American Home Shield is our top pick due to its extensive plans and high coverage caps. Average home warranty premiums in Montana are $59 monthly and $680 annually. Montana homeowners should prioritize heating systems and plumbing in their home warranty coverage. American Home Shield (AHS) earned our No. 1 recommendation for the best home warranty in Montana due to the company’s generous coverage options for heating and plumbing systems. Montana experiences harsh winters, with temperatures dropping below freezing for several months of the year. These frigid conditions can strain your
HVAC system and put your pipes at risk of freezing, so you’ll need a plan that covers these crucial home components. Liberty Home Guard (LHG) is our second recommendation for the best Montana home warranty. LHG also provides comprehensive coverage for important items such as your heating system and plumbing. The company’s dozens of add-on options make it easier to customize your coverage.
5 best home warranty companies in Montana
Compare the best Montana home warranties
American Home Shield provides HVAC, plumbing and electrical system coverage in all three of its plans: ShieldGold, ShieldSilver and ShieldPlatinum. All three have an overall coverage cap of $50,000. Limits for individual items are lower, such as the $5,000 limit for heating and cooling system claims. AHS offers additional coverage options, such as
pool and built-in spa equipment , well pumps,
septic system pumps and guest units (up to 750 square feet). The company also has an Electronics Protection Plan that covers valuable technologies, including your laptop, tablet and smart home products. AHS’ comprehensive coverage does come with a higher price tag than many of our other recommended providers. The company’s average premiums in Montana are $84 monthly and $1,007 annually. The state average is $59 monthly and $680 annually. Conversely, Liberty Home Guard’s average premiums in Montana are lower than the state average, costing $55 monthly and $660 annually. LHG has a $2,000 coverage cap for most individual covered items. LHG offers three plans: Appliance Guard, Systems Guard and Total Home Guard. LHG offers more than 40 add-on options, including pest control, limited roof leak, sump pumps, lighting fixtures and
water softeners . The table below ranks providers by their nationwide rating and lists information on each company’s premiums,
service call fees and more.
Best home warranty in Montana for coverage plans and extra features
American Home Shield outscored competitors in the coverage plans and extra features portion of our
rating methodology . All three AHS plans cover HVAC, plumbing and electrical systems. The ShieldPlatinum plan covers roof leaks up to $1,000. This coverage can be added to the ShieldGold and ShieldSilver plans. The ShieldGold plan covers up to $2,000 per appliance, and ShieldPlatinum covers up to $4,000. Liberty Home Guard also scored well in this category, with more than 40 add-ons available. Montana homeowners’ five most popular add-on options are lawn sprinkler systems, stand-alone freezers, limited roof leaks, well pumps and septic system pumping, according to a quote we obtained from LHG.
Best home warranty for price
We calculate price scores for home warranty providers based on the cost of service and value for your dollar. Liberty Home Guard holds the best score for price among our recommended providers. LHG’s $55 average monthly premium in Montana is slightly lower than the state’s $59 average. The average annual premiums for LHG are $660, compared to the state average of $680. Cinch Home Services, First American Home Warranty and AFC Home Warranty all tie for the second-highest score. Cinch has lower monthly premiums than the state average, while First American and AFC are slightly pricier than average.
Best home warranty for customer service
Cinch Home Services earned 5 out of 5 stars in our customer service category. Cinch offers customers a 180-day
workmanship guarantee , higher than the industry standard of 30 days. The company makes customer service accessible by offering 24/7 support via phone and an online chat tool. Liberty Home Guard achieved the next highest rating for customer service. Highlights include a live chat feature built into LHG’s company website and a 60-day workmanship warranty.
How do you choose the best Montana home warranty?
Montana homeowners should prioritize coverage plans, price and customer service when selecting a home warranty plan.
Coverage limits and reputation should also weigh into the final decision.
Coverage plans and extra features: Choose a home warranty plan that matches your home’s needs. Make a list of your most-used home appliances and major systems to better understand your needs. Read through sample agreements and explore the additional coverage options a provider offers.
Price: Set your budget before exploring plans. Be sure to factor in service call fees, premiums and deductibles. Pick a plan that most aligns with your budget, keeping in mind that low premiums won’t always save you money if coverage caps are too low.
Customer service: Choose a home warranty provider with great customer service. Call or online chat with a customer service representative to better gauge a company’s service standard. Also, pay close attention to how accessible a company makes their representatives. Online customer portals, chat tools and 24/7 phone support are all green flags.
Coverage limits: Pay close attention to this portion of the sample contract. It details payout amounts for individual items and what a policy won’t cover. Understanding these details can help you avoid a future denied claim.
Reputation: Go to third-party websites such as Trustpilot and the Better Business Bureau to read customer reviews. This feedback can give you important insight into a company’s reputation. Google Reviews are also a helpful place to look.
What are common Montana home warranty coverage needs?
Like many states in the northern U.S., Montana experiences frigid temperatures during the fall, winter and spring months. These below-freezing conditions are common in cities such as Bozeman, Montana, where the average low temperature in December is 12 degrees Fahrenheit. Low temperatures average at or below freezing from October through April. Montana homeowners need a home warranty policy that adequately covers heating systems. HVAC systems are the most commonly reported system breakdown, according to our
November 2023 survey. Choosing a policy with plumbing coverage that includes line breaks is also crucial since pipes are vulnerable to damage during freezing conditions. Bozeman and other cities in Big Sky Country also receive several inches of snow eight months of the year. These repeated snowfalls can put extra strain on your roof. While your homeowners insurance will likely be responsible for covering damages caused by a single weather event, a home warranty helps cover normal wear. We recommend selecting a policy that includes roof-leak coverage or adding on the protection if it isn’t already included in a plan.
How are home warranties regulated in Montana?
There’s no clear governmental body that oversees home warranties in Montana. Complaints can be filed with
Montana’s Office of Consumer Protection .
Final take: American Home Shield’s comprehensive coverage is worth the price for Montana homeowners
While American Home Shield has higher premiums than our other recommended providers, its generous coverage caps help make it worth the cost for many homeowners. If an appliance or system breaks down, these high caps could save you money in the long run. AHS’ HVAC, plumbing and appliance coverage make it stand out. If you want lower premiums while still having adequate coverage, we recommend choosing Liberty Home Guard. While some individual coverage caps are lower, LHG still pays up to $2,000 for most individual covered items. We recommend obtaining at least three quotes as you navigate your home warranty journey.
Our rating methodology for home warranty companies
We research and rate home warranty providers to help you choose the right one for your budget and home. Our research includes gathering customer insights via consumer surveys, interviewing industry experts, secret shopping all of the companies we review, and analyzing customer reviews from third-party review sites such as Trustpilot and BBB. Read our full
home warranty company methodology for more information.