I'm Leo — the solo mobile auto locksmith who runs RAXO Locksmiths in Winnipeg. I cut and program car keys right at your vehicle — no call centre, no subcontractors, no dispatcher. The person who answers your text is the person who shows up. Straight pricing, in writing before I drive: lockouts $75, spare transponder keys from $90, smart keys from $180 — all plus tax.
By Leo · Updated July 2026
Who I am
I'm Leonid — Leo to almost everyone. I run RAXO Locksmiths as a one-person operation by design. Bigger doesn't make this job better; the opposite, usually. The minute a locksmith business hires a dispatcher and routes calls to "available techs," the quote stops being honest and the customer stops being the priority.
So the setup here is straightforward: you text the local 204 number, I read your message, I quote you, I drive to your car, I do the work, you pay after it works. There's nobody between us. No "service area franchisee." No phone tree. No upsell because no commission. The hands that quote you are the hands that cut the key.
RAXO is a DBA of RAXO Group Inc., Winnipeg MB — a Manitoba corporation. The phone, the kit, the insurance — all under that one entity, all run by me.
Why solo matters in this trade
If you've Googled "locksmith near me" in the last few years, you've probably noticed that most of the top ads aren't local — they're routed through a national dispatcher. Here's what changes when you cut the middleman out.
Single point of contact
You text the same person who replies, quotes, drives over, does the work, and bills you. Never a stranger arriving at your driveway with no idea what was discussed on the phone.
Honest math
Call-centre routes bake in margin for the dispatcher AND the subcontracted tech AND a marketing budget for ads with "$19" headlines. Solo means the price is the work, plus the parts, plus tax — that's it.
No upsell pressure
If a battery fixes your fob, I tell you. If a dealer is the right call for your specific vehicle, I tell you. Nobody's counting how many extras I sold this week — because there's no "this week's quota" when I am the company.
Same hands every job
When you check the Google reviews and the customer says "Leo did this and that," they're describing the same person you'll get. Most national dispatchers can't claim that — the technician quality varies wildly.
The kit
No mystery — every job needs the same core gear. Here's the four categories of equipment that ride with me on every call.
Category 1
Dealer-level access to program keys and fobs into the immobilizer on most makes on the road — Ford, GM, Stellantis (Ram / Dodge / Chrysler / Jeep), Toyota, Honda, Hyundai/Kia, Nissan, BMW / MINI (spare keys), and more. Programmed right at your vehicle so your car accepts the new key — no tow to the dealer. That now reaches the newest Ford and Lincoln vehicles too — 2020 through 2026 models, all-keys-lost included.
Category 2
I cut keys on the spot — traditional transponder keys, plus high-security laser-cut (sidewinder) keys on most 2010+ vehicles. Cuts are accurate to spec — that's the part the mall kiosk can't match.
Category 3
Common blanks and fobs for every brand family I service — Ford, GM, Stellantis, Toyota, Honda, Hyundai/Kia, Nissan, Mazda, Subaru, Mitsubishi, plus the newer BMW / MINI blanks I've added. Reputable aftermarket parts (Hopkins, Strattec, OEM-equivalent). Stored organized, not loose.
Category 4
Proper auto-locksmith tools for lockouts — wedges, long-reach probes, lockout tools for most modern vehicles. No damage, no broken windows. Plus the ID-check + ownership-verification paperwork I keep on every key-generation job.
The calls I take and the brands I cover. If it's a car key, fob, or lockout, it's probably me.
Credentials & insurance
The locksmith trade has a credibility problem in Canada specifically. Here's how I think about it — and the actual paperwork that backs me up.
Insurance
Standard commercial liability coverage. A real insurer behind the work, not a verbal promise. Certificate available on request.
Ownership checks
Government photo ID matched to the registration or proof of insurance in your name, before I cut or program anything. What I check before cutting a key →
The "licence" myth
Locksmith licensing in Canada is provincial. Alberta requires it. BC licenses locksmiths — but carves motor-vehicle work out of that licence. Manitoba — where I work — and most other provinces don't. So "licensed locksmith" as a marketing claim in Manitoba is meaningless. What is real: insurance, ownership verification on every key job, and reviews from real customers. That's what I have.
Five stars on Google — early but real. Here are three.
"I was very impressed. He was on time and set up both key fobs and cut both keys for my car and it only took about an hour. He really knows his stuff and I really appreciated it."
— Glenn Buckboro · Google review
"Great service! He quickly made a copy of my car key, and it works perfectly. Friendly, professional, and fair price. Highly recommend!"
— Oleh Vashchenko · Google review
"Precise, polite and punctual."
— Dominic Ibeme · Google review
5.0 average · all verified on the Google Business Profile. No padding, no buying.
If yours isn't here, just text me. Service-specific FAQs live on the dedicated pages. More on the full FAQ page.
Yes. The person who answers the text, sends the quote, drives to your car, cuts the key, programs the immobilizer, and takes payment is the same person. That's me. There's no dispatcher, no service-area franchisee, no 1-800 routing. The 204 number is a local cell.
You'll see the Open/Closed status badge at the top of every page — it reflects America/Winnipeg time and my actual schedule. If I'm closed or fully booked, the badge will say so and the bottom-bar Text button will queue you up for the next opening. I always respond — never silently.
Specialization. Automotive locksmithing is a different trade from residential / commercial — different tools, different security models, different liability profile. Doing both at one-person scale would mean doing both badly. I focus on what I do well: cars.
It varies by province. Alberta requires a provincial locksmith licence; British Columbia licenses locksmiths too, though its Act carves motor-vehicle lock work out of that licence. Manitoba — where I'm based — and most other provinces don't. So "licensed locksmith" as a Manitoba marketing claim isn't a verifiable credential. What matters here: the ownership and ID checks I run before cutting a key plus business registration with Manitoba, and reviews from real customers.
204-599-5117 goes to my actual phone. The reply you get is from me. The person who shows up is me. That's the whole pitch.
