Best Home Warranty Companies in California (2022)

Although the Golden State is beautiful and warm, California is one of the most expensive states to be a homeowner. Real estate pricing in metropolitan hubs like Los Angeles or San Francisco tends to be quite a bit higher than in any other state in the nation. With heightened mortgage payments and high-end appliances, unexpected breakdowns of your home’s appliances and systems could be detrimental to your bank account and time-consuming for busy CA homeowners. A home warranty can protect your time and money by covering the cost of unexpected repairs or replacements that could arise.

The most important thing is to find the best home warranty company for the needs of your home. In our guide to California’s best home warranty companies, House Method’s experts curated a reviewed and recommended list of the top providers, featuring key details on plan options, overall pricing, coverage, maximum annual payouts, customer reviews, and more. Read on to learn everything you need to know about choosing a home warranty in California.

Best Home Warranty Companies in California (2022)

California residents are lucky to have the option of more than 50 home warranty companies to choose from. The problem becomes narrowing down the individual coverages and plan choices of each one. We have gone through all of these companies and narrowed the list to the top four. These home warranty companies were analyzed by looking at coverage caps, pricing, workmanship, service fees, customer reviews, contract simplicity, and more. Here are how the top five in California ranked:

1. Choice Home Warranty: Best Overall
2. Select Home Warranty: Most Cost-Effective Plans
3. American Home Shield: Best Customizable Plans
4. The Home Service Club: Quickest Service
5. Cinch Home Services: Best Workmanship

1. Choice Home Warranty

• Best Overall Home Warranty Company
• Service Fee: $85
• Annual Cost: $560-$660

Why We Chose It

Choice Home Warranty is the best overall home warranty in California. This company is a home warranty industry veteran with over 13 years of experience. CHW has received an overall B- rating from the BBB, stemming from its commitment to helping policyholders, the professionalism of the customer support team, and its best-in-class plan options. CHW has made its claims purchasing process straightforward and rarely rejects a homeowner from obtaining a policy. Choice Home Warranty is also available in every state besides Washington, so transferring a policy would be relatively easy when looking to move. Choice home warranty is one of the cheaper home warranties on the market, with two affordable policy options. 

CHW Pros and Cons

Plans, Cost, and Coverage

Choice Home Warranty has a Basic Plan and Total Plan. The Basic Plan is a good combination of systems and appliances for a fair price. However, the Total Plan is the option that comes with air conditioning and refrigerator coverage, which is often an important inclusion for California homeowners. The coverage caps from Choice Home Warranty are high, with most being around $3000. This helps increase the value of the plan and ensures that you are getting a great deal on your home warranty coverage. Service fees come in just below average at $85. 

Here’s a detailed look at Choice Home Warranty’s coverage: 

• Basic Plan ($42 per month): The Basic Plan from Choice Home Warranty is a simple and affordable option for California homeowners. This plan covers 13 items, including a plumbing system, ceiling fans, garbage disposal, heating system, cooktop exhaust fans, microwave, dishwasher, ductwork, electrical system, garage door opener, oven, toilet, and water heater. 
• Total Plan ($53.33 per month): The Total plan covers all 13 items in the Basic Plan with four more items. The Total Plan includes the clothes washer, dryer, refrigerator, and air conditioner coverage. This is the better plan choice when you compare coverages for the cost. 
• Add On Options: There are nine Choice Home Warranty add-on options. These options include roof leak coverage, central vacuum, septic tank, well pump, pool and spa, sump pump, and stand-alone freezer. Add-on options will vary in price depending on what you are including; most start around $5.00 per month. 

To get a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, fill out this online form or call 929-400-6164.

For more information, read our Choice Home Warranty review.

2. Select Home Warranty 

• Most Cost-effective Plans
• Service Fee: $60
• Annual Cost: $630-$699

Why We Chose It

Select Home Warranty is the most cost-effective option for California homeowners. As we mentioned earlier, it is expensive to live in California. Finding a home warranty that can help you save money will be a welcome change. Select Home Warranty has been in the market for almost ten years. They are known for their impressive standards for workmanship and quality of repairs. In addition, Select Home Warranty allows California residents free roof leak coverage when they purchase any of the plan choices.

