After conducting detailed research, the This Old House team chose American Home Shield and AFC Home Warranty as the best home warranty companies in Minnesota. American Home Shield offers coverage for major home systems, such as plumbing and HVAC, for as low as $30 a month, making it a good option for budget-conscious buyers. AFC Home Warranty offers a lifetime workmanship guarantee that covers home repairs for as long as you have a policy with the company.
Home warranties can offer benefits in Minnesota, especially for homeowners looking to avoid expensive repair bills for heating system breakdowns during the state’s winter weather. In this article, we’ll unpack more details on what a home warranty is, the best providers in Minnesota, and what to look for when purchasing a policy.
Key Takeaways
- American Home Shield is our pick for the top provider in Minnesota due to its comprehensive system coverage.
- The average cost of a Minnesota home warranty ranges from $34–$78 per month, or about $408–$936 annually.
- Our 2025 survey revealed that 68% of Minnesota homeowners chose their heating or furnace system as the most important item when considering home warranty coverage.
Did You Know?
- In the last 30 days, more than 2,500 people bought home warranties from the above providers. Liberty Home Guard is our most popular provider, with 55% of buyers choosing to cover their homes with an LHG plan.
Top Home Warranty Companies in Minnesota
Here are our top-rated home warranty providers in Minnesota:
- American Home Shield: Best Comprehensive Coverage
- AFC Home Warranty: Best Technician Flexibility
- Elite Home Warranty: Best for Flexible Coverage
- Liberty Home Guard: Best Customer Support
- Cinch Home Services: Best Additional Perks
Comparing Top Providers
To narrow down our list of top home warranty companies in Minnesota, we researched and reviewed service providers nationwide, surveyed 2,000 homeowners with home warranty plans, and read customer reviews. The table below compares our top picks based on several key features such as cost and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating.
| Provider | Logo | Our Score (Out of 5) | Service Call Fee* | State Availability | Better Business Bureau (BBB) Rating** |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
American Home ShieldGet Quote |  | $100–$125 | 49 states (ex. AK) | B | |
AFC Home WarrantyGet Quote |  | $75–$125 | 48 states (ex. CA & HI) | B | |
Elite Home WarrantyGet Quote |  | $70 ($150 for after hours and weekends) | 47 states (ex. CA, TX, & WI) | B | |
Liberty Home GuardGet Quote |  | $65–$125 | All 50 states | NR | |
Cinch Home ServicesGet Quote |  | $100–$150 | 47 states (ex. AK, CA, & HI) | B+ |
*Pricing may vary depending on your home’s location, size, and type and your plan choices.
**The BBB is an independent organization that evaluates businesses’ credibility and responsiveness to customers. Ratings are accurate as of January 2025.
Note: NR, or “No Rating,” indicates that the BBB has not issued a rating due to an ongoing review or update to a company’s profile.
Our Reviews of Top Providers in Minnesota
We reviewed home warranty companies in Minnesota with a focus on important systems coverage, especially heating, considering the state’s frigid winters. We also considered key factors such as workmanship guarantees, flexible service fees, and overall coverage value.
American Home Shield
Monthly Cost: $24–$97
Service Fee: $100–$125
Workmanship Guarantee: 30 days
Coverage Overview
- Offers a value systems-only coverage for an affordable price
- Extends high coverage limits of $5,000 for HVAC and up to $4,000 for appliances
- Covers undetectable preexisting conditions or damage that existed before you purchased a plan
Keep in Mind
- Charges higher service fees than some other companies
- Limited add-on options available
Our Review
American Home Shield (AHS) offers one of the cheapest home warranty plans on our list at just $30 a month for the ShieldSilver plan. When requesting a quote, our team was offered a promotional deal that dropped costs even more—down to $15 a month. This plan covers your HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems, all of which represent big-ticket items that can cost thousands to replace. Plus, AHS offers $5,000 coverage limits for your HVAC, so even if you choose the cheapest plan option, you still get the same coverage limit for this item as you would with the company’s most expensive plan.
