How to Cancel your Vivint contract (the right way)

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Don't think Vivint is one of the best professional home alarm systems? You’re not stuck in your Vivint contract. We researched and chatted with Vivint representatives to learn how to get out of a Vivint home security contract and what fees you may need to pay.

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Can you get out of a Vivint contract?

Yes, you can get out of a Vivint contract, although it might be a challenge. Vivint will consider "extenuating circumstances" on a case-by-case basis and work with you to find acceptable cancellation terms. If you don't qualify for extenuating circumstances, you could be on the hook for 100% of the remaining balance of your contract.

If you need to cancel because you just don’t like your Vivint security system, you can do that, too. But you need to hurry. You have an absurdly short three days—starting after your Vivint installation appointment—to change your mind. After that, if you want out, you're looking at paying up to the full balance of your remaining contract.

Extenuating circumstances Vivint will consider

Vivint security will review your situation, and in the case of an extenuating circumstance, it will let you out of your security system contract for free. Vivint offers examples of extenuating circumstances:

  • Death
  • Bankruptcy
  • Transition to an assisted living home
  • Military deployment of six months or more
  • Military medical discharge 
  • Military retirement 

You’ll need some kind of documentation to prove your circumstances, and the Exceptions Review Team will review your Vivint account before you can get approval.

SimpliSafe: Our recommended alternative to Vivint

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SimpliSafe security
4.3 out of 5 stars
4.25
Starts at$21.99/mo
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    Basic smart home compatibility

How to cancel Vivint

To cancel your contract, you will need to give Vivint customer service a call at +1-800-216-5232, ext. 5020. They will walk you through the process. Other sites say that you can email or live chat with Vivint to cancel your security system contract, but that isn’t what Vivint recommends. To get the best results, you should go through their cancellation customer service department.

Is there a fee to cancel Vivint?

There isn’t a Vivint early termination fee, per se, but you'll have a toll to pay (unless there are approved extenuating circumstances) before it sets you free. A Vivint cancellation customer service representative told us that, in most cases, you’ll need to pay off the remaining balance on your contract. Some people may be able to get off the hook by just paying half of what they owe, but this all depends on the contract you sign with the alarm company. 

Another variable is that some people may need to pay only for the equipment in their system, while others may need to pay their monthly professional monitoring plan fees for the rest of the contract. The representative stressed that it all depends on the contract you sign, but we never got a clear answer about why people have different contracts.


How does Vivint compare to other home security systems?

Brand
Installation
Monthly cost Icon Tooltip  Dark
Best for
Starter equipment price
Contract required
Smart home compatibility Icon Tooltip  Dark
Learn more
DIY or ProBest DIY security$245.00NoAmazon,
Google
ProfessionalBest professional security$599.00No *Amazon,
Google,
Z-Wave
DIY or ProBest customer ratingQuote requiredNo *Amazon,
Google
ProfessionalMost trusted security brand$0.00YesGoogle,
Z-Wave
DIYBudget pick$199.99NoAmazon,
Google,
Z-Wave
DIYQuality DIY pick$129.00No Amazon,
Google,
Z-Wave
DIYBest sensors$299.99NoAmazon,
Google,
Apple

Amazon.com price as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Read full disclaimer.
Full ADT disclaimer

Can you transfer a Vivint contract?

Yes, you can transfer your Vivint contract. If you know someone who can take over your home security system contract, the security company will let you transfer it into their name. This is a great option if you’re moving and don’t want to take your system with you. You can include the system as a perk when you sell your home. 

There may be a $99 transfer fee, and you’ll need to pay off any financing before you can make the transfer. (You don’t need to pay the remaining professional monitoring plan fees.) Contact the Vivint Customer Loyalty team at +1-800-216-5232, ext. 5025, to get started. 

FAQ

Nope. If you pay for your Vivint equipment up front, you don’t need to worry about a contract.

Even if you pay off the cost of your Vivint equipment early, you may still be bound to the contract until its term ends. Bummer.

Yes, there have been some complaints about Vivint's cancellation policies made on sites like the Better Business Bureau. Many report customers receiving bills after their contract cancellation or misunderstandings about the contract obligations. We see contract complaints with just about every security system company, though. No matter what security system you have, we recommend reading all the fine print and asking all of the questions you have before committing. 

Vivint home security contracts vary—most run from 42 to 60 months. The average for most other home security system contracts is around 36 months.

Yes, you can defer payment up to 12 months if you are in the military on a temporary assignment away from home. For more information, contact Vivint Military Support at +1-855-368-8568.

Read answers to more Vivint FAQs.

Alina Bradford
Written by
Alina is a safety and security expert with over 25 years of experience. She has contributed her insights to CNET, CBS, Digital Trends, MTV, Top Ten Reviews, and many others. After testing thousands of devices, apps, services, and more, her goal is to make safety and security gadgets less mystifying one article at a time. In the early 2000s, Alina worked as a volunteer firefighter, earning her first responder certification and paving the way to her current career. Plus, she has tested hundreds of pieces of security and safety equipment over the years. Places published: CBS, MTV, CVS, Rachael Ray, eBay, Reader’s Digest, ConsumerAffairs, and more. Certifications: Fire Service Training, Oklahoma State University. Awards: Received the Experience Leader certificate from Authority, putting her “in the top 25% among the thousands of professional content creators analyzed by Authory for the Fall 2023 audit.” You can view more of Alina's work at alinabradford.com.

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