Minnesota residents face drastic seasonal changes, from frigid winters to hot, humid summers. These extreme shifts in weather can place a big burden on your home’s major systems, which work hard to keep you comfortable in each season. Thankfully, you can protect your household essential systems and appliances with a quality home warranty in Minnesota.
Home warranties can benefit homeowners in any state, but Minnesotans see a particularly large return on investment when purchasing this type of home protection plan. The harsh winters in the North Star State put added strain on heating systems and water heaters, requiring more frequent servicing and repairs that a home warranty would cover.
Additionally, the average home age is just under 50 years, which means most homeowners will see issues with major systems that are covered by warranties. Our review below should help you choose the best home warranty for these local issues and more.
The Best Home Warranty Companies in Minnesota
Compare the Best Home Warranties in Minnesota
The table below outlines data for the best home warranty companies on the market. We constantly update these ratings as companies change their policies and prices to give you the most accurate information possible. Continue reading for our specific reviews of the top options in your state.
Company | Monthly Cost | Service Fee | Coverage Limit | Response Time | Rating | States Covered |
 | $46.83–$54.75+ | $85 | $3,000 | 24–48 hours | 4.0 | 49 states, excluding WA |
 | $49.99–$69.99+ | $65–$125 | $2,000 | 12–48 hours | 4.5 | 50 states |
 | $60.42–$63.75+ | $60–$75 | $3,000 | 24–48 hours | 4.3 | 47 states, excluding NV, WA, and WI |
 | $49.99–$99.99 | $75–$125 | $6,000 | 24–72 hours | 4.2 | 49 states, excluding AK |
 | $30.00–$60.00 | $75–$125 | $3,000 | 24–48 hours | 4.3 | 49 states, excluding HI |
 | $39.99–$54.99 | $100–$125 | $2,000 | 24–48 hours | 4.1 | 48 states, excluding AK and HI |
 | $17.00–$60.00 | $65–$100 | $2,500 | 24–48 hours | 4.0 | 42 states, excluding AK, HI, MT, NH, ND, OK, SD, and WY |
 | $36.00–$46.50 | $75–$125 | $3,500 | 24–48 hours | 3.9 | 34 states, excluding AK, CT, DE, HI, IL, LA, ME, MA, MN, NH, NJ, NY, ND, RI, VT, and WI |
Quote and cost data gathered January 2023 for a 3,000-square-foot home in Burnsville, Minnesota. Cost data are updated and monitored continuously.
American Home Shield
4.2
Our Rating
American Home Shield (AHS) is our top pick for Minnesota homeowners looking for a home warranty. The provider has over 50 years of industry experience and gives customers their choice of three comprehensive plans, even throwing in optional add-on coverage for protection on well pumps, sewage ejector pumps and electronics.
American Home Shield customers can choose from three coverage options: ShieldSilver, ShieldGold and ShieldPlatinum. For homeowners looking to protect essential systems, the ShieldSilver plan is a reasonable choice, offering coverage on 14 items like your air conditioner, heating unit and interior plumbing lines. For coverage on both systems and appliances, AHS offers its ShieldGold plan, which covers 23 items, including your oven, dishwasher and toilets.
For the most comprehensive coverage, AHS offers its ShieldPlatinum plan, which combines the coverage of the previous two plans and adds protection for roof leaks, HVAC tune-up and AC refrigerant. For an extra cost, AHS also has add-on coverage for your pool or spa equipment, well pump, septic system plumbing, septic sewage ejector pump and electronics.
Here’s a detailed look at American Home Shield’s coverage:
- ShieldSilver (starting at $40/month): The ShieldSilver Plan includes 14 home systems, but all appliances are excluded. You’ll get coverage for your electrical, heating, and plumbing systems, plus HVAC ductwork, water heaters, and air conditioners. Some other nice additions include smoke alarms and garage door openers. Home system plans are usually more costly than appliance plans, but this one is very affordable.
- ShieldGold (starting at $50/month): Rather than offering an appliances-only plan, AHS provides the ShieldGold plan, which adds to the coverage in ShieldSilver. In addition to the 14 systems, you’ll get coverage for refrigerators, stoves, cooktops, microwaves, dishwashers, clothes washers, dryers, garbage disposals, and instant-hot water systems.
