Home Warranty

Best home appliance insurance companies (April 2024)

Purchasing home appliance insurance — more accurately referred to as a home appliance warranty — helps you pay for repairing or replacing kitchen and laundry appliances that no longer work. Our in-depth research revealed that Liberty Home Guard is your top option for comprehensive coverage in case one or more of your appliances break down unexpectedly.

The best home warranty companies are reputed for their affordability, reliability and excellent customer service. Using our proprietary methodology, we reviewed home warranty providers and ranked them based on cost, customer satisfaction, coverage levels and service.

To get started, request no-obligation quotes from the providers below.

In the know

Over 150 homeowners have bought a home warranty plan from one of the above companies in the last 30 days.

The best 5 home appliance insurance providers

We focused on home appliance coverage for our list on this page of the best home warranties for major appliances. 

Why we chose

Our editorial team at USA TODAY Homefront developed a detailed methodology for analyzing, scoring and recommending home warranty companies. We rank and recommend providers based on their ratings.
15
providers analyzed
1230
quotes requested
1000
homeowners surveyed

Compare top home appliance insurance companies

Which company you choose should depend on your specific needs. Both Liberty Home Guard and Elite Home Warranty offer comprehensive coverage for kitchen and laundry appliances with their lowest-priced plans. 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty has a high $25,000 coverage cap for all items.

We gathered pricing information for the comparison table below by requesting quotes for three ZIP codes in each state the providers service and calculating a national average for all featured companies. We used a 2,000-square-foot, single-family home to obtain our quotes. Your pricing will vary based on your home’s size, location and coverage needs.

Company Our Rating BBB Rating Appliance Coverage Monthly Cost See Plans
4.5
NR $2,000 $49–$60 Visit Site
4.1
B $3,000 $35–$104 Visit Site
4.4
B $2,000–$4,000 $64–$74 Visit Site
4.4
A+ $500–$3,000 $55–$75 Visit Site
4.8
A $2,000–$5,000 $22–$74 Visit Site
Company Our Rating BBB Rating Appliance Coverage Monthly Cost See Plans
4.5
NR $2,000 $49–$60 Visit Site
4.1
B $3,000 $35–$104 Visit Site
4.4
B $2,000–$4,000 $64–$74 Visit Site
4.4
A+ $500–$3,000 $55–$75 Visit Site
4.8
A $2,000–$5,000 $22–$74 Visit Site
The cost figures in the table above are national estimates. For more accurate pricing, we suggest requesting a quote with one of the providers listed in this article.

Our top home appliance insurance recommendations

All of the home warranty providers profiled below offer more than appliance coverage, but our evaluation for this article focused specifically on how well they can protect your kitchen and laundry appliances.

Many providers offer appliance-specific plans, and most offer midrange or high-end plans that combine appliance coverage with systems such as HVAC, electrical and plumbing. Some offer optional add-ons that enhance appliance coverage, and those are noted in each provider’s section.

To request quotes for this article on home appliance insurance companies, we used a 2,193-square-foot, single-family home in Tampa, Florida. We specifically focused on finding the best combination of appliance coverage, cost and reliability.

Liberty Home Guard

4.5
BBB Rating : NR Monthly Cost : $49–$60

Our thoughts

What we like

Liberty Home Guard‘s (LHG) combination of conscientious customer service, comprehensive coverage plans and reasonable prices give it the edge in appliances.

  • Covers major appliances, including washers and dryers, across all plans
  • Provides a 60-day workmanship guarantee on repairs
  • Offers 42 unique optional add-ons

What we don’t like

LHG excels at appliance coverage and its coverage for home systems. While on the pricey side it proves adequate. Higher premiums might be out of range for some homeowners.

  • Charges extra for pro-grade appliance coverage
  • Doesn’t reveal its $65–$125 service fees until purchase
  • Requires an 8% surcharge on monthly and annual premium payments

Coverage plans and pricing

Liberty Home Guard makes it simple if you only want your appliances covered with its comprehensive, lowest-tier, appliance-specific plan. The only potential drawback is an extra charge to cover pro-grade appliances.

  • Appliance Guard ($54 per month): Covers refrigerators, microwaves, ranges, garbage disposals, dishwashers, clothes washers and dryers, ceiling and exhaust fans, and garage door openers.
  • Systems Guard ($60 per month): Covers home systems such as AC, heating, ductwork, plumbing, electrical and water heaters.
  • Total Home Guard ($65 per month): Provides comprehensive coverage for all home systems and home appliances covered by the other two plans.