SHW Pros and Cons

Plans, Cost, and Coverage

There are three Select Home Warranty plans for customers to choose from. A key highlight of Select Home Warranty is that you will have an option for an appliance plan, system plan, or a combination plan. The Platinum Care plan offers the best overall value from Select because of the coverage of its systems and appliances. The coverage caps from Select are typically a little lower than other providers, capping out around $2000 for some of the major systems and appliances. Service fees from SHW are some of the lowest on the market at just $60. 

Here’s a detailed look at Select Home Warranty’s coverage: 

• Bronze Care ($52 per month): The Bronze Care plan is an appliance-only option. This plan covers seven major appliances, including refrigerators, built-in microwaves, clothes washers and dryers, ovens, garbage disposals, and cooktops. Many first-time homebuyers in California start with this plan and then upgrade to Platinum Care. 
• Gold Care ($52 per month): The Gold Care plan covers six systems; plumbing, air conditioning, heating, water heaters, electrical systems, and ductwork. If you look closely at the coverages included in the Gold Care Plan, you will notice that although there are fewer items included, these systems are significantly more expensive to fix than the appliances in the Bronze Care plan.
• Platinum Care ($57 per month): When looking at the pricing of the Platinum Care plan compared to Gold Care and Bronze Care, you can see why it is the best value. You can have all of the appliance and system coverage offered in the Gold Care and Bronze Care plans for just a few dollars more.  
• Add on Options: There are several optional add-ons, including central vacuums, lawn sprinkler systems, pools, spas, stand-alone freezers, sump pumps, and well pumps. Roof leak coverage is free of charge for all California Select Home Warranty homeowners. 

To get a free quote from Select Home Warranty, fill out this online form or call 888-370-3953.

For more information, read our Select Home Warranty Review.”

3. American Home Shield 

• Best Customizable Plans
• Service Fee: $75-$100
• Annual Cost: $347-$891

Why We Chose It

American Home Shield is the most customizable home warranty company in California. American Home Shield has more than 50 years of experience in the industry and is known for its premium coverage, excellent customer service, and fair pricing. After 50 years in a challenging industry, AHS still retains a B rating from the BBB. The customizable plans from American Home Shield allow California homeowners to build out a home warranty that works specifically for their home. If you have a second refrigerator, a new HVAC unit, or don’t need your laundry room appliances on your plan, American Home Shield will help you customize the policy to your needs. This company also offers customizable service fees of $75, $100, or $125, so you can find an AHS that matches your home needs and fits your budget.

Plans, Cost, and Coverage

With American Home Shield, you will have the option of three different home warranty plans to choose from. ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum are the three choices from American Home Shield. These are starting points for coverage, and then customers can add and subtract based on their individual needs. American Home Shield has high coverage caps, with most being around $2500. When building out a custom plan from American Home Shield, you may pay a few dollars more, but the coverage will be specific to the needs of your home. Service fees from American Home Shield are customizable from $75 to $150. 

Here’s a detailed look at American Home Shield’s coverage: 

• ShieldSilver™ ($39.99 per month): ShieldSilver will be the best option for those on a budget. This plan covers 14 home systems, including air conditioning, electrical system, smoke alarms, water heater, doorbells, garage door opener, heating system, plumbing, and ductwork. 
• ShieldGold™ ($49.99 per month): ShieldGold is the combo plan covering both systems and appliances. There are 23 home systems and appliances included in this plan. ShieldGold adds a clothes washer, dishwasher, clothes dryer, microwave, oven, and refrigerator. It is a popular plan for California homeowners because of its basic coverage and affordable price.
• ShieldPlatinum™ ($64.99  per month): ShieldPlatinum is the most extensive home warranty plan from AHS. This plan includes 27 systems and appliances. With ShieldPlatinum, you will also get higher coverage caps and additional plan benefits. This is one of the most premium home warranty plans on the market. 
• Add-On Options: There are several additional coverages offered by AHS, including the septic system, pool and spa, PC, TV, and well pump.

To get a free quote from American Home Shield, fill out this online form or call 888-365-2839.

For more information, read our American Home Shield Warranty Review.”

