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Top Home Warranties in California for 2024
By Sarah Horvath MONEY RESEARCH COLLECTIVE
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- Covers Major Home Systems, HVAC & Appliances
- Free Roof Coverage, No Inspection Needed
24/7 support whenever your appliances fail
- Large network of independent prescreened contractors and qualified technicians
- In business for over 30 years
- Good coverage on home systems
- Does not cover pre-existing issues
- They will replace items that fail if they can't be fixed regardless of age, make or model
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- Industry leader since 1971
- More than $2 Billion in claims paid in last 5 years
- More than 2 Million customers served
- No inspection or maintenance records required
- 30-day workmanship guarantee
As a homeowner, you might already know how expensive an appliance or system breakdown can be due to normal wear and tear. For example, plumbing systems that break down might require a professional fix costing $350 or more. A home warranty is a special protection plan that provides access to more affordable repairs for your major systems and appliances. These plans protect homeowners from high repair costs, which can quickly eat into the most well-planned emergency fund.
With so many options on the market, telling the difference between California’s top home warranty companies can be challenging. If you’re a homeowner in the Golden State looking to save money on home warranty coverage, read on to learn everything you need to know about the best home warranty companies in California.
Our Top Picks for the Best Home Warranty Companies in California
- Best overall pick: Choice Home Warranty
- Best customer service: American Home Shield
- Best for extended workmanship guarantee: Cinch Home Services
- Best add-on coverage options: First American Home Warranty
- Best for unique coverage: Liberty Home Guard
- Best for yearly discounts: Select Home Warranty
- Best for comprehensive coverage: Home Service Club
Best Home Warranty Companies in California Reviews
Best Overall Pick: Choice Home Warranty
- Affordable monthly pricing
- Two straightforward policies
- Nine unique add-on choices
- Does not allow you to choose your own service fee (deductible)
Why we chose it: If you’re new to home warranties and are looking for straightforward coverage, Choice Home Warranty can be one of your best options in Southern California and beyond.
Choice Home Warranty offers two easy-to-understand plan options: the affordable Basic Plan and the all-inclusive Total Plan. These straightforward options can be ideal for homeowners who need quick, general coverage at affordable prices. The differences between Choice’s two plans come from the items included under each home warranty’s terms. For example, the Total Plan covers damage to your air conditioning system, while the Basic Plan does not. Both of Choice’s home warranty plans include coverage for a mix of systems and appliances.
Coverage starts at around $47 per month for the Basic Plan and $55 for the Total Plan in most states. Choice Home Warranty allows you to customize your home warranty policy with optional add-ons. For example, you can add coverage for a pool or central vacuum. These optional coverages add just a few dollars to your monthly bill but extend your benefits to more items. This system also allows you to avoid paying for coverage on things you don’t have in your home.
Visit our full Choice Home Warranty review to learn more.
Best for Customer Service: American Home Shield
- High coverage caps allow you to claim more expensive repairs and replacements
- Highly rated customer service team provides 24/7 help
- Air filter discounts are available
- Free HVAC tune-ups with the ShieldPlatinum plan
- Monthly charges can be high if you choose a low service fee
Why we chose it: American Home Shield (AHS) is notable because it offers three plan tiers—ShieldSilver, ShieldGold and ShieldPlatinum—and allows you to choose your service fee. You can choose between a $100 and $125 service fee due each time you use your home warranty benefits. Selecting a higher per-incident service fee will allow you to pay a lower premium, while choosing a lower fee will result in a higher per-month charge. This tier system helps you balance per-incident payments with monthly costs for customized coverage. AHS home warranty can be a great choice for homeowners who value the ongoing flexibility to adjust their payment amounts.
AHS offers great customer service thanks to its 24/7 Shield Agent connection. American Home Shield provides around-the-clock protection and assistance with the company’s care and account specialty teams. This extra safety net can make American Home Shield a desirable option, especially if you’ve never bought a policy before and need guidance when choosing a policy or filing a claim.
