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Best Home Warranties in Montana
By James F. Trumm MONEY RESEARCH COLLECTIVE
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- Large network of independent prescreened contractors and qualified technicians
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- Good coverage on home systems
- Does not cover pre-existing issues
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- Industry leader since 1971
- More than $2 Billion in claims paid in last 5 years
- More than 2 Million customers served
- No inspection or maintenance records required
- 30-day workmanship guarantee
When it comes to protecting your Montana home, you have a lot of choices to make.
If you have a mortgage on your home, your mortgage lender will require you to purchase a homeowner’s insurance policy to protect your home from unforeseen events like fires or burglaries. That’s pretty important. And you should choose your homeowner’s policy very carefully.
While it isn’t mandatory, you can also invest in a home warranty to cover the repair or replacement of your home’s systems and appliances. Home warranties — also known as home service contracts — are technically not insurance. But they do share some features with homeowner’s policies, such as monthly premiums and deductibles. In this article, we’ll explain the difference between the two. We’ll also examine in detail ten of the top home warranty companies that serve Montana and help you find the best one for your needs.
Our Top Picks for Best Home Warranties in Montana
- Choice Home Warranty
- American Home Shield
- Select Home Warranty
- First Premier Home Warranty
- The Home Service Club
- HWA Home Warranty
- Liberty Home Guard
- First American Home Warranty
- Cinch Home Services
- AFC Club
Table of Contents
- Best Home Warranties in Montana Guide
- Home Warranties in Montana FAQs
- How we picked the best home warranties in Montana
- Summary of Best Home Warranties in Montana
Best Home Warranty Companies in Montana Reviews
Best for Combination Systems/Appliances Plans: Choice Home Warranty
- Sign up and get your first month free
- Two plans to choose from
- Both plans covers a wide range of system and appliance breakdowns
- Options to expand coverage
- Some discounts available
- 24/7 customer service
- No option to choose coverage for systems only or appliances only.
- Some customers have reported slow response times for service requests
- Doesn't publish specific coverage limits
- $85 service call fee may be too expensive for some customers
Choice Home Warranty offers two customizable plans—Basic and Total. Each plan covers a combination of systems and appliances. Covered items under the company’s Basic plan include appliances such as your refrigerator, oven and built-in microwave, as well as some systems, including heating, electrical, water heaters and plumbing. If you step up to the Total plan, your contract will cover additional appliances, such as your fridge, washer and dryer and more systems, including your air conditioner and ducts. Choice Home Warranty allows you to customize your coverage with add-ons like central vacuuming systems, stand-alone freezers, second refrigerators and sump pumps.
For homes located in Montana, Choice Home Warranty’s plans cost:
- Basic Pan: $46.67
- Total Plan: $53.33
Service calls cost $85, which is in the mid-range of the companies we surveyed.
Best for System Coverage Limits: American Home Shield
- Over 50 years in business
- Unlimited coverage for covered system repairs
- Covers items with no maintenance records
- Covers breakdowns of appliances that haven't been properly maintained
- Free removal of items that need replacement
- More expensive than other plans
American Home Shield has been in business since 1971. In 1989, the company was acquired by Service Master, a 100-year-old company and one of the best-known and most experienced companies in the home service category. So when it comes to experience and street cred, American Home Shield lands at the top of our list.
The company also stands out for having fewer exclusions than other home warranty companies and for placing no limits on system coverage. Appliances that have been neglected are still eligible for breakdown coverage. With no limits on systems coverage, an American Home Shield warranty can save you thousands of dollars should your heating system need replacement, for example.
The ShieldSilver plan covers four major systems in your home: heating, cooling, electrical and plumbing. The ShieldGold plan adds in coverage for kitchen and laundry room appliances. The ShieldPlatinum plan includes everything covered in the two less expensive plans and adds in limited roof leak coverage, free HVAC tune-ups and unlimited refilling of A/C refrigerant. It also includes coverage for repairs made necessary by code violations, which are normally excluded by home warranty plans.
American Home Shield’s prices are at the high end of the companies we reviewed. The company offers three plans as follows:
- ShieldSilver: $59.99
- ShieldGold: $79.99
- Shield Platinum: $109.99
Best for Combo Coverage: Select Home Warranty
- Offers a choice of systems-only, appliances-only, and combination plans
- Discounts for multi-year contracts
- No age limit on covered appliances
- Doesn't quote service fee on its website
- Service call fee may be expensive for some customers
- May be slow to respond to service requests
Select Home Warranty has been in business since 2012. The company offers three plans — Bronze Care, Gold Care and Platinum Care — giving homeowners a choice of systems-only, appliances-only, and combination coverage. Like many home warranty companies, Select Home Warranty affords homeowners the opportunity to customize their plans with add-ons like septic systems, lawn sprinklers, pool, water dispensers and spa coverage.
