Best Home Appliance Insurance Companies
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To help you find the best home appliance insurance plan, our team researched and vetted 13 of the top home warranty companies. We looked at each company’s policies, evaluated sample contracts, and read more than 5,700 customer reviews. We reinforced this research by testing 11 products and surveying more than 2,000 home warranty customers.
Key Takeaways
- The best company for general home appliance insurance is Liberty Home Guard.
- The company with the best value and lowest overall cost is Select Home Warranty.
- Appliance insurance policies typically have very strict coverage limitations, and the most common complaints are about hidden depreciation policies.
- Liberty Home Guard: Best Customer Support
- First American Home Warranty: Best for High-End Items
- AFC Home Warranty: Best Technician Flexibility
- Select Home Warranty: Best Budget Plan Option
- Cinch Home Services: Best Additional Perks
Compare Our Top Home Appliance Insurance Companies
According to our review methodology, the best home appliance insurance to get is Liberty Home Guard. The following table compares the 13 leading home warranty companies we reviewed. Out of these, we chose the top five providers offering the best home appliance insurance plans. We excluded companies with poor appliance coverage, even if they scored well in our overall ratings.
*BBB ratings are accurate as of July 2024.
What is Home Appliance Insurance?
The cost to repair appliances can range from a few hundred dollars to over $5,000. Thankfully, home appliance insurance can help cover these expenses and connect you to a repair technician quickly. Home appliance insurance, also known as a home appliance warranty or home protection plan, provides financial protection in the event of an appliance breakdown. Unlike homeowners insurance, home appliance insurance doesn’t cover damage from unforeseen events like fires, floods, or theft. Instead, it protects from breakdowns caused by normal wear and tear.
Video of How Home Appliance Insurance Works
The following video explains the basics of home warranty plans, including home appliance insurance plans.
How We Selected the Top Home Appliance Insurance Companies
We scored the top 13 home insurance appliance companies in the nation against our review standards. Our review criteria used six factors homeowners consider most important for home appliance insurance companies: coverage, cost, trustworthiness, plan transparency, customer support, and flexibility. While some companies rated higher in our overall review standards, we prioritized companies offering the best appliance-focused plans.
The following chart compares the prices of our top five recommended providers of home appliance insurance.
Coverage
This category looks at each company's coverage caps for the following major appliances—these are some of the most commonly found appliances in basic plans and the most important for homeowners:
- Clothes dryer
- Clothes washer
- Oven
- Refrigerator
Our rating also assessed companies on their coverage of the following systems:
- Electrical
- HVAC
- Plumbing
We awarded points based on the number of items companies covered and the coverage caps for those items. The more closely providers aligned with or exceeded industry standards, the more points they earned. The average coverage rate for appliances and systems is $2,000, while add-ons are $500. Companies lost points if their coverage caps were lower than this. We also docked points for having aggregate coverage limits on claim payouts or an excessive waiting period of more than 30 days. Aggregate coverage caps are overall plan limits that restrict the total amount of claims homeowners can receive per plan period. Essentially, if you reach your total cap, you won't be able to receive a payout on any item, even if you haven’t filed a claim for that type of appliance or system.
Companies earned additional points for offering policies or benefits that help customers, like coverage of preexisting conditions, discounts on maintenance, free tune-ups, filter replacements, Freon replacements, or general plan upgrades.
First American Home Warranty’s comprehensive appliance coverage and generous benefits won it the top spot in this category. First American provides a coverage cap of $3,500 for appliances, $1,500 higher than the industry standard, alongside an unlimited system cap. It also boasts numerous quality-of-life benefits, such as preexisting condition coverage. This perk allows homeowners with older systems to get more out of their policy, as it's common for companies to deny coverage for aging appliances.
Here’s a breakdown of how each company performed in the coverage category:
Cost
The more benefits a company offers its customers and the less it costs, the more value it provides. The average home warranty plan costs $43–$72 per month, with service call fees around $$65–$125. Companies with the lowest costs and service call fees earned more points in this category. We awarded additional points to companies that offer annual and monthly payment plans, allowing homeowners to better fit their budgets. We docked points from companies that tack on surcharges, charge harsh fees, or use other non-customer-friendly practices, like depreciation policies that lower the value of payout based on item age.