AHS offers appliance coverage up to $4,000, which is higher than most competitors. Likewise, it also offers comprehensive coverage of preexisting conditions, including rust, corrosion, and sediment damage, which not many competitors can match. However, AHS only offers six add-on options, so if customization is important to you, we suggest a company such as Liberty Home Guard, which offers 42 add-on options.
AFC Home Warranty
Monthly Cost: $44–$82
Service Fee: $75–$125
Workmanship Guarantee: Plan lifetime
Coverage Overview
- Customers can choose their own technician for repairs
- Extends a lifetime workmanship guarantee
- Charges service fees as low as $75
Keep in Mind
- Doesn’t offer emergency services
- Only offers three out of the four plans in Minnesota
Our Review
\AFC Home Warranty lets members choose any technician they want, as long as they’re licensed and insured. Most other companies either make customers choose from a pre-approved list of technicians or don’t give them a say in who comes to handle their repairs.
Additionally, AFC Home Warranty offers a lifetime workmanship guarantee which ensures customers don’t have to pay for the same repair twice, as long as their contract is in effect. The company’s workmanship guarantee extends the length of your plan, which is usually one year, which is a step up from most other companies offering 30 or 60-day guarantees. Still, AFC Home Warranty doesn’t offer emergency services, which is not ideal if something breaks unexpectedly after business hours. However, you can still make a claim online or over the phone 24/7—you’ll just have to wait 24–48 hours for a technician to come fix it.
Elite Home Warranty
Monthly Cost: $44–$59
Service Fee: $70
Workmanship Guarantee: 90 days
Coverage Overview
- Charges lower service fees than most competitors
- Customers can increase caps on any covered items with an add-on purchase
- Offers a fully customizable plan option
Keep in Mind
- Customers can’t get a quote online but rather must call a representative
- Charges higher service call fees for after-hours and weekend appointments
Our Review
While other home warranty companies may feature an impressive list of customizable add-on options, Elite Home Warranty is the only company on our list to let you customize your own protection plan from scratch. You can choose from its entire selection of home appliances, systems, and add-on options to create a truly unique plan. Elite also offers 30 add-on coverage options, including options for premium appliances and premium systems that raise your coverage limits for those items.
One of the biggest perks of Elite Home Warranty is its low service fees. Although you can’t choose your own rate, Elite charges a flat-rate service fee of $70, which is on the lower end of the industry average. Most other companies average around $100–$125. However, Elite charges higher service call fees for after-hours and weekend appointments. Additionally, you can’t get a quote from Elite online. You can still file a claim online, so the quote process is the only stage that may seem inconvenient for those seeking digital customer service.
Liberty Home Guard
Monthly Cost: $57–$68
Service Fee: $65–$125
Workmanship Guarantee: 60 days
Coverage Overview
- Features more add-ons than any other company on our list with over 40 options
- Offers system-only, appliance-only, and combination plans
- Offers 24/7 live-chat support
Keep in Mind
- Doesn’t allow customers to choose their own service call fee rate
- Has lower $500 caps for electrical and plumbing systems
Our Review
Liberty Home Guard (LHG) has reasonable monthly rates, a workmanship guarantee that’s twice the industry standard length, and three plan options—but the feature that truly sets the company apart is its add-on options. LHG offers 42 add-on coverage options, which is more than four times as many as most competitors offer. The only other company on our list that comes close is Elite Home Warranty, and LHG still offers 12 more options. Not only does LHG offer more add-ons, but it offers practical options that other companies neglect, such as gutter cleaning, pest control, and window washing. LHG doesn’t give customers the option to choose their own service fee. Instead, Liberty Home Guard will assign you a service fee from $65–$125, depending on your plan, add-ons, and location.
LHG also offers a mobile app and 24/7 live chat support, which puts it at the top of the food chain in terms of technical convenience. However, the company has $500 coverage caps for electrical and plumbing systems, which is much lower than other companies on our list. It has $2,000 caps for all other covered items, but this amount is still low compared to companies such as American Home Shield. You also can’t set your own service call fee, but rather the company will assign you a rate at signup, which gives you less control over your monthly premiums.
