Can I get extended warranty on my stairlift?

The short answer: yes. Once your manufacturer warranty expires (typically after 1–2 years), you have two main options: extend the warranty directly through the manufacturer, or take out a third-party in-home warranty insurance policy. We recommend Mark Bates In-Home Warranty & Accidental Damage as the third-party option — typical pricing is around £184 for 12 months or £300 for 24 months on a stairlift, with new-for-old replacement cover and accidental damage included. This guide explains both routes honestly.

What does the standard manufacturer warranty cover?

Every new UK stairlift comes with a manufacturer warranty as standard, typically covering parts and labour for mechanical or electrical faults during the warranty period:

• Stannah: 2 years standard, with longer cover available at point of sale.
• Acorn: 12 months standard, with extended options.
• Handicare: 2 years standard.
• Brooks: typically 12 months standard via the installing dealer.
• Reconditioned lifts: usually 12 months from the refurbisher.

Manufacturer warranties usually cover the mechanical and electrical components but exclude consumables like batteries, motor brushes, springs, and fuses — these are wear items considered the owner’s responsibility.

Why extend cover after the manufacturer warranty ends?

Stairlifts are generally very reliable, but a major repair or replacement out of warranty can run from £150 for a small fault to over £1,000 for a motor or control board replacement. A new carriage assembly can be £2,000+. Replacing the lift entirely — particularly a curved one — is multi-thousand pounds.

The case for extended cover is straightforward: predictable monthly or annual payment versus the risk of a much larger one-off bill. The case against is that very reliable lifts may never claim and the cover effectively goes unused.

Route 1: Extended manufacturer warranty

Every major UK manufacturer offers some form of extended warranty, usually marketed as a “service contract” or “care plan.” These typically bundle ongoing servicing with breakdown cover.

Pros: the manufacturer knows your lift, their own engineers service it, parts supply is direct, and there’s no second party between you and the brand.

Cons: usually the most expensive route. Stannah, Acorn, and similar typically charge £200–£400 per year for extended cover bundled with servicing — and the cover doesn’t include accidental damage (fire, theft, flood, knocks).

Route 2: Third-party in-home warranty insurance

The alternative is to take out a separate in-home warranty insurance policy through an independent specialist. The cover is broader than a manufacturer warranty — it includes both mechanical/electrical breakdown and accidental damage from fire, theft, storm, and flood — and often comes in cheaper than the manufacturer route.

Our recommendation: Mark Bates In-Home Warranty

Mark Bates Ltd is a UK specialist in mobility equipment insurance and one of the best-known names in this niche. Their In-Home Warranty & Accidental Damage policy is specifically designed for stairlifts and other home mobility equipment.

What the policy covers

• Mechanical or electrical breakdown: repair or replacement of any covered part or component, including call-out and labour charges.
• Accidental loss or damage: from fire, theft, storm, and flood.
• New-for-old replacement: available for up to 3 years of cover — meaning if the lift is beyond economic repair, you get a new equivalent rather than a depreciated payout.
• UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, and worldwide cover.

What it doesn’t cover

Worth being clear on this so there are no surprises at claim time:

• Uninsured parts: motor brushes, batteries, springs, plugs, and fuses are wear items and not covered. (These are usually low-cost service items anyway.)
• Call-out if no fault found or if the affected part isn’t covered.
• Parts no longer available from the manufacturer.
• Used equipment: there’s a 90-day waiting period from policy start before cover begins on previously-owned lifts.

Indicative pricing for a stairlift

• 12 months: from £184
• 24 months: from £300 (around £150/year — useful saving versus paying annually)

Final pricing depends on the equipment value (eligible up to £7,000), age, and condition. Mark Bates will provide a tailored quote.

Cover periods

Stairlifts can be insured for 12 or 24 months at a time. If you take out the policy from the first day your manufacturer warranty expires, you can choose either duration. If there’s a gap between manufacturer warranty expiry and taking out the policy, only 12-month cover is available.

Important conditions

• Annual service required. Stairlifts must have an annual service for the policy to remain in force. Our stairlift servicing guide covers what’s involved.
• 14-day cooling-off period with a full refund.
• Pro-rata refund per full quarter of cover remaining if you cancel later (no refund if any claim has been made during the policy period).
• Notify within 7 days of any breakdown.

Mark Bates: regulatory details

For transparency, since this is regulated insurance:

• Mark Bates Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under reference number 308390.
• The policy is underwritten by The Salvation Army General Insurance Corporation Limited (Sagic), authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the FCA and the PRA under reference number 202327.

Both are long-established, properly regulated UK firms.

How to take out a Mark Bates policy

Visit markbatesltd.com for a quote, or call them on 01476 591104. They’ll ask about your stairlift (brand, model, age, value), your manufacturer warranty status, and which cover term you’d like. The full Policy Wording and pre-contract documentation is provided before purchase — review it before committing.

Which route is right for you?

Pick the extended manufacturer warranty if:

• You strongly prefer everything handled by one company.
• You’re already paying for annual servicing through the manufacturer and the bundled price works out close to separate cover plus servicing.

Pick third-party in-home warranty insurance if:

• You want accidental damage cover (fire, theft, storm, flood) — not included in manufacturer warranties.
• You want new-for-old replacement cover rather than depreciated payouts.
• You’re cost-conscious — third-party in-home warranty insurance often comes in lower than the manufacturer’s equivalent.
• Your lift is older or out of manufacturer warranty entirely.
• You have a reconditioned or used lift where manufacturer extended warranty options are limited.

A note on advice

Stairlift Savvy is an independent UK information site. We are not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority and do not give regulated insurance advice. The summary above is provided for information only. Mark Bates Ltd will provide the full pre-contract documentation, Policy Wording, and any advice required as part of the quote process — please review those carefully before purchase, and make sure the cover suits your specific stairlift and circumstances.

Get an honest UK stairlift price first

If you’re weighing extended warranty cost against the value of the lift itself, the quote tool below gives you a realistic UK price range for a new stairlift based on your specific staircase in about 60 seconds — a useful benchmark for understanding what the cover is protecting. No email needed to see the result. No sales calls.