How to check a locksmith is licensed in Western Australia

Written by Magnus Aller, owner of Amco Locksmiths. WA Police-licensed security installer (licence 30629), 25 years’ experience as a locksmith in Perth, Western Australia. Reviewed September 2026.

When you are locked out, you pick the first locksmith who answers. That is understandable, but it is also the moment to spend two minutes checking. Here is what we would check if it were our own door.

Does a locksmith need a licence in Western Australia?

Locksmith work such as installing, maintaining or repairing locks falls under WA Police security licensing, and the licence for it is a security installer licence. It is issued to a named person and has its own number. If someone says they are “fully qualified” but cannot give you a number, that is an unanswered question. If you want the rules from the source, the WA Police licensing pages are the place to start.

How do I check a licence number?

Ask the locksmith for their licence number, by phone or text, before they come out. Then:

1. Open the WA Police current licence holders page and choose “Security Installer”.
2. Open the PDF. It lists the licence number, the holder’s full name and an expiry date.
3. Press Ctrl+F (Windows) or Cmd+F (Mac) and type the number.
4. Check that the name matches the person who turns up.

It takes a couple of minutes. The list shows the date it was published, so check that too. If a number is missing, ask the locksmith about it rather than assuming the worst.

Can I check ours?

Yes, and we would like you to. Our licence number is 30629. On the security installer list dated 7 September 2026, 30629 is listed to Magnus Aller. Use the same method for any locksmith, including us.

We say “WA Police security installer licence” and nothing more, because that is what the list shows. The list does not state a licence class, so we don’t quote one.

How do I read a locksmith’s Google listing before I ring?

The listing is the fastest check when you are standing outside your door on your phone. We would look at five things.

• Recent reviews. Look at the dates, not just the star rating. A steady run of reviews over recent months is more telling than a big number from years ago.
• What the reviews describe. Real reviews tend to mention the job: a lockout, a rekey, a car key. Look for details, not just “great service”.
• Real photos. Photos of actual work, vans or the person, rather than only stock images.
• Opening hours. They should match what you are told on the phone. If a listing says open 24 hours, the business should really run a 24 hour service. Ours does: we run a 24 hour emergency service, with after-hours work costing more and the price agreed first.
• The business name. A plain name that matches the website is a good sign. A name stuffed with suburbs and search words (“Best Cheap Locksmith Perth Near Me”) is worth a second look, because it may be written for search results rather than for customers.

Also check the phone number and website on the listing match. You can read ours on our reviews page, where every review links back to Google.

What should a locksmith tell me before they start?

A licensed locksmith should be willing to tell you, before the job begins:

• their name and licence number
• what the job involves, and whether anything might need drilling
• how the price will be worked out, and that it is agreed before work starts
• that they will ask for photo ID to confirm you are the occupant or owner

We ask for photo ID before opening a door or making a key, because we would rather ask you a question than open a door for the wrong person.

If a barrel has to be drilled to get in, we say so first. We then replace the barrel and key it to your existing key at no charge.

What are the warning signs?

Not proof of anything, but worth pausing on:

• no licence number offered, or a different name from the one on the list
• a business name and listing with no reviews, or only very old ones
• a price that changes when they get to the door instead of being agreed first
• being asked to pay before any work begins

If you are unsure, it is fine to say, “Let me check the number and ring you back.” A genuine locksmith will not mind.

What if I am locked out right now?

If you are inside a car or home with someone in danger, ring 000 first. Otherwise, ring, ask for the licence number, and look it up while you wait. Our emergency lockout service covers houses and cars, and if we cannot open a lock we do not charge for the attempt. If you have simply lost your keys, our guide to what to do if you lose your house keys walks through the steps.

We are based in Mount Lawley, Western Australia, and cover the inner suburbs. See our Mount Lawley locksmith page or about us for more on who you would be dealing with. If you want to understand how a job is priced before you ring, read how much a locksmith costs to change locks in Perth.