Few things are more of a nuisance than coming home after a grueling day at work and clicking your garage door opener, only to find that your garage door won’t budge and you can’t open it. This is why a home warranty for garage doors can be a lifesaver so you never have to stress about getting it fixed as soon as possible. A garage door home warranty covers items like your garage door opener and sometimes parts of the garage door, giving you financial protection in the event it suddenly breaks down.
That said, digging into home warranty contracts for specific coverage options can be daunting, especially if you’ve seen others in your life burned by less reputable companies. The secret is finding home warranty companies that are transparent with their policies and do what they say they will — namely, fixing your garage door.
Luckily, I’ve done the work for you by spending countless hours secret shopping, researching, and reading through 30+ page sample contracts. The following best home warranty companies for garage doors are ranked using Today’s Homeowner’s unique criteria, including affordability, plans and coverage, transparency, company reputation, and customer service.
Here’s how we ranked and reviewed the nation’s top home warranty companies to bring you the most accurate information.
Our team of experts reviewed over 70 home warranty providers to compare plan options, coverage limits, prices, and customer feedback.
We collected over 100 sample quotes from dozens of home warranty companies to give you an accurate look at industry pricing.
Our rating system scores providers based on 6 key factors: coverage options, affordability, customer experience, reputation, claims processes, and availability.
Read our full Home Warranty Review Methodology for more details.
Top 5 Home Warranty Companies for Garage Doors
- Liberty Home Guard stands out for its garage door coverage. Two out of three of its plans offer this coverage up to $500, which is more than many home warranty companies offer.
- Look for exclusions regarding garage doors. Most home warranty companies provide coverage for garage door opener systems but won’t cover the costs of replacing the garage door or tracks.
- If a manufacturer’s warranty currently covers your garage door, don’t bother with a home warranty just for the sake of your garage door. Instead, choose a home warranty plan if you want coverage on your home systems or appliances or wait until the manufacturer’s warranty is just about to expire, then enroll in a plan with garage door coverage.
What’s Most Important in a Home Warranty for Garage Doors?
A home warranty for garage doors protects you financially should your garage door or the garage door opener system fail. Most home warranty providers don’t cover the costs of the garage door or tracks but offer coverage for your garage door opener system, so you’re not locked out of your garage on a sweltering summer day.
Look for home warranty providers with flexible plans that provide coverage for garage doors. Some providers only have one plan or add-on option for garage doors, while others, like American Home Shield, include this critical coverage with all their plans. Read the exclusions closely. Some providers have tricky exclusions, while others cover all the mechanical and motorized components of your garage door opener, so make sure you find a company with the latter.
Home Warranty Companies for Garage Doors I Don’t Recommend
US Home Guard is a company I don’t recommend for garage door coverage. They don’t cover opener remote controls, and even worse, they don’t clearly state the amount of coverage your garage door opener receives. The Better Business Bureau has an active consumer alert about them, alleging that the US Home Guard uses misleading marketing materials and consumers consistently receive unsolicited advertising from them. All of these factors make me uneasy, so I would skip this company.
Compare The Highest Rated Home Warranties for Garage Doors
| Company | Rating | Monthly Cost | Service Fee | Response Time | BBB Rating | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
$50-$60 |
$75 |
12-48 hrs. |
NR |
VISIT SITE | |
 |
$35–$75 |
$100–$125 |
24-72 hrs |
B |
VISIT SITE | |
 |
$44.99-$58.99 |
$70 |
48 hours |
A+ |
VISIT SITE | |
 |
$46–$55 |
$85 |
24-48 hrs. |
B |
VISIT SITE | |
 |
$52–$58 |
$75-$85 |
24-48 hrs. |
B |
VISIT SITE | |
 |
$38–$62 |
$75–$125 |
48 hours |
B |
VISIT SITE | |
 |
$38–$48 |
$75–$125 |
48 hours |
B |
VISIT SITE | |
 |
$17–$60+ |
$65–$100 |
2–24 hrs |
A- |
VISIT SITE | |
 |
$28–$68 |
$100–$150 |
2–24 hrs |
B |
VISIT SITE |
Quote and cost data gathered January 2024. Cost data are updated and monitored continuously.
Our Reviews of the Best Home Warranties for Garage Doors
Liberty Home Guard
4.6
Our Rating
You can choose from two of Liberty’s comprehensive plans, the Appliance Guard and Total Home Guard plan, for garage door opener coverage. Both come with up to $500 in protection, which is ample enough for most garage door opener repairs or replacements. I love that Liberty has over 40 add-ons, including fantastic options like carpet cleaning, window washing, and power washing your exterior garage flooring, too. I’ve yet to see another provider that matches Liberty’s flexibility and interesting customization options, so this is my preferred home warranty company if you have unique features around your home and want extra peace of mind that they’re fully covered.
However, LHG has lower coverage caps than I’d like to see. Your HVAC system only receives up to $2,000 in coverage, which is lower than providers like American Home Shield or Elite Home Warranty, which offer at least twice as much coverage. Still, Liberty trumps these providers with their faster-than-average claims response time of only 12 hours, making them a strong option when you don’t want to wait around for repairs with a garage door that won’t open for days.
Learn more about Liberty Home Guard’s process in this quick video on their home warranty plans:
Liberty Home Guard is an excellent provider if you’re looking for flexible plans with unique coverage. For example, it offers coverage for your garage door opener and practically unheard-of coverage for items like a casita guest unit, gutter cleaning, and pest control. I’ve never seen other providers offer these unique options, so definitely take advantage of Liberty’s customization (over 40 available add-ons!) if you have uncommon features around your home and garage and want that extra peace of mind.
For garage door opener coverage, you can opt for Liberty’s Appliance Guard or Total Home Guard plan. I recommend the latter as it includes coverage for your home appliances, garage door opener, and home systems like your HVAC, which is costly to repair and something you don’t want to be left without.
While LHG covers garage door openers, you can’t secure coverage for the garage door itself, including the hinges, chains, travelers, tracks, and rollers. If you choose Liberty for your home warranty coverage, know that the coverage is strictly for the mechanical parts of your garage door opener, along with the springs and sensors.