In addition to providing around-the-clock customer service, American Home Shield is one of the only home warranty service providers we reviewed to offer all services in Spanish and English. Find out more about the provider by reading our American Home Shield home warranty review.
Best for Extended Workmanship Guarantee: Cinch Home Warranty
- Pricing from $30.99 a month
- Coverage extends to appliance components like handles (which are excluded from most types of home warranty policies)
- Long workmanship guarantee
- Limited add-ons
- High service fees
Why we chose it: Cinch Home Warranty is a California home warranty service provider offering one of the industry’s best workmanship guarantees. When you book a service through your plan, Cinch guarantees the work performed for up to 180 days. If a contractor makes a mistake when fixing one of your home’s appliances or systems, they will return within 180 days to fix it, free of charge. In addition to an impressive workmanship guarantee, Cinch also offers an impressive customer service team. The company has won 41 rewards for responsiveness and plan availability. Cinch prides itself on responding to claims as quickly as possible.
Read more by visiting our full Cinch Home Services home warranty review.
Best Add-On Coverage Options: First American Home Warranty
- Unique upgrade options
- Plans are available for about a dollar a day
- Easy online application
- Extra charge for air conditioning coverage
Why we chose it: First American Home Warranty is best known for its unique upgrade options, which go above and beyond what you’ll find with most competitors. For example, you can add First Class Upgrade to any plan. This plan includes coverage for services required to bring your home up to code following a change in local building rules and refrigerant recapture regulations.
The First Class Upgrade includes limited coverage for appliances and systems installed incorrectly and for contractor mistakes. This can be particularly beneficial if you’re buying an older home that needs significant future repairs or if you’ve purchased a recent construction. First American allows you to choose between a $75, $100 or $125 service fee, with premium pricing varying depending on the selected service fee.
Check out our First American Home Warranty review for more information.
Best for Unique Coverages: Liberty Home Guard
- Separate appliance and systems plans available
- Add-on coverages available for pest control, power washing, guest houses and more
- Plenty of upgrade options
- Monthly plan premiums are more expensive than competitors
Why we chose it: Liberty Home Guard may not have the most add-on coverage options, but it sure has some unique ones that may appeal to you. Some add-on options can save money on routine maintenance tasks, such as power washing your deck, controlling seasonal pests, or washing your windows. These are services for which many homeowners pay separately.
Other optional add-ons include coverage for your guest house, pro-series appliances, saltwater pools and lawn sprinkler systems. So, if your home is teched out with some of these special features, it’s easy to customize any plan to suit your high-end home.
In addition, the company offers a simple, streamlined application and purchase process that you can complete online. Most homeowners who own single-family units can compare plans, read a sample contract and get covered in as little as five minutes.
Best for Yearly Discounts: Select Home Warranty
- Online discounts on yearly plans
- Free roof leak repair is included in some policies
- Reduce premiums when you pay annually
- Lower-than-average coverage limits on most items
Why we chose it: If you’re a homeowner able to commit to a yearly plan, you may want to consider Select Home Warranty. The company offers three plans: Bronze Care, Gold Care and Platinum Care. While most other home warranty companies charge higher service fees to offset lower monthly charges, Select’s fee ranges from $75 to $100, depending on coverage. Either way, Select Home Warranty offers affordable monthly premiums, making it a strong choice if you’re looking for inexpensive protection.
That being said, Select’s policies offer lower coverage limits than other higher-priced policies, meaning that homeowners with high-end appliances may not receive the money necessary to repair or replace them. However, Select also offers regular promotions that help you save on coverage. Depending on your area, some plans may even include two months free and roof leak coverage. Find out more by visiting our full Select Home Warranty review.