- ShieldPlatinum (starting at $65/month): ShieldPlatinum is American Home Shield’s most comprehensive plan. It comes at the highest cost but covers just about everything in your home. You’ll get coverage for everything in the Silver and Gold plans, plus unlimited AC refrigerant deliveries, roof leak repair, annual AC preventative maintenance, and even permits and code violations. This plan also comes with higher coverage caps than the other two plan options.
| Coverage | ShieldSilver | ShieldGold | ShieldPlatinum |
| Air conditioner | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Heating unit | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ductwork | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Built-in exhaust, vent and attic fans | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Main breaker and fuse panel box | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Doorbells and chimes | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Interior electrical lines | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ceiling fans | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Garage door openers | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Interior plumbing lines | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Toilets | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Faucets and valves | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Whirlpool tub motor and components | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Water heater | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Refrigerator | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Range/Cooktop | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Oven | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Dishwasher | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Built-in microwave oven | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Garbage disposal | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Instant hot/cold water dispenser | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Clothes washer | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Clothes dryer | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Roof leak repairs | ✓ | ||
| HVAC tune-up | ✓ | ||
| AC refrigerant | ✓ |
Although American Home Shield is slightly more expensive than its competitors, it allows customers to select their own service fee. This fee is the one-time payment you owe to the technician that comes to your home to assess or repair your broken appliance or system. By choosing your own deductible, you can change your monthly premium. Your price will decrease with a higher service fee and increase with a lower one.
Below is a monthly price breakdown of each AHS plan for a single-family home in St. Paul, Minnesota:
| Plan | $75 Service Fee | $100 Service Fee | $125 Service Fee |
| ShieldSilver | $59.99 | $49.99 | $44.99 |
| ShieldGold | $69.99 | $59.99 | $54.99 |
| ShieldPlatinum | $89.99 | $79.99 | $74.99 |
American Home Shield offers additional coverage for 11 items, including pools, spas, septic systems, well pumps, and more. These add-ons can fit nearly any budget, and many of these covered items cost less than $20 per month. For instance, you can add roof-leak coverage for just $10 per month.
As mentioned, you get unlimited coverage for your home systems – such as your air conditioner or heating system — and either $2,000 per appliance or $4,000 per appliance if you choose ShieldGold or ShieldPlatinum, respectively.
AHS covers damage caused by normal wear and tear and does not cover damage caused by misuse, lack of maintenance, or poor installation. However, American Home Shield will cover preexisting conditions if the damage was not previously discovered.
AFC Home Club
4.2
Our Rating
With over 10 years of service nationwide, America’s 1st Choice Home Club has established itself as a quality home warranty provider that prioritizes customization. Not only does the provider give its customers the choice of four coverage plans and multiple optional add-ons, but it also offers homeowners three service fee options to adjust monthly premiums.
America’s 1st Choice Home Club offers some of the best plan options in the industry, providing customers with the choice of four plans: the Systems Plan, Silver Plan, Gold Plan and Platinum Plan. The Systems Plan protects six of your home’s essential systems, including the air conditioning and electrical systems. The Silver Plan protects eight essential appliances while the Gold Plan combines the previous two coverages to protect 14 appliances and systems.
For the most comprehensive coverage, America’s 1st Choice Home Club offers a Platinum Plan. This plan protects up to 18 systems and appliances, including coverage for your built-in microwave, ice maker and plumbing systems. Additionally, the provider offers six optional add-ons, such as coverage for your sump pump, septic system, hot water dispenser, pool and spa, stand-alone freezer and tankless water heater.
| Coverage | System Plan | Silver Plan | Gold Plan | Platinum Plan |
| Air conditioning system | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Heating systems | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Water heater | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Electrical system | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Plumbing system | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Ductwork | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Clothes dryer | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Clothes washer | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Kitchen refrigerator | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Oven | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Range | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Dishwasher | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Garbage disposal | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Garage-door opener | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Built-in microwave | ✔ | |||
| Ice maker | ✔ | |||
| Plumbing stoppages | ✔ |
America’s 1st Choice Home Club has affordable plan options with monthly costs that fluctuate based on your selected service fee. A service fee is the deductible you owe to the service technician that’s dispatched to your home to assess or repair a damaged item. The lower your selected service fee, the higher your monthly payment, and vice versa.