Add-on options: Its 42 available add-ons include coverage for pools and spas, an outdoor generator and lawn sprinklers. It offers limited roof leak protection for $12 per month.

Other factors that influence coverage: The Appliance Guard plan is available for $549 annually and extends the policy’s term to 13 months. LHG’s surcharge for its appliance plan is $4 per month or $43 if paid annually.

Customer thoughts

Liberty Home Guard’s A rating on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) was changed to N/R (“not rated”), but it holds a BBB customer review rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. In March 2024, LHG responded to losing its A rating with a statement that the company’s customer satisfaction levels remain the highest relative to its scale. LHG also stated that in February 2024, it received the lowest number of cancellation requests in its history.

Many BBB and Trustpilot reviews state that filing a service request with LHG is simple and seamless. Customers also praise LHG’s speed in sending out their in-network technicians, with some reporting that they filed a claim on the weekend and got a resolution by the next business day.

AFC Home Warranty

4.1
BBB Rating : B Monthly Cost : $35–$104

Our thoughts

What we like

AFC Home Warranty (formerly known as AFC Home Club) provides some of the lowest premiums combined with good coverage for laundry appliances and most kitchen appliances.

  • Allows you to choose your own technician
  • Currently includes bonus roof leak coverage in all of its plans
  • Features online quote requests that are simple and transparent

What we don’t like

AFC might have taken the top spot in this category if it covered microwaves in its lowest-priced plan.

  • Does not cover built-in microwaves in lower-tier plans
  • Has appliance coverage caps that depreciate in value after five years
  • Does not reimburse for work performed by technicians without preapproval

Coverage plans and pricing

The only potential coverage deficiency for AFC Home Warranty is its lack of standard coverage for microwaves in its two lower-tier plans.

  • Silver Plan ($35–$40 per month): Covers most kitchen appliances, laundry appliances such as your washing machine and garage door openers.
  • Gold Plan ($49–$55 per month): Covers everything in the Silver plan, air conditioning and heating, plumbing and electrical systems.
  • Platinum Plan ($54–$59 per month): Covers everything in the Silver and Gold plans, plus built-in microwaves, and exhaust, attic and ceiling fans.
  • Diamond Plan ($89–$94 per month): Covers every item and system in the other three plans, plus electronics and exterior sewer and water lines.

Add-on options: Coverage for microwaves is available for the Silver and Gold Plans at $50 annually. When we requested a quote, AFC offered us free add-on roof leak coverage for all plans.

Other factors that influence coverage: Customers who pay annually are charged $100 less per year than those who pay monthly premiums. Monthly premiums scale with $75, $100 or $125 service fee options. An additional discount is available for customers who sign three-year agreements. AFC offers a $3,000 annual coverage cap on all appliances.

Customer thoughts

AFC Home Warranty holds a B rating with the BBB and a customer rating of 2.4 out of 5 stars.

Many positive BBB reviews center on AFC’s professional service from its in-network technicians and customer service representatives. Customers report that AFC’s representatives answer questions completely and in a helpful manner.

Unfavorable reviews on consumer site Trustpilot said that AFC rejected claims or offered payment for replacement at a prorated amount based on the item’s age.

American Home Shield

4.4
BBB Rating : B Monthly Cost : $64–$74

Our thoughts

What we like

American Home Shield (AHS) only covers appliances with its mid-tier and highest-tier plans, which cost $60–$100 depending on the service fee. However, its favorable reputation and coverage limits give it an edge in appliance coverage.

  • Covers unique damage, such as rust and corrosion
  • Covers commercial-grade appliances
  • Offers a generous $4,000 coverage limit for appliances with its highest-tier plan

What we don’t like

AHS’ relatively few add-on options might not be a concern for some homeowners, but add-on flexibility and depth of coverage might matter to others.

  • Does not offer an appliance-specific coverage plan
  • Offers only six add-on options
  • Does not offer an annual premium option

Coverage plans and pricing

AHS is among the few home warranty providers that reverse the usual order of appliance and systems coverage. Most cover appliances with their lowest-tier plan and systems with mid- and highest-tier plans.

  • ShieldSilver ($40–$50 per month): Covers HVAC, plumbing and electrical systems.
  • Shield Gold ($60–$70 per month): Covers everything included in the ShieldSilver Plan, plus clothes washers and dryers and kitchen appliances.
  • ShieldPlatinum ($90-$100 per month): Includes everything in the Shield Silver and ShieldGold plans, plus an annual HVAC tune-up, unlimited AC refrigerant and roof leak repair.

