Montana is a beautiful state with scenic views, wildlife, and distinct season changes. Homeowners in Montana love the open spaces, outdoor activities, and friendly communities. However, just like any other state, Montana’s homeownership comes with its fair share of issues and concerns.
A home warranty will help protect the systems and appliances in your home. If your air conditioning or water heater needs to be repaired, the home warranty will protect you from large out-of-pocket costs associated with this. With Montana having a wide range of climate and weather conditions throughout the year, having a home warranty service provider in place will help improve the livability and affordability of your home. In our guide featuring the best home warranty companies in Montana, we will give you information on how to choose the best home warranty, why Montana homeowners need a home warranty and the best companies for a Montana home warranty.
Montana’s Best Home Warranty Companies in 2023
Compare the Best Home Warranty Companies in Montana
The table below outlines data for the best home warranty companies in Montana and beyond. We constantly update these ratings as companies change their policies and prices to give you the most accurate information possible. Continue reading in-depth reviews of several top providers.
Company | Monthly Cost | Service Fee | Coverage Limit | Response Time | Rating | States Covered |
 | $46.83–$54.75+ | $85 | $3,000 | 24–48 hours | 4.0 | 49 states, excluding WA |
 | $49.99–$99.99 | $75–$125 | $6,000 | 24–72 hours | 4.5 | 50 States |
 | $49.99–$69.99+ | $65–$125 | $2,000 | 12–48 hours | 4.3 | 47 states, excluding NV, WA, and WI |
 | $60.42–$63.75+ | $60–$75 | $3,000 | 24–48 hours | 4.2 | 47 states, excluding NV, WA, and WI |
 | $30.00–$60.00 | $75–$125 | $3,000 | 24–48 hours | 4.3 | 49 states, excluding HI |
 | $39.99–$54.99 | $100–$125 | $2,000 | 24–48 hours | 4.1 | 48 states, excluding AK and HI |
 | $17.00–$60.00 | $65–$100 | $2,500 | 24–48 hours | 4.0 | 42 states, excluding AK, HI, MT, NH, ND, OK, SD, and WY |
 | $36.00–$46.50 | $75–$125 | $3,500 | 24–48 hours | 3.9 | 34 states, excluding AK, CT, DE, HI, IL, LA, ME, MA, MN, NH, NJ, NY, ND, RI, VT, and WI |
*Quote and cost data gathered January 2023. Cost data are updated and monitored continuously.
Choice Home Warranty
4.1
Our Rating
Choice Home Warranty is the best overall home warranty in the state of Montana. There are several key features that set Choice home Warranty apart from the crowd. However, the fact that this plan has one of the simplest service contracts on the market can make it an intelligent choice. You will quickly learn that there is a lot of fine print involved in-home warranty policies, but Choice Home Warranty keeps things simple. With 13 years in the home warranty industry, Choice expects great customer service, fair pricing, and impressive workmanship.
- Our Take: Best Overall
- Average Annual Cost: [$550] – [$650]
- Response Time: Up to 48 hours
There are only two Choice Home Warranty plans, the Basic and the Total plans. The unique thing about both of these plans is that they are combo or comprehensive plan choices. This means you can get a mix of appliance and system coverage from just one plan. The overall affordability of the Choice Home Warranty plan is quite impressive. There are also several add-on options to help customize the plan to the needs of your Montana home. The service fees are priced reasonably at $85.
Choice Home Warranty has several add-on coverages that you can attach to either of its plans.
- Roof leak coverage (single-family homes only)
- Central Vacuum
- Septic Tank
- Well Pump
- Pool
- Spa (Can be combined with pool coverage if the equipment is shared)
- Sump Pump (must be permanently installed)
- Stand Alone Freezer
Liberty Home Guard
4.5
Our Rating
Liberty Home Guard is the most trustworthy home warranty in the state of Montana. The Liberty Home Guard warranty has only been on the market for two years, yet in that time period, they have earned an A rating with the BBB. The BBB ratings can be problematic in the home warranty industry as there tend to be quite a few claim disputes. For LHG to earn an A after just two years is quite impressive. The customer service and service call response times with Liberty Home Guard are among some of the best in the industry.