Cinch Home Services
Monthly Cost: $45–$61
Service Fee: $100–$150
Workmanship Guarantee: 180 days
Coverage Overview
- Offers $10,000 aggregate coverage limits for your contract term
- Covers unknown preexisting conditions
- Has a Claim-No-Claim Warranty that offers $100 of free maintenance benefits if you don’t submit a claim in your first year
Keep in Mind
- Doesn’t offer roof leak coverage, a potential drawback considering Minnesota’s climate
- Only has six add-on options, limiting customization options
Our Review
Our team added Cinch Home Services to our list of home warranty companies in Minnesota because of its added perks. One feature is the company’s Claim-No-Claim Warranty, which awards customers with one free air conditioning and/or heating system maintenance visit for up to $100 if they don’t submit any claims in their first year. Unlike most other competitors, Cinch also covers unknown preexisting conditions, which is one of the most common exclusions in the industry. It also covers damage from rust and corrosion, a benefit for customers who may have any water issues with their homes.
However, Cinch doesn’t offer roof leak coverage in any of its plans or add-ons. It’s also the only company on our list with service fees as high as $150, which can add up if you file a lot of claims. Another feature to note is Cinch’s $10,000 aggregate or overall coverage limits, which can impact your plan’s value depending on how many claims you file in a given year. While most other companies provide coverage limits for specific items, Cinch also includes a combined coverage limit for every repair you require during a contract term.
Our Experience Filing Claims
The claim filing process is one of the most important parts of a home warranty plan. To help you understand the process, we purchased real policies and filed claims ourselves. Based on our experience, the claims process is quick and easy. For example, our team’s AHS tester filed a claim from his smartphone online in a matter of minutes. He got a call from a local contractor within five minutes of filing and set up an appointment with a technician for early the next morning.
The next day, the contractor showed up early and repaired the leak within two hours. Our tester only had to pay his $75 service fee. Since then, our tester has had several service requests. For each one, he didn’t wait more than a day for technicians to arrive and fix his issues.
We’ve had similar experiences with other companies. Our AFC Home Warranty tester started placing a claim online but then completed the claim via text and over the phone. AFC Home Warranty found a contractor and was ready to book an appointment within two or three days (this was not an emergency claim). Our tester mentioned that AFC Home Warranty was almost too communicative, with representatives calling three or four times and sending up to 10 texts to reach out about her claim.
Look out for red flags such as no-show contractors, radio silence from company representatives, and additional fees after the claim is finalized. Unless your repair exceeds your plan’s coverage limits, you shouldn’t have to pay more than your agreed service fee.
Home Warranty Costs in Minnesota
The cost of a home warranty in Minnesota ranges from $34–$78 based on quotes we received from our top-rated companies, with an average plan rate of $57. This is slightly higher than the national average of $55 per month. Factors such as your ZIP code, service fee selection, add-on coverage, and chosen plan may affect your overall cost.
Keep in mind that some companies charge a lower monthly premium if you choose a higher service fee, while others have a set service fee or will assign you a rate. If you have the option to choose your own service fee, you can typically select a more expensive option to get a better deal on your monthly bill.
| Provider | Monthly Plan Cost in Minnesota* | Average Monthly Cost** | Selected Service Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Home Shield | $24–$97 | $53 | $100–$125 |
| AFC Home Warranty | $44–$82 | $63 | $75–$125 |
| Elite Home Warranty | $44–$59 | $52 | $70 |
| Liberty Home Guard | $57–$68 | $62 | $65–$125 |
| Cinch Home Services | $45–$61 | $52 | $100–$150 |
*Pricing may vary depending on your home’s location, size, and type and your plan choices.
