Home warranty companies

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 Any secondhand summary of a provider's coverage is out of date the moment a form is revised.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.

How to choose

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.