Garmin warranty & return policy — and how to actually claim it
Every line below is quoted from Garmin's own published policy and linked to the source. If something you bought is covered, Owed's agent can draft and send the claim for you.
Warranty
12 monthsstated window
Garmin warrants non-aviation products against defects in materials or workmanship for one year from the date of purchase, repairing or replacing failed components at its sole option. Parts and labour are free — but you pay the transportation, which on a watch or bike computer is the whole out-of-pocket cost of a covered claim. Garmin picks the remedy from three options: repair using new or previously used parts meeting its quality standards, replacement with a new or Garmin Recertified device, or a full refund of your purchase price. The refund option is worth knowing about because most manufacturers do not offer it. After service, a repaired or replaced device carries 90 days, or the remainder of the original one-year warranty if that is longer — so a failure in month two does not restart your year. Consumable parts including batteries are excluded unless the damage came from a defect, which matters for wearables where battery decline is the usual complaint. Also excluded: cosmetic scratches, nicks and dents, and damage from cables or AC adapters not supplied by Garmin or not UL-certified as a Limited Power Source. This version was revised December 30, 2025.
In their own words
“Non-aviation products are warranted to be free from defects in materials or workmanship for one year from the date of purchase.”
Consumer Limited Warranty — coverage
“Within this period, Garmin® will, at its sole option, repair or replace any components that fail in normal use. Such repairs or replacement will be made at no charge to the customer for parts or labor, provided that the customer shall be responsible for any transportation cost.”
Consumer Limited Warranty — who pays
“This Limited Warranty does not apply to: (i) cosmetic damage, such as scratches, nicks and dents; (ii) consumable parts, such as batteries, unless product damage has occurred due to a defect in materials or workmanship; (iii) damage caused by accident, abuse, misuse, water, flood, fire, or other acts of nature or external causes; (iv) damage caused by service performed by anyone who is not an authorized service provider of Garmin; (v) damage to a product that has been modified or altered without the written permission of Garmin”
Consumer Limited Warranty — exclusions
“If during the warranty period you submit a claim for warranty service in accordance with this Limited Warranty, then Garmin will, at its option: (i) repair the device using new parts or previously used parts that satisfy Garmin’s quality standards, (ii) replace the device with a new device or a Garmin Recertified device that meets Garmin’s quality standards, or (iii) exchange the device for a full refund of your purchase price.”
Consumer Limited Warranty — remedy
“Repaired or replaced devices have a 90-day warranty. If the device sent in is still under its original warranty, then the new warranty is 90 days or to the end of the original 1-year warranty, whichever is longer.”
Consumer Limited Warranty — after service
“Before seeking warranty service, please access and review the online help resources available on support.garmin.com.”
Consumer Limited Warranty — before you claim
What they exclude
- Cosmetic damage, such as scratches, nicks and dents
- Consumable parts such as batteries, unless the damage resulted from a defect in materials or workmanship
- Damage caused by accident, abuse, misuse, water, flood, fire, or other acts of nature or external causes
- Damage caused by service performed by anyone who is not an authorized Garmin service provider
- Damage to a product modified or altered without Garmin''s written permission
- Damage from power or data cables not supplied by Garmin, or from AC adapters not UL-certified and labeled as Limited Power Source
- Transportation cost — the customer is responsible for it even on a covered claim
- Products obtained or used in contravention of the laws of any country
How to file
Garmin asks you to work through the online help resources at support.garmin.com before seeking warranty service, so expect troubleshooting to be a prerequisite rather than a formality. Budget for shipping — Garmin covers parts and labour but the customer is responsible for transportation cost. If your device is out of warranty or the fault turns out to be excluded, ask about the refund and Recertified-replacement routes, since Garmin lists a full purchase-price refund as one of its three standard remedies.
Garmin's claim page →Source: Garmin's published policy · verified 2026-08-03
If they say no
A first refusal is not the end — most claims that get paid are the ones that got answered a second time. The ladder that works:
- Reply in the same thread quoting the exact policy line above, with your order number and the date. Ask for a supervisor or a formal complaint reference.
- Escalate to an executive contact if support stalls — a specific, documented request outperforms an angry one.
- Use your payment rail: a card chargeback for "not as described" or "item not received" (typically within 60 days of the statement under the US Fair Credit Billing Act, and up to 120 days under card-network rules — confirm the exact window with your issuer), or a PayPal dispute.
- For lost or damaged shipments, file a claim with the carrier directly.
- Escalate externally: the selling platform's guarantee, BBB, your state attorney general, or the FTC. Small claims is the last resort.
Owed reads your receipts, tracks every warranty clock, drafts the claim citing the terms above, and follows up until you're paid. Free to start.
Policies change. We re-verify these terms regularly and show the date each was checked, but always confirm current terms on Garmin's own site before relying on them. Owed is not a law firm and this page is not legal advice.