The state of South Dakota offers many incredible benefits to homeowners. With no state income tax, beautiful surroundings, lots of land, and affordable homes purchasing a home in South Dakota can be a dream come true. However, homeownership comes with its fair share of ups and downs. The systems and appliances in a South Dakota home can be difficult to repair and manage.
The winters in South Dakota are tough, and if you experience a breakdown of your heating system or hot water heater, you will be glad to have a home warranty in place. In our guide featuring the best home warranty company in South Dakota, we will explain how to choose a SD home warranty, why a home warranty is necessary, and the best companies for a home warranty in South Dakota.
South Dakota Top 4 Home Warranty Companies
Compare the Best Home Warranty Companies in South Dakota
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 in-depth reviews of several top providers.
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–$99.99 | $75–$125 | $6,000 | 24–72 hours | 4.5 | 50 States |
 | $49.99–$69.99+ | $65–$125 | $2,000 | 12–48 hours | 4.3 | 47 states, excluding NV, WA, and WI |
 | $60.42–$63.75+ | $60–$75 | $3,000 | 24–48 hours | 4.2 | 47 states, excluding NV, WA, and WI |
 | $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. Cost data are updated and monitored continuously.
Choice Home Warranty
4.1
Our Rating
Choice Home Warranty is the best overall home warranty in the state of South Dakota. A Choice Home Warranty has a very straightforward service contract that will allow homeowners to see the exact coverages that they have in place. Choice Home Warranty does everything it can to make the entire process of owning a home quite a bit less stressful. With more than 13 years in the home warranty industry, Choice has become one of the most trusted names on the market. You will love the fair pricing and broad coverage options offered by Choice Home Warranty.
- Our Take: Best Overall
- Average Annual Cost: [$550] – [$650]
- Response Time: Up to 48 hours
Unlike other companies that offer three or four plans, Choice only offers two. However, these plans are both combo plans, as they both contain system and appliance coverage. Having both of these coverage choices are going to help ensure that you have more peace of mind about your South Dakota home. There are also several add-on options that can help make your Choice Home Warranty more comprehensive. The service fees from Choice Home Warranty are $85, which is slightly below the industry average.
Here’s a detailed look at Choice Home Warranty’s coverage:
- Basic Plan ($42 per month): The Basic Plan from Choice Home Warranty covers 13 items, including plumbing system, ceiling fans, garbage disposal, heating system, cooktop exhaust fans, microwave, dishwasher, ductwork, electrical system, garage door opener, oven, toilet, and water heater.
- Total Plan ($53.33 per month): The Total Plan is the more comprehensive plan and covers all 13 items in the Basic Plan, plus an additional four items. The Total Plan includes the clothes washer, dryer, refrigerator, and air conditioner coverage. With the Total Plan, you only pay a few dollars more per month, but you get excellent coverage.
Choice Home Warranty has several add-on coverages that you can add to either of its plans.
- Roof leak coverage (single-family homes only)
- Central Vacuum
- Septic Tank
- Well Pump
- Pool
- Spa (Can be combined with pool coverage if the equipment is shared)
- Sump Pump (must be permanently installed)
- Stand Alone Freezer
Liberty Home Guard
4.5
Our Rating
Liberty Home Guard is the most trustworthy home warranty in the state of South Dakota. Purchasing a home warranty is a significant step; however, you must trust the company that you have hired. Liberty Home Guard will show up when they say they will work with you to keep your home in excellent working condition. The Liberty Home Guard has an A rating with the BBB. After just two years in the business, the A rating is an impressive accomplishment. South Dakota homeowners with lots of systems and appliances in their homes will enjoy what the Liberty Home Guard plan has to offer.
- Our Take: Most Trustworthy
- Average Annual Cost: [$649] – [$749]
- Response Time: Within 24 hours
There are three Liberty Home Guard policies offered to South Dakota residents. The three policies include a systems plan, appliance plan, and combo plan. The three plans have very broad coverage ranges. In addition, the add-on options from Liberty Home Guard are quite impressive. You can add anything from an extra spa to floor cleaning coverage to your home warranty plan.
Here’s a detailed look at Liberty Home Guard’s coverage:
- Appliance Guard ($64.99 per month): The Appliance Guard plan from Liberty Home Guard has coverage for 11 major appliances, including garage door opener, ceiling fans, cooktop exhaust fan, oven, refrigerator, garbage disposal, dishwasher, microwave, clothes washer, clothes dryer, and refrigerator ice-maker.
