Best Home Warranty Companies in Maryland 2023

Anyone who owns a home knows that home repairs are expensive. Common wisdom says that you should budget between 1% and 4% of your home's worth every year for repairs or replacement appliances and parts. However, for a fraction of that cost, you can purchase a home warranty, which covers home systems and appliances that wear out due to normal use.

For between $30 and $60 a month (that's $360 to $720 a year) plus a low service fee, a home warranty will help protect your budget from huge repair bills. For homeowners in the Old Line State, our Guides Home Team put together this list of the best home warranty companies in Maryland to help you make your choice.

► Year founded: 1971► State availability: 49 states (excluding AK)

For the best home warranty in Maryland, we recommend American Home Shield. This nationwide provider founded the home warranty industry in 1971, and it remains the company that provides the most comprehensive coverage. Additionally, it has a wide service network and reputation for reliable contractors.

+ Coverage for preexisting conditions+ Customizable payments + Nationwide coverage except for AK– Poor reviews on company BBB page

American Home Shield's three plans offer different levels of coverage. You can receive coverage for just systems, or both systems and appliances with the ShieldGold Plan or ShieldPlatinum Plan.

For an additional fee, you can supplement American Home Shield's warranty plans with coverage for the following: Electronic extended warranty, well pump, pool and spa, septic pump, guest units up to 750 square feet

The industry standard service fee, or deductible, is $75. American Home Shield allows you to choose that fee, but you can also opt for a higher service fee in exchange for a lower premium. A higher service fee, which you pay every time a technician visits your home to diagnose or fix a problem, may ultimately save you money if you don't need to use your home warranty very often.

Get a quote: Fill out this form or call 844-529-9298 to get a price estimate from American Home Shield.

To learn more: American Home Shield Review

► Year founded: 2017

► State availability: 50 states

Liberty Home Guard (LHG) is one of our top-rated home warranty providers because it offers a 60-day workmanship guarantee, convenient customer support access and a diverse selection of add-on options. Its monthly fees are pricier than some of the other options on this list, but its comprehensive coverage and positive brand reputation make it a great choice for Maryland homeowners.

+ 60-day workmanship guarantee+ Live-chat customer service feature+ 38 unique add-on options– More expensive monthly plans than many other providers– Assigned service call fee up to $125

Liberty Home Guard offers three plan options: Appliance Guard, Systems Guard and Total Home Guard. Each plan covers up to $2,000 per covered item, with the exception of electrical and plumbing systems. These systems and all add-ons are covered up to $500.

After selecting a base plan, you can purchase coverage for more than 35 additional coverage items: Additional spa, carpet cleaning, casita guest unit, central vacuum, ejector pump, electronics protection, freestanding ice maker, generator, grinder pump, gutter cleaning, in-fridge ice maker, instant hot water dispenser, lawn sprinkler system, lighting fixtures, limited roof leak, pest control, plumbing fixtures, pool and spa, pro-series clothes dryer, pro-series dishwasher coverage, pro-series microwave, pro-series range/oven/cooktop coverage, pro-series refrigerator coverage, pro-series washing machines, rekey services, reverse osmosis water filter system, saltwater pool, second refrigerator, septic system pumping, stand-alone freezer, sump pump, swamp cooler, trash compactor, water dispenser water line, water softener, well pump, window washing/cleaning and wine cooler/fridge

Liberty Home Guard will assign a service call fee to your account based on your plan, location and the add-on options you select. This fee will always fall between $65 and $125. According to our quote, LHG's plans range from $69.99 to $79.99 per month.

Get a quote: To request a personalized quote, fill out Liberty Home Guard's simple form or call 866-452-9107.

To learn more: Liberty Home Guard Review

► Year founded: 2012► State availability: 46 states (excluding NM, NV, WA, WY)

If budget is your primary concern, Select Home Warranty offers the lowest price for a combination plan on our Maryland-based list. Although the coverage it offers isn't as comprehensive as some other providers, it does throw in limited roof-leak coverage free with all three of its plans.

+ Least expensive full-coverage plan+ Often has special discounts and promotions+ No age limit on covered homes– Doesn't cover fixtures– Low coverage caps

Select Home Warranty's Bronze Care plan is its systems plan, and Gold Care is its appliances plan. Platinum Care covers both and adds a few extras.

Select Home Warranty also offers the following as optional additions to any plan: Central vacuum, lawn sprinkler system, pool, septic system, spa, standalone freezer, sump pump, well pump

Select's service call fee is a standard $75 each time you file a claim. Its monthly premiums are also reasonable, clocking in at a little over a dollar a day — often less than the cost of a cup of coffee, depending on how you drink it.

