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Homeowners and property owners living in California can benefit from purchasing a home warranty for the appliances and systems that may require repair or replacement.
Our team evaluated several of the top-rated home warranty companies, including their plans, customer service ratings and pricing. We’ve gathered information on the best home warranty companies in California, so you can compare quotes and coverage and select the right one for your home and budget.
In This Article:
Today’s Homeowner works with an independent reviews team to create evidence-based research that helps our readers make informed decisions. The reviews are always independent. For transparency, we may be compensated if you purchase through a link.
Best California Home Warranty Company: American Home Shield
American Home Shield provides protection for what homeowner’s insurance doesn’t cover, like breakdowns caused by regular use of appliances and systems. The company was founded in 1971 and features a network of over 15,000 contractors. Since 2015, American Home Shield has paid $2 billion in home warranty claims.
American Home Shield offers comprehensive coverage across four plans: Appliances Plan™, Systems Plan™, Combo Plan™ and Build Your Own Plan™.
| Appliances Covered | Systems Covered |
| Refrigerator | Air conditioning and ductwork |
| Dishwasher | Heating system and ductwork |
| Built-in microwave | Plumbing and plumbing stoppage |
| Trash compactor | Electrical |
| Freestanding ice maker | Water heater |
| Range/oven/cooktop | Instant hot/cold water dispenser |
| Built-in food center | Central vacuum |
| Clothes washer | Garbage disposal |
| Clothes dryer | Smoke detector |
| Garage door opener | Ceiling fan |
| Doorbell | |
| Re-key |
The Combo Plan covers all 10 appliances and all 12 systems and is the best value for coverage. Add-on coverage is available for pools and spas, sump pump, well pump and guest units, as well as an electronic extended warranty.
These California home warranty plans range from $49.99 to $59.99 per month, and service fees cost $75 to $125 per visit. If you choose to pay a higher service call fee, you will pay a lower monthly rate for your warranty plan.
Current homeowners who use American Home Shield recommend the company for completing repairs and replacements on time and partnering with knowledgeable technicians.
| Pros | Cons |
| Flexible plans with a build-your-own plan option | Requires 30 day waiting period before servicing starts |
| Sliding scale for service fee costs | Some coverage limitations on items like air conditioning systems |
| Discounts available for referrals, additional properties and retail products | Additional coverage required for items like pools |
| Industry founder with nearly 50 years of experience | No roof leak coverage |
Quotes for your home can be requested online or by phone. Just provide a few details about your home’s appliances and systems. To get a free quote from American Home Shield, call 844-529-9298 or submit your information online using this quick form.
Best Mid-Level Coverage Options: America’s 1st Choice Home Club
America’s 1st Choice Home Club provides four protection plans for appliances and systems:
| Plan | Coverage |
| Platinum Plan | The most comprehensive coverage available for systems and appliances, including air conditioning, heating, electrical, plumbing, plumbing stoppages, water heater, ductwork, clothes dryer, clothes washer, refrigerator, ice maker, built-in microwave, oven, range, stove/cooktop, dishwasher, garbage disposal and garage door opener |
| Gold Plan | Includes all the items under Platinum except plumbing stoppages, built-in microwaves and ice makers |
| Silver Plan | Only covers appliances and excludes built-in microwaves and ice makers |
| System Plan | Only covers systems but excludes plumbing stoppages |
| Optional Additional Coverage | Sump pump, septic system, hot water dispenser, pool and spa, stand-alone freezer and tankless water heater |
Pricing and service fees depend on the plan you select. You can choose a service fee of $75, $100 or $125. Here are the estimates we received when selecting a $75 service fee:
| Plan Name | Monthly Plan Cost | Service Fee |
| Platinum | $50.00 | $75 |
| Gold | $45.83 | $75 |
| Silver | $37.50 | $75 |
| Systems | $39.58 | $75 |
America’s 1st Choice offers a lot of perks that other California home warranty companies don’t, like being able to select the technician you want and having repairs guaranteed for up to three years. (The average repair guarantee is 30 to 60 days.) Here’s a summary of what we think about American’s 1st Choice:
| Pros | Cons |
| Repairs guaranteed for up to three years | Requires 30 day waiting period before servicing starts |
| Choose any licensed and insured technician to complete repairs | More expensive than most plans with similar offerings |
| Additional benefits like credit monitoring and discounts on home security, household supplies and entertainment | |
| Optional add-on for tankless water heaters | |
| Three choices for service fees |
According to customer reviews, America’s 1st Choice offers quick, efficient work by friendly, professional technicians. Customers like that they can cover their ice makers, as well.
