Fully Mobile · Truckee–Tahoe · Since 1996

Locked Out? Lost a Key?
The Local Locksmith Is On the Way.

Lightning Lock & Key is the Truckee–Tahoe area’s owner-operated mobile locksmith — homes, businesses, rentals, vehicles and safes, from Donner Summit to Incline Village. One call brings the shop to your door.

☎ Call (530) 308-6643 Request Service

Free phone estimate — tell us what’s going on, we’ll tell you what it takes.

✓ Licensed — CA LCO #1319✓ Bonded & Insured★ 4.8 on Yelp (42 reviews)✓ Since 1996✓ Free Phone Estimates

Look for the van — our shop comes to you

4k+Vehicles Opened

11k+Projects Done

6k+Happy Customers

28+Years Experience

What we do

Our Services

Everything lock and key — done at your door from a fully equipped service vehicle.

Residential Locksmith

Home lockouts, rekeying, deadbolts, lock repair and move-in lock changes for houses and cabins across Truckee–Tahoe.

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Commercial Locksmith

Master key systems, access control, high-security locks, door closers and fast lockout help for area businesses.

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Rental Property Locksmith

Keyless entry, remote codes and turnover rekeying for vacation rentals and long-term units across the North Shore and Truckee.

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Automotive Key Service

Car lockouts, replacement keys, transponder programming and fob service — done at your vehicle, no tow needed.

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Safe Sales & Service

Safe opening, combination changes, repairs, plus delivery and installation of new fire-resistant safes.

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Lock Rekeying

New keys for your existing locks — the fast, affordable way to control access after a move, lost key or tenant change.

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Smart Locks & Keyless Entry

Cold-rated smart locks and keypad deadbolts — installed, programmed and serviced for Sierra winters.

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Master Key Systems & Access Control

Key hierarchies, card access and electronic entry — who gets in where, on your terms.

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See all 24 services →

Lake Tahoe shoreline in the Sierra Nevada mountains

You are not alone

We’ve All Been There

Standing in a store parking lot during a snowstorm while your keys sit on the driver’s seat of the rental car. Breaking into your own cabin. Again. Or all you want after a day on the slopes is a cup of hot cocoa — and the keys are nowhere to be found.

Since 1996, Lightning Lock & Key has been there for our neighbors in Truckee, Tahoe City, Kings Beach, Incline Village and Donner Summit — ending the anxiety fast and getting you back into your car, home or business in no time.

Meet the shop →

The professional difference

Why Truckee–Tahoe Calls Lightning First

Actually Local

Not a national dispatch center with a “local” number. Owner Dean Sperlin runs the shop from Truckee — the person on the phone is the person in the van.

Licensed & Certified

CA Locksmith License LCO #1319 and C-28 Contractor License #1138347. Bonded, insured, and certified technicians — verify us, then call us.

Built for the Mountains

Freeze-thaw doors, cold-soaked smart locks, resort turnovers, stateline work. Nearly three decades at 6,000 feet — we stock and install for Sierra weather.

Straight Prices

Free phone estimates before we roll. No bait pricing, no surprise drilling, no “starts at $19” games — just a fair rate quoted up front.

Locked out right now? Don’t panic — and please don’t pry anything. Call for a free phone estimate and a real arrival window.

☎ (530) 308-6643

Loved on Google & Yelp — 4.8★ on Yelp across 42 reviews

They Love Us — and We Love Truckee–Tahoe

★★★★★

“Lightning Lock & Key provided excellent service from start to finish. Dean was great to work with — patient, knowledgeable, and incredibly responsive. …I was scheduled for the very next day, and Dean arrived on time, communicated clearly throughout the process, and walked me through what needed to be done. …If you’re looking for a reliable, knowledgeable locksmith in the Tahoe/Truckee area, I highly recommend Lightning Lock & Key.”

★★★★★

“Dean is my go-to for lock and lock-related issues. He is prompt, responsive and an all-around wonderful locksmith and has been for many years of service!”

★★★★★

“Dean was super-knowledgeable and helped us when we were locked out. Hope to never need again but would definitely recommend Lightning to others.”

★★★★★

“Dean was timely and very helpful in fixing our door lock. Excellent customer service.”

★★★★★

“Called at 4pm on a Saturday and Dennis arrived by 5:30. He completed a re-key of a lock and installed a strike plate quickly. Rate was fair for fast weekend service. Very nice guy, clear communicator, would highly recommend.”

★★★★★

“Communicative and ready to help.”

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if I'm locked out of my home or car?

Don’t force anything — pried doors and frames cost more than the unlock. Call a licensed locksmith: we open the vast majority of homes and vehicles quickly and without damage, and we give you a free phone estimate before we roll.

Are you actually local?

Yes — Lightning Lock & Key is owner-operated from Truckee and has been since 1996. Owner Dean Sperlin and our certified technicians serve Truckee, North Lake Tahoe, Incline Village, the West Shore and Donner Summit.

What's the difference between rekeying and replacing a lock?

Rekeying changes the pins inside your existing lock so a new key operates it — fast and affordable. Replacement swaps the hardware entirely, which makes sense when a lock is worn, damaged or due for an upgrade. We’ll tell you honestly which you need.

Can you make car keys, including the chip kind?

Yes. We handle car lockouts, replacement keys, transponder programming and key fobs at your vehicle — for most makes and models there’s no dealership tow required.

Do you work on keyless entry and smart locks?

Constantly — they’re the standard for rentals and second homes up here. We install, program and service keypad deadbolts and smart locks chosen for cold weather.

What are your hours and service area?

Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM. We cover Truckee, Donner Lake and Donner Summit, the North and West Shore, Olympic Valley through Alpine Meadows, and Incline Village and Crystal Bay on the Nevada side.

Request service

Tell Us What’s Going On

Fastest help is always a call — (530) 308-6643. Prefer to write? Send the details and we’ll get right back to you with a free estimate.

Request Service

Free phone estimate · we reply fast · serving Truckee–North Tahoe, both sides of the stateline

Name Phone

Email (optional) Where are you?

What do you need? How urgent?

Details It’s OK to text me about this request.

Free phone estimates · Licensed, bonded & insured · We never share your info.

One Call. Problem Solved.

Free phone estimate · Licensed, bonded & insured · Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM

☎ (530) 308-6643 Request Service

Locked Out? Lost a Key?The Local Locksmith Is On the Way.

Our Services

Residential Locksmith

Commercial Locksmith

Rental Property Locksmith

Automotive Key Service

Safe Sales & Service

Lock Rekeying

Smart Locks & Keyless Entry

Master Key Systems & Access Control

We’ve All Been There

Why Truckee–Tahoe Calls Lightning First

Actually Local

Licensed & Certified

Built for the Mountains

Straight Prices

They Love Us — and We Love Truckee–Tahoe

Recent Work, All Over the Lake

Frequently Asked Questions

Tell Us What’s Going On

One Call. Problem Solved.

Locked Out? Lost a Key?
The Local Locksmith Is On the Way.