- Our Take: Most Trustworthy
- Average Annual Cost: [$649] – [$749]
- Response Time: Within 24 hours
Liberty Home Guard offers three plans for customers to choose from. A systems plan, appliance plan, and a comprehensive plan. You will likely notice that these plans are a bit more expensive than some of the other home warranties on the market. However, the coverage for each plan is also quite deep. More appliances and more systems covered under the plan typically equate to higher pricing. There are some beneficial and unique add-on coverages that go hand in hand with this policy. The service fee will be $75 from Liberty Home Guard.
Here’s a detailed look at Liberty Home Guard’s coverage:
- Appliance Guard ($64.99 per month): The Appliance Guard plan from Liberty Home Guard has coverage for 11 major appliances, including garage door opener, ceiling fans, cooktop exhaust fan, oven, refrigerator, garbage disposal, dishwasher, microwave, clothes washer, clothes dryer, and refrigerator ice-maker.
- Systems Guard ($69.99 per month): The Systems Guard plan is a systems-only option with nine systems. These systems are the electrical system, air conditioner, bath exhaust fan, heating system, toilet, ductwork, plumbing and plumbing stoppages, and water heater. If you have just invested in real estate for the first time, the Systems Guard plan can be a smart choice.
- Total Home Guard ($74.99 per month): The Total Home Guard is the best value from LHG. Total Home Guard has more than 20 covered systems and appliances. If you want a plan covering appliances and systems, the Total Home Guard is the best option.
Liberty Home Guard has one of the most extensive lists of add on coverages in the industry; these will include:
- Pool and spa
- Additional spa (Billed as an extra to the pool system)
- Saltwater pool
- Gutter cleaning
- Floor/carpet cleaning
- Sump pump
- Fixtures
- Water softener
- Trash compactor
- Lawn sprinkler system (all mechanical parts)
- Electronics protection
- Swamp cooler
- Ejector pump
- Septic system pumping
- Limited roof leak
- Pest control
- Locksmith
- Free-standing ice maker
- Central vacuum
- Stand-alone freezer
- Re-key
- Second refrigerator
- Wine refrigerator
- Well pump
- TV and PC
- Generator
- Water dispenser
Select Home Warranty
4.2
Our Rating
Select Home Warranty is the most cost-effective home warranty plan for Montana homeowners. Select Home Warranty offers its customers a broad range of coverage while always keeping fair pricing in mind. The Select Home Warranty has been on the market for close to ten years. One of the features that help to give Select Home Warranty even more value is the addition of free roof leak coverage. Customers will find these plans to be affordable, easy to manage, and have very high-quality workmanship.
- Our Take: Most Cost Effective
- Average Annual Cost: [$579] – [$650]
- Response Time: Up to 48 hours
There are three Select Home Warranty policies to choose from. There is a systems plan, an appliances plan, and then a combo plan. The combo plan known as the Platinum Care plan is by far the best choice on the market. The Platinum Care plan is just a few dollars more per month but offers Select Home Warranty customers almost double the coverage of the other plans. In addition, if your Montana home has systems such as a lawn sprinkler system or septic system, you can add these to your policy for a small fee. The service call fee from Select Home Warranty is reasonably priced at $65.
Here’s a detailed look at Select Home Warranty’s coverage:
- Bronze Care ($52 per month): The Bronze Care plan is an appliance-only home warranty plan. This plan covers seven major appliances, including a refrigerator, built-in microwave, clothes washer and dryer, oven, garbage disposal, and cooktop.
- Gold Care ($52 per month): The Gold Care plan is a system-only plan from Select Home Warranty. There is coverage for six systems; plumbing, air conditioning, heating, water heaters, electrical systems, and ductwork.
- Platinum Care ($58 per month): The Platinum Care plan will include all of the appliances under the Bronze Care plan and all of the systems under the Gold Care Plan. For just a few extra dollars per month, the Platinum Care Plan is your best overall investment.
