How Do You Check a Car Locksmith Is Licensed in WA?

Look for an MRB number, then check it. In Western Australia, the owner of a motor vehicle repair business, a self employed motor vehicle repairer or the operator of a mobile repair business must hold a Motor Vehicle Repair Business Licence, known as an MRB. Licensed businesses have to display that number on their website and advertising, and you can confirm it is valid using Consumer Protection's online licence search.

It is a quick check, and it is worth doing before anyone starts cutting or programming a key for your car. Here is what the licence means, how to check it and the red flags to watch for when you are hiring a car locksmith in Perth.

Which licence covers car locksmith work in WA?

Motor vehicle repair work in WA is licensed by Consumer Protection under the Motor Vehicle Repairers Act 2003. The system has two parts:

A Motor Vehicle Repair Business Licence (MRB), held by the business. This includes mobile repair businesses.

A Motor Vehicle Repairer's Certificate, required for individuals who carry out repair work unsupervised or supervise others, for the relevant class of work. People working under the appropriate certified supervision do not each need their own certificate.

Before a business licence can be approved, the owner must be a certified repairer, or employ a certified repairer to supervise repairs, for each class of repair work the business carries out. Once licensed, a business can use the licensed repairer tick to promote itself.

Locksmith work has its own class. The WA Government's list of classes of motor vehicle repair work includes "LSW: Locksmith", alongside classes such as electrical work, brake work and tyre fitting.

Figure 1: MRB licence vs repairer's certificate

Source: WA Government motor vehicle repair licensing guidance.

What about security licences?

WA Police issues separate security licences under the Security and Related Activities (Control) Act 1996. One class of security installer's licence covers safes, vaults and certain prescribed locks, and an approved locksmithing training course is listed among its requirements. If a locksmith also works on your home or business, you can ask about that licence separately. The Act excludes work on equipment or devices in vehicles from its definition of a security installer. For automotive repair work, check the MRB and the relevant repair class.

How to check a car locksmith's licence in 3 steps

Figure 2: Three step licence check

Step 1: Find the MRB number

Consumer Protection says licensed motor vehicle dealers and repairers must display their licence number on their premises, website, social media pages and advertising material. For a mobile car locksmith with no shopfront, the website and ads are the first place to look. As an example, our lost car keys service page displays Motor Vehicle Repair Business Licence number MRB10293. Check its current status, holder and authorised scope in the official register. You can read more about Origin Car Key Specialists on our about page.

Step 2: Search the licence

Consumer Protection's online licence search lets you type in a licence number and check whether it is still valid. If the number does not come up, ask the business about it before you book.

Step 3: Match the business details

Make sure the business on the licence is the business you are dealing with. Compare the name with the one on your quote or invoice. You can also look up the ABN on the Australian Business Register's ABN Lookup to see that it belongs to the same business.

Red flags when hiring a car locksmith in Perth

Figure 3: Red flags and why they matter

Look for an MRB number, then check it. In Western Australia, the owner of a motor vehicle repair business, a self employed motor vehicle repairer or the operator of a mobile repair business must hold a Motor Vehicle Repair Business Licence, known as an MRB. Licensed businesses have to display that number on their website and advertising, and you can confirm it is valid using Consumer Protection's online licence search.

It is a quick check, and it is worth doing before anyone starts cutting or programming a key for your car. Here is what the licence means, how to check it and the red flags to watch for when you are hiring a car locksmith in Perth.

Which licence covers car locksmith work in WA?

Motor vehicle repair work in WA is licensed by Consumer Protection under the Motor Vehicle Repairers Act 2003. The system has two parts:

A Motor Vehicle Repair Business Licence (MRB), held by the business. This includes mobile repair businesses.

A Motor Vehicle Repairer's Certificate, required for individuals who carry out repair work unsupervised or supervise others, for the relevant class of work. People working under the appropriate certified supervision do not each need their own certificate.

Before a business licence can be approved, the owner must be a certified repairer, or employ a certified repairer to supervise repairs, for each class of repair work the business carries out. Once licensed, a business can use the licensed repairer tick to promote itself.

Locksmith work has its own class. The WA Government's list of classes of motor vehicle repair work includes "LSW: Locksmith", alongside classes such as electrical work, brake work and tyre fitting.

Figure 1: MRB licence vs repairer's certificate

Source: WA Government motor vehicle repair licensing guidance.

What about security licences?

WA Police issues separate security licences under the Security and Related Activities (Control) Act 1996. One class of security installer's licence covers safes, vaults and certain prescribed locks, and an approved locksmithing training course is listed among its requirements. If a locksmith also works on your home or business, you can ask about that licence separately. The Act excludes work on equipment or devices in vehicles from its definition of a security installer. For automotive repair work, check the MRB and the relevant repair class.

How to check a car locksmith's licence in 3 steps

Figure 2: Three step licence check

Step 1: Find the MRB number

Consumer Protection says licensed motor vehicle dealers and repairers must display their licence number on their premises, website, social media pages and advertising material. For a mobile car locksmith with no shopfront, the website and ads are the first place to look. As an example, our lost car keys service page displays Motor Vehicle Repair Business Licence number MRB10293. Check its current status, holder and authorised scope in the official register. You can read more about Origin Car Key Specialists on our about page.

