Yes. In Alabama, anyone who opens, rekeys, repairs or installs locks for pay, or makes car keys and fobs from scratch, must be licensed by the Alabama Electronic Security Board of Licensure (AESBL). The fastest check is to ask for the worker's AESBL ID badge at your door, then match the company to the board's public list.
The Short Version
- Alabama licenses both the locksmith company and each person who works for it.
- Every licensed worker has to carry an AESBL ID badge. No badge, no entry.
- The board posts a list of licensed companies. Ours is on it as 27-002130.
- Since June 1, 2025, a store that only copies an existing car key or fob does not need a locksmith license.
- If a key is lost and has to be made new, or a lock has to be opened, that work needs a license.
We get this question in Auburn more than you would think. Usually it comes right after a bad experience with someone else. A cheap phone quote, a stranger with no name on his truck, a lock drilled that did not need drilling. So here is the plain answer, built from the state's own pages and the law itself, not from a training school trying to sell a course.
What Alabama Law Says
Locksmith work in Alabama falls under Title 34, Chapter 1A of the Code of Alabama. The AESBL FAQ says that law requires anyone working in the alarm or locksmith business to be licensed. The board has a short page that spells out who needs a license, and the definition itself was last rewritten by House Bill 338 in 2025.
Under that definition, a locksmith is a person or business that does any of these for pay, at a home, a business or a car.
- Repairs, rebuilds, rekeys, services, adjusts or installs locks.
- Installs or services panic and exit hardware.
- Installs or services vaults, safe deposit boxes and safes.
- Creates transponder keys, fobs, proximity keys or smart keys for cars.
- Opens a lock any other way, including picking, shimming or popping it.
The board adds one more trigger. If a business advertises locksmith work, on a truck, a website, social media or a Google ad, it needs a license. Even office staff at a lock company need one if they can see card numbers, Social Security numbers or alarm codes.
Two Licenses, Not One
The company gets a license. Each worker also gets an individual license, held through a licensed company. A one-person shop needs both. Every company also has a qualifying agent, a licensed manager who has to hold all required training when the license is issued.
Background Checks and Training
A license comes with a state and federal background check, and the board's home page says licensed security pros are rechecked every two years. A new worker without a training certificate can work as a trainee for six months. After that, the trainee badge expires until the certificate is turned in. Licensees also have to take continuing education at every renewal, so the skills keep up with new cars and new locks.
What Changed in 2025
House Bill 338 was signed on May 14, 2025, according to BillTrack50, and the enrolled act says it took effect June 1, 2025. It made one big change. A person or store whose work is limited to copying an existing key is not a locksmith under the law. That includes copying transponder car keys, fobs, proximity keys and smart keys.
In plain terms, a hardware store or a key kiosk can copy the fob you already have without a locksmith license. What they cannot do without one is make a key when you have lost every key, open your locked car, or rekey your house. That is still licensed work.
Here is the full list of people the law says are not locksmiths.
| Who | Why they do not need a license |
|---|---|
| Key copy counters and kiosks | They only duplicate a key you already have, including car keys and fobs |
| Businesses that do not advertise locksmith work | The law only covers those who offer it to the public |
| Police, fire, medical and other emergency crews | Only while doing their official duties |
| Licensed tow and recovery operators | Only if they do not advertise or do locksmith work |
| Property owners and managers, or their agents | Only on their own property, and only if they do not advertise as locksmiths |
| Access control installers licensed by July 1, 2018 | Only on locks with electronic access control |
How to Check a Locksmith in Alabama
The board's consumer page warns that locksmiths found through an online search may not be local, may not be licensed in Alabama, and may not charge what they quoted. These four checks take care of all three.
1. Ask on the Phone
Ask, "Are you licensed with the Alabama Electronic Security Board?" Then ask for the license number. A real shop answers in one breath. Ours is printed at the top of every page on this site.
2. See the Badge at the Door
By law, every licensed worker carries an AESBL ID badge on them. The board's own advice is simple. If they cannot show one, do not let them in for any reason.