Add-on options: Limited to six add-on options, including electronics and pool coverage. AHS does offer optional roof leak protection at $10 per month.

Other factors that influence coverage: AHS scales its monthly premiums based on $100 and $125 service call fees. Lower premiums mean higher service call fees.

Customer thoughts

American Home Shield has a B rating with the BBB and a customer rating of 2.1 out of 5 stars.

Customers on BBB report that AHS has friendly and efficient customer service representatives, with several noting how well reps answer questions and respond to concerns. Several customers who reviewed AHS on Trustpilot also noted that AHS quickly set them up with service appointments; some stated they received an appointment confirmation within several hours of filing a claim.

Other good home appliance insurance companies

These two home warranty companies rank well overall based on our methodology, but the top three distinguished themselves with a combination of excellent appliance coverage, a favorable reputation and consistently helpful customer service.

Elite Home Warranty

4.4
BBB Rating : A+ Monthly Cost : $55–$75

Our thoughts

What we like

Elite Home Warranty lists its lowest-tier plan at $57 per month, but our quote elicited a discounted rate of $44 per month. While Elite is not transparent with its premiums, it responded promptly to our emailed follow-up questions about rates and coverage types.

  • Allows you to choose your own technician
  • Offers a 90-day workmanship guarantee
  • Covers appliance components such as knobs, doors and drawers

What we don’t like

Elite has a reputation for excellent customer service, but the fact that its online quote request form does not provide cost information adds inconvenience.

  • Charges higher service call fees for high-end appliances and weekend service visits
  • Doesn’t generate personalized quotes with its online quote request form
  • Nullifies the workmanship guarantee if you use a technician of your choice

Coverage plans and pricing

Elite Home Warranty secured a place in our top five for appliance coverage, thanks to the discount offered when we requested an appliance-specific coverage quote.

  • Elite Appliances ($44 per month): This plan covers your kitchen and laundry appliances, including refrigerators, ovens, dishwashers, microwaves, garbage disposals, clothes washers and clothes dryers. It also covers up to three ceiling fans.
  • Elite Systems ($49 per month): This plan covers plumbing, electrical, HVAC and other major home systems.
  • Elite Complete ($60 per month): This plan covers everything included in the appliances and systems plans.

Add-on options: Elite offers 32 add-ons, including limited roof patching and pool and spa coverage. The Premium Appliances add-on increases the maximum coverage limit for kitchen appliances to double their standard limits.

Other factors that influence coverage: Elite offered us an annual $490 rate with a 13th month added to the one-year policy. Its service call fee is $70 and its aggregate coverage cap for appliances is $7,000. Elite’s annual dollar limit for refrigerators is $3,000, while it is $2,000 for ranges and $1,500 each for dishwashers, clothes washers and dryers.

Customer thoughts

Elite Home Warranty carries an A+ rating with BBB and a customer rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars. 

Most of BBB customer ratings for Elite are favorable, with many praising its customer service representatives. Customers appreciate their knowledge, helpfulness and willingness to customize plans based on their needs.

2-10 Home Buyers Warranty

4.8
BBB Rating : A Monthly Cost : $22–$74

Our thoughts

What we like

2-10 Home Buyers Warranty is our top-rated home warranty provider overall, with generous coverage caps and a reputation for efficiency and consistency.

  • Provides generous expanded coverage limits with its luxury package add-on
  • Offers an unlimited workmanship guarantee on completed repairs
  • Sets an annual $25,000 coverage cap for all items

What we don’t like

2-10 might have grabbed our top spot for appliances if it offered a plan with standard coverage for washers and dryers.

  • Excludes washer and dryer coverage in its basic appliance plan
  • Charges a 9.5% processing fee on monthly premiums
  • Does not offer coverage in 14 states

Coverage plans and pricing

We’d like to see a comprehensive appliance-only plan from our top-rated home warranty provider. While the Simply Kitchen plan protects most appliances, the 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty offers an add-on for clothes washers and dryers. 

  • Simply Kitchen ($27–$36 per month): Covers home appliances such as refrigerators, ranges/ovens, built-in microwaves and dishwashers.
  • Simply HVAC ($40–$50 per month): Covers air conditioner, heating systems as well as thermostats.
  • Essential Home ($51–$62 per month): Covers all components of the Simply Kitchen and Simply HVAC plans.
  • Complete Home ($47–$53 per month): Covers all components of the Essential Home plan, plus plumbing and electrical systems.
  • Pinnacle Home ($61–$70 per month): Covers everything in the Complete Home plan, plus refrigerant recharges, filters, concealed plumbing and electric components, haulaway and crane costs, burglar and fire alarms, and washers and dryers.

