money The Best Home Appliance Insurance of 2022
Adobe Stock - soupstock
Best Overall
bhg BUY IT
Best Basic Plan
bhg BUY IT
Best Discounts
bhg BUY IT
Best Coverage Upgrade
bhg BUY IT
Best Plan Variety
bhg BUY IT
Best Membership Perks
bhg BUY IT
The property that you call home contains a number of expensive and essential appliances. You can count on your homeowners insurance policy to provide you with a repair or replacement for these appliances in the event of a natural disaster. However, homeowner's insurance won't help you pay for breakdowns that occur as a result of normal wear and tear. This can leave you with thousands of dollars' worth of debt in the event that you can't cover a sudden repair issue.
An appliance home warranty policy can help provide you with the peace of mind that comes with knowing that your home appliances are protected from routine repair issues. A home warranty with appliance coverage will provide you with a repair or replacement of covered items in exchange for a monthly premium and a small service fee each time you request service. This can potentially save you thousands of dollars.
With so many types of home protection plans, choosing the right option can be difficult. Our guide to the best home warranties with home appliance insurance will help you choose the best option for you and your home.
Top 5 Home Appliance Warranties
Best Overall: American Home Shield
Best Basic Plan: Choice Home Warranty
Best Discounts: Select Home Warranty
Best Coverage Upgrade: First American Home Warranty
Best Membership Perks: Cinch Home Services
#1 Best Overall: American Home Shield
With 50 years of experience in the home warranty industry, American Home Shield is one of the country's most trusted home warranty protection providers. American Home Shield is best known for its generous coverage caps and choose-your-own service fee policy, which allows you to pick a $75, $100, or $125 service fee that is due each time you use your coverage. Choosing a higher service fee lowers what you pay each month for coverage, while choosing a lower service fee saves you money each time you use your plan.
Plans & Pricing Overview
American Home Shield currently offers three home warranty plans that provide appliance coverage:
ShieldSilver™: ($39.99 per month): Covers 12 home systems
ShieldGold™ ($49.99 per month): Covers 10 of your essential home appliances
ShieldPlatinum™ ($59.99 per month): Covers all of the appliances found with ShieldGold, plus coverage for 12 of your home systems (like your heating system and your electrical system)
Home Appliance Coverage
The following appliances are included on both ShieldGold and the ShieldPlatinum:
Refrigerator
Range/Oven/Cooktop
Clothes washer
Clothes dryer
Dishwasher
Built-in microwave oven
Trash compactor
Freestanding ice maker
Garage door opener
Built-in food center
American Home Shield's policies include higher coverage limits than competitors. For example, the company will provide up to $3,000 for a refrigerator repair or replacement if the unit cannot be repaired.
American Home Shield's sample contract indicates that most parts of each of the above listed appliances are covered under both plans as long as the part in question isn't an add-on or optional upgrade. However, the company won't provide coverage for routine maintenance. It also won't cover any type of damage that results from a lack of regular maintenance or mold.
Claim a free quote from American Home Shield online or by calling 844-529-9298.
#2 Best Basic Plan: Choice Home Warranty
Some home warranty providers deny coverage based on the age of your home, as older appliances are more likely to suffer breakdowns. Choice Home Warranty won't deny you a plan, no matter the age of your property, as long as all covered items on your plan are in good working order when your coverage starts. This can be a great option for homeowners living in older properties, or those who aren't sure when their appliances were installed.
Plans & Pricing Overview
Choice Home Warranty currently offers the following two plan options, each of which include a mix of home systems and appliances:
The Basic Plan ($41.69 per month): The Basic Plan covers 14 of your home components.
The Total Plan ($50.00 per month): The Total Plan covers 18 of your home components, including everything found on the Basic Plan.
You can also add optional appliance coverage for a stand-alone freezer, second refrigerator, or central vacuum.
You'll pay an $85 service fee each time you use your plan from Choice. This fee is in addition to your monthly payments.