How We Determined Home Warranty Pricing
We collected over 4,000 quotes from 13 companies across all U.S. 50 states to estimate home warranty costs in Minnesota and nationwide. To gather data, we used sample addresses for under and over 5,000 square feet single-family homes. These homes were located in urban and rural areas of Minnesota, including Climax, Eden Prairie, Rochester, and St. Paul. National pricing was based on sample quotes for homes of similar sizes. We then averaged these costs to determine both state and national price ranges.
Survey Insights from Minnesota Homeowners
In 2025, we surveyed 2,000 homeowners nationwide to explore their home warranty needs and experiences. Among Minnesota homeowners, 68% purchased home warranties to protect aging systems and appliances, with 54% living in pre-owned homes at least 20 years old.
Nearly 65% chose comprehensive plans covering both systems and appliances. Most prioritized heating or furnace systems, while water heaters ranked as the top appliance for coverage—both essential considering Minnesota’s cold climate. Many state respondents also added optional coverage, with additional system and appliance protection being the most popular.
When filing claims, 51% requested appliance repairs or replacements. Every respondent reported having their claim approved, with 51% receiving repairs. Minnesota homeowners reported high satisfaction overall, with 46% satisfied and 32% very satisfied with their provider. Looking ahead, 68% plan to renew their home warranty at the end of their current term.
FAQs About Home Warranties in Minnesota
Do home warranty service companies cover HVAC?
Yes, most, if not all, home warranty companies offer HVAC coverage. However, not every plan includes HVAC coverage. When shopping for coverage, make sure to select a plan that covers home systems such as furnaces, AC units, and heat pumps.
Is a home warranty a tax write-off?
Generally, home warranty costs are not tax-deductible. However, you may be able to deduct your home warranty premiums if you have a home office or if you purchased the policy for a rental property.
What does a home warranty cover?
Home warranties cover the major appliances—refrigerators, clothes washers, ovens, etc.—and systems—electrical, HVAC, plumbing, etc.—in your home. However, the scope of your protection may vary based on your provider and plan. We recommend talking with a representative to get the best home warranty coverage for your needs.
How We Evaluated Home Warranty Providers
In order to get the most reliable information for Minnesota homeowners, we thoroughly reviewed each home warranty company using our unique, detailed rating methodology. This process included purchasing home warranty policies, filing claims, speaking with company representatives, obtaining quotes, reading through sample contracts, and conducting consumer surveys. We also request new quotes for each article we write so you can see the most updated and accurate rates available.
Once we get all our information, we rate each provider across six main factors. We assign each factor a point value based on how important it is to homeowners. Then, we convert the final scores to a 5-star rating. Here are some of the most important factors we considered when reviewing the best home warranty companies in Minnesota:
- Coverage: If you want your policy to protect you financially when something breaks, the coverage you choose is extremely important. Most home warranty companies in Minnesota offer coverage for a variety of home systems and appliances, with the best plans covering both. We awarded the most points to companies that cover the most items, with an emphasis on heating systems and other priorities in the state, and have higher coverage limits.
- Cost: There are multiple costs associated with home warranties, including your monthly premiums, your service fee charge, and any charges for add-on coverage. We gave higher ratings to providers with more affordable monthly rates and flexible service fees below $100.
- Trustworthiness: A home warranty policy is only as good as the company that offers it, so trustworthiness is one of the most important factors we look for in a company. We considered BBB ratings, workmanship guarantees, customer complaints, government lawsuits, and National Home Service Contract Association (NHSCA) membership when rating companies based on trustworthiness.
- Plan transparency: If a home warranty company makes its prices and contract details hard to find, we consider it a red flag. We gave higher ratings to home warranty providers in Minnesota that offer transparent sample contracts and a straightforward quote process.
- Customer support: Filing claims—and getting repairs approved—is one of the most basic parts of having a home warranty policy. We awarded points to companies that offer multiple ways to file claims, fast response times, and different outlets for customer support.
- Flexibility: Home warranty policies aren’t one-size-fits-all, so customization matters when you’re purchasing a plan. We gave higher ratings to companies with plenty of add-on options, the ability to choose your own local Minnesota technician, and reasonable cancellation policies.