Add-on options: 2-10 offers 15 optional add-ons, including clothes washers and dryers for $6 per month.

Other factors that influence coverage: 2-10 offers scaling premiums based on service fees of $65, $85 and $100. It also offers an “Even If” guarantee, which stipulates your service fee may be reimbursed if a technician determines the broken item is not eligible for repair or replacement.

Customer thoughts

2-10 Home Buyers Warranty holds an A rating with BBB but a customer review rating of 1.3 out of 5 stars. Customer complaints tend to focus on poor communication or delayed service.

Many customer reviews praised the quick repairs 2-10’s in-network technicians performed. These customers experienced a seamless claims process, from submitting the claim online or over the phone, to a completed repair by the assigned in-network provider. Others appreciate 2-10’s speed in confirming a service appointment.

What’s the difference between a home warranty and homeowners insurance?

On the surface, a home warranty and a homeowners insurance plan can seem synonymous. But that’s not the case.

The big difference between a homeowners insurance policy and a home warranty is that insurance covers damage related to disasters or theft. Your home warranty typically covers failures related to wear and tear. The provider, with certain exclusions, also agrees to cover some or all of the cost for repairs or replacement during the contract’s term.

According to our November 2023 survey of 1,000 homeowners, nearly 64% of respondents had both a home warranty and a home insurance plan. 

Of course, whether or not to purchase homeowners insurance and a warranty plan is a personal preference. However, having both can add to your peace of mind.

What’s the difference between a home warranty and a manufacturer’s warranty?

Refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers and many other new home appliances come with a manufacturer’s warranty. These warranties cover the cost to repair or sometimes even replace a specific appliance after a breakdown. A manufacturer’s warranty is typically good for one year unless you buy an extended warranty for the appliance.

Since the warranty is attached to one specific appliance, you can think of a manufacturer’s warranty as an a la carte option. For example, you need one manufacturer’s warranty to cover your GE refrigerator and another one to cover your GE dryer, even though the appliances are made by the same company.

Depending on the plan and your provider, a home warranty may cover the cost of repairing any broken appliance in your kitchen or laundry room.

What are home appliances life expectancies?

The decision to purchase a home warranty for your appliances may be based partially on an appliance’s life expectancy, the expected replacement cost and the manufacturer warranty’s expiration date.

Here are the average life expectancies of most commonly covered appliances, according to data from the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors. Data for the replacement costs reflects the ranges of listed retail prices for five major manufacturers: GE, LG, Maytag, Samsung and Whirlpool.

ApplianceLife ExpectancyReplacement Cost
Dishwasher9 years$250–$1,900
Dryer13 years$499–$2,099
Garbage disposal12 years$65–$350
Microwave9 years$109–$1,029
Range (electric)13–15 years$649–$4,449
Range (gas)15–17 years$479–$3,599
Refrigerator9–13 years$584–$10,929
Washer5–15 years$499–$2,299

How do you file a home appliance insurance claim?

You should file a claim after an appliance malfunction as soon as possible. These are the steps you need to take to do so:

  1. Contact your provider: The first step is calling your provider to start the claims process. All of the companies we reviewed in this article have their customer service phone numbers posted clearly online, but the phone number will also be listed in your policy. Additionally, Liberty Home Guard even lets you submit a claim online through the website’s customer portal.
  2. Go through the claims process: After you submit your claim, you’ll speak with a customer service representative to explain the situation. You’ll likely be asked questions about the appliance’s brand, age and condition. At this point, your provider will determine whether your claim will be approved. In our November 2023 survey, nearly 89% of homeowners had their claim approved by their provider. 
  3. Repair or replace your appliance: If your claim is approved, your provider will send a technician over to assess whether the appliance can be fixed or if it needs to be replaced. In our survey, 54% of respondents who submitted a claim for a laundry or kitchen appliance had their appliance replaced. Thirty-eight percent of homeowners had it repaired, and 8% of homeowners received a check directly from their provider.
  4. Pay the service fee: The final step is paying your service fee. This cost will depend on your chosen home warranty company.

What are home appliance insurance coverage caps?