I don’t like that Liberty Home Guard has low coverage caps. For example, you only receive up to $500 in coverage for your plumbing system, electrical system, and garage door opener. While this is likely enough coverage for a garage door opener replacement, it’s often insufficient for larger repairs or replacements for your plumbing.
Liberty Home Guard offers three comprehensive plans, with two plans, the Appliance Guard and Total Home Guard plan, covering garage door openers. This gives you additional flexibility compared to providers like Elite Home Warranty, which only covers garage door openers in one of their plans. Plus, you’ll receive detailed coverage for more unique appliances like ceiling and exhaust fans, as well as your clothes washer and dryer, which not all appliance plans on the market cover. I personally recommend the Total Home Guard plan as it’s usually around $10 per month more but comes with coverage for home systems like your HVAC, plumbing, and water heater, which are often very expensive to replace or repair.
The following table doesn’t include available deals in the monthly costs.
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Service Fee | Available Discounts |
| Appliance Guard | $49.99 | $125 | Two months free, free limited roof leak protection, $200 off coupon (website or phone) |
| Systems Guard | $54.99 | $125 | Two months free, free limited roof leak protection, $200 off coupon (website or phone) |
| Total Home Guard | $59.99 | $125 | Two months free, free limited roof leak protection, $200 off coupon (website or phone) |
Editor’s Note: The cost data mentioned in this article was sourced for a single-family, two-bedroom home under 5,000 square feet in Boise. The cost data presented was accurate at the time of writing.
Available Add-Ons
Liberty Home Guard doesn’t offer garage door-specific add-ons. Still, they have more unique add-ons than you’ll find with other providers, such as coverage for a generator, sump pump, carpet cleaning, or power washing for your exterior flooring.
- Pool and spa: $19.99/month
- Additional spa: $9.99/month
- Lawn sprinkler system: $9.99/month
- Saltwater pool: $23.99/month
- Generator: $19.99/month
- Casita guest unit: $35.99/month
- Sump pump: $8.99/month
- Well pump: $12.99/month
- Septic system pumping: $12.99/month
- Ejector pump: $14.99/month
- Grinder pump: $14.99/month
- Limited roof leak: $11.99/month
- Re-key: $9.99/month
- Gutter cleaning: $14.99/month
- Pest control: $14.99/month
- Carpet cleaning: $19.99/month
- Window washing/cleaning: $19.99/month
- Power washing (exterior flooring): $19.99/month
- Central vacuum: $8.99/month
- Stand-alone freezer: $5.99/month
- Water softener: $13.99/month
- Swamp cooler: $14.99/month
- Second refrigerator: $7.99/month
- Trash compactor: $7.49/month
- Ice maker (in-fridge): $3.99/month
- Freestanding ice maker: $14.99/month
- Wine cooler/fridge: $11,99/month
- Water dispenser water line: $4.99/month
- Instant hot water dispenser: $9.99/month
- Reverse osmosis water filter system: $14.99/month
- Lighting fixtures: $7.99/month
- Plumbing fixtures: $7.99/month
- Electronics protection: $19.99/month
- TV mounting (up to 65-inch TVs): $14.99/month
- TV mounting (up to 85-inch TVs): $19.99/month
- Pro-series refrigerator: $14.99/month
- Pro-series stand-alone freezer: $14.99/month
- Pro-series range/oven/cooktop: $12.99/month
- Pro-series dishwasher: $7.99/month
- Pro-series microwave: $4.99/month
- Pro-series washing machine: $4.99/month
- Pro-series clothes dryer: $4.99/month
Liberty Home Guard’s plans are competitively priced, with most monthly premiums costing about $50, which matches the national average for home warranty plan costs. This provider is less affordable with their cancellation policy. While a money-back guarantee is offered, you have to pay a cancellation fee out of that, making them less affordable than a provider like American Home Shield, which doesn’t charge a cancellation fee if you cancel within a certain period. Otherwise, Liberty’s add-ons are competitively priced, with most costing less than $15 per month. They also frequently offer discounts on their website. During my secret shopping, LHG offered me $200 off when I enrolled today, along with free roof leak coverage and two months free.
Liberty’s instant quote process is fast, delivering a quick quote with detailed information and plan breakdowns, making their shopping process one of my favorites. Their website is packed with valuable information about the home warranty industry, Liberty’s process, and helpful FAQs that make understanding their process simpler than most. I appreciate their dedication to customer service by providing customers with a 60-day workmanship guarantee. This guarantee gives you 60 days to report any issues with your completed repair or replacement. Then, Liberty will send out another technician to repair your garage door opener or appliance free of charge. This is double the industry average of 30 days, giving Liberty a significant edge in this category.
With six years in the industry, Liberty doesn’t have the most experience in the home warranty industry, but they’re already making waves with their fantastic customer review scores. Few home warranty companies receive four stars or more on review websites. Liberty receives nearly 4.5 stars from BBB reviewers and a tremendous 4.7-star rating from Trustpilot (more than double what American Home Shield is currently rated). Positive reviews praise Liberty for their high-quality repairs, professional technicians, and customer service, who were happy to answer any questions, which I really appreciate as a homeowner who wants to understand the process and what went wrong with my broken-down garage door opener. Many reviewers note that Liberty has low-pressure communication, so you don’t feel like you’re being sold every step of the way. In contrast, negative reviews complain about low coverage caps, which weren’t enough to cover replacement costs of many appliances or home systems, and long wait times for repairs.
| Rating Site | Rating | Number of Reviews |
| BBB | NR*/4.48 | 2,461 |
| Trustpilot | 4.7 | 2,811 |
| Yelp | 1.3 | 67 |
Editor’s Note: The ratings provided were accurate at the time of writing.
*Note (as of 6/20/24): Recently, the Better Business Bureau shifted LHG’s A+ rating to “NR” (Not Rated). We reached out to a representative from LHG for comment, and they shared this statement: “Despite the BBB’s alert, our customer satisfaction levels remain by far the highest relative to our scale. Last month, we had the lowest percentage of customer cancellation requests in our entire history. On the BBB’s own platform, Liberty Home Guard has achieved a star rating of 4.5 out of 5 from nearly 2,500 reviews. For added context, the approximately 480 resolved complaints on Liberty Home Guard’s BBB profile equate to an extremely low fraction of a percentage relative to the size and scale of our total customer base. As we navigate this situation, which we believe will be resolved in time, we want to assure you that we remain committed to our customers and their satisfaction; they are the key stakeholders we orient all our efforts around.”
