Old Republic Home Protection Review (2020)

With over 45 years of experience working in the home warranty industry, Old Republic Home Protection (ORHP) embodies the motto, “people helping people,” and lives that out by providing some of the most comprehensive home warranty plans in the industry and demonstrating excellent customer service.

In this 2020 House Method review, we explain how Old Republic Home Protection plans compare to other home warranty plans, analyze Old Republic Home Protection reviews, and discuss important company information. Keep reading to learn about the pros and cons of this company and whether or not ORHP is the right choice for you.

Old Republic Home Protection plans, coverage, and cost

Old Republic Home Protection offers Standard Coverage, Ultimate Protection, Platinum Protection, new construction and multi-unit plans, and optional add-ons at an average cost of $40–$56 per month.

Standard Coverage: $40.42 per month ($485.00 for an annual plan/$100 service fee). ORHP offers coverage for 25 items under this plan—that’s more systems and appliances than what any other home warranty company covers under a basic plan.

Note: For a cheaper service fee ($75), you can pay $43.75 per month or $525 a year for Standard Coverage.

Ultimate Protection: $47.92 per month ($575.00 for an annual plan/$100 service fee). With this plan, you’ll receive coverage for all of the items under the Standard Coverage plan, in addition to a few enhancements.

Note: For a cheaper service fee ($75), you can pay $51.25 per month or $615 a year for the Ultimate Protection plan.

Platinum Protection: $56.25 per month ($675.00 for an annual plan/$100 service fee). This is the most comprehensive coverage plan offered by ORHP.

Optional coverage: For an additional cost, home buyers can include the following items to their existing plan.

• Pre-season HVAC tune-up: $25
• Swimming pool/spa equipment: $200
• Limited roof leak repair: $100
• Additional refrigeration units: $100
• Well pump: $100
• Enhanced slab leak limit/extended pipe leak coverage: $100
• Septic tank pumping/septic system/sewage ejector pump: $75

Price of Old Republic Home Protection vs. competitors

Details for top Old Republic Home Protection systems and appliances

To understand what coverage matters most to consumers, our team at House Method surveyed 1,000 homeowners and asked them which systems and appliances were most valuable to them.

From our findings, we discovered that the top systems and appliances that hold the most importance to homeowners are as follows: electrical, plumbing, air conditioning, refrigerators, washer/dryer combos, and the oven/stove/range.

Here’s what that coverage looks like under Old Republic Home Protection:

Refrigerator

Your refrigerator must be located in the kitchen to be covered by an ORHP plan. The components that affect the cooling operation of the unit, including the compressor, thermostat, condenser coil, evaporator, and defrost system are covered. Some items that aren’t covered include filters, food spoilage, insulation, multi-media units, and the cost of recapturing or disposing of refrigerant. This appliance is covered under Standard Coverage.

Oven/stove/range

Our team couldn’t find explicit details in the sample contract about which components of the oven, stove, and range are covered. Call Old Republic to learn what’s covered under your home warranty.

Clothes washer and dryer

The components that affect the washing or drying operation of the unit, including the belts, pump, motor, tub, timer, drum, thermostat, transmission, heating element, control board, touch pad, and rollers are covered. Here are the items that aren’t covered: plastic mini-tub, venting, filters, lint screens, and soap dispensers. All-in-one-tub washer and dryer units are also not covered.

Electrical

Some of the items that are covered under an ORHP protection plan include light switches, electrical outlets, breakers, fuses, ceiling fans, exhaust fans, and whole-house fans. Items that aren’t covered include light fixtures, doorbells, smoke detectors, and alarm wiring. Note: there are other home warranty companies available that offer coverage for items like your doorbells and smoke detectors.

Plumbing

Old Republic home warranty coverage for plumbing includes drain line stoppages that can be cleared, toilet tanks and bowls, garbage disposals, recirculating pumps, and water heaters. There’s a plumbing coverage limit of $500, which is comparable to industry leaders like American Home Shield.

Air conditioning

Air conditioning has a $1,500 coverage limit. This coverage includes components that affect the cooling operation of the unit, including the central air conditioner, wall units, mini-split ductless systems, condenser (including compressor), evaporator coil, air handler, thermostat, accessible refrigerant lines, and leaks or stoppages in accessible condensate drain lines.

Coverage length

If your Old Republic Home Protection home warranty is purchased in a real estate transaction, the warranty will go into effect immediately. However, if a homeowner purchases coverage after a sale, coverage will begin 30 days after payment. ORHP contracts typically last for a year, with the option to renew at the end of the coverage term.

Coverage limits

In your ORHP contract, you’ll find the maximum coverage limits for certain home systems and appliances, such as your septic system, refrigerator, toilet, and swimming pool. Old Republic will cover most appliances up to $3,500 per year. Kitchen refrigerators, specifically, have a $2,500 coverage limit.