- Systems Guard ($69.99 per month): The Systems Guard plan is a systems-only option with nine systems. These systems are the electrical system, air conditioner, bath exhaust fan, heating system, toilet, ductwork, plumbing and plumbing stoppages, and water heater.
- Total Home Guard ($74.99 per month): The Total Home Guard is the best value from LHG. Total Home Guard has more than 20 covered systems and appliances. The Total Home Guard is a combination of the Systems Guard and Appliance Guard, and it tends to be the most popular choice for South Dakota residents.
Liberty Home Guard has one of the most extensive lists of add-on coverages in the industry; these will include:
- Pool and spa
- Additional spa (Billed as an extra to the pool system)
- Saltwater pool
- Gutter cleaning
- Floor/carpet cleaning
- Sump pump
- Fixtures
- Water softener
- Trash compactor
- Lawn sprinkler system (all mechanical parts)
- Electronics protection
- Swamp cooler
- Ejector pump
- Septic system pumping
- Limited roof leak
- Pest control
- Locksmith
- Free-standing ice maker
- Central vacuum
- Stand-alone freezer
- Re-key
- Second refrigerator
- Wine refrigerator
- Well pump
- TV and PC
- Generator
- Water dispenser
Select Home Warranty
4.2
Our Rating
Select Home Warranty is the most cost-effective home warranty plan for South Dakota homeowners. If you are a South Dakota homeowner, you will find that it can get quite expensive. Adding a home warranty policy to the monthly budget is a tough decision. Select Home Warranty helps to make this a much easier choice by offering an affordable yet effective home warranty plan. Select Home Warranty has been in the industry for close to ten years. They are known for having a very high level of workmanship quality.
- Our Take: Most Cost-Effective
- Average Annual Cost: [$579] – [$650]
- Response Time: Up to 48 hours
There are three Select Home Warranty policies to choose from; however one will stand out as the clear winner. The Select Home Warranty Platinum Care plan offers twice the coverage of the other plans offered, and it is just a few dollars more per month. In addition, the plan comes with free roof leak coverage, an add-on that most companies will charge quite a bit extra for. If the roof leak coverage is not enough, there are other add-ons that you can include as part of your policy with Select Home Warranty. The Select Home Warranty has a service fee that is $65.
Here’s a detailed look at Select Home Warranty’s coverage:
- Bronze Care ($52 per month): The Bronze Care plan is an appliance-only home warranty plan. This plan covers seven major appliances, including a refrigerator, built-in microwave, clothes washer and dryer, oven, garbage disposal, and cooktop. For those on a strict budget, the Bronze Care can be a good choice, but there are quite a few exclusions.
- Gold Care ($52 per month): The Gold Care plan is a system-only plan from Select Home Warranty. There is coverage for six systems; plumbing, air conditioning, heating, water heaters, electrical systems, and ductwork.
- Platinum Care ($58 per month): The Platinum Care plan will include all of the appliances under the Bronze Care plan and all of the systems under the Gold Care Plan. This plan is just $6 more per month, but the total amount of coverage for both home appliances and major systems is nearly doubled.
Select Home Warranty has several add-on coverages that you can attach to either of its plans; roof leak coverage is included without paying extra.
- Central vacuums (Does not include clogged pipes)
- Lawn sprinkler systems
- Pools (Can combine with spa coverage if the equipment is shared)
- Spas
- Stand-alone freezers
- Sump pump (must be within the foundation of the home)
- Well pump
American Home Shield
4.2
Our Rating
American Home Shield is the most customizable plan in South Dakota. Each South Dakota home is unique, and your home warranty coverage should reflect that. American Home Shield has been in the industry for the last 50 years. Through that time, they have developed a strong network of service professionals and technicians to handle the issues in your South Dakota home. American Home Shield is known for having premium coverage and impressive customer service. Although some of the plans may cost a few dollars more per month, the coverage caps and limits are quite high.
