Best Home Appliance Insurance for March 2024

Home appliance insurance can pick up where your appliance’s manufacturer’s warranty leaves off. Buying a home appliance insurance plan can also help fill in the gaps in your home insurance policy, which usually doesn’t cover the wear and tear of home systems and appliances. We explain the types of home appliance insurance, what it covers, how much it should cost, and when buying a home appliance warranty plan makes sense.

Best home appliance insurance companies

Best for accepting claims

Choice Home Warranty

‌Choice Home Warranty provides two plan options:

• The basic plan includes heating, electrical and plumbing systems coverage, your stove, dishwasher, garbage disposal, garage door opener, built-in microwave and exhaust and ceiling fans. 
• The total plan includes all those appliances plus your air conditioning system, refrigerator, washer and dryer. 
• Optional coverage is available for your pool, second refrigerator, well pump, septic system, central vacuum or stand-alone freezer. 

Each appliance or system has a $3,000 limit per year and a $100 service fee per claim. If you sign up with Choice Home Warranty, you get your first month of coverage for free. Choice has a great claims acceptance track record; if your diagnosis is covered, Choice will pay up to your policy limits.

Best for coverage limit

American Home Shield

American Home Shield offers three different plans you can choose from:

• ShieldSilver: Heating, air conditioning, electrical and plumbing systems, plus discounts on home maintenance services.
• ShieldGold: Everything in the ShieldSilver plan, plus kitchen and laundry appliances.
• ShieldPlatinum: Everything in the ShieldGold plan, plus up to $1,000 to repair roof leaks, a free HVAC tuneup, A/C refrigerant and up to $250 for permits and code violations.

Each plan covers up to $5,000 for HVAC systems. The ShieldGold plan will cover up to $2,000 per appliance, while the ShieldPlatinum plan will cover up to $4,000 per appliance. American Home Shield’s service fee is $100 for the initial plan and then $125 after renewal. 

Best for customizable coverage

Liberty Home Guard

Liberty Home Guard offers an appliance plan, systems plan or comprehensive plan to cover both.

• Appliance Guard: Clothes washer and dryer, refrigerator, oven, dishwasher, oven and range, garbage disposal, garage door opener, built-in microwave and ceiling and exhaust fans.
• Systems Guard: Air conditioning, heating, ductwork, electrical, plumbing and water heater.
• Total Home Guard: Combines the Appliance and System Guard plans.

You can include a long list of optional coverages in your Liberty Home Guard warranty to meet your specific needs. Some add-ons include generators, gutter cleaning, pro-series appliances, reverse osmosis water filter system, pest control and TV mounting.

Service fees are $90, and a $2,000 annual limit per appliance. You can also earn a $25 Amazon gift card for each friend you refer to Liberty Home Guard.

Best for overall value

Select Home Warranty

Select Home Warranty offers three affordable plan options:

• Bronze Care: Clothes washer and dryer, garbage disposal, refrigerator, range, oven, dishwasher and built-in microwave.
• Gold Care: Air conditioning, heating, plumbing and electrical systems, plus ductwork and water heater.
• Platinum Care: Combines the Bronze and Gold Care plans, plus plumbing stoppage, garage door opener and building fans.

You can also include optional pool or spa equipment coverage, lighting fixtures, roof leaks, well or sump pump, central vacuum, septic and lawn sprinkler systems. Select Home Warranty’s service fees range from $60 to $100 per claim and will cover up to $3,000 per appliance per year.

Best work guarantee

America’s 1st Choice Home Club

America’s 1st Choice, also called AFC Home Club, offers four plans to tailor your coverage:

• Systems Plan: HVAC, electrical and plumbing systems, ductwork, and water heater.
• Silver Plan: Clothes washer and dryer, refrigerator, range, oven, dishwasher, garage door opener and garbage disposal.
• Gold Plan: Combines the Silver and Systems Plans.
• Platinum Plan: Includes everything in the Gold Plan, plus ice makers, built-in microwave, fans and plumbing stoppages.

AFC Home Club lets you choose your bonded, licensed, and insured technician. 

While the other home warranty plans provide work guarantees of up to 90 days, AFC will guarantee plans for the life of the plan or up to three years. Service fees range from $75 to $125, and AFC will pay up to $3,000 annually per covered item.

Types of home appliance insurance plans

There are several different home appliance insurance plan types to choose from. If a plan covers your home’s systems, that usually means it will cover:

• HVAC system.
• Plumbing system.
• Electrical systems.
• Water heaters.

You can upgrade your plan to include appliances, like your:

• Cooktop and oven.
• Built-in microwave.
• Dishwasher.
• Clothes washer and dryer.
• Refrigerator.
• Ceiling and exhaust fans.
• Whirlpool bathtub.
• Garage door opener.
• Garbage disposal.
• Instant hot/cold water dispensers.

