Locked out of your off-Grounds apartment or house
Most of the student calls we get are simple and stressful at the same time: the door shut behind you, the keys are on the counter, and it’s late. Whether you rent an apartment off Jefferson Park Avenue (JPA), a house on Wertland Street or Rugby Road, a unit near the Corner, or a place out by Fontaine, Barracks Road or Venable, call (434) 297-3223 and tell us where you are. We open most residential locks without damage using picking and bypass tools.
Before we open a door, we’ll ask for ID showing you live there, or other reasonable proof such as your lease or a call to your landlord. That check protects you and your roommates. If your ID is locked inside, tell Kyle when you call and he’ll talk through what will work.
Living in a UVA residence hall? Start with UVA Housing
If you live in an on-Grounds residence hall or university-owned housing, contact UVA Housing or your RA first. The university controls those locks and keys, and a private locksmith shouldn’t be working on them. The Lock Doctor helps with off-Grounds apartments and rental houses, and with cars parked anywhere in town. The Lock Doctor is an independent local business and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the University of Virginia.
Car lockouts and lost car keys
Keys locked in the car outside your apartment, in a lot near the Corner, or after a late night out? We open cars, trucks and SUVs with professional entry tools, without breaking glass or prying at the door. See car lockout service.
If the key or fob is actually gone, opening the door only fixes half the problem. Because we’re mobile, we can usually cut and program a replacement key where the car is parked, so you don’t have to tow it to a dealer. That includes transponder chip keys, remote fobs and push-to-start smart keys for most domestic and import vehicles. See car key replacement and key fob programming. Have your ID and the car’s registration ready; we confirm ownership before making a car key.
Lost your apartment keys?
If your keys were lost, not just locked inside, let your landlord or property manager know. Lost keys on a ring with your address or student ID are a real security problem for everyone in the unit. With the owner’s approval, we can rekey the locks so the lost keys stop working, and hand over new keys on the same visit.
Landlords: rekeying between student tenants
Charlottesville’s rental market runs on the academic calendar, and so do lease turnovers. When roommates move out in May or a new group moves in for August, rekeying makes every old key useless while keeping the hardware you already have. For buildings with several units, a master key system lets the manager carry one key while each tenant’s key opens only their door. Call Kyle to plan turnovers around move-in. See commercial and property manager services.
Late-night help
Student lockouts rarely happen at noon. We’re open 24 hours Monday through Saturday and noon to midnight on Sunday. Kyle answers the phone and runs the calls, so you’re talking to the locksmith who will help you, not a call center. He’ll give you a quote when you call and an honest estimate of when we can get there.
Staying safe while you wait
- Wait somewhere well lit, ideally with a roommate or friend, or inside a nearby open business.
- Keep your phone on so we can call for directions or gate and parking details.
- If you feel unsafe or there’s an emergency, call 911 first.
- Ask any locksmith for their company name and Virginia DCJS license number. Ours is #11-30826.
Not a student? We serve all of Charlottesville and about 50 miles around it. See our 24-hour lockout service.