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Fidelity National Home Warranty Review (2024)

Author Image Written by Dana Getz + 1 other Reviewed by Jacquelyn Kfoury Updated 10/31/2024

Fidelity National Home Warranty got its start in 1995 as Alliance Home Warranty. The company has gone through several mergers and transitions, and officially became Fidelity National Home Warranty in 2001. Though Fidelity is available in only 17 states, it provides decent coverage at an affordable price.

Choosing the best home warranty provider can be challenging, especially if you don’t have the time to research service plans, costs, and customer reviews. Because of this, we have done the legwork for you in this comprehensive Fidelity home warranty review and found details on coverage, pricing, and current ratings. We recommend Liberty Home Guard as our top pick for its high customer ratings and expansive plan options.

For any homeowner thinking about purchasing a home warranty, we recommend multiple quotes from the top companies:


Pros and Cons of Fidelity Home Warranty

Compare the advantages and disadvantages of signing up for Fidelity National Home Warranty:

Pros

  • Doesn’t have an age limit on covered items
  • Has a $65-$75 deductible, which is in line with the industry average fee of $75–$125

Cons

  • Doesn’t have a sample contract on their website
  • Refrigerators and air conditioning aren’t covered under Fidelity’s most basic plan

What Do Fidelity National Home Warranty Plans Cover?

Fidelity offers four plans, but the availability of those plans varies across the 17 states the company serves. Below is a breakdown of what each plan covers:

Coverage

System/ApplianceStandard PlanComprehensive Plus PlanEnhanced PlanEnhanced Plus Plan

Air conditioning system

Central heating system

Ductwork

Evaporative cooler

Plumbing system

Plumbing stoppages

Sump pump

Toilets

Built-in Whirlpool bathtub motor pump

Recirculating hot water pump

Garbage disposal

Instant hot water dispenser

Water heater

Electrical system

Telephone wiring

Ceiling fans

Central vacuum

Garage door opener

Attic and exhaust fans

Kitchen exhaust fan

Doorbell

Smoke detectors

Dishwasher

Range/oven/cooktop

Built-in microwave oven

Trash compactor

Mismatched systems

Improper installation, repairs, or modifications

Removal of defective equipment

Refrigerant recapture, recovery, and disposal

Permits

Code violations

More plumbing elements

More heating and air conditioning elements

More ceiling fan elements

More dishwasher elements

More range/oven/cooktop elements

More built-in microwave oven elements

More trash compactor elements

More garage door opener elements

Washer/dryer

Kitchen refrigerator

Water heater expansion tank

Radiant/hot water/steam heat

Stoppages due to roots

More code violations/modifications

Cost for labor on manufacturer’s warranty covered items

In addition to its four core plans, Fidelity Home Warranty offers optional coverage for many systems and appliances. Depending on your state, the following add-ons may be available:

Appliances:

  • Kitchen refrigerator
  • Washer/dryer/kitchen refrigerator with water dispenser and ice maker
  • Additional refrigeration
  • Appliance limit upgrade
  • Washer/dryer

Plumbing & Water:

  • Limited septic leak
  • Septic tank system
  • Sewage ejector pump
  • Well pump
  • Water softener/reverse osmosis water filtration system
  • Extended slab leak limit/extended pipe leak
  • Roofleak repair coverage

Outdoor Items:

  • Pool and spa equipment
  • Ornamental fountain motor + pump
  • Home improvement installation
  • Outdoor kitchen
  • Smart home
  • Homeowners insurance deductible coverage

HVAC:

  • Air conditioning
  • Pre-season HVAC tune-up
  • Emergency lodging/portable AC reimbursement

In our review of Fidelity Home Warranty, we noticed that while coverage under the Standard plan is comprehensive, there are some notable differences when compared to the items covered under standard service plans offered by other companies. For example, companies like First American Home Warranty and AFC Home Warranty include refrigerators, washers, and dryers as part of their basic plan coverage, whereas Fidelity does not.

Note: Fidelity National Home Warranty has a limited service area. Its offerings are currently available only in the following states:

  • Arizona
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Idaho
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Kentucky
  • Missouri
  • Nevada
  • New Mexico
  • Ohio
  • Oregon
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Washington

Fidelity National Home Warranty Pricing

Fidelity National Home Warranty plans cost $30.40 per month or $364.80 for an annual plan. Our expert reviewer, Jacqueline Kfoury, noted this is one of the lowest monthly premiums she has seen. However, this cost will vary based on where you live, how big your house is, the type of home you have, and the amount of add-ons you include in your plan.

Fidelity Home Warranty charges a $65-$75 service fee for every claim made, which is at the lower end of the $75–$125 industry average. This means that whenever a service technician comes to your house to address the broken system or appliance, you’ll have to pay a $65-$75 service fee, with the exact price determined by where you live.

Fidelity National Home WarrantyPricing Details
Monthly Plan Cost$30.40
Annual Plan Cost$364.80
Service Fee per Claim$65 – $75
Coverage CapsVaries by item and contract

Fidelity Coverage Caps

Some items in your Fidelity warranty will have repair limits and coverage exclusions. When you sign up for service, your contract will contain complete details of coverage limitations, letting you know exactly what types of repairs are covered and which parts or damages are not. Ask if you can read a sample contract before signing up for coverage so you understand these limits and learn what is and isn’t covered.