Some companies charge higher rates to service high-end appliances. If a company had a policy like this, we docked points or excluded them from this article.
Unfortunately, most companies scored relatively low in this category. The top provider on our list was Select Home Warranty. It offers lower-than-average service calls and monthly fees. It also lacks an after-hours rate increase, a high-end appliance rate, and additional surcharge policies.
Here’s how each company scored for its cost rating:
Trustworthiness
When researching home warranty companies, you’ll come across many complaints that home warranties are a scam. While there are some bad-acting home warranty companies, there are also many reputable providers. We scrutinize each company critically and objectively, checking for scams, dishonest business practices, and negative trends in customer reviews. A provider must prove it will deliver on its promises to be included in our roundup.
For this category, we assessed each company’s overall trustworthiness and customer reception. We read over 5,700 customer reviews on various independent review sites like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and averaged their scores. The higher a company’s score across these sites, the more points it earned. Companies received additional points for showing other signs of trustworthiness, such as providing long-lasting workmanship guarantees (90 days or more), belonging to a trade organization, and having no ongoing lawsuits.
Liberty Home Guard and First American Home Warranty were the highest-rated companies in this category. Liberty Home Guard has an average customer review score of 4 out of 5 stars. It also gives customers a 60-day workmanship guarantee, twice that of the industry standard. First American also has high review scores and belongs to the National Home Service Contract Association (NHSCA), a nonprofit group that sets a strict code of ethics and ethical business practices.
Here’s how each company scored on trustworthiness:
Plan Transparency
Understanding how home warranties work is essential to make informed decisions about your home appliance insurance policy. Knowing the ins and outs of your contract helps you prevent denied claims, identify when damage is properly covered, and avoid surprise fees.
This category assessed a company based on how easy to understand and clearly defined its plans were. We read each company’s sample contract to analyze its language (terminology, policy clarity, specificity, etc.), inclusions, exclusions, details, and disclosures. Companies with clearly defined, easy-to-understand contracts earned more points. We deducted points if companies used vague terminology or intentionally left information out of their contracts—common culprits for this included hidden fees and service provider policies.
Most companies use complex terminology and intentionally vague language in their contracts. This is why it's important to read your service contract carefully and contact customer support if you have any questions. We recommend getting multiple free quotes and reading more than one service contract to find the best policy for the lowest price and compare coverage options for your home.
Here’s the breakdown of each company’s transparency score:
Customer Support
When a major appliance like your fridge, dishwasher, or washing machine breaks down, you’ll want it repaired immediately. This category assessed each company based on its features, policies, and services that help customers in these difficult situations. We awarded providers more points for offering multiple ways to file a claim, including a 24/7 customer support line, dedicated mobile app, and online chat feature. We also evaluated claim processing time and means of communication. The industry standard claim processing time is 24–48 hours, so any company that took longer lost points.
Liberty Home Guard and Cinch Home Warranty were the top-performing companies in this category. Each company provides 24/7 claims lines, email support, and 24–48-hour claim processing times. Both have dedicated apps, a rare feature for home appliance insurance companies. Liberty Home Guard also has an online chat feature that lets you contact a customer service rep to file a claim anytime. This feature is helpful if your appliance breaks down and you’re unsure if your plan covers the damage, as you can quickly chat with a rep and ask about policy specifics.
Below are the customer support scores for each provider:
Flexibility
Because appliances vary widely from home to home, having a flexible plan means you can choose the coverage you need without overpaying. Basic plans usually cover appliances like washing machines and refrigerators but may not include coverage for systems like pools, sump pumps, and spas. If you have these kinds of appliances, you’ll want to look for a home warranty company with flexible plans and a wide range of add-ons.
For this category, we rated each company’s plan diversity, service call fee policies, add-ons, and technician selection. Multiple plan options allow you to choose one that matches your home’s needs without paying for appliances you don't have. Add-on coverage fills in the gaps between plans, letting you choose items a la carte at an extra cost. As such, companies with diverse plan options and large add-on catalogs earned the most points.
Companies with flexible technician and service call fee policies received additional points. Technician policies allow customers to choose which repair people come to their home, a rarity for home warranty providers. Service call fee policies let you select your service call rate; note that choosing a lower fee results in a higher monthly premium.