4. The Home Service Club

• Best For Quickest Service
• Service Fee: $60-$95
• Annual Cost: $650-$800

Why We Chose It

The Home Service Club offers the quickest coverage of all the best home warranties in California. When you decide to invest in a home warranty plan, chances are you will want coverage for your home as quickly as possible. With The Home Service Club, ten days after your home warranty is paid, coverage begins on your home. The Home Service Club is a reasonably priced home warranty with more than 13 years in the industry. Coverage is offered in all 50 states, and it is effortless to transfer your policy should you move out of state. With the customer support and the impressive overall coverage, The Home Service Club is one of California’s best home warranty companies. 

Plans, Cost, and Coverage

The Home Service Club keeps things simple with just two policies for California homeowners to choose from. The Standard Coverage Plan is considered the value plan at $50 per month, while the Comprehensive Coverage Plan is a full and complete plan at $63.00 per month. Coverage caps from The Home Service Club will range in price from around $500 to $1500. With this plan, you can count on a large number of covered items. Service fees are customizable and will impact the monthly pricing. The service fees range from $65 to $95. 

Here’s a detailed look at Home Service Club’s coverage: 

• Standard Coverage ($50 per month): With The Home Service Club Standard Coverage Plan, there are 18 covered items, including air conditioners, ceiling fans, water leaks, water heater, electrical system, central vacuum, dishwasher, refrigerator, trash compactor, oven, and more. 
• Comprehensive Coverage ($63.00 per month): The Comprehensive Coverage Plan from The Home Service Club has 33 covered items. The 33 items include the 18 on the Standard Coverage Plan and 15 more. These extra coverages include gas leaks, ductwork, sump pump, pest control, doorbells, plumbing stoppages, attic fans, whole house exhaust, etc. 
• Add-On Options: There are 12 additional coverages offered by HSC that policyholders can add to either of the plans. The add-ons include a well pump, service line, plumbing, sprinkler, spa and spa heater, free-standing freezer, water softener, etc. Add-on coverage starts at around $5.00 per month and increases from there. 

To get a free quote from The Home Service Club, fill out this online form.

For more information, read our The Home Service Club Review. 

5. Cinch Home Services 

• Best Workmanship Guarantee
• Service Fee: $75-$150
• Annual Cost: $420-$815

Why We Chose It

Cinch Home Services has the best workmanship guarantee for the California homeowner. Having a home warranty is ideal when you need a repair to an appliance or system. However, if the repair is unsuccessful, the repairs can get costly. Luckily with Cinch Home Services, you will have a 180-day workmanship guarantee that comes with the policy. To provide a workmanship guarantee like this, Cinch had to create an impressive network of qualified service technicians and contractors. With over 40 years in the industry, this has been quite the process. Along the way, Cinch has retained an A- rating with the BBB. 

Plans, Cost, and Coverage

Cinch Home Services has three plan choices for California homeowners. The Appliances Plan, the Built-In Systems Plan, and the Complete Home Plan. Having three policies give customers an excellent range of options for their home warranty plan. The coverage caps from Cinch Home Services are competitive with other home warranty plans, and the number of covered items is also quite impressive. Cinch Home Services has a customizable service fee ranging from $75 to $150. The service fee pricing will impact the monthly and yearly premiums. 

Here are more details on Cinch Home Services plan options:

• Appliances Plan ($44.99 per month): The Appliance Plan covers 11 appliances in your home. These include a microwave, cooktop exhaust fan, trash compactor, clothes dryer, food center, refrigerator, free-standing ice maker, oven, refrigerator ice-maker, dishwasher, and clothes washer. This is a popular starter plan for California homeowners. 
• Built-In Systems Plan ($51.99 per month): The Built-In Systems Plan is a pervasive systems-only plan offered by Cinch Home Services. Systems included are air conditioner, ductwork, water dispenser, smoke alarms, sump pump, septic tank pumping, bath exhaust fans, cooktop fans, garbage disposal, doorbells, toilet, electrical system, heating system, water heater, plumbing, and plumbing stoppages, garage door opener, spa, central vacuum, attic fans, and whole house fan. 
• Complete Home Plan ($61.99 per month):  The Complete Home Plan combines both the Appliances Plan and the Built-In Systems Plan to cover 32 items. Homeowners that purchase this Complete Home Plan have peace of mind about their entire California home. 
• Optional add-ons: Cinch offers three add-ons: pool, septic systems, and well pump. Cinch also offers its Premier Upgrade Package, which includes $1,000 for unforeseen costs that may occur during a claim.