I’m a huge fan of Liberty’s claims process because it’s much more convenient and efficient than most home warranty providers. They even offer a mobile app, which I’ve yet to see other home warranty providers jump on board with, despite most of us always having our smartphones with us. The best part of their claims process is their speedy response time, which our team at Today’s Homeowner has found to take around 12 hours, anywhere from half to a fourth of the time many providers take. Their intuitive app makes submitting claims, checking on the claim status, and watching for incoming payments easy, but you can submit claims over the phone with customer service or online if you prefer. Overall, I appreciate Liberty’s dedication to quick turnarounds, as none of us want to spend days locked out of our garage or having our garage door stuck open and exposed.
I’ve given Liberty Home Guard close to a perfect score in this category because they have a clearly posted, simpler sample policy that is easy to read and understand, especially compared to providers like Elite Home Warranty. However, I wish they had fewer exclusions because exclusions lead to claim denials, and Liberty has a large number of things that may disqualify you from coverage, like appliance modifications, leaks, or disposal costs.
Exclusions
LHG has standard exclusions, but they’re extensive, so be sure to read your policy carefully. For garage door openers, you’ll want to note that leaks and preexisting conditions will disqualify you from coverage.
- Preexisting conditions
- Flues, vents, chimneys, and exhaust lines
- Electronics, computerized, “smart,” or Internet/enabled components and parts
- Filters associated with any covered items
- Remote receiving and transmitting devices
- Radon and other leak detection monitoring systems
- Fire sprinkler systems
- Lighting
- Solar systems and applications
- Cosmetic defects
- Disposal of appliances, systems, or components
- Cranes or other specialty vehicles required to install, remove, or access your appliances or home systems.
- Glass parts
- Commercial-grade equipment, systems, or appliances
- Professional series or luxury, high-end premium items (without the add-on)
- Modifications of any covered item
- Thermometers
- Noise
- Malfunctions due to storms or other acts of God
Editor’s Note: While this article highlights certain exclusions, it is imperative for readers to review their contracts as the mentioned exclusions are not exhaustive, and additional exclusions may apply.
Liberty allows you to choose your service provider, but they recommend sticking to their “LHG-certified” technicians, whom Liberty carefully vets for high-quality service. Their technicians come with a 60-day workmanship guarantee, which you lose if you choose a provider outside Liberty’s network.
American Home Shield
4.3
Our Rating
This exceptional provider has some of the best coverage limits in the industry, meaning that you don’t have to worry about paying out of pocket for part of the repair or replacement bill in most cases. Unlike Liberty Home Guard, which only provides $500 for garage door openers, you receive a comfortable coverage cap of up to $1,000 for garage door openers with AHS, depending on your plan. Plus, all AHS’ plans cover garage door openers, so you can choose between an appliance-only plan, systems-only plan, or ShieldPlatinum plan, which covers both. This gives you far greater flexibility than other providers who typically offer garage door opener coverage with one or two plans.
In addition to this, AHS has some of the most unique and valuable member benefits available, especially with their ShieldPlatinum plan. You receive a free HVAC tune-up, rekeys, and partner discounts, an impressive $5,000 in heating and air conditioner systems coverage, and up to $4,000 for appliances. You also don’t have to worry about code violations, permits, and modifications. AHS covers up to $250 for these issues, often an exclusion that leads to claim denials with other providers. The ShieldPlatinujm plan even comes with free roof leak repairs up to $1,000 (not available for covered homes in Hawaii), which most providers have you pay for, and they usually offer a maximum of $500 in coverage at that.
Overall, I strongly recommend American Home Shield for garage door opener coverage and other fantastic coverage options for your roof, appliances, and home systems. While they are a bit pricier than other home warranty companies, and I don’t love some of the poor customer review ratings on Trustpilot and Yelp, they are a BBB-accredited provider. They provide so many unique member benefits and coverage that give me much greater peace of mind.
All three of American Home Shield’s plans cover garage door openers. This coverage includes all parts and components of your electrically powered garage door opener and the extension and torsion springs. Since the average cost to repair a garage door opener is between $300 and $500, I’m glad that AHS includes this coverage with all their plans.
I love that American Home Shield isn’t as strict about their exclusions, meaning more appliance, home system, or garage door breakdowns are covered. For example, many home warranty companies exclude the following, but AHS covers these: improper installation or repair, insufficient maintenance, rust, corrosion, or sediment. Many companies, like Liberty Home Guard, exclude these situations, leaving you paying for garage door openers or appliance repairs out of pocket if you don’t adequately maintain and clean your appliances. You also don’t need to worry about having a home inspection before enrollment, saving you time and stress.
American Home Shield’s plans only cover garage door openers. They don’t cover any other parts of the garage door system, such as the garage door and its track assemblies, like the rollers, tracks, and guides. While this is standard within the home warranty industry, it’s not ideal if you’re looking for complete garage door coverage.
Another drawback is AHS’s poor company reputation. While the Better Business Bureau does accredit them, some of their third-party ratings from Trustpilot and Yelp give me pause. I also don’t love that their prices are higher than most (though you are receiving higher coverage in most cases).
If you’re interested in garage door opener coverage, you won’t be limited with AHS. All three of their plans provide this coverage, leaving you free to choose from an appliance-only plan, a home systems-only plan, or a comprehensive plan covering both. My preferred plan is the ShieldPlatinum plan because it comes with many unique member benefits like a free HVAC tune-up yearly and rekeying in the home, which most of us likely don’t change up enough. Plus, you receive up to $1,000 in free roof leak coverage and coverage for 27 home appliances and systems, including your garage door opener and novel items like your doorbell unit, ductwork, shower heads, toilets, pressure regulators, and instant hot/cold water dispensers.
The following table doesn’t include available discounts in the monthly costs.