In Montana, Select Home Warranty’s plans price out as follows:
- Bronze Care (appliances only): $44.42
- Gold Care (home systems only): $44.42
- Platinum Care (home systems and appliances): $47.75
The Platinum Care plan stands out as a competitively priced option among combo coverage plans. However, the plan’s low cost may be offset by high service call fees. It’s hard to say because the company doesn’t publish its service call price on its website.
Best for Homes with Complex HVAC Systems: First Premier Home Warranty
- 5-star ratings from Google and Trustpilot
- Two combination systems/appliances plans to choose from
- Offers periodic promotions
- Many add-ons offered to customize coverage
- No option to buy coverage for systems or appliances separately
- Least expensive plan excludes common appliances
First Premier Home Warranty earns high ratings from consumers who rate the company on Google and Trustpilot. Truth be told, most home warranty companies get a bad rap online. So the company is first distinguished for earning customer satisfaction.
First Premier offers a choice of two plans, both of which include appliances and systems. Its Premier plan offers coverage for a wide range of appliances, including garbage disposals, trash compactors, exhaust fans and garage door openers, but excludes basic appliances like refrigerators and washers. It also doesn’t cover heating or air conditioning systems. But the company’s Platinum plan covers a wider range of systems and appliances. It’s also our pick for best home warranty for HVAC coverage because it offers coverage for two separate heating systems and two AC systems, which can be useful for homeowners whose HVAC systems rely on dual sources, such as a furnace and a heat pump. Additionally, First Premier offers a variety of add-on coverage options for such items as well pumps, second refrigerators, icemakers, pools and spas.
The company offers some of the lowest prices we uncovered during our review process. For homes in Montana, the following prices are in force:
- Premier plan: $34.99
- Platinum plan: $41.66
Best for Less Common Coverages: The Home Service Club
- Washers and dryers included in the company's least expensive plan
- Coverage available for less common issues like gas leaks, smoke detectors and security system wiring
- Optional roof coverage
- Less flexibility in coverage and pricing
- Offers combo plans only
The Home Service Club offers homeowners two options, both of which include coverage for some, but not all, systems and appliances. Depending on the age of your home and how it’s equipped, the coverage combinations they offer may appeal to you.
The company’s Standard plan includes coverage for the most important home systems — plumbing, electrical, heating and cooling — and the most common appliances, including washers, dryers, and dishwashers. That extent of coverage is unusual in base-price combination plans. Ducts, however, are excluded from the Standard plan — an important consideration for homes with forced-air heating and central air conditioning. The company also excludes plumbing stoppages from its plumbing system coverage.
Home Service Club’s Comprehensive protection plan includes coverage for everything in the Standard plan but adds in protection for ducts, gas and water leaks, telephone and security system wiring, and pest control.
The Home Service Club offers prices that fall in the mid-range of companies we’ve reviewed:
- Standard plan: $50.41
- Comprehensive plan: $62.91
Best for Inexpensive Complete Home Plan: HWA Home Warranty
- No limits on the number of service calls you can request
- Lowest-price plan is relatively comprehensive
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Service call fees as low as $75
- Few choices for add-on coverage
- Doesn't publish a sample contract
Home Warranty of America has been in business for more than 25 years. The company relies on a network of 25,000 pre-screened, licensed technicians to meet the needs of homeowners around the country.
Home Warranty of America offers a choice of two plans and two payment options to help homeowners find the plan that offers the right protection at an affordable price. Both are combo plans that cover both systems and appliances. The more expensive the plan you choose, the greater coverage it provides. Customers can choose to pay either monthly or annually for coverage.
There are just a few differences between Home Warranty of America’s two plans, which are known as the Select plan and the Select Plus plan. Both cover a wide range of appliances, but only the Select plan covers air conditioning systems, washers and dryers. The company offers a smaller number of optional coverage choices than other home warranty providers.
Service call fees for homes in Montana may be as low as $75, though the company doesn’t state the fee specifically. You can call the company to find out the fee you’ll have to pay. Home Warranty’s premium prices fall in the mid-range of companies we’ve reviewed:
- Select plan: $44.17
- Select Plus plan: $56.67
Best for Add-On Options: Liberty Home Guard
- Systems-only, appliances-only, and combination plans available
- Very wide range of add-on coverage options
- Well-vetted, LHG-certified technicians
- Some customers have reported slow response times for service requests
Liberty Home Guard offers several plans at affordable prices. Customers can select between their Systems Guard, Appliance Guard or Total Home Guard plans. Homeowners can select the plan that best suits their needs. The company offers one of the largest lists of optional add-on coverages to allow homeowners to further tailor their plans to their homes. The company’s plans cover a wide range of appliances and systems, including your HVAC, plumbing and electrical systems. They also offer coverage for items like your pool, spa and septic system.
