If you have locked yourself out of your home or car, a locksmith may be able to work their way into either, allowing you to gain access to them again. But this may leave you wondering how a locksmith really knows that you own the home or car that they are breaking into and what liability they may have if they let the wrong person in. Here are a few of the questions you may have, as well as the answers. 

Does a Locksmith Have to Verify You Are the Owner of the Home or Car? 

A locksmith does have a responsibility to verify that the person that they are helping is indeed the owner of the home or car that they are opening. In fact, they can be help liable if they do not do this. But there are not any laws that state exactly how far a locksmith has to go to verify this information or how they can verify this information. 

How Does a Locksmith Verify You Are the Owner of the Home or Car? 

The most common way for a locksmith to verify that you own the car is to match your identification to the registration of the car. Likewise, the locksmith may want to ensure your ID matches the address on a home before they unlock the door. However, in some cases you may not have an identification on you or your address may be outdated. In these cases, a locksmith may just ask you questions to feel out the situation. In these cases, it comes down to the locksmith making a judgement call as to whether something feels off or whether they believe your story. 

What Happens If a Locksmith Lets the Wrong Person In? 

Locksmiths are legally required to be bonded and carry insurance. If a locksmith lets someone in a home that should not be there, and the person steals from or damages the home, the locksmith can be held responsible. Typically, their bonding insurance will have to pay for any missing items or damage done, as well as the cost to replace the locks on the home. 

Locksmiths have a responsibility to verify that the person that they are letting into a home or car lives their. However, sometimes it isn't as clear cut as it may seem. Your wallet may be locked inside of the car or you may have recently moved and not have ID with the address on it. As such, sometimes locksmiths just have to trust their gut instinct. If they do make a mistake and let the wrong person in, their bonding insurance will pay for anything that was lost, stolen or damaged because of their mistake. Contact a company, like CLINTS LOCK AND KEY, for more help.