Choice Home Warranty (CHW) has been in business since 2008 and offers affordable home warranty policies. It’s available across the United States in every state except Washington.
This Choice Home Warranty review explores the company’s coverage, prices, add-ons, and reputation so you can determine if it’s the right home warranty for your home.
Our Take on Choice Home Warranty
We compared Choice Home Warranty to dozens of home warranty companies and found it offers affordable plan options, low service fees, and nationwide availability, except in California. However, the company has a C rating* on the Better Business Bureau. The BBB cites a pattern of complaints alleging that CHW has continued to charge consumers for canceled services and made it difficult to have those charges refunded. Therefore, we don’t recommend Choice Home Warranty as a reputable home warranty provider.
Additionally, Choice Home Warranty is currently subject to a consumer fraud lawsuit filed by the Arizona Attorney General in 2019. As of March 2023, the lawsuit is still pending resolution. A representative told us in late 2021 that the company couldn’t comment on pending legislation but stated that, as of October 2021, it has approved 90% of 1.1 million claims filed in 2021.
Our team contacted Choice in March 2023 for news on their pending lawsuit. We have not received an updated comment from the provider.
*BBB ratings are current as of May 2023.
Our Best Home Warranty Companies of 2023
The home warranty companies with the best ratings include the following:
- Liberty Home Guard: Best Customer Ratings
- American Home Shield: Best Coverage Caps
- America’s First Choice Home Club: Best for Customization
- Select Home Warranty: Best Value
- First American Home Warranty: Best Appliance Coverage
- Cinch Home Services: Best Additional Perks
- 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty: Cheapest Appliance Plan
- ARW Home: Affordable Service Call Fees
- The Home Service Club: Quickest Coverage
Summary of the Best Home Warranty Companies
| Superlative | Monthly Cost | Service Fee | BBB Rating | Link | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty Home Guard |
|
Best Customer Ratings | $49–$60 | $65–$125 | A+ | VISIT SITE |
| American Home Shield |
|
Best for Comprehensive Coverage | $64–$74 | $100–$125 | B | VISIT SITE |
| Select Home Warranty |
|
Best Value | $44–$48 | $60–$75 | B- | VISIT SITE |
| AFC Home Club |
|
Best for Customization | $48–$55 | $75–$125 | B | VISIT SITE |
| First American Home Warranty |
 |
Best Appliance Coverage | $60–$76 | $75–$125 | B | VISIT SITE |
| Cinch Home Services |
 |
Best Additional Perks | $47–$64 | $100–$150 | B | VISIT SITE |
| 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty |
 |
Cheapest Appliances Plan | $22–$74 | $65–$100 | B+ | VISIT SITE |
| Liberty Home Guard | |
|---|---|
| Logo |
|
| Superlative | Best Customer Ratings |
| Monthly Cost | $49–$60 |
| Service Fee | $65–$125 |
| BBB Rating | A+ |
| American Home Shield | |
|---|---|
| Logo |
|
| Superlative | Best for Comprehensive Coverage |
| Monthly Cost | $64–$74 |
| Service Fee | $100–$125 |
| BBB Rating | B |
| Select Home Warranty | |
|---|---|
| Logo |
|
| Superlative | Best Value |
| Monthly Cost | $44–$48 |
| Service Fee | $60–$75 |
| BBB Rating | B- |
| AFC Home Club | |
|---|---|
| Logo |
|
| Superlative | Best for Customization |
| Monthly Cost | $48–$55 |
| Service Fee | $75–$125 |
| BBB Rating | B |
| First American Home Warranty | |
|---|---|
| Logo |
|
| Superlative | Best Appliance Coverage |
| Monthly Cost | $60–$76 |
| Service Fee | $75–$125 |
| BBB Rating | B |
| Cinch Home Services | |
|---|---|
| Logo |
|
| Superlative | Best Additional Perks |
| Monthly Cost | $47–$64 |
| Service Fee | $100–$150 |
| BBB Rating | B |
| 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty | |
|---|---|
| Logo |
|
| Superlative | Cheapest Appliances Plan |
| Monthly Cost | $22–$74 |
| Service Fee | $65–$100 |
| BBB Rating | B+ |
Pros and Cons of Choice Home Warranty
Choice Home Warranty Plans and Coverage
Choice Home Warranty offers two home warranty coverage plans: the Basic Plan and the Total Plan. The Basic Plan covers items such as ductwork, electrical, plumbing systems, dishwashers, garage-door openers, and garbage disposals. The Total Plan offers more comprehensive coverage, including essential items such as a home’s air conditioning system, refrigerator, clothes washer, and clothes dryer.
