Does a home warranty cover door locks?
Check door lock coverage to avoid costly surprises later.
Home warranties cover a wide range of home systems and appliances. Depending on the company, you can find a plan that covers just about anything in your home. Door locks are one of the more uncommon items covered by home warranties, though.
Most home warranties don’t cover the repair or replacement of door locks.
Jump to insightMany home warranty companies will cover the rekeying of door locks.
Jump to insightYour lock may be covered by a manufacturer’s warranty.
Jump to insightWhat door lock services does a home warranty cover?
Unfortunately, most home warranties don’t cover the repair or replacement of door locks, but they do cover one common issue with door locks in your home. Most larger and some smaller home warranty companies cover the rekeying of door locks. This means if your keys are lost, stolen or damaged, or you’re moving into a new home, the company will pay for a locksmith to rekey the lock so that you can use a new set of keys.
It’s important to note that there may be added fees if you are missing all the keys to the lock. Your home warranty company may also subcontract the work to a locksmith company instead of in-house technicians.
Potential exclusions to door lock home warranty coverage
Always be sure to check your contract to see what lock services are covered by your home warranty plan. There may be some exclusions and limitations that can get your claim denied. For example, American Home Shield covers lock rekeying but doesn’t cover the following:
- Skeleton locks and keys for things like file cabinets, windows, desks, safes and mailbox locks
- The replacement of deadbolts, knobs or associated hardware
- Padlocks
- Garage door openers
- Broken or damaged locks
Your plan may limit the number of locks you can get serviced in a contract term. The company may also exclude service on smart locks.
What to do if your home warranty doesn’t cover door locks
You may have options if your home warranty plan doesn't include door locks. There could be an option to add door locks to your policy separately, like ordering a la carte at your favorite restaurant. And if not, it's worth checking if any higher-tier plans cover locks.
Another idea is to check your door lock's manufacturer's warranty. You might just luck out and get repairs or a replacement without having to file a home warranty claim.
FAQ
What does a home typically warranty cover?
Home warranties usually cover large appliances, built-in microwaves, water heaters and systems like heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVACs), plumbing, ductwork, pool heaters and well pumps. Some plans also cover additional items like pest control, septic systems, central vacuums, sump pumps and more.
What is rekeying a lock?
Rekeying is when a locksmith makes a lock (like a deadbolt) work with a new set of keys. Homeowners often have locks rekeyed when they have lost their old sets of keys and don’t want to replace the door locks.
Is it cheaper to rekey or replace a lock?
It depends on how much the locksmith charges for rekeying and how fancy the new lock is, but generally, rekeying is cheaper than buying a new lock.
Bottom line
Home warranties usually don't include coverage for door locks. However, there are ways to ensure you're covered and feel secure. You can add door lock coverage as an extra option to your current plan, or you can check out higher-tier plans that offer coverage. If you do get coverage, be sure to check the contract to see if any exclusions could cause your claim to be denied.
Article sources
ConsumerAffairs writers primarily rely on government data, industry experts and original research from other reputable publications to inform their work. Specific sources for this article include:
- American Home Shield, “Rekey Service.” Accessed March 14, 2024.
- First American Home Warranty, “Why You Need to Re-key Locks in Your New Home.” Accessed March 14, 2024.