Home Appliance Coverage
The Basic Plan includes the following appliance coverages:
Water heater
Whirlpool bathtub
Oven/Range/Stove
Cooktop
Built-in microwave
Dishwasher
Garbage disposal
Garage door opener
Ceiling and exhaust fans
The Total Plan includes all of the above-mentioned appliances, plus the following coverages:
Refrigerator
Clothing washer
Clothing dryer
According to Choice Home Warranty's user agreement, all parts of most appliances included on the company's plans are covered. Some examples of exclusions include internet-connected components of smart fridges and garage door tracks. Under no circumstances will Choice Home Warranty's policies cover more than $3,000 worth of liability for access, diagnosis and repair, or replacement during a single contract term.
To claim a free quote from Choice Home Warranty fill out this online form or call 929-400-6165.
#3 Best Discounts: Select Home Warranty
If you're shopping for appliance coverage on a budget, Select Home Warranty might be the right choice for you. The company's policies are competitively priced, with comprehensive home warranty coverage available for less than $40 a month.
Plans & Pricing Overview
Select Home Warranty offers two coverage choices for appliance protection:
The Bronze Care plan ($41 per month): The Bronze Care plan covers eight home appliances, such as your refrigerator and microwave.
The Platinum Care plan ($47 per month): The Platinum Care plan covers all appliances found in the Bronze Care plan, plus coverage for six home systems and a few additional appliances.
There is also a Gold Care plan option that includes coverage for six systems.
In addition to your monthly payment, you'll also pay a $75 service fee each time you use your coverage.
Home Appliance Coverage
Select's Bronze Care Plan covers the following appliances:
Clothes washer
Clothes dryer
Refrigerator
Stove/Oven
Built-in microwave
Cooktop
Dishwasher
Garbage disposal
The Platinum Care plan covers all of the appliances found in the Bronze Care plan, plus coverage for ceiling fans, plumbing stoppages, and garage door openers.
According to Select Home Warranty's terms and conditions, you cannot claim more than $500 worth of repair or replacement expenses for any appliance during a single contract term. You are also required by your plan to perform regular maintenance on your appliances. If you fail to perform maintenance or cannot produce maintenance records, your coverage cap lowers to $150.
Claim a free quote from Select Home Warranty now online or by calling 888-370-3956.
#4 Best Coverage Upgrade: First American
If you believe that you might use your plan frequently, First American Home Warranty might have the comprehensive coverage you need. Unlike some providers, First American Home Warranty doesn't limit the number of service calls you can make with your plan.
Plans & Pricing Overview
First American Home Warranty provides two plan options that include appliance coverage:
The Basic Plan ($37 per month): The Basic Plan covers nine home appliances.
The Premier Plan ($49.50 per month): The Premier Plan covers all home appliances found on the Basic Plan plus eight of your home systems.
In addition to your monthly premium, you'll also pay a service fee of $85 each time you call for a repair or replacement.
Home Appliance Coverage
Both the Basic Plan and the Premier Plan include coverage for the following appliances:
Clothes washer
Clothes dryer
Refrigerator
Dishwasher
Oven range
Cooktop
Microwave
Garbage disposal
Trash compactor
You can also add coverage for a second refrigerator to either policy if you have one.
First American Home Warranty's plans include coverage for most parts of your home's appliances. The company also doesn't limit the number of service calls that you can make on each contract term. If First American cannot find a way to repair an appliance you're having trouble with, the company will fund a replacement. Select appliances also have individual limits. For example, you cannot claim more than $3,500 worth of service for a refrigerator. These limits vary by appliance, but typically range from $500 to $3,000.
To claim a free quote from First American Home Warranty fill out this online form or call 800-891-9778.
#5 Best Membership Perks: Cinch Home Services
Cinch Home Services is a top provider of home warranties and features the most generous service guarantee on our list, at 180 days. If your items break down during that window after repairs have been made, Cinch will make repairs for free. Despite slightly higher prices, Cinch features deeper coverage than many of its competitors.
Plans & Pricing Overview
Cinch offers the Appliances plan to cover appliances, but the Complete Home plan also includes the same appliance coverage.
Appliances plan ($27.99 per month): This plan provides coverage for 12 of your kitchen and laundry appliances.
