Doors, cars and the middle of the night
Locksmiths spend their days opening doors, fitting and repairing locks, and sometimes working on safes or vehicles. The physical side is lighter than many trades, but there is still kneeling at doors, drilling and occasional lifting. The bigger toll often comes from the hours: lockout calls at night, long drives and lone working.
Because the job depends on fine hand skills, a hand, wrist or eye injury can stop a locksmith working even when they are otherwise fit.
Lone night work has a personal safety side too. Locksmiths are sometimes called into tense situations, such as disputes over who is allowed into a property, and knowing when to walk away matters.
Self-employed and on call
Most locksmiths are sole traders, some working for a national callout network and others building their own local business. Income can swing with the number of callouts, and nights and weekends often pay best. Nobody pays you when you are off sick.
Your van, stock of locks, specialist tools and any trade association membership, such as the Master Locksmiths Association, still cost money while you recover. Income protection keeps a share of your earnings coming in after a waiting period.
- Callout income can vary a lot from week to week
- Stock and tools tie up money that would not come back quickly
- Lone working means nobody can cover your jobs
- A longer waiting period lowers the cost if you have savings
How locksmiths are rated
Insurers group occupations into risk classes. Locksmithing involves skilled hand work and driving but little heavy lifting or height work, so it is often placed in a lighter class than building trades. You may pay less as a result and have a better chance of own occupation cover.
If you also install alarms, access control or CCTV, mention it, especially if that involves ladders or loft work. Insurers rate the riskiest regular part of your job.
Life cover for locksmiths
Your family would receive a lump sum from a life policy if you died while it was running. Locksmithing has little effect on life cover terms. Many locksmiths use it to protect a mortgage and provide for a family.
If you often drive at night, your driving record and health matter more to insurers than the job itself.
How Hi Tomorrow helps locksmiths
We find out what kind of locksmith work you do and when, then compare insurers on our panel for the best rating and definition. Because locksmithing can be rated lightly, it is worth seeing what the best terms look like.
If you belong to a national callout network, check whether it offers any sickness benefit. Most do not, but it is worth knowing before you choose a waiting period. We help with the application, and if you claim, we help you deal with the insurer.