Choice Home Warranty provides a $3,000 coverage cap for all covered items unless otherwise noted in its sample contract. For example, if a repair or replacement for your covered appliance or system costs more than the $3,000 limit, you are responsible for the additional cost.
Like other home warranty providers, Choice doesn’t require a home inspection before granting coverage. That said, it excludes coverage for items with known or unknown preexisting conditions.
Plan Details
The table below highlights Choice Home Warranty’s coverage options in each plan:
| Item Covered | Basic Plan | Total Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Heating System | ✔ | ✔ |
| Electrical System | ✔ | ✔ |
| Plumbing System | ✔ | ✔ |
| Plumbing Stoppage | ✔ | ✔ |
| Water Heater | ✔ | ✔ |
| Whirlpool Bathtub | ✔ | ✔ |
| Oven, Range, and Stove | ✔ | ✔ |
| Cooktop | ✔ | ✔ |
| Dishwasher | ✔ | ✔ |
| Built-In Microwave | ✔ | ✔ |
| Garbage Disposal | ✔ | ✔ |
| Ductwork | ✔ | ✔ |
| Garage Door Opener | ✔ | ✔ |
| Ceiling and Exhaust Fans | ✔ | ✔ |
| Air Conditioning System | - | ✔ |
| Refrigerator | - | ✔ |
| Clothes Washer | - | ✔ |
| Clothes Dryer | - | ✔ |
Here’s more detail about what CHW specifically covers for a few items listed above:
- Plumbing system: Covers leaks and breaks of water, valves for shower and tub, and stoppages in lines up to 100 feet from an access point
- Air conditioning: Covers chillers, compressors, condenser coils, electric baseboards, and refrigerant line sets
- Ceiling and exhaust fans: Covers motors, switches, controls, and bearings
Optional Add-Ons
Choice Home Warranty customers can pay an additional fee for protection of items it doesn’t cover in base plans. We recommend reviewing the user agreement to understand coverage limits and exclusions under your policy.
The following add-ons are available for coverage:
- Central vacuum
- Limited roof leak
- Pool and spa
- Additional spa
- Second refrigerator
- Septic system
- Septic tank pumping
- Sprinkler system
- Standalone freezer
- Sump pump
- Well pump
Coverage Exclusions
Choice Home Warranty excludes preexisting conditions from its coverage. If you think your home systems are old enough to begin experiencing issues, it’s important to purchase coverage before problems occur.
Other items that aren’t covered include the following:
- Cosmetic items, such as knobs, rollers, handles, and doors
- Air conditioning maintenance and associated registers or grills
- Sediment build-up or reservoir tanks for water heater coverage
- Damage caused by theft, fire, and storm damage
Choice Home Warranty Pricing
The This Old House Reviews Team called Choice Home Warranty for a quote on a single-family home in Newark, New Jersey, and gathered the following data.
- Monthly cost: $50–$59
- Service fee cost: $85 per claim
| Plan | $85 Service Call Fee |
|---|---|
| Basic Plan | $46.67 |
| Total Plan | $55.00 |
Note: Your pricing may vary depending on your location, your home’s size and type, and your plan and add-on selections.
Regarding the quote process, Choice Home Warranty representatives answered our phone call within two minutes. They provided solid customer service by answering our questions thoroughly. Our team also pulled quotes from Choice’s website. It takes less than 90 seconds to complete its quote form and receive a customized price.
Policyholders must pay a service fee when a technician arrives to address an issue. Our research indicates the average service fee cost ranges from $75–$125, so Choice Home Warranty’s fee is in line with industry standards. This charge will hold regardless of the actual cost of the repair or replacement.
Coverage Caps and Limitations
While Choice Home Warranty offers extensive protection on numerous systems and appliances, the full cost of a repair or replacement isn’t always covered. According to the sample agreement, the company states that its liability will not exceed $3,000 per covered item for access, diagnosis, and repair or replacement. That means that once a repair or replacement reaches the $3,000 limit for a certain item, customers are responsible for paying any expenses past that limit. Note that the coverage caps differ for optional coverage items. For example, septic systems, stand-alone ice makers, and trash compactors max out at $500 per claim.
How To Use Your Choice Home Warranty Plan
After the initial 30-day waiting period, you can use your Choice Home Warranty coverage plan. To file a claim, call its claims department at 888-531-5403. You can also file a claim online through your Account Center portal. Choice representatives are available 24/7 to accept claims. Choice will send an in-network service provider within 48 hours of receiving your claim. If you file a claim after normal business hours or during established holidays, there may be a delay in processing your claim.
Choice Home Warranty only covers repairs or replacements performed by an in-network service technician. It doesn’t allow you to source your own technician.
State Availability
Choice Home Warranty plans are available in 48 states—all but Washington and California.
