Broken Key Extraction
A snapped key inside a lock is one of those moments that stops your day cold — whether you're rushing out of a residence on Roxbury Drive, heading to a meeting near Rodeo Drive, or trying to access a commercial property on Wilshire Boulevard after hours. The fragment lodges itself just deep enough to block the lock entirely, and every instinct says to pry it out yourself. That instinct almost always makes things worse. At Hollis Locksmiths, our trained and insured technicians arrive at your exact location across Beverly Hills with the specialized extraction tools designed to remove the broken piece cleanly — protecting the lock cylinder, the door hardware, and your schedule.
Open 24 hours, 7 days a week · Licensed, bonded & insured
We Get It — Life Happens. Keys snap for all kinds of reasons: metal fatigue from years of use, a worn-out lock mechanism that puts extra torque on the key, or simply the wrong angle of force on a cold morning. Fun Fact: people lose or damage their keys far more often than locksmiths get credit for — it is consistently one of the top call-out reasons we receive, day and night. Whatever brought you to this moment, Hollis Locksmiths operates 24/7, seven days a week, so a mobile technician can come directly to you. No towing your vehicle, no removing your door — we work on-site, with a goal of damage-free extraction every time.
What we do
Available 24/7
Day, night, weekends and holidays — a real local locksmith answers and rolls a fully-stocked van.
Fast local response
Based in Beverly Hills, we reach the Beverly Hills area in well under an hour.
Insured & background-checked
Vetted technicians, up-front pricing, and no surprise add-ons when we arrive.
Damage-free entry
We pick and bypass locks the right way, so most lockouts are solved without drilling anything.
More about our work
Everything you need to know about how we help — at a glance.
Why Broken Key Extraction Demands a Professional Approach
When a key breaks inside a lock, the fragment typically rests against the internal pin stack or wafer tumblers of the cylinder. Attempting to retrieve it with a screwdriver, bobby pin, or adhesive can push the fragment deeper, rotate it sideways, or score the cylinder walls — turning a straightforward extraction into a full lock replacement. Trained technicians use purpose-built tools: hook picks, broken-key extractors with barbed edges, and thin-jaw picks that slide alongside the key blank without engaging the pins. The objective is always to retrieve the fragment intact and leave the lock fully functional. Where possible, we do this without drilling — preserving your existing hardware, whether that is a classic mortise lock assembly on an older Beverly Hills property or a modern door knob lock on a new-build condominium.
It is not just about locks — it is about peace of mind. Knowing that a skilled professional is handling the situation correctly the first time means you are not dealing with a damaged cylinder next week, a door that will not latch properly, or an unexpected replacement bill. Our technicians assess the lock type, the depth of the fragment, and the condition of the cylinder before selecting a method. That assessment happens on-site, at your location, within minutes of arrival.
Mortise Lock and Door Knob Lock Extraction — What to Expect On-Site
Beverly Hills properties span a wide spectrum of lock hardware. Historic homes near the Flats and older commercial buildings along Santa Monica Boulevard often feature full mortise lock assemblies — recessed mechanisms set into the body of the door with a face plate, latch bolt, and deadbolt integrated into one unit. Mortise locks have larger, more complex cylinders than standard locks, and a broken key fragment inside one requires careful lateral extraction to avoid disturbing the cam that operates the latch and deadbolt simultaneously. Our technicians carry mortise-specific tooling and have hands-on experience with the range of mortise bodies found in California residential and commercial properties. Newer properties more commonly use cylindrical door knob locks or lever-handled locks, which present a different extraction geometry — the cylinder is shorter and the keyway profile varies by manufacturer — but the principle of non-destructive retrieval remains the same.
Once the fragment is removed, the technician will test the lock through a full operation cycle — insert a new key cut on our mobile unit if needed, verify the bolt throw, and confirm the cylinder re-keys cleanly if that service is requested. If the cylinder shows wear or damage pre-dating the break, we will tell you honestly and explain your options before any additional work begins. You will always know the exact cost before we proceed — no surprises on the invoice.
Emergency Locksmith Response Across Beverly Hills — We Come to You
As a fully mobile emergency locksmith service, Hollis Locksmiths does not operate from a fixed shop that you need to drive to — we come to wherever the problem is. That matters enormously when the broken key is inside your front door on North Canon Drive, the ignition of your vehicle in the Saks Fifth Avenue parking structure on Wilshire, or a commercial mortise lock at your business on Beverly Drive after closing time. We answer every call 24/7, dispatch from the closest available position, and provide an estimated arrival time upfront. Real Talk — keeping it local means we know this area well: the layout of the Flats, the canyons to the north, the commercial corridors, and the residential pocket streets. That familiarity translates into faster response and fewer wrong turns at 2 a.m.