Some plans allow you to choose just systems coverage, appliance protection, or a combination of the two. Choosing one or the other is more budget-friendly, but a combined plan is better if you want to get the most out of your policy.

Plans might also include extras like adding refrigerant to your A/C unit, tuning up your HVAC or a specified coverage limit for roof leaks and permits for covered work. Some insurance companies offer add-ons for an extra cost for homes with:

• Swimming pool and spa.
• Stand-alone freezer.
• Septic system.
• Sump pump.
• Sprinkler system.
• Well pump.
• Second refrigerator.

What does home appliance insurance cover?

Although home appliance insurance sounds like home insurance, it’s not the same. Home insurance covers your home’s structure, other structures on your property and your belongings. 

Home appliance insurance covers specific appliances in your home when they break down from age or wear and tear. Appliances must be well-maintained and in good working order to be covered by a home appliance warranty.

What home appliance insurance covers depends on your chosen plan and coverage level. You might get access to discounted or free home services depending on the insurance company. There could also be other benefits, like discounted utilities, home security and home maintenance services.

Before buying home appliance insurance, ensure you understand coverage limitations, like depreciated value for older appliances. Read the fine print of what’s covered and not for your specific plan, as coverage exclusions can vary by plan and insurance company.

How much does home appliance insurance cost?

The cost of home appliance insurance depends on several factors, including:

• Your ZIP code.
• The type and size of your home.
• How many appliances you want covered.
• The type of appliances you want coverage for.
• The home appliance insurance company.
• The type of plan and level of coverage you want.

Basic plans are cheaper than comprehensive plans, but you also have fewer appliances covered, and there may be more exclusions. The higher the deductible or service fee, the lower your premium.

The average home appliance insurance plan costs between $500 for a basic plan and $1,000 for a comprehensive plan. Add-ons, like swimming pools and central vacuums, will increase the cost of your home appliance insurance. Service fees are between $60 and $125. 

How does home appliance insurance work?

If one of your covered appliances stops working, you can file a claim with your home appliance insurance company to have it serviced. Most providers will reply within five days, but it could be as soon as 24 hours, depending on your ZIP code and if it’s an emergency.

Be prepared to provide information when you file a claim:

• The make and model of the broken appliance.
• The date the appliance broke down.
• A detailed explanation of what happened. For example, your dishwasher stopped draining, or the element will no longer heat, rather than just saying it isn’t working.
• The service fee cost.

Once the insurance company approves your claim, they will find a licensed and insured contractor in your area. The service technician will come to your home to diagnose the issue and may perform repairs the same day. If parts are unavailable or the problem is more extensive, you may need to schedule an additional service call, which can incur a separate service fee.

Most home appliance insurance policies usually have a waiting period of 30 to 60 days. This means your coverage doesn’t begin until 30 days after you enroll in your policy. Any malfunctions for covered appliances aren’t covered during the waiting period window and may be considered a pre-existing condition once the waiting period is over.

When should you get home appliance insurance?

New homeowners commonly buy home appliance insurance after purchasing a home. Still, there are no time limits when enrolling in a plan. However, there is usually a waiting period from when you buy the insurance policy until you can make a service request. Although waiting periods can vary by insurance company, the typical waiting period is 30 days.

If you have older appliances, getting a home appliance insurance policy might make sense. Older appliances are more likely to break down from normal wear and tear than newer appliances, which typically come with a manufacturer’s warranty. A home appliance insurance policy might not be worth it if you have mostly new appliances.

Methodology

We compared different home appliance insurance company plans to find the best options available. Criteria we used to determine the best home warranty plans include cost, coverage options, additional benefits, claims process and response and availability. We also compared customer reviews and satisfaction scores and analyzed sample policies.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs) 

What is home appliance insurance?

Home appliance insurance is a type of insurance policy that covers the appliances in your home after the warranty has expired. Appliances can include your HVAC and plumbing systems, refrigerator, clothes washer and dryer, and dishwasher. 

Which is the best insurance for home appliances?

The best insurance for home appliances provides the most comprehensive coverage with short service wait times. They should also have affordable premiums and service fees. Consider the age of your appliances, as many home appliance insurance plans might factor depreciation into your coverage.

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

The main difference between a home warranty and home insurance is what’s covered. A home warranty will provide coverage to replace, repair or service your appliances if they break down due to normal wear and tear. A home warranty often has a smaller deductible than home insurance. A home insurance policy provides coverage against specific perils, such as a fire or natural disaster. Usually, it doesn’t cover maintenance or normal wear and tear.

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