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Service Fee | Available Discounts |
| ShieldSilver | $29.99 – 39.99 | $100 – $125 | Same-day discount of $125 off first year (website), 40% off Shield Gold plan (website) |
| ShieldGold | $49.99 – 59.99 | $100 – $125 | Same-day discount of $125 off first year (website), 40% off Shield Gold plan (website) |
| ShieldPlatinum | $79.99 – 89.99 | $100 – $125 | Same-day discount of $125 off first year(website), 40% off Shield Gold plan (website) |
Editor’s Note: The cost data mentioned in this article was sourced for a single-family, two-bedroom home under 5,000 square feet in Boise. The cost data presented was accurate at the time of writing.
Available Add-Ons
None of the AHS add-ons are related to the garage door, but you may want to look into their exceptional roof leak repair add-on, which comes with up to $1,0000 in coverage (if you’re not buying the ShieldPlatinum plan, which comes with this included).
- Roof leak repair: $10/month
- Electronics protection plan: $14/month
- Pool & built-in-spa equipment: $18/month
- Guest unit: $15.99/month
- Septic pump: $5/month
- Well pump: $8/month
American Home Shield is pricier than most providers, especially if you opt for their home systems or combination plan covering appliances and home systems like your plumbing and HVAC. However, their coverage caps are far higher than most (two to three times the coverage most providers offer in many cases). This makes them worth the slightly higher price point if you want extra peace of mind or have premium or lux appliances that cost more to repair or replace around your home.
American Home Shield offers a standard 30-day workmanship guarantee, which ensures that if your completed repair or replacement has any issues within 30 days, you can report this and have a service technician sent out, free of charge, to address the problem. While this isn’t as impressive as Liberty Home Guard, which offers a 60-day workmanship guarantee, I still appreciate the protection AHS offers its customers. During my secret shopping, AHS’ representatives were consistently polite, knowledgeable, and helpful, but I was bombarded with follow-up calls. I didn’t love this, but otherwise, I found the experience straightforward enough, especially with AHS’ user-friendly instant quote calculator and detailed plan breakdowns.
With over 53 years of in business, American Home Shield is by far the most experienced provider on this list and arguably in the home warranty industry as a whole. The Better Business Bureau accredits them, which most home warranty providers can’t claim, although they receive lackluster reviews on third-party websites, with a two-star average from many. Negative reviews usually bring up issues with being unable to cancel contracts, poor customer service, or an insufficient number of technicians locally, dragging out wait times for repairs. In contrast, happy customers praise AHS for their high coverage cap, leading to sizable repair and replacement payouts, saving the customer from debt, even for big replacements like an HVAC system.
| Rating Site | Rating | Number of Reviews |
| BBB | B/2.1 | 11,036 |
| Trustpilot | 2.1 | 5,363 |
| Yelp | 1.1 | 1,303 |
Editor’s Note: The ratings provided were accurate at the time of writing.
You can submit a claim over the phone or through the AHS online portal, both of which have 24/7/365 availability, a must-have for those emergencies when you’re locked out of your garage. Like most providers, they take around 24 to 48 hours to respond after you submit a claim, which is standard but not as fast as Liberty Home Guard’s 12-hour average response time. A significant benefit of American Home Shield’s claims process is that you don’t need maintenance records or worry about claim denial because your garage door opener system is too old or has a preexisting condition. This starkly contrasts with providers like Select Home Warranty, which can request maintenance and cleaning records at any time and won’t cover items with preexisting conditions.
American Home Shield is one of the most transparent and uncomplicated home warranty providers on the market, which is why they are one of my preferred home warranty companies. Their sample contract is clear, to the point, and simple compared to other providers, with helpful charts that break down what is and isn’t covered, along with clearly stated coverage limits, a company trait that can be hard to find in the home warranty world. AHS also has fewer exclusions than many providers, giving you fewer opportunities to have your claim denied by them.
Exclusions
American Home Shield has standard exclusions:
- Construction or carpentry costs
- Restoration of walls
- Flues, chimneys, venting, and exhaust lines
- Repairs or replacements due to cosmetic defects
- Repairs due to mold
- Natural disasters
Editor’s Note: While this article highlights certain exclusions, it is imperative for readers to review their contracts as the mentioned exclusions are not exhaustive, and additional exclusions may apply.
You can’t choose your technician with American Home Shield, except for rare situations where the provider preapproves one. Otherwise, they choose the provider from their network.
Choice Home Warranty
4.3
Our Rating
Both Choice Home Warranty’s plans cover garage door openers, but I strongly recommend their Total Plan, which is around $8 more per month and covers many more appliances and home systems. For example, the Basic Plan doesn’t cover your refrigerator or laundry appliances like your washer and dryer — which I certainly don’t want to be left without when I’m getting ready to make dinner or have piles of smelly clothing needing a quick wash.
A big pro of going with Choice is their high claims acceptance rate. A claims acceptance rate is the percentage of claims a provider approves, meaning the customer (you) gets the payout to have your appliance or home system repaired or replaced. This is a critical aspect of selecting any home warranty company because if your claims aren’t approved, then there’s no use in being with the provider in the first place. I love that customers frequently praise Choice for their high claims acceptance rate, which gives me peace of mind.
On the other hand, I don’t love that Choice has low coverage caps. While they are a more affordable provider, I still wish they offered higher coverage. For example, your septic tank pumping only receives up to $250 in coverage, but this can cost as much as $600, leaving you paying $350 out-of-pocket.
This affordable provider offers two plan options with garage door opener coverage and a high claims acceptance rate, which increases the odds of them approving your claim and paying out.
CHW has an outstanding workmanship guarantee of 90 days for parts and 60 days for labor. This policy saves you from paying another service fee in the case that a covered repair or replacement fails within those periods. This guarantee is more than generous as most providers only give you 30 days. They also claim to handle all customer complaints within 24 hours, so you won’t be left parked outside your garage for a week while you wait for Choice to get back to you. Their terms and conditions even share that they make every reasonable effort to contact you within four hours for an appointment, which is super convenient when your dishwasher is leaking all over the place.
Choice Home Warranty has low coverage caps. For example, you only receive up to $500 in coverage for your septic system, which includes the cost of access and diagnosis. However, a septic system replacement can easily cost between $3,500 and $11,000, so you would be left paying thousands of dollars out-of-pocket for this replacement, even with home warranty coverage.