Liberty Home Guard offers the following prices for Montana homes:
- Appliance Guard: $49.99
- Systems Guard: $54.99
- Total Home Guard: $59.99
Best for Mini-Split HVAC Systems: First American Home Warranty
- Customize your service call fee from $75 to $125
- Sample contract provided on website
- Covers ductless mini-split HVAC systems
- Starter Plan offers less coverage than competitive basic plans
- Doesn't provide information on add-on coverage options
- No systems-only or appliances-only options
First American Home Warranty offers a choice of three plans: Starter, Essentials and Premium. All three plans are combination systems/appliances plans.
Comparing First American’s plans to the competition, we noted a couple of things. First, the company allows customers to customize their deductibles (service call fees). While that’s not unique, it’s still a stand-out feature that offers an easy way to reduce your monthly payments.
Like most basic plan options out there, the Starter Plan is pretty bare-bones and doesn’t include some common appliances like washers and dryers. But it does offer protection for all major systems, including HVAC, plumbing and electrical. If you live in an older home, it may provide protection against the most costly repairs you’ll encounter.
The Starter plan doesn’t include coverage for mini-split ductless HVAC systems, but if you step up to the Essentials or Premium plan, you can get this coverage for a modest cost increase. These energy-efficient systems are becoming increasingly popular as homeowners try to reduce their utility costs overall.
We give First American points for making it easy to get customized quotes on its website. In addition, the company provides a link to a sample contract so customers can know exactly what they’re getting into before purchasing a plan.
First American offers the following prices for homes in Montana. Prices were determined by selecting a $125 deductible for each plan:
- Starter Plan: $52.00
- Essentials Plan: $62.00
- Premium Plan: $77.00
Best for Inexpensive Appliances: Cinch Home Services
- Coverage starting at just $34.99 per month
- Choose your deductible
- Add-on coverage available for pools, spas, well pumps and septic systems
- Fewer add-on coverage options than some companies
- Lowest deductible is $100
While many home warranty companies nowadays bundle system and appliance coverage into all of their plans, Cinch Home Services still offers these types of coverage separately to meet a wider variety of homeowners’ needs. With coverage starting at $34.99 for an appliances-only plan, Cinch Home Services offers homeowners who want kitchen and laundry appliance protection a very economical solution. The same is true for customers who want to protect their homes’ built-in systems exclusively. Cinch’s systems-only plan is available at prices as low as $39.99. The company does offer a combination plan as well, for customers who want more comprehensive coverage.
Cinch affords customers the option of choosing from three service call fees (deductibles): $100, $125, and $150. Those are pretty high deductibles when compared with some companies’ choices. But that’s one way Cinch keeps homeowners’ monthly payments low. It’s up to you to decide whether a low monthly payment is more important to you than low service call fees. If you make repeated claims — and you can file an unlimited number of them with a Cinch plan — high service call fees can offset the savings you get from a low monthly payment.
Once you’ve selected a plan that’s right for you, you can customize your plan with your choice of several add-on coverage options, including pools and spas, well pumps and septic system plumbing. One other option Cinch provides is its Premier Upgrade Package, which provides additional coverage for permits, code upgrades and more.
Cinch Home Services offers the following prices for Montana homes. Prices quoted reflect a $150 service call fee:
- Appliances Plan: $34.99
- Built-in Systems Plan: $39.99
- Complete Home Plan: $49.99
Best for Technician Choices: AFC Home Club
- Four plans to choose from
- Systems-only and appliances-only plans available
- Customize your deductible as low as $75
- Sample plan available on website
- Some optional coverage under AFC Home Club's plans is standard in other companies' plans
With four defined plan options, AFC Home Club offers homeowners a wider range of plan choices than other home warranty companies. Customers can select among appliances-only coverage, built-in systems-only coverage, and two plans that offer combined systems and appliance coverage. The company’s Platinum Plan covers up to 18 home systems and appliances.
AFC Home Club offers customers the opportunity to customize their deductibles to help them find a home warranty plan that works within their budget. You can select a $75, $100 or $125 service call fee.
You can further customize your home warranty by adding optional coverage for inground pools and spas, septic systems, double ovens, stand-alone freezers, central vacuums, home electronics and more. Be aware that some of the coverage options AFC Home Club makes available for an extra fee are considered standard in competitive plans. A more inclusive plan could wind up saving you money in the long run, so do the math to determine which type of plan represents a better value for your home.