- Our Take: Best Customizable Plans
- Average Annual Cost: [$479] – [$779]
- Response Time: Up to 48 hours
There are three American Home Shield policies on the market; however, the combo or comprehensive plans are the most popular. Having a mix of appliance and system coverage allows for greater peace of mind about the home. The American Home Shield plan also has quite a few add-on choices that make it easier for you to get the exact coverage that you need. The AHS plans have a customizable service fee that ranges from $75 to $125.
Here’s a detailed look at American Home Shield’s coverage:
- ShieldSilver™ ($39.99 per month): The ShieldSilver plan covers 14 home systems, including air conditioning, electrical system, smoke alarms, water heater, central vacuums, doorbells, garage door opener, heating system, garbage disposals, ceiling fans, instant hot/cold water dispenser plumbing, and ductwork. Even though this is a systems-only plan, there is some excellent coverage for the lower monthly premium.
- ShieldGold™ ($49.99 per month): ShieldGold is the combo plan covering both systems and appliances. There are 23 home systems and appliances on this plan. The ShieldGold plan has additional coverages, including a clothes washer, dishwasher, clothes dryer, microwave, oven, and refrigerator.
- ShieldPlatinum™ ($64.99 per month): The ShieldPlatinum plan includes 27 systems and appliances. Pricing for ShieldPlatinum is slightly higher, but it is one of the more premium home warranty plan choices in the state of South Dakota. The ShieldPlatinum has higher coverage caps and impressive overall features, making it a very popular choice in SD.
American Home Shield also offers several add-on coverages for homeowners to consider.
- Septic system (first-year customers only, nonrenewable)
- Pool
- Spa
- PC
- TV (includes home theater system)
- Well pump coverage
Home Warranties in South Dakota Cities
How Much Does a Home Warranty in South Dakota Cost?
The average cost of a home warranty plan in South Dakota is $725 a year. This is for an average home with an average-level plan. However, if you want to cut coverages a bit or add coverages the pricing could change considerably. South Dakota homeowners will need to find a plan that matches the needs of their home with their budget. If you are looking for a premier plan with very low replacement costs, except that the pricing is going to be higher. Choose a home warranty with an adjustable service fee or deductible to ensure that you get a balance between the monthly payment and the out-of-pocket expenses.
| Overall | $726.92 |
| Single-Family | $587.22 |
| Multi-Family | $1,094.05 |
| Townhome | $493.09 |
| Condo | $614.55 |
| Duplex | $899.75 |
| Home Over 5,000 sq ft | $1,294.73 |
| Home Under 10,000 sq ft | $649.45 |
Final Thoughts
At this point, you should have a bit less confusion as to which home warranty is the best for your South Dakota home. Living in South Dakota has so many benefits, but if your systems and appliances are continually costing you time and money, you won’t be able to enjoy them quite as much. Choice Home Warranty stands out as the best overall choice for a home warranty in South Dakota. Choice is easy to work with, has more than 13 years of experience, and will help to make your home warranty purchase relatively smooth. It makes sense to get a few quotes from the home warranty companies on our top four list. Comparing pricing and coverage is a great way to ensure you get a deal on your home warranty.
How to Choose the Best Home Warranty in South Dakota
Now that we have narrowed your list of potential home warranty policies down to the top four, it is time to break them down and come up with the top choice. It’s important to compare these policies and determine which is the best value. Three things to look at in a plan include coverage caps or limits, optional coverages, and service fees.
- Coverage Caps: The coverage cap is the amount a home warranty company will payout for any individual system or appliance repair. Some coverage caps will be as high as $3000, and others will be around $500. If you have high-end appliances, choose a higher coverage limit or cap.
- Optional Coverages: Optional coverages in a plan include things like swimming pools and spas. If your home has many unique features not covered under a typical policy, these optional coverages are essential to consider.
- Service Fees: Every home warranty plan has service fees associated with it. The service fees on the South Dakota home warranty will range in price from around $60 to $150. Ensure that you choose something that fits within your budget.
South Dakota can experience a wide range of climate and weather conditions. Homeowners will notice that these changes in temperature and overall harsh environment can cause some issues with home systems and appliances. Three of the top home maintenance problems in South Dakota include electrical systems, plumbing systems, and HVAC systems.
- Electrical Systems: The electrical system in the home is responsible for keeping all systems and appliances running. When the electrical systems malfunctions, it could be caused by several reasons. Electricians will charge a fee just to come to the home and determine the issue. With a home warranty in place, you will only be responsible for the service fee.