Select Home Warranty has several add-on coverages that you can attach to either of its plans; roof leak coverage is included without having to pay extra.
- Central vacuums (Does not include clogged pipes)
- Lawn sprinkler systems
- Pools (Can combine with spa coverage if the equipment is shared)
- Spas
- Stand-alone freezers
- Sump pump (must be within the foundation of the home)
- Well pump
American Home Shield
4.2
Our Rating
American Home Shield is the most customizable plan in Montana. The American Home Shield home warranty has been on the market for more than 50 years. This makes AHS one of the leaders in this industry. With all these years under its belt, American Home Shield has some very impressive service technician relationships across the country. Homeowners will consider American Home Shield to be a premium policy because of the attention to detail and ability to customize the plan to the needs of your Montana home.
- Our Take: Best Customizable Plans
- Average Annual Cost: [$479] – [$779]
- Response Time: Up to 48 hours
There are three American Home Shield policies to choose from. The two combo or premium plans are priced slightly higher than others but offer a broad range of coverage for both systems and appliances. In addition, you will enjoy the add-on coverage benefits of American Home Shield. Again, having the ability to change both the coverage and the pricing to work specifically for the needs of your home will give the AHS plan tremendous value. American Home Shield has a customizable service fee that ranges from $75 to $125.
Here’s a detailed look at American Home Shield’s coverage:
- ShieldSilver™ ($39.99 per month): The ShieldSilver plan covers 14 home systems, including air conditioning, electrical system, smoke alarms, water heater, central vacuums, doorbells, garage door opener, heating system, garbage disposals, ceiling fans, instant hot/cold water dispenser plumbing, and ductwork. With systems having high out-of-pocket repair costs, this is a smart plan to have in place when breakdowns occur.
- ShieldGold™ ($49.99 per month): ShieldGold is the combo plan covering both systems and appliances. There are 23 home systems and appliances on this plan. The ShieldGold plan has additional coverages, including a clothes washer, dishwasher, clothes dryer, microwave, oven, and refrigerator.
- ShieldPlatinum™ ($64.99 per month): The ShieldPlatinum plan includes 27 systems and appliances. Pricing for ShieldPlatinum is slightly higher, but it is one of the more premium home warranty plan choices in the state of Montana. Having home appliances and home systems under one plan will significantly improve your peace of mind as a homeowner. This tends to be the more premium choice for Montana home buyers.
American Home Shield also offers several add-on coverages for homeowners to consider.
- Septic system (first-year customers only, nonrenewable)
- Pool
- Spa
- PC
- TV (includes home theater system)
- Well pump coverage
Home Warranties in Montana Cities
How Much Does a Home Warranty in Montana Cost?
A home warranty company in Montana will cost about $720 per year. The price for Montana residents will vary depending on the type of home they own, the coverages chosen, and the overall policy and procedures of the home warranty provider. Homeowners that are on a budget should look for a home warranty plan that has customizable fees. Combo or comprehensive plans also tend to add to the total costs you pay for a home warranty in Montana.
| Overall | $718.97 |
| Single-Family | $593.33 |
| Multi-Family | $1,081.30 |
| Townhome | $499.41 |
| Condo | $605.48 |
| Duplex | $868.72 |
| Home Over 5,000 sq ft | $1,294.73 |
| Home Under 10,000 sq ft | $641.17 |
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, you now feel like you have the information you need to choose the best home warranty company in Montana. There are plenty of great choices on the market, but these four have the best reputations, reliability, and overall value. Choice Home Warranty stands out as the best overall option on the market. With Choice Home Warranty, expect excellent customer service and fast and effective repairs to your appliances and systems. With the 13 years that Choice Home Warranty has spent in the industry, they have learned something about what homeowners need the most. Don’t hesitate to get a few different quotes to ensure that you get the best plan for your Montana home.
How to Choose the Best Home Warranty in Montana
Having the best home warranty companies on the market narrowed down to the top four should feel like a bit of an accomplishment. The tricky part is that we now need to pick just one for your Montana home. There are many factors you can use to compare one plan to the next; however, three of the most important are the overall pricing, cancellation fees, and policy coverage caps.