A few things we have learned from experience: broken key situations almost always feel more urgent than they are, but that urgency is completely valid. Being locked out of your home, car, or business is disruptive and sometimes unsafe. Our goal is to resolve the situation calmly, efficiently, and correctly — leaving you with a fully functioning lock and a new key in hand. If you are mid-crisis right now, call (424) 955-3098 — we answer 24/7 and can walk you through what to expect before the technician arrives.
Commercial Locksmith Services and Key Extraction for Business Properties
For commercial locksmith calls — retail storefronts, office suites, multi-unit residential buildings, and hospitality properties throughout Beverly Hills — a broken key inside a lock can affect entire operations. A restaurant on Canon Drive cannot open for service with a snapped key blocking the front entrance mortise lock. A property manager cannot access a unit for a scheduled maintenance window when the door knob lock cylinder is obstructed. Hollis Locksmiths treats commercial calls with the same priority as residential ones, and our technicians carry the hardware, blank inventory, and tooling to address high-security cylinders, master-keyed systems, and restricted keyways commonly found in managed commercial properties. If the extraction reveals a cylinder that has reached the end of its serviceable life, we stock replacement cylinders compatible with major hardware brands including Schlage and Kwikset, and can re-key to match your existing master key system on the same visit where applicable.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a local locksmith charge for broken key extraction?
There is no single flat rate because the final price depends on several factors: the type of lock involved (a standard door knob lock cylinder is simpler to work on than a full mortise lock assembly), the time of day the call comes in, your location relative to our dispatch position, and whether additional services such as a new key cut or cylinder replacement are needed after extraction. At Hollis Locksmiths, we confirm an exact up-front price before any work begins — so you know the full cost before our technician touches the lock.
How much does an emergency locksmith cost near me in Beverly Hills?
Emergency locksmith pricing in Beverly Hills reflects the same variable factors that apply to any locksmith job — lock complexity, time of day, travel distance, and whether parts are required — with the additional consideration that after-hours dispatch carries different costs than a standard daytime call. What we can promise is transparency: Hollis Locksmiths provides a confirmed quote before starting work, so there are no ambiguous charges after the fact. Call (424) 955-3098 for an accurate estimate based on your specific situation.
Will my insurance cover a locksmith for broken key extraction?
It depends entirely on your policy. Some homeowners and renters insurance policies include coverage for locksmith services as part of a home assistance or emergency services rider. Auto insurance policies with roadside assistance add-ons sometimes cover key extraction from vehicle ignitions as well. We recommend checking your policy documents or calling your insurance provider before or shortly after your locksmith appointment. Hollis Locksmiths can provide an itemized receipt that clearly describes the services performed, which is typically what insurers require when processing a claim.
What should I ask a locksmith before hiring them for key extraction?
A few important questions: Are your technicians trained and insured? Will you provide a confirmed price before starting work? Do you carry the tools for non-destructive extraction, or is drilling the default approach? Can you service the specific lock type I have — such as a mortise lock or a high-security cylinder? And will you be able to cut a replacement key on-site? At Hollis Locksmiths, the answers to all of those questions are yes. We are insured, we quote up front, we prioritize damage-free methods, and our mobile units carry the tooling and blank inventory to handle a wide range of locks and vehicles.
How long does it usually take for a locksmith to come to Beverly Hills?
Arrival time depends on current call volume and your exact location within the service area. Beverly Hills is a relatively compact city, and our mobile technicians operate throughout the surrounding area, so response times are typically prompt. When you call (424) 955-3098, the dispatcher will give you a realistic estimated arrival window based on where the closest available technician is at that moment. We operate 24/7, including nights, weekends, and holidays — so there is never a time when you cannot reach a live person.
How much should an emergency locksmith cost — and how do I know the quote is fair?
A fair quote is one that is fully explained before work begins and does not change without your consent mid-job. The factors that legitimately affect emergency locksmith pricing include the complexity of the lock, whether destructive methods become necessary (for example, if a cylinder is damaged beyond non-destructive extraction), the time of day, travel distance, and any parts required such as a replacement cylinder or new key. What should never appear on a legitimate invoice are vague fees added after the fact. Hollis Locksmiths commits to a confirmed price before starting — if anything changes during the job, we explain why and get your approval before proceeding.
Locked out or need a lock fixed? We are on the way.
Open 24 hours, 7 days a week · Insured, background-checked technicians · Up-front pricing
(424) 955-3098