How Do You File a Fidelity National Home Warranty Claim?

Once you have an account with Fidelity National Home Warranty, you can easily submit a claim for service via a link on their website.

You can also call Fidelity National Home Warranty at 1-800-862-6837 to request service.

A qualified service technician will be contacted within three hours during normal business hours and within 48 hours on weekends.

The approved service technician will contact you to set up an appointment to inspect and diagnose the problem. If your issue is an emergency, Fidelity National Home Warranty will try to get someone scheduled to come to your home as soon as possible. When the service technician arrives, you will pay the $65-$75 service call fee.


Fidelity National Home Warranty Reviews

Fidelity National Home Warranty has been Better Business Bureau-accredited since 2005 and holds an A+ rating with the BBB.

  • Positive customer reviews reveal a high rate of customer satisfaction, quick service, and dependable coverage. Negative Fidelity home warranty reviews discuss customers only receiving partial payments and “getting the runaround” from Fidelity National Home Warranty.

“I have been with Fidelity National Home Warranty for three years now. This company has never failed to meet the mark in providing great customer service. The service providers that have been dispatched have all been great with the exception of one. In that singular instance, I simply contacted Fidelity, and they dispatched a new provider who did great work.” — Chris W., 5 stars, BBB, 7/15/2019

“I have dealt with several home warranty companies over the years and this company has been by far the worst experience I have had. I would NEVER USE THEM AGAIN. I have called repeatedly to correct a service fee issue for an issue that they ended up sending out the same HVAC contractor out three times and the only thing I saw them do is collect three service fees. They were supposed to have their dispute resolution group contact me on two separate occasions and I NEVER received a call. On this third visit, I again paid the service fee and they are now sending me an invoice saying the service fee is unpaid and due. I have a copy of the cancelled check. Again, NEVER again. There are too many reputable companies out there for me to do business with this company again.” — Scott B., 1 star, BBB, 4/13/2017

Our Reviews Team has also received feedback from a This Old House reader who noted that their experience with the company has been far from pain-free:

I would like to warn people about this company[,] which is a fraudulent operation. It should be put out of business by the government. It’s one big hassle doing business with them. You are frustrated at every turn!” — Bob R., 2/17/2021


How Does Fidelity Home Warranty Compare to the Competition?

We recommend comparing Fidelity to other top home warranty providers and getting a quote from each company to compare pricing and negotiate the best deal for your home warranty plan. Compare Fidelity National Home Warranty to one of our top-rated recommendations, American Home Shield, below:

Compare Home Warranties

ProviderFidelity National Home WarrantyAmerican Home Shield

Get a free quote

Not offered by This Old House

Visit Site

Number of plans

4 + optional add-ons

3 + optional add-ons

Price per month

$30–$40

$40–$58

Service fee

$65–$75

$75–$125

Additional benefits

Partnered with EC Purchasing to offer exclusive discounts to real estate agents looking to buy home warranty plans for their customers

Allows customers to select their own service fee

Additional Fidelity Home Warranty Alternatives

Company BBB Rating Monthly Cost Service Fee Visit Site
NR** $49–$59 $65–$125 VISIT SITE
B $29–$89 $100–$125 VISIT SITE
B- $44–$47 $60–$75 VISIT SITE
B $42–$82 $100–$125 VISIT SITE
B $35–$94 $75–$125 VISIT SITE
B+ $44–$58 $70 VISIT SITE
B+ $30–$56 $100–$150 VISIT SITE
A $27–$61 $65–$100 VISIT SITE
No results were found.
Star Rating BBB Rating Monthly Cost Service Fee Response Time Link
Liberty Home Guard Liberty Home Guard
NR** $49–$59 $65–$125 Up to 48 hours VISIT SITE
American Home Shield American Home Shield
B $29–$89 $100–$125 Up to 48 hours VISIT SITE
Select Home Warranty Select Home Warranty
B- $44–$47 $60–$75 48-84 hours VISIT SITE
Elite Home Warranty Elite Home Warranty
B+ $44–$58 $70 Up to 48 hours VISIT SITE
First American Home Warranty First American Home Warranty
B $42–$82 $100–$125 4-48 hours VISIT SITE
AFC Home Warranty AFC Home Warranty
B $35–$94 $75–$125 24-48 hours VISIT SITE
Cinch Home Services Cinch Home Services
B+ $30–$56 $100–$150 2-24 hours VISIT SITE
2-10 Home Buyers Warranty 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty
A $27–$61 $65–$100 Up to 48 hours VISIT SITE
Liberty Home Guard
Logo Liberty Home Guard
Star Rating
BBB Rating NR**
Monthly Cost $49–$59
Service Fee $65–$125
Response Time Up to 48 hours
VISIT SITE
American Home Shield
Logo American Home Shield
Star Rating
BBB Rating B
Monthly Cost $29–$89
Service Fee $100–$125
Response Time Up to 48 hours
VISIT SITE
Select Home Warranty
Logo Select Home Warranty
Star Rating
BBB Rating B-
Monthly Cost $44–$47
Service Fee $60–$75
Response Time 48-84 hours
VISIT SITE
Elite Home Warranty
Logo Elite Home Warranty
Star Rating
BBB Rating B+
Monthly Cost $44–$58
Service Fee $70
Response Time Up to 48 hours
VISIT SITE
First American Home Warranty
Logo First American Home Warranty
Star Rating
BBB Rating B
Monthly Cost $42–$82
Service Fee $100–$125
Response Time 4-48 hours
VISIT SITE
AFC Home Warranty
Logo AFC Home Warranty
Star Rating
BBB Rating B
Monthly Cost $35–$94
Service Fee $75–$125
Response Time 24-48 hours
VISIT SITE
Cinch Home Services
Logo Cinch Home Services
Star Rating
BBB Rating B+
Monthly Cost $30–$56
Service Fee $100–$150
Response Time 2-24 hours
VISIT SITE
2-10 Home Buyers Warranty
Logo 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty
Star Rating
BBB Rating A
Monthly Cost $27–$61
Service Fee $65–$100
Response Time Up to 48 hours
VISIT SITE