Best Comprehensive Coverage: Home Service Club
- Covers up to 50 home components depending on your plan
- Quick and easy quote application
- 90-day parts guarantee on repairs
- Not accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB)
Why we chose it: Home Service Club is a home warranty company offering some of California’s most inclusive home warranties. The company’s Comprehensive Coverage plan lives up to its name with more than 30 unique inclusions. Some examples include coverage for cooktops, built-in microwaves, gas leaks, hot water dispensers and smoke detectors. Many of these inclusions are considered add-on coverage with other home warranty providers. Buying them in one comprehensive policy can be beneficial if you plan to purchase many of these add-on coverages.
Other Companies We Considered
While the home warranty companies listed above are our recommended options, they aren’t the only ones operating in California. You may want to consider the following runners-up when choosing your policy.
- No age limits on laundry or kitchen appliances
- 24/7 customer service
- Plans available from $325 in California
- Not accredited by the BBB
- Several reviews complaints mention coverage denial on covered services
Home Warranty of America includes unique protections for anyone who has upgraded their home with smart features and appliances. Many Home Warranty of America plans don’t have individual coverage limits on major appliances, which can be beneficial if you have high-value appliances from brands like Samsung and Jenn-Air.
- Select plans include free roof coverage
- The Platinum Plan provides coverage for two heating and AC systems
- Limited additional plan info available online
First Premier Home Warranty is another straightforward home warranty company that offers two policy options. First Premier also has a selection of add-on choices, including coverage for sprinkler systems and additional home systems and appliances.
- Parts and labor guarantees
- Offers members an identity theft service
- Three unique plans
- $75 cancellation fee
America’s First Choice Home Club (AFC) provides part and labor guarantees on all services so long as you are an AFC Home Club member. This can be reassuring if you’ve had experience with subpar service technicians.
Best Home Warranty Guide
As a homeowner enjoying life in the Golden State, you have plenty of options for choosing a home warranty service provider. But if this is your first time shopping for a home warranty, where should you start looking for coverage? Read on to learn more about how to buy a home warranty and how home warranties work.
What is a Home Warranty?
A home warranty is a valuable service plan that provides extra protection for your home’s systems and appliances because it covers repairs that homeowner’s insurance may not. While homeowner’s insurance is mandatory for homes with mortgages, a home warranty offers peace of mind for full home protection. Imagine buying a new home with a problematic plumbing or electrical system. In the event of a fire that damages your system, your home insurance would cover the cost of damage because fire is a “covered peril” included under most homeowners’ insurance policies. But covered perils do not extend to normal wear and tear.
For instance, if your old plumbing system breaks down due to age, homeowner’s insurance won’t cover the replacement cost, potentially leaving you with a hefty bill. A home warranty becomes essential in such cases, ensuring you’re covered for various repairs beyond routine maintenance. However, be advised that your home warranty would help pay for plumbing stoppages so long as they were not caused by a singular, major event (like a hurricane or fire).
In addition to replacing systems that break down permanently, such as the ductwork of the air conditioning and heating system, home warranty plans also compensate homeowners for repairs unrelated to routine maintenance.
What is Usually Covered and Not Covered in a Home Warranty?
What a home warranty covers can vary between different home warranty providers and specific plans. Here’s a non-exhaustive overview of what is usually covered and not covered in a standard home warranty:
| Usually Covered | Not Usually Covered | Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems | Pre-existing conditions or known issues before the coverage start date | Electrical systems and wiring | Damage from natural disasters or theft | Plumbing systems | Outdoor items like sprinkler systems and well pumps | Kitchen appliances | Pool and spa equipment | Laundry appliances | Items with improper installation or maintenance | Garbage disposals | Commercial-grade appliances | Garage door openers | Non-mechanical components of appliances (e.g., knobs, handles) | Ceiling fans | Structural elements of the home, such as the roof, foundation and walls |
How Does a Home Warranty Work?
Before committing to coverage, it’s important to understand how home warranties work. The service contract with home warranty plans will outline the specific conditions for claiming your home warranty coverage benefits. Home warranty policies generally reimburse you if one of your home systems or appliances breaks down.
When using your home warranty coverage, you’ll first file a claim with your home warranty company. If you’re covered under your policy, the home warranty company will arrange a repair. Some home warranty companies might also allow you to book your contractor.