Another downside to Choice is that the Arizona Attorney General has filed a lawsuit against them, alleging they have committed consumer fraud. This lawsuit alleges that Choice doesn’t provide complete and timely appliance repair or replacement, which isn’t reassuring.
I don’t love Choice’s Basic Plan as it’s just that — basic. It doesn’t include air conditioning, refrigerator, or clothes washer and dryer coverage. But it does offer garage door opener coverage, so this may be a good option if you’re on a tight budget and don’t care about those other appliances. If you can, I’d recommend the Total Plan as it covers these items: your garage door opener, built-in microwave, ductwork, and even a whirlpool bathtub at an affordable price point.
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Service Fee | Available Discounts |
| Basic Plan | $46.67 | $100 | 5% discount, annual payment discounts, and 1 month free (online or phone) |
| Total Plan | $54.75 | $100 | 5% discount, annual payment discounts, and 1 month free (online or phone) |
Editor’s Note: The cost data mentioned in this article was sourced for a single-family, two-bedroom home under 5,000 square feet in Boise. The cost data presented was accurate at the time of writing.
Available Add-Ons
Choice Home Warranty has a limited range of add-ons, but their limited roof leak coverage is a terrific deal at only $5.83 per month for $500 in coverage.
- Central vacuum: $3.33/month
- Limited roof leak: $5.83/month
- Pool: $15/month
- Second refrigerator: $3.33/month
- Septic system: $10/month
- Septic tank pumping: $5.42/month
- Spa: $15/month
- Additional spa: $15/month
- Sprinkler system: $8.33/month
- Stand-alone freezer: $3.33/month
- Sump pump: $3.33/month
- Well pump: $8.33/month
Choice Home Warranty is one of the most affordable providers on the market, second only to Select Home Warranty on this list. Their add-ons are exceptionally affordable, with very few costing more than $10 per month, which is a much lower price than companies like Elite Home Warranty which charges $15 to $20 for most of their add-ons. On top of this, CHW has frequent and seemingly constant discounts available on its website and over the phone. During my secret shopping, they offered me an annual payment discount, one month free, and 5% off my first year. These discounts can quickly add up, saving you hundreds of dollars each year, so Choice ranks well for its cost and affordability with a 7.8 score.
A unique aspect of Choice’s customer experience is that you don’t have to wait 30 days for your coverage to start if you give them proof of prior coverage through a different carrier to demonstrate that there wasn’t a lapse. Most providers still make you wait 30 to 60 days for coverage, so this is a nice benefit that ensures you don’t get stuck paying for a new garage door opener just because you choose to change providers. Otherwise, my experience with Choice is consistently positive. Their website is easy to navigate, well laid out, and straightforward. I wish their online quote calculator provided you with quotes for both plans on the same page, so you didn’t have to go back and forth between web pages, but otherwise, the customer experience I had was solid.
Choice Home Warranty has a good reputation with a B rating from the Better Business Bureau and close to a four-star rating on Trustpilot. Where they fall short is the current, pending lawsuit against them alleging that they have misleading information about how fast Choice will repair your appliances and how much they’ll pay out. While this is discouraging to read, it is ongoing, so I only give it some weight in my review of them.
Positive reviews highlight Choice’s professional customer service agents, high claim acceptance rates, and fast repair appointments. This makes me happy when I think about my garage door being stuck and leaving my home exposed to pests, the elements, and theft. In contrast, negative reviews note that policyholders needed to repeatedly open their claims to have them approved, which isn’t ideal when dealing with a leaking washer machine.
| Rating Site | Rating | Number of Reviews |
| BBB | B/1.04 | 4,483 |
| Trustpilot | 3.7 | 39,554 |
| Yelp | 1.0 | 173 |
Editor’s Note: The ratings provided were accurate at the time of writing.
CHW has an exceptional claims process, primarily for their frequently praised fast claim turnaround and repairs and their workmanship guarantee after a claim is addressed. Most providers only give you 30 days to report an issue with a repair or replacement. But Choice gives you 90 days for parts and 60 days for labor-related issues to report a problem and have the problem resolved without charging you another service fee. This saves you the cost of another $100 service fee and is much more generous than providers like Elite Home Warranty or American Home Shield, which only give you 30 days to report a problem. Overall, Choice has a standout claims process, and you can easily submit claims online or over the phone, depending on your preference.
Choice Home Warranty has an uncomplicated sample contract, which you can easily find on their website. My only gripe with their sample contract is how challenging it is to determine the coverage caps for some items. Some appliances or items around the home, like your well pump, have clearly listed coverage caps, but others feel almost hidden in large paragraphs of text, which is frustrating. Otherwise, their exclusions are pretty standard, giving Choice a high score for transparency.
Exclusions
Choice Home Warranty has typical exclusions, with nothing standing out as a particular red flag. However, any upgrades or modifications to your garage door opener will disqualify you from coverage.
- Audio or visual equipment
- Internet connection components
- Upgrades or modifications to original systems or appliances
- Pool accessories
- Fireplaces
- Doorbell
- Central vacuum ductwork, accessories, hoses, and blockages
- Portable or above-ground spas and pools
- Act of God incidents
- Unknown or known pre-existing conditions
- Misuse, abuse, or failure to clean or maintain the covered item
Editor’s Note: While this article highlights certain exclusions, it is imperative for readers to review their contracts as the mentioned exclusions are not exhaustive, and additional exclusions may apply.
You can choose a service provider with CHW, but you may invalidate Choice’s fantastic workmanship guarantee of 90 days for parts and 60 days for labor. This guarantee provides protection should the repair or replacement fall through, so I recommend checking that your preferred technician is part of Choice’s network so you don’t miss out on this benefit.
Select Home Warranty
4.2
Our Rating
While I like the variety of plans Select offers, only one, the Platinum Care plan, covers garage door openers. This is a bummer if you’re looking for a cheaper plan option or just home system or appliance coverage. Some providers, like American Home Shield, provide coverage for garage door openers with all their plans, which gives you greater flexibility than Select. That said, Select’s prices can’t be beat. According to my secret shopping for a two-bedroom home, they offer three plan options for less than $50.