Elite Home Warranty and AFC Home Warranty have the most flexible policies on this list. Both have multiple appliance coverage options, robust add-on catalogs, and bonuses like roof-leak coverage.
Here’s how each recommended home appliance insurance company scored for flexibility:
Pricing for the Best Home Appliance Insurance Plans
The cost of home appliance insurance is $43–$72 per month on average or $516–$861 annually, depending on your provider and coverage. The following table shows how much you can expect to pay for home appliance insurance from each company. We obtained sample quotes from each of the providers using a 2,115-square-foot, single-family home in Tempe, Arizona.
| Provider | Home Appliance Insurance Plan |
|---|---|
| Liberty Home Guard | $49.99 |
| First American Home Warranty | $42.00–$125 |
| AFC Home Club | $38.33–$99.17 |
| Select Home Warranty | $44.42 |
| Cinch Home Warranty | $30.99–$40.99 |
Our Top 5 Home Appliance Insurance Picks
The best home appliance insurance companies are Liberty Home Guard and First American Home Warranty because of their strong coverage, moderate price, and high customer review scores. These two brands offer the best overall deals for high-end home appliance insurance policies.
We looked at 13 major home warranty companies that offer home appliance insurance. Our research included reading more than 5,700 customer responses, speaking with industry experts, and surveying 2,000 home warranty customers.
We focused on companies that offered the most comprehensive home appliance coverage, prioritizing the following items:
- Garage door openers
- Kitchen appliances like cooktops, refrigerators, exhaust fans, and dishwashers
- Laundry appliances
- Water heaters
We also disregarded companies that don’t offer appliance-only policies. For example, American Home Shield scored very well in our general review criteria but doesn’t offer an appliance-only home warranty policy, so we didn’t include it.
Liberty Home Guard
Best Customer Support Pros and Cons
What We Liked
- Has an add-on catalog of 42 items, allowing you to cover most appliances
- Offers a 24/7 live chat and mobile app to contact customer support anytime
- Provides a 60-day workmanship guarantee, twice the industry standard
What We Didn't Like
- Doesn’t cover preexisting conditions
- Doesn’t offer flexible service call fees
Our Review and Insights
Liberty Home Guard received 4.4 out of 5 stars. It has one of the most robust add-on catalogs in the industry, with 42 items.
Liberty Home Guard (LHG) has one of the best home appliance insurance plans on the market, thanks to its robust coverage and wide selection of add-ons. Its basic appliance plan covers the most important items, including clothes washers and dryers, refrigerators, dishwashers, ovens, cooktops, and ceiling fans. It’s reasonably priced at $49–$59 per month with industry-standard payouts—essentially, this is a reliable, moderate-cost option with no major downsides.
LHG’s biggest benefit is its vast add-on selection of 42 items, the largest in the industry. Most companies have only 10–20 add-ons total, whereas LHG has 18 add-ons for appliances alone. It's unlikely that you’ll have an appliance in your home that isn't protected by LHG, which isn't something we can say for most home warranty companies. We think some of its best appliance options add-ons are water softeners, in-fridge ice makers, stand-alone freezers, and trash compactors.
Despite its generous appliance coverage, LHG has limited system coverage in certain areas. For example, its electrical and plumbing coverage has a lower-than-average cap of $500. LHG also has higher service call fees, ranging between $65 and $125. And it has more limited choices for service call fees, whereas most home warranty companies let you choose between multiple price options.
Customer Reviews
LHG’s customer review scores are some of the strongest in the industry. Its BBB page has 2,300 responses and an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars. On Trustpilot, it has more than 4,900 reviews with a score of 4.8 out of 5 stars. Its BBB rating has been revoked due to a “pattern of complaints” about its claims process, customer service, and sales tactics. However, this happens frequently on the BBB and LHG’s strong customer reviews tell a different story, so we’re unconcerned. The company responded to the BBB and said it’s taking steps to remedy these issues by introducing software to improve the scheduling and claims process. It also said it has hired more customer service reps and increased training.
Reviews of LHG’s appliance insurance policies are mixed. Happy customers point to speedy appliance repair, polite representatives, and an easy claim submission process. We reached out to the customer support line ourselves and were connected to a rep in under 30 seconds.