When your repair professionals arrive, they’ll diagnose and fix the malfunctioning system or appliance. After repairs are complete, you’ll be responsible for paying your service call fee. The service fee is a per-occurrence charge each time you book a repair and does not change based on the value of the service provided.
Most home warranty policies include upper coverage limits that dictate how much money your home warranty provider will pay out in case of a covered claim. For example, if your home warranty policy includes an annual coverage limit of $2,000, your home warranty company would cover no more than $2,000 of the total cost for diagnosing, repairing, and replacing covered items. The best home warranty companies in northern California and beyond make these coverage limits clear when you sign up for insurance.
Do I Need a Home Warranty in California?
The need for a home warranty in California depends on your home’s age, the appliances and systems you have, and your budget. Water heaters and HVAC systems are two of the most common things that need repairs. You may not need a comprehensive home warranty plan if you don’t have or don’t use a heating and cooling system. Instead, you could save money by purchasing an appliance-only warranty plan. Ultimately, whether home warranties are worth it depends on your needs.
How to Pick a Home Warranty
What is the best home warranty company in California? The answer will vary depending on your budget and what you need as a homeowner. Here’s how to pick a home warranty and some things to consider when comparing options.
1. Check the company’s reputation
The first thing you should do before you buy a home warranty policy is learn more about the company issuing it. Review each company’s website and look for local contact information. Be sure to speak to each company over the phone before you buy a policy to test their customer service. You should also research each company extensively and check third-party and customer reviews. Take reviews with a grain of salt, but note specific complaints consistent across different consumer review platforms. Be wary of any company with overwhelmingly positive reviews as well—some home warranty companies have been known to buy fraudulent reviews to boost their ratings.
2. Decide your coverage needs
The most important thing to consider when choosing a home warranty is coverage. Each home warranty plan includes a list of things your coverage applies to in your home. Typical inclusions on most home warranties include air conditioning systems, refrigerators, washing machines and dishwashers. You can customize your home warranty policy by looking for one that includes only items you have in your home. For example, if you don’t have a well pump and your home didn’t come with a washer-dryer set, you can save money by specifically looking for a policy that doesn’t include these items. Customizing your policy and shopping around saves you from spending money on coverage you cannot use. On the other hand, if you have a garage, garage door opener coverage may be something you want. If your kitchen is equipped with exhaust fans, exhaust fan coverage is something you may want to search for. Sometimes, you can only get coverage for less common appliances and systems by purchasing additional optional coverage. Icemakers, stand-alone freezers and septic systems are among the exclusions home warranty providers often put in their contracts.
Sometimes, you can only get coverage for less common appliances and systems by purchasing additional optional coverage. Icemakers, stand-alone freezers and septic systems are among the exclusions home warranty providers often put in their contracts. Individual add-ons (like sump pumps or water heaters) may have lower limits than the overall coverage cap. Do not sign onto a policy before you know what is and isn’t covered and for how much.
3. Read a sample contract
Most home warranty companies provide sample contracts online to review before signing up. Reading a sample contract is an essential part of the home warranty buying process. The contract dictates when you can use the benefits you’re paying for. Ask every home warranty company you might consider for a sample contract if you cannot find one online. The best home warranties are readily available and use simple, straightforward wording to ensure customers understand what they’re signing. You should not buy a home warranty from any company that refuses to give you a sample contract before you buy coverage.
4. Get a quote
The final step when choosing a home warranty policy is getting a quote. Each company providing home warranty policies uses its own system to determine how much homeowners will pay for coverage. Therefore, home warranty costs vary from provider to provider. Get multiple quotes and read the terms of service contract before selecting a policy. Getting more than one quote before you buy can help you save money each month on the premium and service fees.
Best California Home Warranty FAQs
Is a home warranty required in California?
No, no law currently requires California homeowners to buy a home warranty for their systems and appliances. This is true when both buying and selling residential and commercial properties. If a homeowner offers a home warranty with a sale, they voluntarily do so to attract more buyers.