The other big drawback to SHW is their low coverage caps. Many appliances only receive up to $500 in coverage, which may be enough for your garage door opener but likely isn’t enough to replace your stove or oven. Plus, you have to worry about keeping up with routine maintenance and cleaning records and ensure your garage door opener and covered items don’t have preexisting conditions if you want coverage. I’m not the greatest at staying on top of cleaning during the busy holiday season, so this stresses me out a bit.
If you’re on a tight budget, though, Select is my recommendation. All of their plans come with free roof leak coverage and offer many discount options in addition to their competitive pricing.
Select Home Warranty is a budget-friendly home appliance home warranty company. Their Bronze Care plan, which
This affordable home warranty provider has three comprehensive plans, with their Platinum Care plan being my preferred choice as it covers home systems, your garage door opener, appliances, and even ceiling fans. All of this is offered at a low monthly premium of less than $50, making them more cost-effective than the average home warranty provider.
On top of this, you don’t have to wait long for your coverage to start with SHW. Some providers have 60-day wait periods after you enroll before your coverage takes effect. But Select’s coverage begins after 30 days, giving you a smaller window for your garage door opener to break down before your coverage is effective.
comprehensive appliance coverage for kitchen and laundry appliances, is my favorite Select plan for appliance coverage. It’s hard to beat the number of appliances Select covers at their low cost. Plus, nearly all providers make you pay an additional fee for roof leak coverage (often about $10 a month or $120 yearly), so the included free roof leak coverage with all of Select’s plans is a significant savings.
While Select Home Warranty has decent HVAC coverage of up to $3,000, better than more expensive providers like Liberty Home Guard, many of their coverage limits are subpar. For example, you only receive up to $500 in coverage for many home appliances, like your fridge, which can easily cost $1,500 to replace.
Also, you need to be careful about Select’s exclusions. They don’t cover unknown or known preexisting conditions, manufacturer defects, leaks, or any problems related to structural components of the home, like beams or foundations. The cost to remove or dispose of covered items after a replacement is also on you. While it may not be a big deal to dispose of a garage door opener, I don’t personally want to figure out how to dispose of my old, heavy dishwasher.
Select Home Warranty has three clear-cut plans: an appliance-only plan, a home systems plan, and a combination plan featuring coverage for both. All of their plans come with free roof leak coverage (a $99 value), which is a fantastic benefit as most providers make you pay an add-on fee to your monthly premium for this coverage. On top of this, I find Select’s plans comprehensive, considering their low pricing as they cover a good range of items. For example, their appliance plan, the Bronze Care plan, covers clothes, washer and dryer, garbage disposal, refrigerator, stove/oven, built-in microwave, cooktop, and dishwasher.
| Plan | Monthly Cost* | Service Fee | Available Discounts |
| Bronze Care | $44.42 | $75 | $150 off (website), two extra months free (website), multi-year coverage discount (phone) |
| Gold Care | $44.42 | $75 | $150 off (website), two extra months free (website), multi-year coverage discount (phone) |
| Platinum Care | $47.75 | $75 | $150 off (website), two extra months free (website), multi-year coverage discount (phone) |
*Monthly cost figures provided include the discounted rate offered at the time of writing. Select Home Warranty has been running this promotion since the beginning of this year.
Editor’s Note: The cost data mentioned in this article was sourced for a single-family, two-bedroom home under 5,000 square feet in Boise. The cost data presented was accurate at the time of writing.
Available Add-Ons
Select offers a decent range of add-ons, most notably its free limited roof coverage, which comes with all its plans.
- Central vacuum: $3.33/month
- Lawn sprinkler system: $5.83/month
- Pool: $8.33/month
- Limited roof leak: $0/month
- Septic system: $5.83/month
- Spa: $5.83/month
- Stand-alone freezer: $3.33/month
- Sump pump: $3.33/month
- Well pump: $3.33/month
Select Home Warranty is the most affordable of all the providers on this list. They offer excellent discounts that are almost always available on their website, and you can opt for a multi-year discount when you call customer service. Their priciest plan is $47.75 per month, according to my secret shopping for a two-bedroom single-family home, which is a few dollars less than the national average for home warranty premiums. In addition, Select’s most comprehensive plan is $30 cheaper than American Home Shield’s starting price for their combination plan based on quotes I received for the same property. In addition, Select has inexpensive add-ons, allowing you to customize your coverage and add coverage where needed, such as sump pump or well pump coverage.
Select’s website is easy to navigate and offers a user-friendly website, blog, and FAQ section. While I don’t love how often their customer service agents follow up with you, their agents have always been professional and friendly to me during my secret shopping. I don’t typically feel like they’re trying to push a sale on me. Instead, they are educational during the process. As a bonus, Select offers a neatly organized breakdown of each of its plans and has transparent pricing, making the shopping experience more manageable than most.
Select has an impressive 12 years of experience in the industry and a solid B rating from the Better Business Bureau — both factors that give me a lot of faith in their process behind the scenes. Most positive reviews I read expressed happiness about Select’s affordable pricing, easy claims process, and friendly customer service. However, I found negative reviews criticized Select’s HVAC coverage above all other types of coverage. This is very concerning since your HVAC is expensive to repair or replace, with HVAC systems costing as much as $11,000 to replace.
| Rating Site | Rating | Number of Reviews |
| BBB | B/1.33 | 2,093 |
| Trustpilot | 3.7 | 4,855 |
| Yelp | 1.0 | 9 |
Editor’s Note: The ratings provided were accurate at the time of writing.
Select Home Warranty has an average claims process. You can contact their repair service anytime something, like your garage door opener, breaks down and have the option to open a claim 24/7. Then, Select will assign a local professional and charge you a service fee before reimbursing you for the rest of the repair cost. On average, our team found that you’ll wait about 48 hours for a non-emergency claim, such as a broken down dishwasher or garage door opener, so keep this in mind when submitting your claim. While it’s a standard wait time, it can feel much longer than 48 hours when you’re locked out of your garage on a hot summer day.