Our Final Fidelity Home Warranty Review

With an A+ rating from the BBB and a dedication to ensuring quick, reliable service, we think Fidelity National Home Warranty is a contender in the home warranty space. However, because Fidelity doesn’t cover basic items in its standard plan, such as refrigerators or air conditioning (available as add-ons only), we think customers can find better coverage elsewhere.

Our Preferred Provider: American Home Shield

While we identified several benefits in our Fidelity home warranty review, we ultimately recommend American Home Shield as the best overall company in the industry. This home warranty provider has been providing services since 1971, and unlike Fidelity National Home Warranty’s limited service area, American Home Shield offers services in all states except for Alaska.

AHS offers three comprehensive and affordable coverage plans: ShieldPlatinum, ShieldGold, and ShieldSilver. It also offers five optional coverage add-ons for your pool and spa, septic pump, well pump, guest unit, and electronics.


Company Information

  • Company name: Fidelity National Home Warranty
  • CEO: Bill Jenseh, President
  • Years in business: 35 years
  • Address: 1850 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 400
  • City/State: Concord, CA
  • Zip code: 94520
  • BBB rating: A+

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s covered under a Fidelity warranty?

Home warranties provide coverage for major appliances and home systems such as air conditioners, water heaters, heat pumps, and plumbing. Fidelity has one plan that covers these essential items, in addition to plumbing systems and stoppages, ceiling fans, smoke detectors, and more.

How can I get a quote from Fidelity National Home Warranty?

To receive a quote, simply call Fidelity National Home Warranty at 1-800-862-6837 to speak to a customer service representative.
The representative will ask for your address and what type of home you have, and provide you with an accurate quote. Unlike most home warranty providers, Fidelity National Home Warranty does not offer a form for online quotes.

Is there a service guarantee with Fidelity?

According to the Fidelity National Home Warranty website, “Service work is guaranteed (without an additional service fee) for 30 days on labor and 90 days on parts.” This guarantee applies to malfunctions that have been reported to Fidelity National Home Warranty during the term of the contract.

Is Fidelity National Home Warranty worth it?

If you’re looking for extra coverage on home systems and appliances, Fidelity is a great choice. When a manufacturer’s warranty ends, you could be left responsible for repair or replacement costs in the event of a breakdown. However, with a home warranty service contract, you’ll save money by not having to pay the full cost of repairs and replacements.


Our Rating Methodology

We back up our home warranty ratings and recommendations with a detailed rating methodology to score each provider objectively. We conduct research by speaking with company representatives, requesting quotes, analyzing sample contracts, and conducting focus groups and consumer surveys. 

We score each provider against our review standards, which include four comparison categories: coverage, value, trust and transparency, and availability and service. We rate each provider across 31 factors within these categories. Each factor is assigned a point value based on its importance to a homeowner, totaling 100 points. We then convert the final scores to a 5-star rating. 

Here’s a breakdown of our weighted factors:

  • Coverage (40%): We scored coverage based on included home systems and appliances, add-on options, and unique benefits. We also compared coverage caps and policy exclusions.
    • Additional coverage items
    • Annual coverage cap
    • Home systems coverage
    • Major appliances coverage
    • Obstructed wall coverage cap
  • Value (30%): We compared the coverage level received to monthly pricing to determine plan value. We considered premium pricing, service fees, and flexibility in customizing plan costs.
    • Average monthly cost
    • Cost flexibility
    • Lowest service fee
  • Trust and Transparency (16%): We evaluated each company’s reputation using the Better Business Bureau ratings and customer reviews on third-party review sites. We read through plan change policies, workmanship protections, and sample contract availability.
    • Brand reputation
    • Policy change flexibility
    • Sample contract availability
    • Workmanship guarantee length
  • Availability and Service (14%): We award higher scores for faster claim processing and response times. We also considered service technician policies, including options to choose your technician.
    • Claims process
    • Guaranteed response time
    • Service flexibility

To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.