Below is a cost breakdown for a single-family home at three different service fees in St. Paul, Minnesota:
| Plan | $75 Service Fee | $100 Service Fee | $125 Service Fee |
| System Plan | $45.50 | $43.17 | $40.17 |
| Silver Plan | $38.33 | $35.92 | $33.58 |
| Gold Plan | $52.75 | $50.33 | $47.92 |
| Platinum Plan | $57.50 | $55.08 | $52.75 |
Select Home Warranty
4.2
Our Rating
Select Home Warranty is known for its low monthly premiums and affordable service fee of $75. The provider serves customers in 46 states and offers free roof leak coverage for all customers, no matter which plan you choose for your home. In addition to its comprehensive plans, the provider offers eight optional add-ons to help customers round out their coverage.
Select Home Warranty offers policyholders coverage through three plans: Bronze Care, Gold Care and Platinum Care. The Bronze Care Plan protects eight major appliances while the Gold Care Plan covers six essential home systems.
Here’s a detailed look at Select Home Warranty’s coverage:
- Bronze Plan (starting at $52/month): The Bronze Plan is one of the basic offerings from Select Home Warranty that only covers appliances. You’ll have protection for your refrigerator, stove, cooktop, microwave, garbage disposal, washers, and dryers. This is an affordable plan with great appliance coverage for those who don’t need their home systems insured.
- Gold Plan (starting at $52/month): The Gold Plan is the systems plan option from Select Home Warranty. It covers major home systems like plumbing, electrical, heating, and air conditioning. It also includes coverage for water heaters and HVAC ductwork.
- Platinum Plan (starting at $57/month): At just $5 more than the other plan options, the Platinum Plan is the most comprehensive offering from Select Home Warranties. It covers all appliances and systems in both the Bronze Plan and the Gold Plan, and it also adds coverage for plumbing blockages, ceiling fans, and garage door openers.
For complete coverage, the provider offers its Platinum Care Plan, which combines coverage from the previous two plans while adding protection for your garage door openers, plumbing stoppages and ceiling fan. Additionally, Select offers a variety of optional add-ons, listed below:
- Central vacuum
- Lawn sprinkler system
- Pool
- Roof leak
- Septic system
- Spa
- Stand alone freezer
- Sump pump
- Well pump
| Coverage | Bronze Care | Gold Care | Platinum Care |
| Air conditioning | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Ductwork | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Electrical system | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Heating system | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Plumbing system | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Water heater | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Cooktop | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Dishwasher | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Garbage disposal | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Built-in microwave | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Refrigerator | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Stove/Oven | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Clothes washer | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Clothes dryer | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Garage door openers | ✓ | ||
| Plumbing stoppages | ✓ | ||
| Ceiling fan | ✓ |
Select Home Warranty offers three affordable plans that can be paid on a monthly basis or through yearly contracts. The provider offers two free months to help you save additional money if you choose a yearly lump sum.
Here’s a look at each plan’s cost for a single-family home in St. Paul, Minnesota:
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Yearly Cost |
| Platinum Care | $46.08 | $499.99 |
| Gold Care | $41.67 | $449.99 |
| Bronze Care | $41.67 | $449.99 |
Liberty Home Guard
4.5
Our Rating
Liberty Home Guard (LHG) is a relative newcomer in the industry that’s already made an impact, serving customers in all 50 states and offering one of the cheapest service fees in the business at $60. To keep customers saving money, the provider has three affordable plans to match its low deductible. Additionally, LHG has a wide variety of optional add-ons, offering extra protection for 28 different items.
Liberty Home Guard gives customers the choice of three plans: Appliance Guard, Systems Guard and Total Home Guard. Appliance Guard protects nine of your essential appliances while Systems Guard protects six major home systems.
For the most comprehensive coverage, LHG offers its Total Home Guard. This plan covers all items in the previous two plans, protecting 15 appliances and systems, such as your clothes washer, air conditioning, ductwork and water heater. Additionally, the provider has 28 optional add-ons, offering coverage for items such as lighting fixtures, swamp cooler and central vacuum.