The most frequent complaints we saw against LHG are low claim payouts and unfair claim denials. Several customers point out that claims on common appliances like dishwashers or refrigerators received lower-than-average payouts or outright denial. For example, a customer’s dishwasher broke down again following a repair. They said LHG only offered $250 for a new appliance—despite repair costs being quoted at more than $400.
Claims payout issues are not uncommon in the home warranty industry. We reviewed LHG’s sample contract and confirmed that its open-ended policies around payouts and age depreciation could lead to lower appliance claim payouts.
First American Home Warranty
Best for High-End Items Pros and Cons
What We Liked
- Has appliance coverage caps of $3,500, $1,500 more than the industry average
- Offers a plan upgrade for preexisting condition coverage
- Has a 12-item add-ons catalog
What We Didn't Like
- Charges higher-than-average premiums
- Lacks a basic, low-cost appliance plan
Our Review and Insights
We gave First American Home Warranty a score of 4.6 out of 5 stars. Its coverage caps on appliances are $1,500 more than the industry average.
First American Home Warranty has some of the most generous appliance coverage on this list. Its base plan has an appliance coverage cap of $3,500, $1,500 more than the industry standard. Its premium plan’s cap raises to $7,000—more than three times the industry standard—making it ideal for high-end appliance coverage. The most basic plan covers 11 appliances, more than most other companies, and includes built-in microwaves, dishwashers, cooktops, and refrigerators.
First American is also a good option for homeowners with older appliances thanks to its First American Upgrade. This bonus covers items with preexisting conditions and damage from improper modification or maintenance. Combined with its high coverage caps, First American offers impressive protection for high-end, new appliances and older items alike.
That being said, First American has some notable coverage gaps. Its Starter plan doesn’t cover essential appliances like clothes washers and dryers. Most basic appliance plans include these items. Even worse, these items aren’t included in First American’s add-on catalog, so you’ll need to purchase the premium plan if you want to protect your clothes washer and dryer.
Customer Reviews
First American has mixed online reviews. It has a score of 1.8 out of 5 stars based on 1,800 reviews on the BBB. It performs much better on Trustpilot, with 4.1 out of 5 stars and 15,500 reviews. After thoroughly reviewing responses from both sites, we believe Trustpilot’s pool of reviews is a more accurate representation of customers’ experiences. We’ve found that customer reviews on the BBB skew more negatively across the home improvement industry than other sites, whereas Trustpilot reviews are more balanced and have a larger pool of responses—10 times that of the BBB.
Happy customers praise First American’s quick, easy claim process. We tried the system firsthand and found it to be simple and intuitive. First American processed our claim and assigned our technician within 30 minutes of filing. Other positive comments compliment the provider’s polite, prompt customer representatives and technicians, with multiple customers reporting a speedy and efficient appliance repair.
The most common issues regarding First American’s appliance coverage were poor repair quality and low-quality replacements. For example, one customer claimed that after multiple repair attempts on a dishwasher, the company sent a replacement product that didn’t perform as well as the original. Another commenter had a repair technician visit their property several times to repair an ice maker within a refrigerator. After more than one month of return visits, First American had to send a different technician.
AFC Home Warranty
Best Technician Flexibility Pros and Cons
What We Liked
- Has a cheaper-than-average appliance-only plan
- Offers unlimited workmanship guarantee on repair
- Uses a customer-friendly service technician policy that lets you choose your own contractor
What We Didn't Like
- Requires homeowners to submit claims within 24 hours of noticing damage
- Gives a lower payout for older appliances
Our Review and Insights
AFC Home Warranty received 4.7 out of 5 stars. Its unlimited workmanship guarantee on repairs provides homeowners with above-average protection.
AFC Home Warranty offers more coverage options than most other home warranty companies. Typically, home warranty providers offer systems, appliances, and premium plans. AFC has an additional plan, referred to as the “Gold” plan, which bridges the gap between the basic and premium plans. This plan combines the coverage of AFC’s system and appliance-focused plans but lacks some of the premium options included in its “Platinum” plan. This is great for homeowners who want both system and appliance insurance but don’t want to commit to the most expensive plan.
AFC offers a modest selection of appliance add-ons, including sump pumps, well pumps, hot water dispensers, and pool and spa systems. Its coverage caps are set at $3,000, $1,000 above the industry standard. It also has several benefits not commonly offered by other companies, such as credit monitoring, identity protection, and pet, dental, and health insurance plans.