Here are alternative home warranty companies to consider if you live in these states:
Choice Home Warranty Reputation and Customer Reviews
Customer reviews are a good way to evaluate a home warranty company’s general service and customer support. CHW customers have shared both positive and negative experiences. Our team gathered customer reviews from sites such as the BBB, WalletHub and ConsumerAffairs to understand how Choice Home Warranty handles customer service.
We found that many consumers have expressed dissatisfaction with Choice Home Warranty. Unexpected claim denials are a common complaint among negative reviews. This Old House readers have also contacted us about the provider’s vendors failing to diagnose issues properly, and our Reviews Team has received feedback from customers who had trouble getting refunds upon cancellation. Additionally, the BBB cites a pattern of consumer complaints regarding charges after cancellation and difficulty obtaining refunds.
Here is a positive review we found from a consumer regarding Choice’s sign-up process:
“Very happy with the service and explanation. A little hard on the upsell, but I know how that goes. I look forward to seeing how well the service will be in the event something breaks down. There are many payment options and if you are planning on keeping your home a long time, then the 6-yr paid up plan is the best, if you can afford the upfront cost.” — Daniel, Jan. 29, 2023, on ConsumerAffairs
Here is a list of negative reviews we found:
“I wish that there was a way to give no stars. Don’t believe that they’ll fix or repair major appliances or ac or plumbing issues, because they won’t. They’ll send someone out to collect the service fee and deny the claim. I believe that all of the positive reviews on their website are fake..” — Cecil W, Dec. 28, 2022, on BBB
“Had multiple issues with Choice Home Warranty. Delays on getting repair people out to address issues, insufficient funds when replacing appliances (Barely covered enough to haul off the old appliance les alone replace it), had a claim for my HVAC denied. I canceled my service and instead they moved me to a monthly plan.” — Michael C., Feb. 6, 2023, on WalletHub
“The worst customer experience we ever had. The electrician came and charged us $270 for replacing 2 outlets, ensured us we would get the reimbursement but Choice Warranty never refunded us. We spent hours on the phone talking to multiple agents, each saying different things. Horrible communication and service. For simple fix that should cost $100 we paid almost 300 plus hours wasted on the phone. Would never recommend to anyone!” — Lili A., Jan. 17, 2023, on WalletHub
“When I called and asked questions I was not informed about the $65 dollar service fee for each diagnostic visit and the $3000 max in payments per year. The sales info was not transparent. That is not fair or right. I asked that the 1 month period for the new contract be waived as a courtesy to me and was transferred by customer service to another line. I was on hold a long time and no one answered that call. Not happy. Would not recommend company thus far.” — Teresa, Jan. 30, 2023, on WalletHub
“Have clogged drain from bathroom sink. Technician wasn’t able to unclog it. Now Choice will not pay for it stating that it was up and above normal usage. The technician had a plan to get it unclogged very easily but it involved in removing old pipes and replacing with PVC pipes and connect to the main drain. Choice would not pay. What’s the point in having a home warranty when the warranty won’t cover services. Now we are out of $85.” — Andrea, Jan. 30, 2023, on ConsumerAffairs
“My microwave has been acting up not cooking right, then it failed. I did the warranty claim, found out the part to fix it is not made any longer so the technician said it needed to be replaced. Choice rejected the claim saying it was a power surge that caused the failure when the technician said the part failed because it is 22 years old. So beware.” — Kenneth, Jan. 29, 2023, on ConsumerAffairs
It’s worth noting that Choice Home Warranty is a member of the National Home Service Contract Association (NHSCA). This non-profit industry association regulates home warranty companies.
Arthur Chartrand, who is of counsel to the NHSCA, recommends filing a complaint on the NHSCA website if you experience claims issues with Choice or any home warranty provider. He explains that the NHSCA can expedite your issue directly to your provider’s upper management because the organization works closely with each member company’s corporate leaders.
Our Conclusion on Choice Home Warranty
Choice Home Warranty offers two solid base plans and doesn’t deny coverage based on your home’s age. However, it has a low BBB rating and has received numerous negative reviews, which leads us to recommend home warranty providers other than Choice. Before choosing any provider, you should read customer reviews and service contracts to be aware of any concerning patterns.
We recommend requesting at least three quotes from top home warranty providers before making a decision.
FAQ About Choice Home Warranty
Our Rating Methodology
The This Old House Reviews Team backs up our home warranty ratings and recommendations with a detailed rating methodology to objectively score each provider. We conduct research by speaking with company representatives, requesting quotes, analyzing sample contracts from each company, and conducting focus groups and consumer surveys. We then score each provider against our review standards for coverage, value, trustworthiness and transparency, availability, and customer service to arrive at a final score out of 100.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.