Step 2: Search the licence

Consumer Protection's online licence search lets you type in a licence number and check whether it is still valid. If the number does not come up, ask the business about it before you book.

Step 3: Match the business details

Make sure the business on the licence is the business you are dealing with. Compare the name with the one on your quote or invoice. You can also look up the ABN on the Australian Business Register's ABN Lookup to see that it belongs to the same business.

Red flags when hiring a car locksmith in Perth

Figure 3: Red flags and why they matter

Look for an MRB number, then check it. In Western Australia, the owner of a motor vehicle repair business, a self employed motor vehicle repairer or the operator of a mobile repair business must hold a Motor Vehicle Repair Business Licence, known as an MRB. Licensed businesses have to display that number on their website and advertising, and you can confirm it is valid using Consumer Protection's online licence search.

It is a quick check, and it is worth doing before anyone starts cutting or programming a key for your car. Here is what the licence means, how to check it and the red flags to watch for when you are hiring a car locksmith in Perth.

Which licence covers car locksmith work in WA?

Motor vehicle repair work in WA is licensed by Consumer Protection under the Motor Vehicle Repairers Act 2003. The system has two parts:

A Motor Vehicle Repair Business Licence (MRB), held by the business. This includes mobile repair businesses.

A Motor Vehicle Repairer's Certificate, required for individuals who carry out repair work unsupervised or supervise others, for the relevant class of work. People working under the appropriate certified supervision do not each need their own certificate.

Before a business licence can be approved, the owner must be a certified repairer, or employ a certified repairer to supervise repairs, for each class of repair work the business carries out. Once licensed, a business can use the licensed repairer tick to promote itself.

Locksmith work has its own class. The WA Government's list of classes of motor vehicle repair work includes "LSW: Locksmith", alongside classes such as electrical work, brake work and tyre fitting.

Figure 1: MRB licence vs repairer's certificate

Source: WA Government motor vehicle repair licensing guidance.

What about security licences?

WA Police issues separate security licences under the Security and Related Activities (Control) Act 1996. One class of security installer's licence covers safes, vaults and certain prescribed locks, and an approved locksmithing training course is listed among its requirements. If a locksmith also works on your home or business, you can ask about that licence separately. The Act excludes work on equipment or devices in vehicles from its definition of a security installer. For automotive repair work, check the MRB and the relevant repair class.

How to check a car locksmith's licence in 3 steps

Figure 2: Three step licence check

Step 1: Find the MRB number

Consumer Protection says licensed motor vehicle dealers and repairers must display their licence number on their premises, website, social media pages and advertising material. For a mobile car locksmith with no shopfront, the website and ads are the first place to look. As an example, our lost car keys service page displays Motor Vehicle Repair Business Licence number MRB10293. Check its current status, holder and authorised scope in the official register. You can read more about Origin Car Key Specialists on our about page.

Step 2: Search the licence

Consumer Protection's online licence search lets you type in a licence number and check whether it is still valid. If the number does not come up, ask the business about it before you book.

Step 3: Match the business details

Make sure the business on the licence is the business you are dealing with. Compare the name with the one on your quote or invoice. You can also look up the ABN on the Australian Business Register's ABN Lookup to see that it belongs to the same business.

Red flags when hiring a car locksmith in Perth

Figure 3: Red flags and why they matter

Consumer Protection reminds Western Australians to use licensed repairers to service or fix their cars, and you can report unlicensed motor vehicle repairers to Consumer Protection.

Questions to ask before work starts

What is your MRB licence number?

Will I get an itemised quote and tax invoice?

Can you cut and program a key for my make and model where the car is parked?

How do you confirm I own the vehicle?

Not sure whether you need a locksmith at all? Here are the times you should call a car locksmith rather than a dealer or roadside service.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do car locksmiths need a licence in WA?

A business that carries out motor vehicle repair work in WA, including a mobile repair business, needs a Motor Vehicle Repair Business Licence. Locksmith work is listed as its own class of motor vehicle repair work.

Where do I find a car locksmith's MRB number?

Licensed repairers must display their licence number on their premises, website, social media pages and advertising. If you cannot find it, ask for it before you book.

How do I check whether an MRB licence is valid?

Use Consumer Protection's online licence search and enter the licence number. It shows whether the licence is still valid.

What is the difference between an MRB and a repairer's certificate?

The MRB licenses the business. A repairer's certificate is required for unsupervised work or supervision in the relevant class. Repair work may also be done under appropriate certified supervision. An MRB holder must be, or employ, a certified repairer for each class of work.

Check first, then book

A licensed car locksmith in WA should be easy to verify. Find the MRB number on their website or ad, run it through Consumer Protection's licence search and make sure the business name matches your quote. It is a quick check, and it means the business working on your car's keys is licensed under WA law.