Here’s a detailed look at Liberty Home Guard’s coverage:
- Appliance Guard (starting at $65/month): As you might have guessed, the Appliance Guard plan includes coverage for most home appliances. It includes refrigerators, stoves, microwaves, dishwashers, ice makers, cooktop exhaust fans, garbage disposals, washers, dryers, garage door openers, and ceiling fans. This plan is a bit on the expensive side for appliances only, but it covers most appliances.
- Systems Guard (starting at $70/month): The Systems Guard plan excludes all appliances and instead offers protection for your home systems. You’ll get peace of mind when it comes to plumbing, electrical, heating, and air conditioning systems, as well as water heaters, HVAC ductwork, toilets, and bathroom exhaust fans.
- Total Home Guard (starting at $75/month): The Total Home Guard plan is, by far, the best deal and the most comprehensive option from Liberty Home Guard. This plan is just a few dollars more per month than the others, but it covers everything that the two others do in one comprehensive coverage plan.
| Coverage | Appliance Guard | Systems Guard | Total Home Guard |
| Clothes washer | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Clothes dryer | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Refrigerator | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Built-in microwave | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Dishwasher | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Garbage disposal | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Range/oven/cooktop | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Ceiling and exhaust fans | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Garage-door openers | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Air conditioning | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Heating system | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Ductwork system | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Plumbing system | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Electrical system | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Water heater | ✔ | ✔ |
Liberty Home Guard has three affordable plans that each come with a $60 service fee. Like many competitors, LHG helps customers save money by offering two free months when you sign up for a yearly contract. Take a look at the price breakdown for a single-family home in Minnesota.
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Cost of Single Payment |
| Appliance Guard | $49.99 | $499.99 |
| Systems Guard | $54.99 | $549.99 |
| Total Home Guard | $59.99 | $599.99 |
Other Home Warranty Resources
- What is a Home Warranty?
- How Much Do Home Warranties Cost?
- Is a Home Warranty Worth It for You?
- Best Home Warranties in 2023
- Do Your Appliances Need Extended Warranties?
How to Choose the Best Home Warranty in Minnesota
Now that you have your options narrowed down to the top five, it’s time to choose the one that is best suited for your Minnesota home. There are several key features you can look for across these plans to ensure that you choose the best one for you. A few things that we would consider looking into are the overall pricing, BBB ratings, and exclusions.
- Overall Pricing: The overall pricing of the plan is going to be a combination of the monthly price and the service fees. You may have a budget in mind, and you will have to choose a plan that stays within budget but also offers the coverage that you need.
- BBB Ratings: BBB ratings are typically a good indication of what to expect from a company. Reading these reviews can help you see how a home warranty company handles issues that come up.
- Exclusions: All home warranty companies will have exclusions. These can be anything from certain expensive parts in an appliance or an entire brand of appliances. Make sure that you carefully look into the exclusions to make sure you don’t run into a problem when you file a claim.
All of the above criteria are crucial considerations to make when choosing a home warranty in Minnesota. There are some local factors that come into play when deciding as well, though.
One such factor is the long and frigid winter that Minnesotans experience every year. The monthly lows in MN can remain under 60 degrees for every month but July, which means your heating system could be running almost year-round. This puts immense stress on the equipment, so you should consider a plan that covers heating systems to stay adequately protected.
Another thing you’ll want to consider is the high humidity throughout the state in the summers. Elevated humidity levels can not only put added stress on your refrigerator to keep food cool and dry, but it can also make your home feel less comfortable in terms of temperature. As a result, many homeowners increase their heat or AC accordingly, putting more strain on equipment and increasing the likelihood of it failing. A home warranty that covers heating, AC, and refrigerators will be particularly useful in Minnesota.
Biggest Complaints about Home Warranty Companies in Minnesota
Most Minnesota homeowners are happy with the coverage they receive from home warranty companies. However, as is the case in any industry, there are some complaints that appear frequently in customer reviews.
