ADT Home Security System Contracts

These plans wrap in the cost of basic equipment, but there are add on options available as well. Professional installation of your equipment is also required, and will require a one-time fee of around $100. Note that these prices are averages, and will change depending on your personal security needs.

ADT App Camera View

ADT Contract Length

The standard ADT contract is 36 months, unless you live in California, where it’s only 24 months. Once the initial contract period is up, you will automatically roll over into a month-to-month contract that you can end at any time without penalties provided you give the company at least 30 days’ notice.

Also worth noting is that there is a six-month, money-back guarantee on ADT security systems (just be sure to read the fine print). This means you’ll have plenty of time working with the system in your day-to-day routine to determine whether or not it’s right for you.

>> Read More: Ins and Outs of Home Security Contracts

Early Termination With ADT

If your six-month trial period is up and you decide you want to end your contract early, this is considered an early termination, and it will cost you. You won’t be on the hook for the balance of your contract, but you will have to pay 75 percent of what the remainder would be, due in full upon the termination date.

There are also special offers for ending your contract early if you’re moving and will be setting up an ADT plan at your new home. And also keep in mind there’s a clause for early termination when service charges are increased. (See Increases in Charges below.)

If you’re moving, heads up – ADT makes it really easy to take your system with you, meaning you won’t need to cancel the contract and pay to settle the account. There are also clauses in the contract that eliminate or decrease termination fees if services charges increase. More on that below.

Not Sold on ADT? SimpliSafe Might Be a Better Option.

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Increases in Charges

We will hand it to ADT here, if they increase their prices during your initial contract period, you have 30 days to object to the rate hike in writing. If ADT doesn’t adjust your price, you can terminate without a fee.

This is a great protection, and very few services — home security or otherwise — normally don’t offer this type of language in their contracts.

ADT’s Additional Charges

There may be some additional charges, depending on your circumstances. For example, if a local construction/alarm permit is required, you’ll be responsible for that fee. If you've used a DIY security system before, this may be a bit different for you. DIY systems typically don't have extra fees. The good thing is that any of these extra charges with ADT will likely be one-and-done. Just be sure to ask your ADT sales agent to tell you every additional charge in advance so you won't be surprised.

ADT Indoor Camera (left) and Outdoor Camera (right)

Missed Payments or Breach of Contract

If you miss payments or fail to honor the terms of your contract, ADT has the right to stop providing security monitoring services, and to repossess or disable your equipment, without notice. They also have the right to charge late fees for each month a payment is not made, as well as interest on any unpaid amount. If you miss payments for more than 90 days, they may report you to a consumer reporting agency.

At first glance these may seem rather strict terms, but they’re really quite typical and fair for a long-term commitment. Just be sure you’re able to meet them before signing so you don’t end up getting in over your head.

Equipment Ownership

Any equipment ADT installs in your home remains their property unless you have a written agreement with them that says otherwise. This means you’re basically paying to rent ADT equipment for the duration of your contract. At the termination of your contract, ADT has the right to remove, disable or abandon any of the equipment they own. Typically, they’ll simply leave the equipment on the house, and you (or a new owner, if you sell) can re-activate service at any time. If you have existing, previously-installed equipment at your house when you start your ADT contract, that equipment is, and will remain to be, your property.

Theft Protection Guarantee

ADT will pay up to $500 of your homeowner’s insurance deductible if you’re the victim of a burglary while your ADT system is active.4 This is a rare guarantee in the home security biz! It shows ADT is confident their system will keep your home safe — and that they're willing to put their money where their mouth is if they're wrong.

Keep in mind that you may very likely be able to get a discount on your home insurance simply for having a professionally monitored home security system installed. When you add in this extra guarantee of theft protection, you get some real peace of mind.

ADT Home Security Equipment

Limited Warranty

When you sign an ADT contract, you get a 90-day limited warranty on equipment. A limited warranty is standard in the industry, but this one is pretty short compared to what's offered by other industry leaders, like DIY powerhouses SimpliSafe and Frontpoint, whose warranties are three years. Even Vivint, which requires a contract like ADT, has a 120-day warranty. That said, ADT has an optional extended warranty, and they do offer an impressive six-month money-back guarantee that you don't get with other top companies. So there are trade-offs.

While your equipment is under warranty, ADT will repair or replace any defective part of the alarm system, including wiring, using new or functionally operative parts — at no cost to you. The limited warranty excludes battery replacement. And ADT won’t perform warranty services on any device they don’t personally install.

ADT’s Extended Warranty

ADT’s extended limited warranty is called the Quality Service Plan (QSP), which you can get for an additional monthly fee. The QSP will repair or replace any part of the alarm system installed by ADT if the repairs are due to ordinary wear-and-tear or malfunction. (This excludes batteries.)

The QSP starts when your alarm system is installed and operational, and it extends through the end of your initial contract. (Again, that standard contract length is three years, except in California, where it’s two.) When your initial contract period is up, your QSP will automatically renew on a monthly basis at ADT’s then-current QSP rate unless/until you cancel it in writing with 30 days’ advance notice.

Moving With ADT

If you’re an ADT customer who’s moving, there are some great discounts you can take advantage of. Check ADT’s website for the latest deals, or better yet, give them a call (at least 30 days before your move date, if possible). They’re going to want to do what they can to keep you in the ADT family.

ADT contracts are specific to the physical location where the alarm system is installed, so ADT will likely cancel your current contract and set you up with a new one at your new home. They’ll walk you through the whole process and discuss any options.

Final Thoughts: Is Signing Up with ADT Worth It?

Like we said at the beginning of the article, contracts can make people nervous. We understand, but after going through every word of this agreement with a fine-toothed comb, we can’t find any major red flags.

ADT offers a generous six-month trial period, meaning you have plenty of time to decide to opt out. By the time the terms of the contract are in full swing, there’s really no reason to be still on the fence of if the service is right for you or not. If you move, the service will go with you, and if your rates go up, you can back out from that as well.

So overall, yes, we will say that signing up with ADT is worth it. They’re one of the best home security providers out there, and the flexibility this contract offers is almost as good as the service itself.

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