- Overall Pricing: To determine the plans with the best pricing, it is essential to look at both the monthly costs and the service fees. Also, try to consider how much coverage you are getting for the money. If a plan has five covered systems, it may be considerably cheaper, but it offers less coverage.
- Cancellation Fees: Most home warranty policies have cancellation fees of around $75-$150. Ensure that you understand the cancellation fees and the policy restrictions for each plan.
- Coverage Caps: Each covered item of your plan will have a coverage cap or limit. The coverage limits tend to range from about $500 to $3000 per covered item. If you have high-end appliances and systems, ensure that you purchase a policy with higher coverage limits.
Three of the top home maintenance problems Montana homeowners deal with include roof leaks, heating systems, and electrical system issues. Let’s look at how your Montana home warranty could help with these issues.
- Roof Leak: If a roof starts to leak, it can cause tremendous damage to other appliances and systems in the home. Roof leak coverage needs immediate repair from a qualified professional. Companies like Select Home Warranty throw in roof leak coverage as part of the plan; many others will have it as an additional option.
- Electrical System: The electrical system keeps all other appliances and systems in your home in working condition. Electricians tend to charge very high rates to come out and rewire or inspect issues that could be going on in your home. With a home warranty in place, you will only be responsible for the service fee.
- Heating System: Montana winters will require you to have a heating system in place. When it’s cold outside, and everyone is calling contractors about heating system repairs, your home warranty will guarantee that you have service within a reasonable amount of time. In most cases, between 24-48 hours.
What is a Home Warranty?
A home warranty is a protection plan for your home systems and appliances. With the amount of use those home systems and appliances get, it is very important to protect your budget and your time from having to deal with these issues. Most home warranty plans will renew on an annual basis, and they are in place to give homeowners peace of mind. Home warranty plans are not the same as an insurance policy for the home, and they will only protect against normal wear.
Home Warranty vs. Homeowners Insurance
Homeowners insurance is more of a mandatory policy for those that have a mortgage on their home. The homeowner’s insurance policy will protect against things like tornados, natural disasters, and even fire. Homeowners’ insurance policies will cover the walls, the roof, the cabinets, and more. With a home warranty policy, expect to simply have your home systems and appliances covered from normal wear. Homeowners’ insurance policies will not protect the systems and appliances that we use on a daily basis around the home.
How Does a Home Warranty in Montana Work?
Home warranty plans are a bit different than homeowners insurance policies, and it is important to keep that in mind when filing a claim and to get your plan up and running. Whether you live in Billings, Helena, or Great Falls, the home warranty policy will follow the same basic procedures.
- Research and purchase a home warranty policy that suits the needs of your home and budget
- Wait the 10-30 days before the home warranty will go into effect
- If you experience an issue with a home system or appliance, check policy documents to ensure that it is covered
- Use the online portal system, a phone call, or a live chat to let a representative know about your home warranty-related issue
- Pay the service call fee before the representative comes to your home to inspect the issue; expect this to happen with 24 to 48 hours after submitting a claim
- Decide on repair and replacement options and research associated costs with each
- Repair should happen within 24-72 hours, depending on parts needed and the schedule of the contractor or service technician
- If any issues occur within the free reservice period, simply let the home warranty provider know, and they will come back and repair the issue free of charge as part of the workmanship guarantee
What does a Home Warranty Cover?
A home warranty plan is in place to cover normal wear and tear of home systems and appliances. The normal wear and tear come up as a result of using the home systems and appliances on a daily basis. Home warranty plans will typically have three categories home systems, home appliances, and add-on coverages.
The home systems include things like your electrical system, plumbing system, and even your ductwork or HVAC. The appliances are typically the laundry room and kitchen appliances in the home. These would include your oven, washing machine, dryer, and more.
Add-on coverages can include swimming pools and spas, well pumps, locksmith coverage, central vacuum, and more. The add-on coverages typically come at an extra cost, but they can help provide more complete coverage of the home.
What is Not Covered by a Home Warranty?
