Meet Mohamed Khalid Ali — Leicester Auto Locksmith & Qualified Mechanic
The auto locksmith who spent 15 years fixing cars first.
The business is run by Mohamed Khalid Ali — a dealership-trained mechanic who spent over fifteen years under the bonnet before ever picking up a key-cutting machine. That background is the reason this business works differently from most auto locksmiths.
From Main Dealer Workshops to Your Driveway
Most auto locksmiths learn one trade. Khalid learned two. Before this business existed, he spent over fifteen years as a qualified mechanic working for main dealerships across the East Midlands — everything from routine servicing to complex electrical diagnostics on modern vehicle platforms.
That matters more than it might sound. A significant number of the "key problems" people call a locksmith about are actually car problems: a failing battery, a faulty ignition switch, a wiring fault that behaves exactly like a dead key fob. A locksmith without a mechanical background can spend an hour establishing it isn't a key issue — and still charge for the visit.
Five years ago he left the dealership floor to work for himself as a full-time mobile auto locksmith. He kept the manufacturer-level diagnostic equipment, and he kept the habit of asking the right questions on the phone before getting in the van.
Need An Auto Locksmith In Leicester?
Call 07883 606938No Call Centre. No Franchise. Just Khalid.
When you ring, you speak to the person who will be doing the work — not a dispatcher passing your job to whoever is nearest.
You Speak To The Locksmith
Khalid answers his own phone and attends his own jobs, mostly working solo. On busier days his wife, also a qualified locksmith, works alongside him — so occasionally two of you turn up, at no change to the quote.
Fully Insured
£5 million public liability insurance in place for every job, whether it's a family hatchback on a driveway or a work van mid-round.
Honest, Mid-Range Pricing
Rarely the cheapest quote in Leicester, never the most expensive. The focus is accurate diagnosis and getting the job done properly the first time — and you only ever pay for work actually carried out.
Dealer-Level Diagnostic and Key Programming Equipment
Leaving the dealership meant keeping the standard of equipment. We invest in genuine, up-to-date diagnostic and programming tools — the same class used by main dealership workshops.
That's what allows us to cover an estimated 95% of makes and models on UK roads, including plenty of jobs other independent locksmiths have to turn away.
Every Job We Take On
From an emergency lockout at midnight to a spare key cut in advance, here's the full range of work — all carried out mobile, wherever your vehicle is.
Based In Highfields, Covering Leicester
Being based centrally keeps response times consistent across the city. Depending on traffic, your location and the current call-out schedule, attendance is often possible within 30 to 60 minutes, and same-day assistance is usually available. We come to wherever the vehicle actually is: home, work, a car park, or the roadside.
Coverage runs from the city centre out to Wigston, Oadby, Blaby, Beaumont Leys and Braunstone, with call-outs further afield by arrangement. If your area isn't listed, it's still worth ringing — coverage often extends further than the list suggests.
See All Areas We CoverWhat To Expect When You Call
The process is deliberately simple, and it starts with a proper conversation rather than a booking form.
1. Diagnosis Comes First
Before anything is quoted, Mohamed Khalid Ali will ask about your vehicle, what happened, and what the car is doing now. Fifteen years of dealership diagnostics means that conversation often identifies the real fault before anyone gets in a van — and sometimes tells you it isn't a locksmith job at all.
2. An Honest Price, Up Front
You get a clear price for the work before we set off. No call-out fee, no charge for turning up, and no discovering a different number once the job is done. Pricing sits deliberately mid-range — the priority is getting it right first time rather than winning on being cheapest.
3. Sorted On-Site, Wherever You Are
Fully mobile, with dealer-level equipment carried in the van. Most key cutting, programming and unlocking work is completed at the vehicle in a single visit, without towing or a dealership appointment.
Staying current matters too. Vehicle security changes constantly — keyless entry, rolling codes, immobiliser systems that behave differently between manufacturers — so part of the job is keeping equipment and knowledge up to date, and being honest when a particular vehicle needs a specialist route. Independent bodies like Thatcham Research are a useful reference point for drivers wanting to understand vehicle security standards. We also cover vehicle security work directly, including ignition barrel changes.
Rated by Leicester Drivers
5.0 stars on Google, built one honest job at a time.
About Us — Frequently Asked
How long have you been an auto locksmith?
Khalid has worked in the motor trade for over fifteen years, including time as a qualified mechanic for main dealerships, and has been a full-time mobile auto locksmith for the last five.
Are you a franchise or a national call centre?
Neither. This is an independent local business - you speak directly to Khalid, and he attends the job himself.
Are you insured?
Yes, with £5 million public liability insurance covering every job.
Do you charge a call-out fee?
No. A short phone conversation usually establishes whether it's a locksmith issue or a mechanical one, so you're never charged simply to find that out.
What areas do you cover?
The whole of Leicester city plus Wigston, Oadby, Blaby, Beaumont Leys, Braunstone and the surrounding villages. See all areas.
Do you work on vans and commercial vehicles?
Yes - vans, light commercial vehicles and agricultural equipment, which a lot of locksmiths won't take on.
What makes you different from other auto locksmiths?
The mechanical background. Fifteen years diagnosing vehicles means we can often tell you over the phone whether the fault is your key or your car - before you spend anything.
Locked Out Or Lost Your Keys? We're Available 24/7.
Call for an honest answer in minutes — no call-out fee, ever.