- Plumbing Systems: Plumbing systems can experience period blockages. These blockages can cause quite a mess in your South Dakota home. Luckily a home warranty with plumbing coverage will typically cover the blockages, stoppages, and other plumbing system issues that could come up.
- HVAC Systems: Having an HVAC system during the South Dakota summers is a critical feature in a home. However, the issue with this system is that it is expensive to repair. One small part for an HVAC could be hundreds of dollars. However, with a home warranty in place, the price will just be your service fee.
What is a Home Warranty?
A home warranty is a savings plan that will help South Dakota homeowners who are tired of paying high out-of-pocket expenses for home systems and appliances. The home warranty is a great way to save money while also enjoying peace of mind about your South Dakota home. Homeowners in South Dakota can get protection for the refrigerator, electrical system, and even the swimming pool. Home warranty plans will typically range from around $30 a month to more than $70 a month, and they are offered by a large number of providers in the SD area.
Home Warranty vs. Homeowners Insurance
Homeowners’ insurance and home warranties are two different things. The homeowners insurance policy is designed to help homeowners that need to cover large issues like tornadoes, hurricanes, or even a fire. The homeowner’s insurance plan is sometimes mandatory if you have a mortgage on your home. Home warranty plans cover the systems and appliances that we use on an everyday basis. Things like the microwave and your plumbing system are all covered under the home warranty. Homeowners insurance can save you from major disasters, and the home warranty will help make day-to-day life more affordable and less stressful.
How Does a Home Warranty in South Dakota Work?
Now that you have a better idea of what a home warranty is, it’s smart to get an idea of how this plan will work to help you protect your home. Homeowners in South Dakota will have to spend some time choosing the right home warranty, and then once the warranty is in place, everything else should be quite easy to manage.
- Find a home warranty plan that meets the needs of your South Dakota home while also keeping your budget in mind
- Wait the 10-30 days before the home warranty will go into full effect
- If you experience an issue with a home system or appliance, check your policy documents or the online portal system to see if it will be covered as part of your home warranty plan
- Submit a claim with your home warranty provider, typically through the online portal system or by calling the number on your policy documents
- Pay the service call fee, and the technician or contractor will come to your home complete your repair
- Once the issue is inspected, options for repair or replacement will be presented to homeowners; if the appliance or system can’t be repaired, the home warranty plan may offer replacement costs
- Repair should happen within 24-72 hours; the only thing that typically delays a repair is wait times on parts
- If a repair fails, a home warranty workmanship guarantee should help cover the additional service fee
What does a Home Warranty Cover?
A home warranty plan will cover three basic categories, home systems, home appliances, and add-on coverages. The add-on coverages typically include things like sprinkler systems, swimming pools, carpet cleaning, and more. These won’t be included as part of the plan and instead will add to the overall costs. Most of the add-on coverages start at about $5 extra per month.
The home appliances typically included in the home warranty plan can include things like the refrigerator or stove and even the washer and dryer. Home systems are typically the most expensive to replace, and the coverage for those includes things like plumbing systems, electrical systems, and septic coverage.
A home warranty will only cover your appliances, systems, and add-on for normal wear. Some home warranty plans will cover the entire item, while others will have exclusions for specific parts. Understanding exactly what is covered and not covered under your home warranty plan is essential to be able to get your money’s worth out of your plan.
What is Not Covered by a Home Warranty?
Some home warranty providers will require an inspection before the start of the policy. The inspection will let homeowners know exactly what pre-existing issues are already a problem in the home. These will not be covered under the home warranty plan. Home warranty providers will deny claims for pre-existing issues and intentional breakage. Here are a few of the things that are not covered by a home warranty plan:
- Cosmetic issues
- Preexisting conditions
- Natural disasters
- Lack of maintenance and upkeep
- Intentional breakage
- Misuse of a system or appliance
Biggest Complaints about Home Warranty Companies in South Dakota
As great as home warranty coverage is for South Dakota homeowners, there are some complaints that people have. No home warranty provider is perfect, and there are issues that can come up with even the most premium policy. Let’s take a look at a few of the negatives that you can experience with these plans so that you have a better idea of what to expect.
- Claim Denial: a home warranty claim can get denied for a number of reasons. Keeping really good maintenance records and ensuring that you are always using the appliances and systems in your home as they are intended to be used will certainly help keep you happier with your home warranty plan.