Complete Home plan ($39.99 per month): The Complete Home plan covers a total of 31 items, including all appliances from the Appliances plan.
These prices reflect a $150 service fee. If you choose a lower service fee, your monthly premium will slightly increase.
Home Appliance Coverage
These appliances are covered by both of Cinch's plans:
Clothes dryer
Clothes washer
Cooktop
Dishwasher
Food center (built-in)
Freestanding ice maker
Microwave (built-in)
Range
Range exhaust hood
Refrigerator
Trash compactor
Wall oven
With Cinch's appliance coverage, all components and parts are covered, which is not always standard in the home warranty industry. All appliances have a $2,000 limit per contract term. This means if you need repairs exceeding $2,000 during your term, you'll pay out of pocket.
Get a free quote from Cinch by filling out this online form or by calling 888-520-1711.
Verdict & Recommendation
So which company provides the best insurance for your appliances? American Home Shield stands out for its industry experience, extensive network of technicians, and generous coverage caps. If you're searching for the best coverage upgrade, Select Home Warranty might be right for you. On the other hand, if you want a comprehensive basic plan, Choice Home Warranty might be ideal for you. Cinch Home Services remains a popular choice for customers who want guaranteed repairs and peace of mind.
We recommend getting a custom quote from each of our recommended home appliance insurance providers. Getting a custom quote takes only a few minutes, and doing so can give you a much more personalized look at how much you can expect to pay for your coverage.
What to Consider When Buying Home Appliance Insurance
Buying home appliance insurance coverage can be overwhelming. Here are a few factors you might want to consider when you purchase your policy:
Pricing: When considering pricing, don't only look at each plan's price per month. Be sure to also consider service fees, which are due each time you use your coverage.
State availability: Not every home appliance insurance provider is authorized to offer plans in every state. Get a custom quote before you choose a policy provider to ensure that coverage extends to your area.
Customer service availability: Look for a provider that offers around-the-clock customer service and claims reporting. This will make it more convenient to receive the service you need when you experience a breakdown.
Home Insurance Rating Methodology
The Home Service Research Team at Better Homes & Gardens strives to provide unbiased and objective reviews to readers by compiling relevant information on homeowners insurance companies and rating the insurers on a variety of factors.
Here's what our review process looks like:
We simulate the purchasing experience by obtaining quotes from each company, speaking with insurance agents and representatives over the phone, through email, and via online chat. We also use and analyze any available online quote tools.
We read hundreds of customer reviews on third-party review sites like the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Trustpilot, and Yelp to gain an understanding of overall customer satisfaction and pain points.
When secret shopping, we compare pricing, discounts, and offers across providers to get an overall sense of each company's typical costs and affordability relative to competitors.
We interview subject-matter experts to get a behind-the-curtain view of the industry, uncovering key details consumers need to understand in order to make the most informed purchasing decision.
We keep track of each company's policy offerings and reputation and regularly update information when needed.
To help compare each insurer, we also created a 100-point rating system to score companies based on the following criteria:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a combo plan?
A combo plan typically rolls all available coverage from a provider into one package. These plans will cover a wide range of appliances and systems. These plans usually cost between $50 and $65 per month.
Is Choice Home Warranty available in California?
Unfortunately, Choice Home Warranty does not offer service to California. For the best home warranty in California, we recommend American Home Shield or Select Home Warranty.
How much is a home warranty plan?
Your home warranty will vary in price based on your location, the size of your home, and the depth of your coverage. Most home warranty policies cost between $30 and $60 per month, with some exceptions.
Are home warranties worth it?
Home warranties can save you money on repairs and decrease your risk of paying thousands of dollars out of pocket. However, they can also save you time in finding a reputable contractor, as all home warranty companies have a network of trusted service technicians. Even if you don't use your home warranty to its fullest potential, many homeowners enjoy the peace of mind a home warranty can provide.
How much is a typical service fee?
Service fees are typically between $75 and $150, but there are some exceptions. Liberty Home Guard features the lowest service fee in the industry, at $60.