Cinch Home Services will give you a free quote after filling out this form or calling 833-743-1056.

For more information, read our Cinch Home Services review.

Home Warranty Availability in California Cities

• Los Angeles, CA
• San Jose, CA
• San Diego, CA

Final Verdict

Hopefully, this review of California’s best home warranty options has helped you narrow down your choices and ultimately decide on a plan. Choice Home Warranty stands out as the best overall choice with great coverage at an affordable monthly cost. However, other options like Select Home Warranty and The Home Service Club also give great coverage choices for California residents. You can’t go wrong with any of these companies; the most important part is getting a home warranty before your next repair or replacement comes around. 

How to Choose the Best Home Warranty Company in California

These top five choices will give any California homeowner a great base to choose from. However, the plan options eventually need to be narrowed down to just one. There are some essential features and plan benefits to consider when making your final decision. Three of the most important are plan pricing, company reputation, and coverage caps. 

• Look into Plan Pricing: A California home warranty pricing can range from $40 a month to over $80 a month. Make a list of the items you need coverage for and choose a plan that most closely matches those coverages for the best price. 
• Consider the Company’s Reputation: BBB ratings, customer reviews, and word of mouth are great ways to check in on a company’s reputation. The more time in the industry, the easier it is to see the value. 
• Beware of Low Coverage Caps: Coverage limits or coverage caps will be issued for each plan item. For some plans, the coverage caps are $500, and for others, they are $3500. If you have newer or high-end appliances and systems, pay attention to these coverage caps. 

Compare the Best Home Warranty Companies in California

What is a Home Warranty and How Does it Work?

A home warranty is a home protection plan that can help homeowners save money on appliance and system repairs and replacements. Our appliances and home systems make living in a California home comfortable and convenient. When these things break down, it is expensive and a nuisance. Luckily, an affordable repair is just a phone call away with a home warranty. Home warranty coverage will often start without an inspection and typically goes into place about thirty days after making your first payment.

Filing a claim with your home warranty company is quite simple. There will either be an online portal system or a direct phone number to call to file your claim with your home warranty company. At this point, you will pay your service fee for your home warranty. The repair technician will typically come to your home within a 24 to 48-hour period to inspect and complete the repair. Most home warranty repairs are covered by the coverage cap associated with the policy. Service fees for home warranty customers range from $60 to $150. 

Home Warranty vs. Homeowners Insurance

It’s crucial to recognize that a home warranty plan is not like homeowners insurance in that a home warranty does not cover any damage caused by natural disasters.

However, a California homeowners insurance policy will cover any damage from fires, including wildfires. Be aware that many homeowners’ insurance policies do not cover earthquakes or floods, so be sure to check over your homeowner’s insurance policy and home warranty contract before signing to know what is covered.

Top Home Maintenance Problems in California

Depending on where you live in California, several issues can cause maintenance problems in your home. Some areas of the state have mild climates, while others can have some extreme heat and cold. California residents tend to deal with three home maintenance problems: plumbing stoppages, electrical system outages, and heating and cooling repairs. Let’s look at these issues and how your home warranty can help. 

• Plumbing Stoppages: The plumbing systems in the home can become blocked. Calling a plumber and having this repaired can cost hundreds of dollars. Finding the stop, clearing it, and protecting against others can all be part of a home warranty plan.
• Heating and Cooling Repairs: Most California homes will need heating and cooling systems. A home warranty is a wise choice to protect against the changing temperatures and how this impacts the systems. 
• Electrical System Outages: For most people, the electrical system is one of the most important in the home. Electrical system outages will impact all other systems and appliances, and they need to be fixed quickly. A home warranty can do that.

What Do California Home Warranties Cover?

A home warranty plan will cover systems and appliances from normal wear. The main categories of coverage with a California home warranty are appliances, systems, and add-on coverages. Appliances covered under a home warranty plan are typically the dishwasher, microwave, garbage disposal, refrigerator, dryer, and more. Typically covered systems are electrical, plumbing, air conditioners, water heaters, and heating systems. Add-on coverage will vary from one plan to the next, but you can expect to see pools, spas, roof leaks, central vacuums, electronics, and sump pumps. 