Old Republic Home Protection covers only 24 states. If you live in a state that isn’t covered, check out our state-specific home warranty review guides below to find the right home protection plan for you and your home:

• Best Home Warranty Companies in Alaska
• Best Home Warranty Companies in Arkansas
• Best Home Warranty Companies in Colorado
• Best Home Warranty Companies in Connecticut
• Best Home Warranty Companies in Delaware
• Best Home Warranty Companies in Hawaii
• Best Home Warranty Companies in Illinois
• Best Home Warranty Companies in Indiana
• Best Home Warranty Companies in Iowa
• Best Home Warranty Companies in Maine
• Best Home Warranty Companies in Massachusetts
• Best Home Warranty Companies in Michigan
• Best Home Warranty Companies in Minnesota
• Best Home Warranty Companies in Montana
• Best Home Warranty Companies in Nebraska
• Best Home Warranty Companies in New Hampshire
• Best Home Warranty Companies in New Jersey
• Best Home Warranty Companies in New York
• Best Home Warranty Companies in North Dakota
• Best Home Warranty Companies in Pennsylvania
• Best Home Warranty Companies in Rhode Island
• Best Home Warranty Companies in South Dakota
• Best Home Warranty Companies in Vermont
• Best Home Warranty Companies in West Virginia
• Best Home Warranty Companies in Wisconsin
• Best Home Warranty Companies in Wyoming

Our take

This home warranty company is one of the best companies we’ve reviewed. Not only does it provide extensive coverage under its most basic plan, it received an A+ rating from the BBB (which is no small feat), has years of industry experience, and demonstrates excellent customer service by addressing customer concerns and complaints in a timely manner.

Old Republic also has one of the most easy-to-understand sample contracts. It’s organized by coverage plan and includes the specific costs of each plan and optional add-on item. Additionally, the contract clearly outlines the specific coverage details for each system and appliance. Not to mention, ORHP features sample contracts for all of the states they cover, so you can get an accurate estimate of how much you’ll have to pay.

Yet another thing our team loves about Old Republic Home Protection is that it covers repairs or replacements even if the issue is due to lack of maintenance or a pre-existing condition. Note: most home warranty companies do not cover repairs or replacements for these reasons. Typically, coverage is only afforded to breakdowns related to normal wear and tear.

One drawback of Old Republic Home Protection is that it only covers roughly half of the United States. Compare this to most home warranty companies which cover around 40–50 states. Another drawback is the website is a bit tricky to navigate. It took our team a few minutes to actually find information about the coverage plans and pricing.

However, we think these drawbacks aren’t too big of a deal considering the coverage you receive for the price.

What others are saying

As a consumer, you probably don’t have the time to sit around and sift through the hundreds of reviews left by Old Republic Home Protection customers. That’s where we come in. At House Method, we go through user complaints, reviews, and ratings of each home warranty company and compile that information in a chart that’s easy for you to read.

Below, we’ve included ORHP ratings compared to the industry average.

Old Republic Home Protection reviews

The BBB gives Old Republic Home Protection an A+ rating—this is one of the highest ratings we’ve seen across the companies we’ve reviewed. The company is also accredited with the BBB.

Regarding reviews, OHRP has received a 1.5-star average rating among 258 customer reviews on the BBB’s website. However, it has answered or resolved all 688 customer complaints on the BBB’s website proving that it’s extremely responsive.

Here are a few BBB reviews from ORHP customers:

Ronald B. on March 13, 2017, said:

We have had an Old Republic Home Protection plan for 13 years and recently had to have our garbage disposal replaced. Then our central air conditioner compressor went out and a month later, our refrigerator ice door broke. Old Republic replaced all of them in a timely manner with no questions asked. They were polite and kept us informed. The people they sent were professional and made the repairs in a timely fashion. I would highly recommend them.

Niky C. on July 4, 2017, said:

I wanted to be a customer but after 1 hour on the website, I gave up. I got lost. And [it] looks like there is no other way to do business with them or just to contact anyone other than calling a phone number. If you are a simple homeowner, it is a problem.

Final thoughts

House Method gives Old Republic Home Protection 3.72 out of 5 stars. This home warranty company has some of the most comprehensive coverage at the best price. The ability to choose your service fee is also a plus and rings true to the company’s personalization and affordability. If you want a company that offers comprehensive coverage, has years of experience in the home warranty industry, and treats their customers a step above the rest, Old Republic Home Protection is a great choice.

Old Republic Home Protection is a good choice for you if…

• you own and want to protect a newly built home.
• you manage a multi-family unit.
• you’re a real estate agent, home seller, or first-time home buyer.

Old Republic Home Protection may not be a good choice for you if… 

• you want coverage the second you sign up for a protection plan.
• you don’t want to pay a cancellation fee in the event that you cancel your plan.
• you live in Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, or Wyoming.

Compare home warranties

Compare Old Republic Home Protection to the competition.

Methodology

At House Method, transparency and trust are our most important values for the reader. That’s why we took the time to create an objective rating system and score each home warranty provider according to our methodology. Our team spent hours on the phone speaking to representatives from each home warranty company to get information right from the source.

Our rating system involves a weighted, 100-point scale that scores home warranty companies on plans offered, coverage, state availability, cost, trustworthiness, customer service, and unique benefits.

For more details, check out our affiliate disclosure and rating methodology.

Company information

• Company name: Old Republic Home Protection
• Company type: Public
• Ticker symbol: ORI
• CEO: Gwen Gallagher, President
• Founding date: 5/1/1974
• Years in business: 46 years
• Telephone: 800-445-6999
• Address: PO Box 5017
• State/province: San Ramon, CA
• Postal code: 94583
• State availability: 24 states
• Service fee: $75–$100
• BBB rating: A+