Home warranty companies stipulate coverage limits for every covered item, including appliances. Coverage limits, known as coverage caps or dollar limits, denote the total amount the provider will pay toward repairing or replacing a covered item during the policy’s life.

In some cases, lower-tier plans come with lower coverage caps, and mid-tier or higher-end plans give you more generous dollar limits. Be sure to read a sample contract for the home warranty company you’re considering for details about how coverage caps are structured.

Provider NameHome Appliance Coverage Cap
Liberty Home Guard$2,000
AFC Home Warranty$3,000
American Home Shield$2,000–$4,000
Elite Home Warranty$7,000
2-10 Home Buyers Warranty$2,000–$5,000

What does home appliance insurance typically cost?

Our research shows that the nationwide average cost for a home warranty is $59 per month and $703 per year. These costs are an average of quotes we requested from leading home warranty providers.

Your price will vary depending on your coverage level and covered items, the warranty company’s billing practices and your geographic location. In general, home warranty providers’ appliance-specific plans cost less than plans that also cover home systems such as electric, HVAC and plumbing.

Based on coverage for a 2,193-square-foot home in Tampa, Florida, lower-tier plans from the five home warranty providers that are profiled in this article range from $27 to $54 per month.

How do you choose a home warranty provider?

You should consider several factors when choosing among home warranty companies, and what’s important to you might not matter as much to your neighbor. However, here are a few things you may want to consider:

  • Plan premium: Some homeowners are more price-conscious than others, but the monthly cost for coverage — along with service fees — should play a role in your decision. 
  • Coverage options: According to our survey data, nearly 33% of respondents listed plan coverage as the primary reason they chose their home warranty provider — this was the top reason for our respondents. If a provider doesn’t offer coverage for a particular appliance, that’s not a company you’d want to work with. 
  • Coverage cap: Along with your coverage options, be sure to consider the provider’s coverage cap.
  • Availability: You’ll want to make sure that any provider you consider serves your state. 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty, for example, doesn’t offer coverage in 14 states. 
  • Customer service: We’ve all dealt with rude or unhelpful customer service representatives. Check out what others are saying online about every company’s customer service team.
  • Reputation: Be sure to look up providers on websites such as Trustpilot and BBB. It’s important to take any negative reviews with a grain of salt — people are more likely to post negative reviews than positive ones. But if you notice any trends among reviews, such as unhelpful customer service reps, you should steer clear of that company.
  • Claims process: Ideally, you’ll never need to file a claim with your warranty provider. But if you do, the process should be as simple as possible. Ask the provider what the claims filing process is like before signing a contract.

What common red flags should you watch for?

As with any home service, you should be knowledgeable about home warranties before making a purchase.

Naturally, if appliances are your priority, you’ll want to make sure the company offers reasonably priced, reliable coverage for those items. You’ll also want to read consumer reviews on sites such as BBB and Trustpilot, noting that they don’t feature too many complaints about how a company handles its appliance coverage.

General red flags to watch include slow response times to emails and any legal action against a provider that you discover in your research. It may seem counterintuitive, but if a company’s appliance plan is priced well below the national average of $59 per month, the coverage might fall short of expectations.

Final take: Liberty Home Guard is our top pick for home appliance insurance

Liberty Home Guard’s Appliance Guard plan was the most expensive lowest-tiered plan among the five companies profiled here. But LHG’s generally good reputation and the fact that the plan covers all major appliances in the kitchen, as well as the clothes washer and dryer, gave LHG the edge.

If you are considering purchasing a home warranty plan to cover your appliances or home systems, we recommend that you consider coverage needs, make sure premiums fit your budget and request at least three quotes from reputable providers.

Our rating methodology for home warranty companies

We research and rate home warranty providers to help you choose the right one for your budget and your home. The best home warranty companies offer multiple coverage choices, high coverage limits, competitive pricing, good reviews, solid service and extra features.

We rate companies based on our in-depth methodology. We score companies out of 100 on factors related to their coverage options, coverage limits, pricing, reputation, customer service and extra features. We then divide their final score by 20 to obtain a 5-star rating in our reviews.

BBB and Trustpilot ratings are accurate as of March 2024.

Editorial note: The name “Homefront” refers to the alliance between USA TODAY and Home Solutions that publishes review, comparison, and informational articles designed to help USA TODAY readers make smarter purchasing and investment decisions about their home. Under the alliance, Homefront provides and publishes research and articles about home service and home improvement topics.

Homefront has an affiliate disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Homefront editorial staff alone (see About Homefront). Homefront adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is believed to be accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

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