What is Not Covered by the Top Home Warranty Companies in CA

A California home warranty will only protect against normal wear. If you are experiencing cosmetic issues with appliances or systems or have not properly maintained your home systems and appliances, the home warranty will not cover it. A California home warranty does not cover intentional breakages, natural disasters, and pre-existing conditions. 

How Much Does a Home Warranty Cost?

A home warranty costs between $45 and $65 a month. The average annual costs will be $480 to $780 a year. California homeowners searching for a home warranty company will want to pay attention to monthly fees, coverage caps, and service fees. Service fees are paid each time a repair is needed. Service fees will range in price from $60 to $150, with the average being around $85. The coverage caps are the maximum amount that a home warranty policy will payout for a home system or appliance repair. The coverage cap is typically between $500 and $3000. Higher coverage caps can lower out-of-pocket expenses on your home warranty plan. 

Tips for Buying a Home Warranty in California

Whether you’re located in the hot central region of California, on the coast, up near the Oregon state-line, or in the southern region bordering Mexico and Arizona, all California homes are susceptible to an array of natural disasters like tropical storms, earthquakes, floods, and most prominently—fires.

When it comes to a home warranty policy, normal wear-and-tear is covered for all items included in the policy you choose. Each covered entity will be listed on your contract with the specifics on what parts and damages would be repaired by a contractor and its corresponding coverage cap.

Suppose you live in or own a rental property in northern California, such as San Francisco, Sacramento, San Jose, Oakland, Stockton, or Berkley. In that case, American Home Shield is the best home warranty provider for your property. AHS offers comprehensive coverage on almost all systems and appliances with a selection of three plans.

American Home Shield allows for selecting service fees and monthly fees to find the perfect home warranty plan that fits into your budget. AHS not only has excellent coverage on traditional appliances and systems covered by home warranties but offers some underrated coverages like locksmith, trash compactor, whole-house fans, and alarms. The add-on option of well pump and septic coverage can benefit these mountainous regions. AHS also has one of the more affordable price points for add-on coverage – which can be a real money saver when it comes to the costly living expenses of Californians.

If you live near Death Valley or the Central Valley region outside the Mojave Desert and the Colorado Desert, heat is no stranger to your home. The highest temperature records in the United States are continuously broken yearly, with a record temperature of 130º Fahrenheit, which can negatively affect the home systems in cities like Fresno. Choice Home Warranty is the top home warranty company in this region. That company has extensive HVAC coverage to protect your wallet from thousand-dollar heating, ventilation, and air conditioning repairs.

If you live in southern California, in the cities or towns like Los Angeles, San Diego, Long Beach, Santa Ana, Irvine, San Bernardino, Malibu, or Santa Monica – use the list above of the best home warranty companies in California to compare each provider. Choose the plan that more closely aligns with your specific needs and is within your budget. 

California is the third-largest state by area and the most populated state in the U.S., with more than 39 million people. With a Mediterranean-like climate and vastly populated areas, comprehensive coverage for appliances and home systems (like HVAC) are essential to comfortable and worry-free living. Please read our reviews of each provider to find the right company to suit your needs.

House Method Home Warranty Ranking Methodology

At House Method, transparency and trust are our most important values for the reader. We’ve done the homework for you and have researched over 50 home warranty companies so you can have the information you need to make the best choice for your home.

Our team spent hours on the phone speaking to representatives from each home warranty company to get information right from the source. We also dug into the fine print on each company’s service agreement to ensure no detail was left out.

To make the most of our research, we developed an objective rating system to score each home warranty company based on the following criteria:

• Plans: Do they provide a variety of plan options? We looked at the number of plans each company offered and the flexibility of adjusting the plan.
• Prices: How reasonable are the monthly and service fees compared to the industry average? We compared the costs of each company to competitors.
• Coverage: How many items are covered in each plan? We looked at the number of items each company covers. We dig into all service contracts available to get all the details.
• Customer service: How is the customer experience when calling the providers? Based on our phone calls, we judged each company’s customer service.
• Trust: What do customers rate the company? We looked into what customers are saying about their experience with the company.
• Nationwide availability: How many states do the company cover? We found the number of states covered by each company.
• Unique perks: Does the company offer discounts or cover special items? We looked for perks offered by each company that set them apart from the competition.