Every locksmith ad says “fast.” Some say “15 minutes,” which is a number chosen by a marketer, not a dispatcher. Here’s what really drives the wait.
What actually determines the time
- Where the nearest van is when you call — not where the office is. A genuinely local operator has vans spread across the service area, not one address.
- Time of day. 3 a.m. is often faster — empty roads. Rush hour on I-95 or Okeechobee Blvd is the real enemy.
- How specific your location is. “The Publix parking lot on X” gets a van to you faster than a dropped pin in a large complex.
- The job. A house lockout needs a technician and picks. An all-keys-lost car key needs the right programmer on board, which can mean sending a specific van.
Realistic times in our area
- Core Palm Beach County — West Palm Beach, Lake Worth, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Boca Raton, Wellington, Jupiter: usually 20–30 minutes for emergencies.
- Western communities — The Acreage, Loxahatchee, the Glades: add 10–20 minutes.
- Broward line — Deerfield, Coral Springs, Fort Lauderdale: similar to core times.
- Treasure Coast — Stuart, Port St. Lucie, Vero Beach: longer, and honestly quoted when you call.
- Lake Okeechobee area — Okeechobee, Clewiston, LaBelle: outer coverage; call ahead for a real ETA.
Find your city on the locations page for the local detail.
How to get seen faster
- Call, don’t just fill in a form — a real person can dispatch immediately.
- Give a landmark, not just an address, especially in a big lot or a gated community.
- Say if there’s a child, a pet, a medical need or a safety concern — that changes the priority.
Need someone now? Call 561-200-2832 — answered 24/7, with an honest ETA before we dispatch.