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(323) 997-8867
Crenshaw Lock

Automotive Locksmith in Santa Monica · 24/7 mobile

Automotive Locksmith in Santa Monica, CA

Crenshaw Lock Company is a 24/7 mobile automotive locksmith serving Santa Monica, California. We come to your car, truck, motorcycle, RV, or fleet vehicle for lockouts, lost keys, broken keys, and ignition problems. Call (323) 997-8867 any hour, day or night, and speak with a real person.

  • Mobile to your Santa Monica 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
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Getting locked out of a car in Santa Monica rarely happens somewhere convenient. It happens on Ocean Avenue with the Pacific glinting beyond Palisades Park, in a tight parking structure near Santa Monica Place, or on a residential street in Wilmont where you ran inside for a minute. Crenshaw Lock Company is fully mobile, so the workshop comes to you. There is no storefront to visit, and no need to tow a vehicle just to get a key made.

David Shar has run Crenshaw Lock Company since 1987, serving Greater Los Angeles and Ventura County. That is decades of working on everything from older vehicles with simple mechanical keys to newer cars with transponder chips, smart keys, and push-button start. Our automotive work covers cars, trucks, motorcycles, RVs, and business fleets, and we are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

This page explains how an automotive call works, what shapes the cost, and what is specific to Santa Monica: salt air, tight beach-area parking, busy commuter corridors, and the mix of residents, visitors, and businesses that make this city's vehicles so varied. If you are standing next to a locked car right now, skip to the phone number and call (323) 997-8867.

How it works in Santa Monica

  1. 1

    You call and describe the situation

    Call (323) 997-8867 and tell us the make, model, and approximate year of the vehicle, where you are, and what happened: keys locked inside, keys lost, a key snapped in the lock, or a fob that stopped working. Those details tell us what tools and key blanks to bring.

  2. 2

    We confirm the vehicle and your ownership

    Before we open a door or create a key, we ask you to show that the vehicle is yours, typically with a photo ID and registration or other documentation tied to the car. This protects you, and it is a standard part of responsible automotive locksmith work.

  3. 3

    We choose the least invasive entry method

    For a lockout, we use professional entry tools designed to open the door without damaging paint, weatherstripping, or the lock itself. We do not force doors. If a vehicle has side airbags or sensitive wiring in the door, we work around them carefully.

  4. 4

    Key cutting, programming, or ignition repair

    For lost keys, we can cut a new key from the vehicle's lock and, where the car requires it, program a transponder key or fob on site. Worn or damaged ignition cylinders and broken key fragments are handled at your location as well, since the work is done from our mobile setup.

  5. 5

    We test everything before we leave

    We confirm the new key turns the lock and ignition, the remote functions work, and the car starts and runs normally. You get a clear explanation of what was done and what, if anything, to watch for, such as keeping a spare key somewhere safe.

Need automotive locksmith in Santa Monica?

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: a basic mechanical key is a different job from a transponder key, a proximity smart key, or a push-button-start system that needs programming.
  • The type of problem: a simple lockout, a lost-key situation with no working original, a broken key in the lock, and a failed ignition cylinder each involve different labor and parts.
  • Whether a spare or original key still exists: duplicating from a working key is usually simpler than originating a new key from scratch.
  • Time of day and location: we are available 24/7, and late-night or hard-to-reach calls can affect the scope of the visit.
  • Number of keys or vehicles: adding a second key or handling several fleet vehicles in one visit changes the overall job.
  • Condition of the lock or ignition: salt-air exposure and years of wear can make a lock slower to service, and parts replacement may be needed.

Why Santa Monica chooses us

  • Fully mobile, always: every service happens at your vehicle in Santa Monica, so you do not need a tow or a trip to a shop.
  • Owner-led experience since 1987: David Shar has been working as a locksmith in Greater Los Angeles for decades, and that depth shows when a car does something unusual.
  • Broad vehicle coverage: cars, trucks, motorcycles, RVs, and fleets, not just the common sedan.
  • Available around the clock: 24/7 service means a midnight lockout after a pier dinner gets the same attention as a weekday call.
  • Ownership verification as standard practice: we check that the vehicle is yours before making keys, which protects you from theft and fraud.
  • Straightforward communication: we explain what the job involves before work starts, without pressure or vague promises.

Automotive Locksmith across Santa Monica

Santa Monica is a city where cars and the coast mix constantly. Visitors park near the Santa Monica Pier and Third Street Promenade and sometimes lock keys in a rental or pull a tight-fitting key out of a fob case at the wrong moment. Residents in Ocean Park, Sunset Park, and Pico deal with street parking, sun, and salt-laden air. Over time, that coastal air can leave door locks and trunk locks sluggish or stiff, which is one reason a key that used to work smoothly can suddenly stick or snap.

We work throughout the city, including ZIP codes 90401 through 90405. That covers downtown office garages and condo buildings, the quieter streets North of Montana, the apartment blocks around Wilmont, and the commercial stretches along Wilshire Boulevard, Lincoln Boulevard, and Pico Boulevard. Drivers who commute in from the I-10 terminus or along Pacific Coast Highway sometimes end up stranded near the water, and we meet them wherever they happen to be.

Businesses also keep their vehicles here. Shops near Montana Avenue, studios and galleries around Bergamot Station, and service companies serving the Santa Monica College area may all have vans or work trucks that need spare keys, ignition repair, or lockout service. We can help fleet owners keep vehicles on the road without a long wait at a dealership. If you need help anywhere in Santa Monica, 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 Santa Monica locksmith services

See all of our Santa Monica services, or our citywide automotive locksmith page.

Automotive Locksmith in Santa Monica — FAQs

Do you really come to me anywhere in Santa Monica?
Yes. We are fully mobile, so we come to your vehicle, whether you are parked near the Santa Monica Pier, in a downtown structure, or on a residential street in Ocean Park. Call (323) 997-8867 and tell us where you are.
Can you make a new car key if I have lost all my keys?
In many cases, yes. We can cut and program a replacement key on site for many vehicles after verifying ownership. The exact process depends on your car's make, model, and year, so have that information ready when you call.
Will opening my locked car damage it?
Our methods are chosen to avoid damaging paint, door seals, or the lock. We use professional tools rather than forcing the door, and we work carefully around airbags and wiring in the door.
Are you available at night and on weekends?
Yes. Crenshaw Lock Company is available 24 hours a day, every day. If you are locked out late at night after an evening on Third Street Promenade, call (323) 997-8867.
What do I need to show before you make a key?
We ask for proof that the vehicle is yours, typically a photo ID along with registration or other documents connected to the car. This is standard practice and protects you against theft.
Do you work on motorcycles, RVs, and work trucks?
Yes. Our automotive service covers cars, trucks, motorcycles, RVs, and fleets. Fleet owners with several vehicles can ask about handling multiple keys or lockouts in one visit.
Can salt air really cause key or lock problems?
It can contribute. Coastal moisture and salt can corrode lock components over time, making them stiff or sticky, and a stressed key can then bend or break. If your key is getting harder to turn, it is worth having it looked at before it fails.
How is the cost of an automotive locksmith job determined?
It depends on the vehicle, the kind of key, the nature of the problem, and the time and location. We explain the job up front. For a conversation about your situation, call (323) 997-8867.
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