3. Check the Board's List
The board posts its licensed companies list as a PDF. We opened the October 13, 2026 report and counted 935 company permit numbers statewide. Each row shows the permit number, the company name, the license type, the city and a contact phone. R&T's Lock and Key is on it as permit 27-002130, Auburn.
One catch. We counted 17 companies on that same report whose address reads "Do Not Publish." So a missing address does not mean a company is fake. It means you should use the next check.
4. Call the Board
The AESBL office is at (334) 557-0983. They can confirm whether a company or a single worker is licensed. The page also links lists of licensed individuals, but a phone call settles it.
Questions to Ask Before a Car Lockout
Car lockouts are where most price surprises happen. The AESBL consumer page lists what to ask before anyone drives out.
- Where in Alabama are you located?
- What is your price for my exact make and model, as firm as you can make it?
- Is there a trip charge?
- What is the total before any work starts?
- If the price on site is higher than the quote, what do I owe if I say no?
Write the answers down, or ask for them by text. If the number changes once the truck is in your driveway, you have it in writing. Our car lockout service page covers how we handle these calls around Auburn and Opelika.
If Something Went Wrong
You can file a complaint with the board online, or by mail or email on its form. Send every piece of paper you have, like the quote, the invoice and photos. The board's complaint page says a review can take up to three months. A committee looks at it, made up of a board staff member, a board member and the board's representative from the Alabama Attorney General's office.
Know the limits. The board cannot cancel or change a contract between you and the company. If you want money back, you can still take it to civil court with or without a complaint.
What the Top Results Get Wrong
Search this question and the first result is a locksmith training site. It marks Alabama with an asterisk and moves on. It does not name the board, does not explain the badge, and does not mention the 2025 change. Its intro says 13 states need a license, while its own list marks more than that. A homeowner standing at the door with a stranger needs more than an asterisk.
The other results are job boards, a practice test and a Reddit thread from Oklahoma. None of them tell you how to check the person in front of you. The state does, and now you know where.
Alabama Locksmith License Questions
Do you need a license to be a locksmith in Alabama?
Yes. Anyone who opens, rekeys, repairs or installs locks for pay, makes car keys from scratch, or advertises locksmith work must be licensed by the AESBL. The company and each worker are licensed separately.
How do I check if a locksmith is licensed in Alabama?
Ask for the license number on the phone, ask to see the AESBL ID badge at your door, look the company up on the board's licensed companies list at aesbl.alabama.gov, or call the board at (334) 557-0983.
Can Home Depot or a key kiosk copy my car key fob in Alabama?
The law allows it. Since June 1, 2025, a business that only copies an existing key, including transponder keys and fobs, is not a locksmith under Alabama law and needs no locksmith license. Making a new key when you have none is still licensed work.
Can a tow truck driver unlock my car in Alabama?
The law exempts a licensed tow and recovery operator only if they do not advertise or perform locksmith services. If someone is selling lockout service, they need an AESBL license.
Can my landlord change my locks without a locksmith license?
A property owner or manager, or their agent, does not need a locksmith license to work on their own property, as long as they do not advertise as a locksmith to the public.
How long does a locksmith complaint take in Alabama?
The AESBL says a complaint can take up to three months, depending on how much the investigator has to do. The board cannot cancel your contract, but you can still go to civil court.
Sources
- AESBL, Do I Need to be Licensed?
- AESBL, Frequently Asked Questions
- AESBL, How can I be sure a company or individual is licensed?
- AESBL, Is Your Locksmith Licensed?
- AESBL, Licensed Companies and Individuals (report dated October 13, 2026)
- AESBL, Consumer Complaint Process
- Alabama Legislature, HB338 Enrolled (2025 Regular Session)
- BillTrack50, AL HB338 status and dates
All sources opened October 15, 2026.
Check Us Too
We would rather you check us than trust us. Our license, our board listing and how to verify both are on our About page. When you need a lock opened, a house rekeyed or a car key made in Auburn, Opelika or nearby, call (334) 655-1300. Hiring for the first time? Our Opelika locksmith guide covers what to expect.