Who pays for a home warranty in California?
Home warranties are not required for homeownership like you need to buy homeowner's insurance to get a mortgage. A seller might want to invest in a home warranty to attract new potential customers to their home in the hopes of getting a higher final offer. On the other hand, buyers might want the financial protection of a warranty when they move into their homes. If you want a home warranty included as a term of the sale of your new property, make sure to include it in your sale agreement. Your real estate agent can help you negotiate this.
How much is home warranty insurance in California?
The cost of home warranty insurance in California can vary depending on your chosen coverage level. Here's a general breakdown of the cost:
- Basic Coverage: covers essential systems and appliances at an annual average cost of $350-$600
- Enhanced coverage: provides more extensive coverage, including additional appliances and systems at an annual average cost of $400-$800
- Comprehensive coverage: gives the highest level of protection, covering a wide range of systems, appliances and optional items at an annual average cost of $500-$1,000
Who regulates home warranty companies in California?
Home warranty companies are regulated and licensed in California by the California Department of Insurance (CDI). You can visit the CDI website to check the license status of a home warranty company before purchasing a contract.
How We Chose the Best Home Warranties in California
With so many companies offering home warranties, you have many options as a homeowner in California. We used the same methodology to compare each company we reviewed. Here are the major factors we considered when choosing the best home warranty companies and how each affected our ratings.
Policy Coverage
What does a home warranty cover? The answer will vary depending on the specific terms of your home warranty contract. We reviewed a sample policy from each recommended provider above when comparing home warranty companies. We looked at the number of items included in the policy’s coverage compared to the overall price to determine which providers offer the best value for your premium costs. We also considered upper limits on how much money you can claim from policy providers each year. Upper limits put a cap on the total amount of money you can claim from your policy provider, which directly affects the value of your plan.
Overall Price and Additional Costs
When comparing policies, it’s important to look at more than just the price of your monthly premium. While the premium is due each month, your service fee is due every time you need something fixed or replaced in your home. The service fee is also an important consideration when looking at the overall cost. As we compared pricing and the value of each policy, we looked at both premiums and service fees. We also read through sample contracts to help you learn more about coverage limits and how much value you can get from each policy when you consider the fine print.
Company Dependability and Reputation
Unfortunately, not every company that offers home warranty plans is equally reliable. We reviewed independent customer testimonials on third-party sites like Trustpilot and the Better Business Bureau. Companies with consistent compliments and positive reviews from previous policyholders ranked higher than those with many complaints.
Services Offered and Availability
Another major consideration we took into account is availability. When looking at the best home warranty companies in California reviews, we looked for companies that cover the entire Golden State – or at least most of it. Remember that not every company that offers home warranties in California extends service to each county country. We also considered add-ons and service availability when comparing home warranties. To choose the best home warranty in California, we searched for companies offering a wide range of add-ons for things like spas, extra water heaters, in-law suites, and additional inclusions like a central vacuum. To customize your coverage, you may want to create a list of major home components that make up your property before you shop.
Summary of Money’s Best Home Warranties in California of 2024
Some of the best home warranty companies in California are Cinch Home Warranty, Choice Home Warranty, and American Home Shield. We recommend Choice Home Warranty as our top coverage provider.
A home warranty policy helps you cover the cost of repairs for your home systems. It is not a substitute for homeowner’s insurance.
Study the coverage details of any plan carefully. Ideally, read the company’s sample contract, often available online. Pay particular attention to any pre-existing conditions clause.
Compare multiple quotes to find your best deal. Almost every home warranty provider lets you get a free quote online in minutes.
Check online for third-party ratings and consumer reviews.
When considering a home warranty, consider the cost of monthly premiums and service fees when deciding whether it’s worth the price.
Be sure to check overall and per-item coverage limits to make sure they’re significant for your home. If you own a $3,000 refrigerator and a warranty provider caps refrigerator coverage at $500, its plans may not suit your needs.