AFC Home Club offers the following prices for Montana homes. Prices quoted reflect a $125 service call fee:
- Silver: $38.00
- Systems: $45.25
- Gold: $52.50
- Platinum: $57.33
Best Home Warranties in Montana Guide
What is a home warranty?
A home warranty is a service contract that covers the repair or replacement of certain home systems and appliances that break down due to normal wear and tear. It is different from homeowner’s insurance, which covers damage from events such as fires or natural disasters. Home warranties can provide peace of mind to homeowners by protecting against unexpected expenses for home repairs. On the advice of their real estate agents, home sellers often purchase home warranty plans when they put their homes on the market as a way of attracting more home buyers.
What’s the difference between home warranties and home insurance?
Here’s a quick way to look at a home warranty vs. home insurance. Home warranties and home insurance are two different types of protection for homeowners. A home warranty covers the repair or replacement of home systems and appliances that break down due to normal wear and tear, while homeowners insurance covers damage to the home and its contents from events such as fires, storms and burglaries. It is important for homeowners to understand the difference between these two types of protection and to have both a home warranty and homeowners insurance to adequately protect their homes.
What does a home warranty cover?
The specific items covered by a home warranty may vary by company and plan, but generally, home warranties cover major systems such as heating and air conditioning, plumbing and electrical, as well as appliances such as refrigerators, clothes washers and dryers, and ovens. It is important for homeowners to carefully review the terms of their home warranty coverage to understand what is and is not covered.
Do home warranties protect brand-new systems and appliances?
Home warranties typically do not cover brand-new systems and appliances, as they are typically still covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. A home warranty typically covers appliances and systems that have passed their manufacturer’s warranty end date and have experienced normal wear and tear.
What voids a home warranty?
There are several factors that can void a home warranty, including failure to properly maintain the covered items, making unauthorized repairs and making modifications to the covered items. It is important for homeowners to carefully review the terms of their home warranty and to properly maintain their covered items to ensure that their warranty remains valid.
How much does a home warranty cost?
The cost of a home warranty can vary depending on the company, the plan and the location. In Montana, home warranties cost between $500 and $800 per year. They also come with deductibles — a fee homeowners pay per service call. Service call fees vary from company to company and usually range between $75 and $100. Homeowners should also be mindful of a company’s workmanship guarantee. Often the service provided by a home warranty technician is only guaranteed for 30 days, though a few companies offer workmanship guarantees of up to 180 days.
Are home warranties worth it?
Like insurance, we buy home warranties hoping we never have to use them. After all, no one wants their cooktop, AC system or water dispenser to break down. And the last thing we need is plumbing stoppages. In essence, home warranties are designed to give homeowners peace of mind. And whether a home warranty turns out to be worth it depends on how much you value that peace of mind and how often you need to file a claim.
Home warranties may be most cost-effective if you own an older home with well-worn appliances and systems. If you own a new home, where systems and appliances are still covered by a manufacturer’s warranty, the coverage you get with a home warranty may be redundant.
How to choose the best home warranty for you
There are several factors to consider when buying a home warranty. These include the cost and coverage of the plan, the reputation and reliability of the company, the exclusions and limitations of the coverage, and how easy it is to file a home warranty claim. Exclusions invariably include pre-existing conditions and most plans cap benefits both annually and by covered items.
How do I cancel my home warranty?
The process for canceling a home warranty will vary by company. Most home warranties offer the option of paying month-to-month for coverage and allow you to cancel at any time — provided you haven’t had repairs performed in the past month. If you purchase an annual plan and wish to cancel, home warranty companies will typically return a prorated portion of your premiums. To cancel your policy, call your home warranty company directly for assistance.
Home Warranty FAQs
Who regulates home warranty companies in Montana?
Is a home warranty required in Montana?
How much is a home warranty?
Who pays for the home warranty, the buyer or the seller?
How we chose the best home warranties in Montana
For the preceding home warranty reviews, we considered a number of factors including pricing, coverage options, customer reviews and the reputation of the company. We also looked for companies that offer a range of coverage options, including plans for appliances, home systems, or both, and many ways to customize coverage with add-ons for such services as pest control and less common appliances like water dispensers and ice makers. We tried to find warranties that contain few exclusions and offer high coverage limits. Finally, we considered the reputation of the company, including its ratings with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Trustpilot and Google.
Summary of our guide to Best Home Warranties in Montana
There’s a seemingly endless list of home warranty companies that offer coverage in Montana. That’s a good thing, because every homeowner’s needs for protection differ. On the surface, there’s a lot of redundancy among coverage options across companies. But after digging into the details of many home warranty plans, we recommend the following ten companies:
