Guide
What ID a locksmith should ask for
Expect to show a photo ID that matches the address, or a lease or registration that ties you to the home or car. A locksmith who opens a door without asking anything is the one to worry about. In North Carolina, ID runs both ways: licensed locksmiths carry a photo ID card from the state board.
On this page
What counts as proof
| Job | What to show |
|---|---|
| House or apartment lockout | Photo ID with the address, or ID plus a lease, utility bill or mail |
| Car lockout or key | Photo ID plus the registration or title |
| Rekey or lock change | Proof you own the home, or the landlord's OK if you rent |
| Safe opening | Proof the safe is yours, or estate papers for an inherited one |
| Mailbox lock | Proof of address, and the owner's say-so for a cluster box |
Your ID is locked inside
Very common, and fine. Say so on the phone. Many locksmiths will open the door and check your ID inside before they leave. For a car, the registration is often in the glovebox.
New in town?
About 31% of households in the Wake County ZIP codes we cover moved in during 2020 or later (Census ACS), so a lot of people's driver's licenses still show an old address. Bring the lease or a utility bill. If you just closed on a house, the closing paperwork works.
The ID they should show you
G.S. 74F-11 gives each licensee a photo ID card that must be available for inspection while they work. Apprentices carry a colored badge card instead and work under a licensed locksmith. If the person at your door can't show either, that is worth a phone call before they touch the lock. How to check a license.
Why the check matters
The FTC tells consumers to expect a locksmith to ask for identification. The point is simple: the same skill that gets you into your house gets anyone into it. A locksmith who skips the check would skip it for someone else too.
Questions people in Raleigh ask
Can a locksmith let a family member in?
Only if they can show they live there, or the owner or tenant authorizes it. A careful locksmith will want to talk to the person on the lease.
Can a pet sitter or house sitter call a locksmith?
Only with the owner's say-so, ideally by phone with the locksmith. One Raleigh couple posted from overseas after their cat sitter lost the apartment key; the leasing office was the fastest fix.