Select Home Warranty has a clearly listed sample policy on its website, boosting its score in this category. I don’t love some of their exclusions, such as excluding unknown preexisting conditions or items due to a lack of maintenance or cleaning. This provider seems especially tough on HVAC claims, requiring up to three years of maintenance or cleaning records, which can be tricky to keep up with as a busy homeowner.
However, other parts of Select’s policies make them an uncomplicated provider. For example, the age, make, or model of your garage door opener, appliances, or systems doesn’t matter regarding coverage. You also don’t have to worry about hitting a limit to the number of repairs this provider will cover.
Exclusions
Select Home Warranty has some frustrating exclusions, such as not covering items that aren’t properly maintained or cleaned, but these are pretty standard to the industry.
- Secondary damage (i.e., your home warranty may cover roof damage but won’t cover water damage caused by the leak)
- Incorrect installation or malfunctions due to construction damage or improper wiring
- Issues with systems or appliances related to hazardous or toxic materials (e.g., mold, asbestos, and gas leaks)
- Common areas in condominiums or family homes
- Failure to properly maintain or clean systems or appliances
- Unknown preexisting conditions
- Electrical surges
- Solar heating systems
- Foundation or structural issues
- Damage caused by natural disasters and rust
- Defects or damages caused by the foundation and structure of the home
Editor’s Note: While this article highlights certain exclusions, it is imperative for readers to review their contracts as the mentioned exclusions are not exhaustive, and additional exclusions may apply.
Select Home Warranty receives a perfect score for its flexibility because policyholders can select a service provider. Still, you’ll want to call customer service first before making any arrangements because if you don’t receive authorization from Select, they won’t reimburse you.
Elite Home Warranty
4.3
Our Rating
If maximum coverage is your concern, Elite Home Warranty gives you more opportunity and flexibility than any provider with their massive number of add-ons, premium appliances, home system add-ons, and comprehensive plans. You can opt for garage door opener coverage with two out of three of Elite’s plans: the Elite Systems and Elite Complete plan, with the Elite Complete plan being my recommendation for its extensive coverage of appliances and home systems. Depending on your plan, you can receive up to $6,000 in appliance coverage and up to $10,000 in home system coverage for your HVAC and other systems. Garage door openers receive a generous coverage limit of $1,000, which is two to five times higher than other providers on the market.
On top of all this, Elite has top-notch customer satisfaction ratings with nearly perfect five-star ratings from three reputable third-party websites and a BBB accreditation. I’ve yet to see any home warranty provider match these high ratings, so this is truly exceptional and worth noting, as how a company treats its customers behind the scenes speaks volumes.
On the downside, I don’t love that Elite excludes commercial-grade appliances. You also won’t receive coverage for keypads or garage door-related items, which isn’t unusual in this industry but still worth sharing.
Elite Home Warranty offers comprehensive garage door opener coverage, including all the components and parts needed to be fully functional, including the motors, relays, springs, switches, and control boards. This coverage is more extensive than many providers regarding the garage door opener itself and protects you should you get shut out of your home. Plus, their coverage limits for garage door openers are much higher at up to $1,000. Many providers offer between $200 and $500 in garage door opener coverage, so this much higher coverage gives me peace of mind that Elite could truly cover the costs of repairing or replacing the entire garage door opener.
Elite has more garage-door-related exclusions than most providers in this guide. While it’s common for the garage door to be excluded, they also don’t include the door track assembly, keypad, sensors, wall buttons, and more.
In addition to these exclusions, Elite won’t cover commercial-grade appliances or items that aren’t properly maintained or cleaned. If you choose Elite, keep detailed maintenance records and logs so Elite doesn’t deny you coverage.
Two of Elite’s plans come with garage door opener coverage. Their Elite Systems plan covers your home’s eight most important systems, including your garage door opener, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, water heater, and more. If you’re looking for appliance coverage, too, I recommend the Elite Complete plan. The Elite Complete Plan covers all the previously mentioned items and the eight most critical appliances in your home, including your washer and dryer, refrigerator, oven, dishwasher, and garbage disposal — which we often underestimate the importance of until it’s no longer working. Since the Elite Complete plan is only $10 more per month based on my secret shopping, I recommend that plan to keep you from winding up with massive repair bills.
The following table doesn’t factor in available discounts in the monthly costs.
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Service Fee | Available Discounts |
| Elite Appliance | $44.99 | $75 | $150 sign-up, first month free, 30-day free trial (phone) |
| Elite Systems | $49.99 | $75 | $150 sign-up, first month free, 30-day free trial (phone) |
| Elite Complete | $59.99 | $75 | $150 sign-up, first month free, 30-day free trial (phone) |
Editor’s Note: The cost data mentioned in this article was sourced for a single-family, two-bedroom home under 5,000 square feet in Boise. The cost data presented was accurate at the time of writing.
Available Add-Ons
Elite offers a fantastic range of add-ons, much more than the average home warranty provider, which offers between five and ten options. You can select a unique HVAC annual maintenance add-on or coverage for your pool equipment, guest house, jetted hot tub, or water softener, which I seldom see other providers offer.
- Attic exhaust fan: $69.99/year
- Central vacuum: $49.00/year
- Effluent pump: $99.99/year
- Ejector pump: $99.99/year
- Freestanding freezer: $59.99/year
- Freestanding ice maker: $59.99/year
- Freestanding spa equipment: $119.99/year
- Generator: $99.99/year
- Geothermal heating and cooling system: $299.99/year
- Grinder pump: $99.99/year
- Guest house: $299.99/year
- HVAC annual maintenance: $299.99/year
- Jetted/hot tub: $99.99/year
- Lawn sprinkler system: $99.99/year
- Lift pump: $99.99/year
- Limited roof leak repair: $99.99/year
- Pool & spa equipment: $199.99/year
- Pool equipment: $149.99/year
- Premium appliances: $249.99/year
- Premium benefits: $199.99/year
- Premium systems: $299.99/year
- Premium systems Plus: $499.99/year
- Septic system: $129.99/year
- Service lines: $349.99/year
- Sump pump: $99.99/year
- Swamp cooler: $149.99/year
- Water filtration system: $99.99/year
- Water softener: $99.99/year
- Well pump: $99.99/year
In general, Elite Home Warranty’s monthly rates range from $45 to $60 a month, putting them right on par with other industry leaders like EHW isn’t the most affordable provider on this list, but they offer far higher coverage caps and more extensive coverage than most, making their slightly higher prices worth it in my book. For garage door openers, your most cost-effective option is the Elite Systems plan, which starts at $49.99 per month based on my secret shopping. This is an average monthly premium price point for a home warranty, making it a budget-friendly option with garage door opener coverage. I find most of Elite’s add-ons reasonably priced, with few exceeding $20 or more monthly. Home Guard and First American Home Warranty. Their service call fees can vary, but I was offered a $70 service fee, which is fairly low. Elite’s average service call fee is $100, which is fairly standard for the industry. However, most of Elite’s add-ons are at least $15 to $20 per month, which can add up to several hundred dollars over the course of a year. Specifically for luxury homeowners, adding premium appliance protection will add $250 to your yearly cost, which is very pricey. Adding premium systems will tack on another $300. If you care a lot about covering your top-of-the-line items, this could be worth it. But, for most homeowners, it’s a very steep price to pay for coverage. Because of these expensive add-on prices, we lowered Elite’s affordability score to 8.7.