Request a free personalized quote online or by phone from America’s 1st Choice at 678-335-2181 or fill out this easy form.
Best for Value Shoppers: Select Home Warranty
Select Home Warranty has three home warranty coverage plans: Bronze, Gold and Platinum. Platinum Care is the most popular and is a combination of the Gold and Bronze plans. Costs range from $36 to $42 per month, and consumers who choose to be billed annually instead of monthly will receive two months coverage free.
| Bronze Care | Gold Care | Platinum Care |
| Clothes washer | Air conditioning | Combines Bronze Care and Gold Care |
| Clothes dryer | Heating | |
| Garbage disposal | Plumbing | |
| Refrigerator | Electrical | |
| Stove/oven/cooktop | Water heater | |
| Dishwasher | Ductwork | |
| Built-in microwave |
Additional coverage is available for pumps, septic systems, stand-alone freezers, pools, sprinklers and other items.
Customers who use this company say the pricing, available discounts and customer service are the reasons they continue to use Select Home Warranty.
| Pros | Cons |
| Low prices | Requires 30 day waiting period before servicing starts |
| Systems or appliances-only plan options plus comprehensive option | Doesn’t cover some items like doorbells or smoke detectors |
| Low coverage costs for add-ons like pumps or lawn sprinklers | Must see sample contract for full list of add-ons |
To get a quote from Select Home Warranty, call 888-370-3956 or fill out this online form.
Best Customizations: First American Home Warranty
First American Home Warranty is a no-frills home warranty company in California with two warranty plans: Basic and Premier. Plans start at $28 per month, and each service call is $75.
| Basic | Premier | Optional Coverages |
| Clothes washer and clothes dryer | Clothes washer and clothes dryer | Central air conditioning (electric) |
| Kitchen refrigerator | Kitchen refrigerator | Additional refrigerator |
| Dishwasher | Dishwasher | Pool and spa equipment |
| Oven/range/cooktop | Oven/range/cooktop | Well pump |
| Built-in microwave | Built-in microwave | First Class Upgrade |
| Garbage disposal | Garbage disposal | |
| Trash compactor | Trash compactor | |
| Plumbing system | ||
| Plumbing stoppages | ||
| Heating system | ||
| Water heater | ||
| Central vacuum system | ||
| Ductwork | ||
| Electrical system | ||
| Garage door opener |
The First Class Upgrade adds coverage for cranes, building permits, haul away costs, limited code upgrade and similar services. It also covers more parts of appliances and systems, and you can add smoke detector coverage. This upgrade is very customized, so make sure you talk to First American to have a clear idea of what’s covered.
The company has quite a few complaints on its Better Business Bureau (BBB) page but has averaged three stars from all customer reviews. Customers have said enrolling was easy and the technicians are punctual and work quickly.
“We have had excellent service every time we have requested repair services. Thank you!”
— Joe S., February 2020
First American’s coverage is trickier to decipher than other home warranties in California. There are slightly different coverage options for buyers and sellers. The good news is that there are many add-ons options, so it’s likely you can create a plan that fits your home.
| Pros | Cons |
| Doesn’t have a coverage cap for cooling, heating or ductwork | Requires 30 day waiting period before servicing starts |
| Reasonable costs | Can’t choose technicians — must use technicians referred by company |
| 24/7 service calls | Confusing coverage options |
| Highly customizable coverage |
For a free quote, call First American Home Warranty at 833-777-0049 or fill out the easy online form.
A home warranty offers peace of mind on the home systems and appliances that fail from normal wear and tear. There are many factors to consider when selecting the best home warranty company in California. Before selecting a provider, be sure to thoroughly research the company and ensure that their offerings and service contracts align with the services you need and the appliances and systems you have.
FAQ: California Home Warranty Companies
Which company has the best home warranty in California?
The best home warranty company in California depends on the type of coverage you need and the systems and appliances you own and use every day. Cost and customer service are also important factors.
Are home warranty plans worth it?
Home warranty plans can save you time and money, plus you won’t have to find a licensed and insured technician since most companies provide recommendations. Being able to repair or replace your appliances and systems for a low monthly rate is worthwhile.
Are there any reputable home warranty companies in California?
The companies reviewed above are reputable and used throughout the country. To determine if a company is reputable, read its customer ratings and search for it on the BBB. You can also get a sense of customer service when you call and get a quote, as well as if it’s easy to find coverage and prices online.
Which is better: Choice Home Warranty or American Home Shield?
Choice Home Warranty and American Home Shield each have their own advantages. However, Choice Home Warranty plans are not available in California.
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