Unfortunately, AFC’s basic plans are less impressive. Its appliance-only plan includes basic items like clothes dryers/washers, refrigerators, and cooktops. Additionally, it has a strict depreciation policy that limits payouts on items five years or older. This makes AFC less appealing if you have older appliances since you’ll pay more out of pocket if they break down. AFC also requires customers to report instances of damage within 24 hours of noticing them, whereas other companies do not have such strict time restrictions.
Customer Reviews
AFC Home Warranty has far fewer reviews than other companies on this list. Its BBB page has only 206 reviews and a 3.1 out of 5-star rating. On Best Company, it has 3.4 out of 5 stars and more than 110 reviews.
Positive reviews praise AFC’s coverage, polite representatives, and unique member benefits. Reviewers also highlight AFC’s simple claims process and flexible technician policy. One customer on Best Company specifically mentioned the company’s wide coverage of appliances.
We reviewed every response on the BBB and found less than a dozen that specifically criticized AFC appliance coverage. Those we did discover mentioned low claims payouts or lackluster appliance replacements. One customer felt frustrated after an older appliance received a lower payout due to its age. They also claimed this policy was not openly or clearly explained to them from the beginning. Unfortunately, this may have been the case if they spoke to a representative. When we reviewed AFC’s contract, this depreciation policy was clearly outlined.
Select Home Warranty
Best Budget Plan Option Pros and Cons
What We Liked
- Covers a wide range of appliances in its basic plan and add-on catalog
- Has low-cost appliance-only plans at $44.42 per month
- Offers a diverse selection of combined and separate plan options for more customization
What We Didn't Like
- Has low coverage caps for appliances and systems
- Lacks service fee options
Our Review and Insights
We gave Select Home Warranty 3.7 out of 5 stars. Its low-cost appliance plan makes it a great option for homeowners on a budget.
Select Home Warranty offers reliable, cost-effective appliance coverage with its “Bronze” care plan. This plan covers most basic appliances, such as dryers, refrigerators, and cooktops. It has a low monthly price of $44 and a service call fee of $60–$75, making it a good option for homeowners looking for basic protection on a budget.
Select stands out for its generous bonuses, like its free roof-leak coverage and moderate add-on selection. If you’re looking for good HVAC coverage alongside your appliance insurance, it also has higher-than-average coverage caps of $3,000, making it a strong option for homeowners looking to get the most value for their money.
Unfortunately, there’s a catch to Select’s low prices: its payouts. It only offers $500 coverage caps for almost all items, four times lower than the industry standard. This means Select is ideal for homeowners with lower-end appliances that are less expensive to repair. If you own a $4,000 refrigerator, the most Select will pay to fix it is $500. Essentially, the cheaper your appliances, the more you get out of Select.
Customer Reviews
Select’s customer review scores are inconsistent across review sites. Its BBB page has more than 2,000 reviews, averaging 1.12 out of 5 stars. On Trustpilot, it has 4,900 reviews averaging 3.2 out of 5 stars. These scores are the lowest of any company in this review.
Positive reviews compliment Select’s low rates, simple claims process, and professional sales reps. One reviewer noted a positive experience with a sales representative, saying the person walked them through their plan options, wasn't pushy, and was highly knowledgeable.
Critical responses note long phone wait times, low payouts, and frequent claim denial. The most common criticism related to appliances was the low return value from policies due to Select’s depreciation policy. Like many other home warranty companies, Select offers payouts based on your item’s current worth, which degrades over time. This leads many homeowners to receive lower-than-expected returns from their plans. Combine this with Select’s already low coverage caps, and it's easy to see why some customers aren’t happy when Select only gives them a few hundred dollars for their expensive appliance repairs.
Cinch Home Services
Best Additional Perks Pros and Cons
What We Liked
- Covers nonessential appliance components like doors, drawers, and knobs
- Carries a 180-day workmanship guarantee, the longest on this list
- Covers preexisting conditions
What We Didn't Like
- Offers limited add-ons
- Has higher-than-average service call fees
Our Review and Insights
Cinch earned a score of 4.3 out of 5 stars. It stands out by covering nonessential components and less commonly covered items, such as doors.