Elite Home Warranty delivers a white-glove customer experience with a designated claims concierge and professional customer service agents. Like many customer reviews note, I enjoy how Elite’s agents don’t pressure you into a sale. Instead, they take an educational approach that helps you understand how Elite’s home warranty works. However, I don’t love that you can’t receive an instant quote from Elite’s website. Unlike every other provider on this list, you have to wait for an Elite representative to call you with a quote rather than receiving a quote from the provider’s website. This extra step slows down the research and shopping process, which I don’t love.
This BBB-accredited provider is one of the few home warranty companies with this recognition. Plus, they have nearly perfect customer ratings from multiple third-party websites, which I can’t say about providers like Select Home Warranty or American Home Shield. Pleased customer reviews highlight this provider’s excellent, professional customer service, white-glove service, and high-coverage caps. I couldn’t summarize the negative reviews because there were so few online reviews, which speaks volumes about Elite’s customer satisfaction.
| Rating Site | Rating | Number of Reviews |
| BBB | A+/4.97 | 409 |
| Trustpilot | 4.8 | 87 |
| Yelp | 4.8 | 4 |
Editor’s Note: The ratings provided were accurate at the time of writing.
I don’t love Elite’s claims process because of their service fee policy. Unlike most providers, they charge a higher service fee of $150 if you need high-end or professional-grade appliance repairs. This higher service fee is double their typical fee and can quickly add up if you need multiple visits throughout the year. On the positive side, EHW has a white-glove claims process. They assign a claims concierge to your case, who sticks with you throughout the entire process. To start your claim, file it online or call customer service.
I’ve given EHW a close-to-perfect score in this category for their clearly listed sample contracts (one for every state they cover) and explicit exclusions. While I feel like they have many exclusions, they list these on their website, and it’s easy to find what is and isn’t included for each covered item. A few of their policies, such as their age restrictions, knock their scores down a bit. While Elite doesn’t exclude older garage door openers or appliances, they won’t provide the same level of coverage if your appliance is older than 10 years, depending on your state-specific policy. Read your sample policy closely for the nitty-gritty details so you can avoid claim denials.
Exclusions
Elite Home Warranty has standard exclusions. Take special note that preexisting conditions and a lack of routine maintenance will lead to claim denials for your garage door opener and other covered items.
- Natural disaster-related damages
- Preexisting conditions
- Routine maintenance
- Radon monitoring systems
- Fire sprinkler systems
- Solar systems and components
- Flues, venting, chimneys, and exhaust lines
- Acts of God
- Commercial-grade appliances
- Units in a rental property (i.e. apartments)
- Cosmetic damage
- Modified units
Editor’s Note: While this article highlights certain exclusions, it is imperative for readers to review their contracts as the mentioned exclusions are not exhaustive, and additional exclusions may apply.
You can choose your own provider with Elite as long as the technician is licensed in your state to perform the specific repair or replacement required. Make sure you ask for the contractor when you file your claim, and be prepared because Elite’s 30-day workmanship warranty won’t apply if you pick a service provider outside Elite’s network.
Calculate the Cost of Garage Door Home Warranty
Enter your monthly premium, service fee, and estimated number of service visits per year to calculate the cost of a garage door home warranty.
| Appliance | Average Repair Cost | Average Replacement Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Dehumidifier | $50–$200 | $1,300–$2,800 |
| Microwave | $50–$400 | $60–$2,000 |
| Dishwasher | $50–$500 | $400–$3,000 |
| Exhaust Fans | $16–$300 | $250–$950 |
| Electric Range | $100–$500 | $230–$3,000 |
| Gas Range | $100–$500 | $230–$3,000 |
| Dryer | $100–$400 | $450–$2,300 |
| Oven | $100–$430 | $400–$3,000 |
| Washer | $50–$450 | $400–$2,300 |
| Freezer | $90–$500 | $160–$2,900 |
| Refrigerator | $40–$350 | $200–$5,000 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do You Need a Home Warranty for Garage Doors?
If you have a garage door, a home warranty can protect you financially because garage doors and garage door openers are expensive to replace and repair. Plus, you want your garage door repaired quickly, as an open garage door leaves your home vulnerable to theft, pests, and the elements.
How Much Does a Home Warranty Cost for Garage Doors?
The average cost of a home warranty for garage doors is $53 per month, which is slightly higher than the national average of $50 per month. However, home warranty prices vary significantly depending on your home, location, add-ons, and company.
How To Save Money When Shopping for Home Warranties for Garage Doors?
You can save money shopping for home warranties for garage doors by researching online first, then contacting your three preferred home warranty companies. Ask about current deals, discounts, and price matching based on quotes you receive online to secure the best deal.
Is a Home Warranty Worth It for Garage Doors?
A home warranty is worth it for garage doors because the garage door opener system can cost hundreds of dollars to replace and leaves your home vulnerable to theft, pests, and weather if the door is even slightly ajar. A home warranty is especially critical if you don’t have a large home emergency fund that can cover costly repairs, as the warranty can prevent you from going into debt.
Other Warranty Resources for Homeowners
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