One of the most commonly complained about factors when it comes to home warranties is denied coverage with lack of reason or explanation. In some cases, it’s likely that these complaints were made because of a lack of understanding about the limitations of the home warranty. It’s crucial that you read your service contract carefully and know about limitations and exclusions. In other cases, it could be disingenuous home warranty companies trying to save money. You should always go with a reputable provider, like the ones we have reviewed above.
Another complaint we see about home warranties from Minnesota residents is higher out-of-pocket costs than were expected. It’s crucial to remember that home warranties have coverage caps, above which the repair costs will be your responsibility. You can choose a company based, at least in part, on the coverage caps you think you need.
Are Home Warranties Worth it in Minnesota?
There’s no guarantee that a home warranty will save you money, but most homeowners do find that their home warranty provides substantial savings in the long run.
It’s easy to see the potential value of a home warranty if you look at average costs for common home repairs and services:
- Average cost for a plumber: $300
- Average cost for an electrician: $275
- Average cost for an HVAC repair: $275
- Average cost for fridge repair: $250
- Average fridge replacement cost: $2,000
- Average cost for a roof leak repair: $1,500
Now consider that, with a home warranty, all you’ll pay for most of these repairs and replacements is the $85 service call fee. That amounts to massive savings, even if you only experience one of these repair needs per year. Most homeowners will see more than one annually, making home warranties an even better deal.
For many Minnesota residents, a home warranty is worth it just for the peace of mind it provides. You’ll never have to worry about your budget unexpectedly being blown on an appliance or home system repair again.
Our Verdict
A Minnesota home warranty provides the peace of mind that your essential home systems and appliances are taken care of should they break down due to normal wear and tear. This protection keeps you from paying out of pocket for expensive repairs and replacements while helping you resolve issues around the house as quickly as possible.
While we recommend all the providers in this review, our top choice is American Home Shield. The company’s comprehensive protection plans and extensive industry experience make it a particularly high-quality option. Regardless of which home warranty company you select, it’s important to receive quotes from multiple providers so that you can compare plans, rates and coverage options.
Frequently Asked Questions About Minnesota Home Warranties
How long are home warranties?
Most home warranty plans last one year and can be paid month-to-month or in one lump sum. However, some providers offer discounted multi-year plans if you pay the total amount at the beginning of your coverage.
What is a home warranty?
Also known as a home service contract, a home warranty covers repair or replacement costs for your current or new home’s systems and appliances when they break down due to normal wear and tear. This is different from homeowners insurance, which only covers property damage incurred through natural disasters and other unexpected events.
Are home warranties worth it?
With Minneapolis ranking 15th for homes selling above asking price, a home warranty is worth it in Minnesota.
What is the best home warranty company in Minnesota?
Minnesota homeowners are lucky to have the Choice Home Warranty plan in place. This is a well-done home warranty policy with a good range of coverage options, more than 13 years in the industry, and impressive customer service. You can easily qualify for Choice Home Warranty coverage even if you live in an older home.
Who needs a home warranty?
Any Minnesota homeowner that is worried about the unexpected expenses of repair and replacement of systems and appliances in the home will benefit from a home warranty. If you know how to fix your own HVAC or dishwasher, a home warranty might not be a good fit. However, having a home warranty in place typically saves both time and money.
Home Warranty Rating Methodology
To help you find the best home warranty, our reviews team researched numerous home warranty companies, analyzing their coverage plans, pricing and customer service, among other factors:
- Coverage: Home warranty companies that provide extensive coverage and protect important systems and appliances, including your air conditioning, refrigerator and heating, scored higher than companies with minimal coverage.
- Plan variety: A provider with more coverage plans allows for more flexibility among customers. In general, most home warranty companies provide an appliances-only plan, systems-only plan and combination plan.
- Pricing: We scored providers based on their monthly plan prices and service call fees compared to the industry average pricing. Companies with more affordable coverage received more points than companies with more expensive plans.
- State availability: Where you live will determine what companies are available in your area. Home warranty companies that covered more states received more points than companies with a limited state availability.
- Trustworthiness: There are some home warranty companies that are scams and don’t follow through on their service agreements. We rated companies based on their years of experience, ratings on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and customer reviews.
To keep our data current, our team regularly updates the data points for each company to ensure their coverage offerings, pricing and availability are accurate.
