Stairlift warranty: what's typically covered?
A stairlift warranty is usually three different time limits. Motor and gearbox last the longest. Other parts are shorter. Labor is often the shortest of all.
Need A Stairlift does not sell, install, rent, or service stairlifts. We collect competing installer quotes for you, free. Installers never get your last name, phone, or email. Warranty length belongs on that comparison.
Our FAQ says to read how long the motor and gearbox are covered, what applies to other parts, and whether the installer's labor is included. Then ask who handles repairs once the parts warranty ends, and how far away their technicians are based.
A warranty is not how long the chair will run. For lifespan, see how long a stairlift lasts.
Bruno: lifetime on major parts, short labor
Bruno's 2026 guide and the 2026 Elan SRE-5000 brochure match on indoor straight lifts.
Limited lifetime on major components (motor, gearbox, drivetrain, and stationary rail) for as long as the original purchaser owns the lift. Two years on all other parts after an authorized Bruno dealer installs it. Thirty days of labor for a manufacturing defect.
Indoor curved language is the same idea: lifetime on those major parts for the original owner, two years on other parts. Outdoor straight lifts are listed as a 5-year warranty on major components for the original owner, two years on other parts, and 30 days of labor.
Coverage starts when a Bruno dealer installs the unit. Do-it-yourself work is outside that. See DIY stairlift installation.
Stannah: lifetime gearbox if you buy direct
Stannah's US warranty page is for people who buy directly from Stannah. Lifetime on the carriage motor gearbox for a new lift. Ten years on that same part for a reconditioned unit. If you buy from a distributor, they tell you to ask that company.
The registration page is more specific. New units: lifetime carriage motor gearbox, plus one year of parts and labor. Reconditioned: 10 years on the gearbox, one year of parts and labor. Register within 30 days of installation. Coverage applies to products purchased from and installed by Stannah in the US or Canada. Warranties are non-transferable. Terms can change if you buy from a distributor.
You can extend the parts warranty. Stannah's installation FAQ says a new lift can go to a total of five years through their service plans, and a reconditioned lift to a total of three years. The complete guide says moving a Stannah lift yourself voids the warranty.
Savaria and Handicare: 24 months on parts, labor is separate
Savaria's Handicare 1100 page lists a 24-month warranty against defective parts through the local dealer, with regular maintenance in the fine print.
The North America warranty PDF (rev. February 2025) is the document that page points to.
- Handicare stairlifts: 24 months, plus extra motor and gearbox terms
- Savaria-branded products: 36 months
- Motor and gearbox on Handicare: "lifetime," spelled out as 10 years indoors and 5 years outdoors
- Original purchaser only. Not transferable
- Manufacturer does not cover labor. The dealer may, on a separate promise
- Starts on the ship date from the factory or distribution center, not the day it goes on your stairs
- Paid in full before warranty parts go out
- Installed, serviced, and maintained by an authorized dealer, or the warranty does not apply
- Batteries and other consumables are excluded
If a quote says "lifetime," ask which parts, and whether labor is in the factory paper or only the dealer's.
What to line up on the quotes
- Motor and gearbox years, and whether "lifetime" means original owner only
- Other parts: two years, 24 months, or something else
- Labor: 30 days, one year, or dealer-only
- Indoor vs outdoor, new vs reconditioned
- Who you call after year one, and how far they drive
- Annual service: required to keep the warranty, or optional
- Batteries: almost never in the long coverage
A national brand can still quote $7,000 or more for a straight lift that a local installer prices for much less. Warranty is one column. Price, brand, and who services it are the others. More on brands in best stairlift brands.
Need A Stairlift gathers installer quotes for your ZIP, free. They see city, stair photos, and rider details that affect fit. They do not get your last name, phone, or email. You read the results, then you call the company you want and give them the quote number.
Ask each company to put motor, parts, labor, and who does the annual visit on the same page as the price.