Get a quote: Call 888-370-3956 or fill out this form.

To learn more: Select Home Warranty Review

► Year founded: 1984► State availability: 35 states (excluding AK, CT, DE, HI, IL, LA, ME, MA, MN, NH, NY, ND, RI, VT, WI)

Although not available in some states, First American Home Warranty offers comprehensive, affordable coverage. Its Basic Plan offers the cheapest premium on our list, and with some add-ons, you can customize a plan that's right for you and your home. One of those add-ons, the First Class Upgrade, is unique to First American.

+ 30-day money back guarantee+ Protects against numerous causes of damage + Affordable plans– Air conditioning coverage only available as add-on– Basic plan doesn't cover plumbing or electrical

First American Home Warranty's Basic Plan covers important home appliances, including expensive-to-fix items like refrigerators, dryers and washers. The Premier Plan adds coverage for home systems.

The First Class Upgrade includes these extras:

Additionally, First American Home Warranty provides optional coverage for the following: Central air conditioning system, well pump, pool and spa equipment, secondary refrigeration

In Maryland, First American charges a $100 service fee. However, its premium prices are on the lower end of average.

Get a quote: Complete this form or call 800-891-9778 to get a personalized quote.

To learn more: First American Home Warranty Review

The best home warranty for you will depend on your coverage needs and your budget. Our top provider is American Home Shield based on the comprehensiveness of its coverage and its customizable payments, but you might find the coverage you need at a price you can afford from another provider on our list. First American Home Warranty offers the least expensive basic plan, and Select Home Warranty offers the least expensive combo plan. Liberty Home Guard offers an extensive list of add-on options and convenient customer support access. All four are reputable home warranty companies with plans available throughout the state of Maryland.

We always recommend getting quotes from multiple providers before choosing the company for you. Take advantage of the free estimates that all of the above companies provide. It's also a good idea to read through the sample contracts to confirm you understand the terms, limitations, and exclusions of your policy.

Of the best home warranty companies in Maryland, we find American Home Shield to offer the best value and the most comprehensive coverage. However, make sure you take a look at our other options as well to see if they better fit your needs.

A home warranty is essentially a residential service contract. You pay a monthly premium, and if one of your covered appliances or systems break down, you contact the warranty provider at any time of day or night to file a claim. The provider will then contact a technician from its contractor network and send them out to diagnose the problem, usually within the next few business days.

If the problem is indeed covered by your home warranty, the technician will repair it, and you will only owe the cost of the service fee. If the appliance or system can't be repaired or the parts to do so are unavailable, the home warranty provider will either send you a replacement item or cut you a check for the cost of a replacement.

Typically, a home warranty only covers wear-and-tear damage. That is, if a covered appliance or system breaks down due to age and use, the repair will fall under the terms of your contract. As long as you have properly maintained that item, you can receive a repair or replacement for the price of your service fee.

However, some home warranty providers like American Home Shield will cover damage arising from insufficient maintenance, improper installation or repair, rust, corrosion, sediment and unknown pre-existing conditions. To make sure you know what your home warranty covers, always make sure to read the fine print of the contract carefully before signing. Many customers who are dissatisfied with their home warranty didn't fully understand the limits of their coverage before purchasing it.

Homeowners insurance covers you in the event of a large catastrophe like a natural disaster or a crime. It will pay for repairs or replacements to items damaged in the catastrophe. A home warranty is useful for appliances and systems that can break down after years of use. People in the home warranty industry like to say that homeowners insurance covers things that might happen, but home warranties cover things that will happen.

Our team created a comprehensive rating system to rank providers based on objective factors. We researched each company by speaking with company representatives, reading sample contracts, and analyzing and comparing consumer reviews. We deepened our research by gaining homeowner insights through surveys and focus groups.

After collecting data, we scored each provider in the following categories: plan options, cost, trustworthiness, customer service, state availability, additional benefits and coverage specifics.

Ally Sabatina is an experienced content producer whose work has appeared on sites like The Financial Diet and Inverse. She holds a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Temple University and strives to distill complex and nuanced topics into accessible and approachable language for all readers.

Rebekah Young is an editor with a decade of experience in educational content and editing. Before joining the Guides Home Team to focus on home services content, she guided content strategy and edited in the insurance, venture capital, financial and health care fields. Rebekah has a bachelor's degree in communication and English.