Having a home warranty in place does not mean you can give up on taking care of your Montana home. Coverage from your home warranty provider will only include normal wear and tear. If you are intentionally misusing your appliances or had a pre-existing issue that was not disclosed, then it may not be covered under your home warranty plan. Some homeowners find that getting an inspection prior to the start of the home warranty is a great way to avoid future claim denials. Some of the other home warranty exclusions include:
- Cosmetic issues
- Natural disasters
- Pre-existing conditions
- Lack of maintenance and upkeep
- Intentional breakage
- Misuse of a system or appliance
Biggest Complaints about Home Warranty Companies in Montana
When you read through reviews from homeowners in Montana, there are often a few complaints. Some of these complaints are about the company itself, and others are simply frustrated with the way a home warranty policy works. Here are a few of the biggest complaints we see with Montana home warranties and some tips on how to avoid them.
- Claim Denial: a home warranty provider denying a claim is the most popular and likely most frustrating complaint; with claim denial, you must be sure you are properly maintaining your home systems and appliances to altogether avoid this issue in the future
- Issues With Contractors and Technicians: the home warranty company will contract with local repair technicians in your area; although these are vetted professionals, there are still sometimes problems that occur; let your home warranty provider know immediately if you experience an issue
- Long Wait Times For Repairs: most home warranty companies will guarantee service within a 24 to 48 hour period, but there still could be long wait times for the parts to come in to fix the issue
Are home warranties worth it?
Home warranty plans are worth it for homeowners struggling with both budget and peace of mind. Do you find yourself continually worrying about how you may fix the next issue that comes up around your home or condo? Homeownership can be stressful, and knowing that the next expense is likely only going to be a $75 to $100 service call fee will eliminate a lot of stress.
In addition to helping you feel more peace of mind about your Montana home, expect that the home warranty will also save you time. If you are worried about the time it takes to repair issues, deal with finding quality contractors, and look for someone who specializes in appliances or systems, the home warranty is a great fit.
Without a home warranty in place, you can expect that a diagnosis will cost you anywhere from $75 to $150, and this is before you have even fixed the issue. Home warranty plans cost about the same price, but that could include the fix or an entire replacement. Most homeowners find that after just one or two repairs are completed with the home warranty plan; the plan will pay for itself.
FAQs About Montana Home Warranties
How much does a home warranty cost in Montana?
A Montana home warranty will range from $35 a month to $80 or more per month. If you are a budget-conscious home warranty shopper, be sure to look for plans that throw in free coverage or have limited coverage options to help keep the costs down. The higher-priced policies have quite a few add-on services and lower deductibles.
What is a service fee?
A service fee is a price you pay when you need a repair for one of the covered items in your home warranty policy. Many people call the service fee a deductible because it must be paid before the systems and appliances in your home are inspected and repaired. Service fees range in price from $60 to $150.
What is the best home warranty company in Montana?
The best home warranty company in Montana is Choice Home Warranty. Choice has a very simple service contract and keeps things easy for homeowners to understand. In addition, both of Choice’s reasonably priced home warranty plan choices are combo or comprehensive options. This means you will get a mix of both appliance and system coverage as part of your warranty.
Does a home warranty cover replacement costs?
Most home warranties cover replacement costs as long as they are within the policy’s limits. If you have an oven that is not capable of repair, the home warranty company will give you the replacement cost to help you afford a new one. This does not always mean that your entire replacement will be covered, but a good portion of the appliance price should be taken care of. Replacement costs are just as significant as repair costs and should be considered when choosing a home warranty policy.
Today's Homeowner Home Warranty Ranking Methodology
At Today's Homeowner, transparency and trust are our most important values for the reader.
To create this rating system, our team spent hours researching over 60 companies, analyzing 2500+ key data points, getting the thoughts and opinions of 1000+ homeowners, and speaking to home warranty company representatives directly. We also dug into the fine print on each company’s service agreement to ensure no detail was left out.
To make the most of our research, we developed an objective home warranty review and rating methodology to score each home warranty company based on several criteria.