Cinch Home Warranty covers more appliances in its appliance-only plan than every other company in this article, with an impressive 13 items compared to the average five to nine. This plan includes standard fare like cooktops, refrigerators, and clothes washers alongside less commonly covered items like freestanding ice makers and trash compactors. This makes Cinch a great option if you're looking for the most coverage possible in your plan.
Besides solid baseline coverage, Cinch provides bonuses like a 180-day workmanship warranty (six times the industry average). Combined with Cinch’s moderate monthly costs, this bonus makes it valuable for homeowners who want good coverage at a reasonable price.
Cinch has two major downsides: limited add-ons and high service fees. Unlike most home warranty companies, which provide an average of 10 add-ons, Cinch only offers six. This limits plan customization and means Cinch won't cover some appliances, like water softeners.
Customer Reviews
Reviews for Cinch are polarized. On the BBB, it has a score of 1.13 out of 5 stars based on nearly 1,400 reviews. Its Trustpilot page has more than 3,500 reviews and 3.9 out of 5 stars.
Customers praise Cinch’s easy-to-read policies, polite and knowledgeable staff, and prompt claim processing. When looking specifically at appliance-related comments, happy customers compliment repair personnel’s skill and professionalism. One customer stated that after working with a previous home warranty company that failed to repair her damaged appliances adequately, the first technician sent by Cinch solved the problem.
The most common complaints for Cinch highlight long claim processing times and high service call fees. One customer stated that, depending on the appliance, service call fees were more expensive than outright replacing the item. While we find this comment somewhat hard to believe, Cinch has higher-than-average service call fees, between 1.5–2 times the industry average. If you had a lower-end appliance like a cheap microwave, the service call fee could theoretically be more expensive than a replacement.
Combined with Cinch’s decent coverage caps and unique item coverage, these high service fees make it a better fit for homeowners with high-end appliances or uncommon coverage needs. Unlike companies such as Select, which work best for inexpensive appliances, Cinch is the opposite: It provides better guarantees, wider coverage, and industry-standard caps for a slightly higher price.
FAQ About Home Appliance Insurance
How does home appliance insurance work?
Home appliance insurance is a policy that offers financial protection against breakdowns caused by standard wear and tear on home appliance systems.
How do you file a home appliance insurance claim?
You can file a home appliance insurance claim by using your provider’s app, calling its customer service line, talking with a representative via its website’s chat system, or filling out a form on its website.
What is typically included in a home appliance insurance policy?
Most basic home appliance insurance policies include essential items such as clothes washers and dryers, refrigerators, washing machines, and water softeners.
Methodology: How We Evaluated Home Appliance Insurance Companies
We use a detailed rating methodology to objectively score each home warranty company we review. We conduct research by speaking with company representatives, requesting quotes, analyzing sample contracts, and running focus groups and homeowner surveys.
We use this information to score each provider in six comparison categories that we think are most important when choosing a home warranty. We rate each provider across 23 factors within those categories. Each factor is assigned a point value based on its importance to a homeowner, totaling 100 points. We convert the final scores to a 5-star rating.
Here’s a breakdown of our weighted factors:
- Coverage (35%): This category looked at how comprehensive each provider’s coverage was, including whether they covered unique items. Companies that covered the most items and had higher annual limits received the highest scores. We docked points from providers that impose long waiting periods or had depreciation policies that decrease your payouts for aging items.
- Cost (20%): We looked at average monthly prices and service call fees. We gave the most points to companies that offer pricing at or below the industry average and don’t impose any surcharges or extra fees.
- Trustworthiness (15%): To gauge reputation and reliability, we reviewed customer ratings across sites like the Better Business Bureau and Trustpilot as well as companies’ responses to complaints. We also checked for National Home Serice Contract Assocation (NHSCA) membership. Providers with the highest ratings and longest workmanship guarantees received higher scores. We deduced points for any ongoing legal issues.
- Plan transparency (10%): We read terms, policies, and disclosures in provided contracts and on each company’s website. Providers with transparent contract details and policies received more points.
- Customer support (10%): Companies with multiple claims filing options, fast response times, and accessible customer support scored well in this category.
- Flexibility (10%): We awarded more points for providers offering more plan options, larger add-on catalogs, the ability to choose your own technician, and customer-friendly cancellation policies.