- Failed Repair: with a home warranty, there will sometimes be failed repairs. These repairs are unfortunate as they often require an additional appointment with a service provider. When it comes to failed repairs, make sure that you choose a home warranty plan with an extensive workmanship guarantee.
- Out of Pocket Expenses: sometimes, a home warranty replacement is necessary. These can cause homeowners to come out of pocket even when having this home warranty in place. If you want to avoid large out-of-pocket expenses, try to ensure that you choose a plan with a high coverage cap.
Are home warranties worth it?
A South Dakota home warranty is worth the price that you will pay. At the current time, it will cost more than a service fee just to have a handyman or repair technician come to your home to diagnose an issue. Something like an HVAC repair could cost you hundreds if not thousands of dollars. The South Dakota home warranty ensures that you are only responsible for a service fee.
Home warranties are known to save homeowners both time and money. If you are tired of searching for great repair technicians and having to negotiate pricing, the home warranty will handle all of this for you. Most homeowners find that a home warranty pays for itself after just one or two repairs.
Keep in mind that one of the main benefits of the home warranty for South Dakota homeowners is the peace of mind you can have about homeownership. Ensuring that your mind is clear and you can enjoy living in your home is a tremendous reason to invest in a home warranty policy.
FAQs About South Dakota Home Warranties
How much does a home warranty cost in South Dakota?
Home warranties in South Dakota can range in price from $35 to $80 per month. If you are on a budget and want to add a home warranty to your South Dakota home, the appliance-only or system the only plan is the best choice. Expensive options include lots of add-on coverages and typically lower service fees.
What is a service fee?
A service fee is a price you pay for a technician or repair person to come to your own and inspect and repair a covered item. The service fee should be the only additional cost incurred by a homeowner with a home warranty in place. Service fees will range in price from $60 to $150.
What is the best home warranty company in South Dakota?
South Dakota homeowners are lucky to have access to Choice Home Warranty. This is the best home warranty in South Dakota, and it comes with the most favorable pricing. Choice Home Warranty is an easy company to work with, and they offer straightforward contracts to help ensure you always know what is covered under your plan.
Is a home warranty worth it?
Most South Dakota homeowners will find that it only takes one or two repairs to justify the entire cost of the home warranty plan. The cost of a simple HVAC repair without a home warranty in place could cost hundreds of dollars. With a home warranty, it will only cost you the price of your service fee. This concept will offer homeowners tremendous peace of mind.
Today's Homeowner Home Warranty Ranking Methodology
At Today's Homeowner, transparency and trust are our most important values for the reader.
To create this rating system, our team spent hours researching over 60 companies, analyzing 2500+ key data points, getting the thoughts and opinions of 1000+ homeowners, and speaking to home warranty company representatives directly. We also dug into the fine print on each company’s service agreement to ensure no detail was left out.
We developed an objective home warranty review and rating methodology to score each home warranty company based on several criteria. We used a five-point scale with a point index ranging from 0.00 to 1.00. The minimum awardable value is 0.0, whereas 1.00 is the maximum. These numeric points are translated into star ratings, using whole star increments between one and five.
Here is a quick breakdown of our five core scoring categories:
- Coverage (0.4): This category evaluates the scope of protection offered by a home warranty provider. We clearly distinguished between limited or broad coverage to help homeowners identify their own home protection needs. We also factor in claim turnaround times, average waiting period lengths, plan types, annual coverage limits, policy exclusions, etc.
- Cost (0.3): This category considers what home warranty companies charge homeowners monthly, annual, and out-of-pocket. We urge homeowners also to consider the cost-to-value ratio of a home warranty plan.
- Transparency and Trustworthiness (0.15): This category evaluates home warranty providers based on pending or past legal action, hidden fees, lack of information readily available on the website, exclusions, and more. We consider how upfront a company is to its potential policyholders, which says a lot about its products and services.
- Customer Support and Satisfaction (.09): This category evaluates the efficacy of a home warranty company’s effort to provide supportive guidance to inquiring customers and how policyholders are satisfied with the assistance they receive.
- Customization (.06): This category evaluates the ability of homeowners to adjust and choose their policy details, such as pricing variation, optional add-ons, and the number of plans available.
