Home warranty companies
Compare home warranty companies on their actual contracts, not their marketing or star ratings. Request the full sample agreement from each, then compare five things side by side: the exclusions list, the per-item and aggregate caps, the service call fee (typically $75 to $125), the renewal price, and the dispute resolution clause.
We do not summarize any specific company's terms here, on purpose. Contract language differs by company, by plan, and by state, and it changes. Any secondhand summary of a provider's coverage is out of date the moment a form is revised. Get the current sample contract for your state and your plan, in writing, before you pay.
Ratings and review sites are weak evidence. Many home warranty comparison sites earn commissions on referrals. That does not make them useless, but it means their rankings are not independent evaluations. Treat the contract as the evidence and the ranking as an opinion.
Check the regulator, not just the reviews. These contracts are regulated at the state level, and which agency depends on the state - insurance department, real estate commission or consumer protection body. Look the company up with your state's regulator, and check whether it's licensed to sell in your state at all. If you're unsure which agency applies, most state attorney general offices publish a complaint referral process that will route you.
Compare on price too, but last. Plans span roughly $300 to $1,000 a year with $75 to $125 service fees. A cheaper premium paired with a lower coverage cap is not a saving. Price is the tiebreaker after the contract comparison, not the starting point.
Choosing home warranty a brand
The judgement calls that decide the bill, before anyone quotes you.
- Request the full contract from every provider Same plan level, same state. Then compare the documents, not the websites.
- Verify licensing with your state regulator Which agency regulates these contracts varies by state. Confirm the company is authorized to sell where you live.
- Treat commission-funded rankings as opinion Many comparison sites are paid on referrals. Read the contract yourself.
- Compare caps before premiums A $400 plan with a low cap can cost more in practice than a $700 plan with a realistic one.
- Ask for the renewal price in writing First-year pricing is a promotion. Renewal is the price you'll actually pay for years.
All home warranty brands
American Home Shield
Choice Home Warranty
First American
Liberty Home Guard
Select Home Warranty
Cinch
2 10 Home Buyers Warranty
Where these figures come from
Sources last checked
- Fixr - Home Warranty Cost · retrieved 2026-07-26
- California Attorney General - Consumer complaints and referrals · retrieved 2026-07-26
- California Insurance Code § 12740 · retrieved 2026-07-26
You know more than the last homeowner they quoted.
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