to get a key made.

Crenshaw Lock Company has served Greater Los Angeles and Ventura County since 1987, and owner and lead technician David Shar built the business around one idea: explain the problem plainly, then fix it properly. Automotive work covers a lot of ground. It includes opening locked vehicles without damage, cutting and programming replacement keys, repairing worn or broken ignition cylinders, extracting broken keys from doors and ignitions, and handling motorcycles, RVs and work trucks.

El Monte has a mix of commuters, families, small businesses and delivery and service fleets, and each has different needs. A household with an older sedan wants a spare key made before the only one disappears. A contractor with several vans wants keys that match across the fleet. A driver stranded late at night just wants back in the car. We treat each of these as its own job, and we will tell you honestly what your vehicle needs before we start.

How it works in El Monte

  1. 1

    Call and describe the vehicle

    Phone (323) 997-8867 any time of day or night. Tell us the make, model and approximate year, what happened, and where the vehicle is parked. Details like whether you have any working key, whether the alarm is sounding, or whether a child or pet is inside help us prepare the right tools and decide how urgent the situation is.

  2. 2

    We travel to your location

    Because we are fully mobile, our technician drives to you, whether that is a driveway in Norwood, a lot near Valley Blvd, or a spot beside the Metrolink station on Railroad St. We do not make timing promises we cannot keep, but we will keep you informed and stay in contact until we arrive.

  3. 3

    Confirm ownership and diagnose

    Before opening or making a key, we ask for reasonable proof that the vehicle is yours, such as registration or ID matching the vehicle. Then we look at the real issue: a simple lockout, a worn key, a failed transponder, a damaged ignition, or a lock that has been tampered with.

  4. 4

    Quote the work before we begin

    We explain what we plan to do and what affects the cost for your specific vehicle, so there are no surprises. If a repair is not needed, such as a key that only needs reprogramming rather than a new ignition, we say so.

  5. 5

    Do the work with care

    We use professional entry tools made to protect door seals, paint, wiring and window mechanisms. Keys are cut on site and transponders or remotes are programmed to the vehicle so they start the engine and work the locks.

  6. 6

    Test everything before we leave

    We try each key in the door, trunk if applicable, and ignition, and check remote functions. Where it makes sense, we recommend cutting a spare so you are not stranded again.

Need automotive locksmith in El Monte?

24/7 Mobile Locksmith across Greater Los Angeles & Ventura County. We answer 24/7.

Call (323) 997-8867

What affects the price

  • Vehicle make, model and year, since newer cars with encrypted immobilizer systems need more programming work than older mechanical-key vehicles.
  • The type of key involved: a basic cut key, a transponder key, a remote head key, a flip key or a smart proximity key all involve different parts and procedures.
  • Whether you have a working key to copy, or all keys are lost and a new one must be created from the vehicle itself.
  • The nature of the lockout or repair, such as a simple door opening versus extracting a broken key or replacing a worn ignition cylinder.
  • Time of day and the location of the vehicle, since nights, weekends and holidays and more distant calls can affect the service charge.
  • Special vehicle types such as motorcycles, RVs, older classics or multi-vehicle fleet jobs, which can require different parts or additional time.

Why El Monte chooses us

  • Fully mobile service, so there is no storefront trip and no tow just to get a key made.
  • In business since 1987, which means decades of experience with domestic, Asian and European vehicles that are common on El Monte streets.
  • Owner-led operation under David Shar, so the standards for honest diagnosis and clean, damage-free work come from the top.
  • Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including nights and holidays, for lockouts that cannot wait.
  • We handle cars, trucks, motorcycles, RVs and fleets, so one call covers a family sedan or a row of work vans.
  • We explain options and what drives cost before work starts, and we will tell you when a cheaper fix will do the job.

Automotive Locksmith across El Monte

El Monte sits at the crossroads of the I-10 San Bernardino Freeway and the I-605 San Gabriel River Freeway, and that shapes how people here use their vehicles. Many residents commute daily, park at the El Monte Bus Station where the Metro J Line busway ends at Santa Anita Ave and Ramona Blvd, or leave cars at the Metrolink station on Railroad St for the San Bernardino Line. A car left all day in a transit lot is a common setting for a lockout, a dead key fob or a lost key, and we come directly to you in the parking lot.

In residential areas such as Norwood and Mountain View, cars are often parked in driveways and on the street in front of post-war tract homes, and many households keep only one or two keys per vehicle. Near Downtown El Monte and the Valley Mall, parking structures and busy lots on Valley Blvd and Garvey Ave bring frequent calls for keys locked inside and worn ignitions. We serve ZIP codes 91731, 91732, 91733, 91734 and 91735, so whether you are in 91732 near Peck Rd or in 91731 closer to the river corridor, the same service applies.

Weekend outings also generate calls, from families at Gibson Mariposa Park and the El Monte Aquatic Center to visitors at Santa Fe Trail Historical Park. Trucks and vans used by local small businesses along Valley Blvd and Garvey Ave need reliable keys too, and we can duplicate or program keys for several vehicles in one visit. Wherever you are in El Monte, call (323) 997-8867.

Locked out or need a locksmith now?

24/7 Mobile Locksmith across Greater Los Angeles & Ventura County. We answer 24/7.

Call (323) 997-8867

Other El Monte locksmith services

See all of our El Monte services, or our citywide automotive locksmith page.

Automotive Locksmith in El Monte — FAQs

Do you come to me anywhere in El Monte?
Yes. We are fully mobile and serve Norwood, Mountain View, Downtown El Monte and the rest of the city, including transit lots and shopping centers. Call (323) 997-8867 and tell us where the vehicle is parked.
Are you available at night and on weekends?
Yes. Crenshaw Lock Company is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays. A late-night lockout in a parking lot is something we handle regularly.
Will opening my car damage the door or paint?
Our technicians use professional entry tools designed to avoid damaging paint, weatherstripping and electronics. We assess the vehicle first and pick the safest method for that model.
I lost all my keys. Can you make a new one?
In most cases, yes. We can create a new key at your vehicle and program it to the car, even when no original key is available. Call (323) 997-8867 with the make, model and year so we can prepare.
Can you program a key fob or transponder key?
Yes. We cut and program transponder keys, remote head keys and many smart or proximity keys. Some vehicles need more procedures than others, which is why we ask for the year and model up front.
Do I need to prove the car is mine?
Yes, and it protects you. We ask for ID and registration or similar documentation that matches the vehicle before opening it or making keys.
Can you help with a broken key in the ignition or door?
Yes. We extract broken key pieces and, if the lock or ignition cylinder is worn or damaged, we can repair or replace it on site depending on the vehicle.
Do you work on motorcycles, RVs and fleet vehicles?
Yes. We service motorcycles, RVs, work trucks and fleets. For businesses in El Monte with several vehicles, we can handle duplicates and programming together. Call (323) 997-8867 to discuss your fleet.
DS

Reviewed by David Shar — Owner & Lead Technician

Crenshaw Lock Company has served Greater Los Angeles & Ventura County since 1987.

Last updated 2026-10-12.

Call (323) 997-8867 · Open 24/7