diff --git a/.pre-commit-config.yaml b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f59457a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+# SPDX-FileCopyrightText: Canonical Ltd.
+#
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+default_install_hook_types: [commit-msg, pre-push]
+
+repos:
+  - repo: local
+    hooks:
+      - id: gitlance-commit-msg
+        name: Validate commit message with gitlance
+        entry: bash githooks/commit-msg
+        language: system
+        stages: [commit-msg]
+      - id: gitlance-pre-push
+        name: Validate commits with gitlance
+        entry: python githooks/pre_commit_pre_push.py
+        language: python
+        stages: [pre-push]
+        always_run: true
+        pass_filenames: false
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 9deb64c..a48cfa7 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -17,6 +17,21 @@ Contributions are welcome! Please follow these guidelines.
 5. Add `Signed-off-by` trailer to commits
 6. Open a pull request
 
+### Local commit validation
+
+Gitlance can validate commit messages and pushed commits locally. Install
+[pre-commit](https://pre-commit.com/#install), install the local Gitlance
+binary, and register both hooks:
+
+```console
+cargo install --path . --locked
+task install-githooks
+```
+
+The installation is idempotent. If a `commit-msg` or `pre-push` hook already
+exists, pre-commit preserves it as a legacy hook and runs it alongside
+Gitlance. Running `pre-commit uninstall` restores the previous hooks.
+
 ## Commit Requirements
 
 - Use conventional format: `feat:`, `fix:`, `docs:`, etc.
diff --git a/Taskfile.yml b/Taskfile.yml
index 0da335a..addd074 100644
--- a/Taskfile.yml
+++ b/Taskfile.yml
@@ -21,15 +21,14 @@ tasks:
 
   install-githooks:
     desc: "Install git hooks for commit validation"
-    vars:
-      HOOKS_DIR:
-        sh: git rev-parse --git-path hooks
-    cmds:
-      - cp githooks/pre-push "{{.HOOKS_DIR}}/"
-      - chmod +x "{{.HOOKS_DIR}}/pre-push"
-      - cp githooks/commit-msg "{{.HOOKS_DIR}}/"
-      - chmod +x "{{.HOOKS_DIR}}/commit-msg"
-      - echo "✓ Git hooks installed to {{.HOOKS_DIR}}"
+    preconditions:
+      - sh: pre-commit --version
+        msg: "pre-commit is required: https://pre-commit.com/#install"
+      - sh: gitlance --help
+        msg: "gitlance must be installed and available in PATH: cargo install --path . --locked"
+    cmds:
+      - pre-commit install
+      - echo "✓ Git hooks installed with pre-commit"
 
   setup:
     desc: "Setup Rust toolchain and development environment"
diff --git a/githooks/pre_commit_pre_push.py b/githooks/pre_commit_pre_push.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7bd04fe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/githooks/pre_commit_pre_push.py
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+
+# SPDX-FileCopyrightText: Canonical Ltd.
+#
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+import os
+import subprocess
+import sys
+
+
+def main() -> int:
+    local_branch = os.environ.get("PRE_COMMIT_LOCAL_BRANCH", "HEAD")
+    if local_branch != "HEAD" and not local_branch.startswith("refs/heads/"):
+        return 0
+
+    head = os.environ.get("PRE_COMMIT_TO_REF") or local_branch
+    return subprocess.call(
+        ["gitlance", "--head", head, "--not-on-remotes"],
+    )
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    sys.exit(main())