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6 best home warranty companies in Austin, Texas

HOMEFRONT

Updated Jun 22, 2024

Get a quote from our top provider, Liberty Home Guard

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Home warranties offer a financial buffer to fix or replace appliances that suddenly fail. For a monthly fee, these policies insure items like AC units and refrigerators when they malfunction from regular wear and tear.

Many essential home components won't last over 10–15 years before needing service, according to the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors. HVAC systems typically operate for seven to 25 years. Water heaters tend to last just six to 12 years on average, and most major appliances go kaput in under 20 years.

If your Austin home has a dishwasher, furnace or any other everyday appliance within that age range, you will likely experience an unexpected breakdown. The top three home warranty companies listed below provide generous coverage at affordable rates.

Austin's fiercely hot summers make an air conditioner malfunction pricy and even hazardous. You can have extra peace of mind with a home warranty that has major appliance and system coverage. The national providers below carry top plans and benefits.

Our Top Pick
Provider logo
4.5
Our Rating
  • Extends 60-day workmanship guarantee
  • Holds high customer ratings
  • Offers customization with 38 add-ons
Explore Plans
Provider logo
4.4
Our Rating
  • Covers rust and corrosion damage
  • Offers comprehensive coverage limits
  • Provides flexible service fees
Limited Time Offer: 50% Off
Explore Plans
Provider logo
3.8
Our Rating
  • Charges low premiums
  • Includes roof-leak coverage
  • Offers solid HVAC coverage
Explore Plans

Find the best home warranty for you in Austin

Here's our list of the best home warranty companies in Austin:

2-10 Home Buyers Warranty

2-10 Home Buyers Warranty

4.5/5

Average monthly costs: $22.00 - $80.00

2-10 offers flexible service fees and perks like an appliance color-match program. Through its "Even If" guarantee, it also refunds service fees if repairing or replacing a covered item isn't possible.

What we like

  • Offers a $25,000 annual coverage cap
  • Pairs plans with a plan-length workmanship guarantee
  • Offers unique perks such as color matching appliance replacements

What we don't like

  • Charges a monthly processing fee if you choose monthly premiums
  • Excludes washer and dryer coverage from most plans
Liberty Home Guard

Liberty Home Guard

4.6/5

Average monthly costs: $49.99 - $59.99

Liberty Home Guard offers plans with a 60-day workmanship guarantee on completed repairs. Compared to other providers in this piece, it also provides the largest number of coverage add-ons – 38 in total.

What we like

  • Holds high ratings among customer service reviews
  • Covers repairs with a 60-day workmanship guarantee
  • Offers an extensive list of 40+ add-on coverages
  • Provides an easy claims process

What we don't like

  • Lacks transparency on service call fee pricing
  • Excludes coverage for known or unknown pre-existing conditions
American Home Shield

American Home Shield

4.4/5

Average monthly costs: $29.99 - $89.99

Founded in 1971, American Home Shield was one of the country's first home warranty companies. Today, it offers three coverage plans and six supplementary add-ons.

What we like

  • Offers generous coverage caps
  • Allows customers to build their own plans
  • Provides the option to choose the service fee you want to pay

What we don't like

  • Doesn’t let customers choose their own technician
  • Offers limited add-on options
First American Home Warranty

First American Home Warranty

4.2/5

Average monthly costs: $47.00 - $87.00

First American Home Warranty has comprehensive coverage caps for appliances in each plan. Additionally, First American includes its First American Advantage upgrade in its Essential and Premium plans. This upgrade provides coverage for miscellaneous items, such as appliance knobs and dials.

What we like

  • Allows you to choose your service call fee
  • Doesn’t have a coverage cap on heating, cooling, or ductwork
  • Accepts 24/7 service calls
  • Offers replacement of some covered items that are too damaged to repair

What we don't like

  • Doesn’t let customers choose their own contractor
  • Charges higher for coverage compared to other providers
Cinch Home Services

Cinch Home Services

4.3/5

Average monthly costs: $38.99 - $66.99

Cinch Home Services provides coverage perks other companies don’t, such as a homeowners insurance deductible reimbursement. Like most home warranty companies, Cinch offers flexible service fees that raise or lower your plan premium.

What we like

  • Offers home insurance deductible of $500
  • Extends a long 180-day workmanship guarantee
  • Provides generous $10,000 aggregate coverage limit

What we don't like

  • Charges high service fees of $100-$150
  • Doesn’t allow customers to choose their own technician
  • Isn’t available in Hawaii or Alaska
Select Home Warranty

Select Home Warranty

3.9/5

Average monthly costs: $44.42 - $47.75

Roof leak repair coverage is a rare perk that Select offers to its customers. It's also a good company to keep on your shortlist if affordable premiums are your top priority.

What we like

  • Provides low service fees compared to other home warranty providers
  • Includes two extra months of coverage in annual signup
  • Has an appliance-only, systems-only, and combo plan option

What we don't like

  • Has a $75 cancellation fee
  • Low coverage caps

Cost of a home warranty in Austin

The typical monthly cost of a home warranty in Austin is $41 to $70, in line with the national average. If you're paying on an annual basis, expect to spend roughly $563.62–$927.48 per year. To calculate national cost data, we requested hundreds of quotes for 2,000-square-foot, single-family homes across each state that the providers service.

Home warranty coverage

Home warranties provide coverage for a variety of major systems and home appliances. We'll present a general overview of the two main coverage categories.

What are the typical items covered under a home warranty?

  • Built-in microwaves
  • Refrigerators
  • Cooktops
  • Clothes dryers
  • Washing machines
  • Dishwashers

The first category of items a home warranty protects is kitchen and living appliances. This covers the following: The second category of protected items under a home warranty is major systems. Not every plan covers the same major systems. However, you can find coverage for any of these items:

  • HVAC
  • Central vacuum
  • Plumbing
  • Water heater
  • Electrical

What items are typically not covered under a home warranty?

Home warranties, like most service contracts, don't cover everything. Generally, home warranties don't cover item breakdowns caused by damage outside of normal wear and tear. For example, if your air conditioner malfunctions due to a dirty air filter, home warranty companies likely won't cover the repairs since air filter replacement falls under routine maintenance.

    Additionally, home warranties won't cover the following:
  • Acts of nature
  • Rust or corrosion damage
  • Cosmetic damage
  • Hazardous waste
  • Improper system or appliance installation
  • Preexisting conditions

Questions to ask home warranty providers in Austin

Before purchasing a home warranty coverage plan, we recommend asking providers the following questions.

What items does my policy cover?

First, determine what items need coverage before requesting a home warranty quote. Some providers separate appliance and system coverage, so verify that the company has plans to meet your particular needs. Companies might also offer additional coverage, like central vacuum and roof leak protection, as add-ons. Consider what supplements you might need and how much they'll add to the cost.

How long is my home warranty good for?

Generally, home warranty contracts last for one year after the coverage effective date, which is 30 days after the initial sign-up date. Companies require this 30-day waiting period to deter customers from filing claims for preexisting conditions. You can get coverage beyond 12 months with a multiyear plan.

What contractors do you work with?

When researching a home warranty company, ask which service contractors it partners with in your area. Many home warranty providers will let you choose your own local contractor if they don’t have an in-network provider near you. The contractor must be licensed and registered in Austin to obtain repair approval from the home warranty provider. You can verify a contractor's license by searching your local or county government database.

How does your claims approval process work?

Knowledge of your warranty company's claim process can make all the difference between an approval and a denial. If you're facing a covered issue, you can usually file a claim over the phone or online. While most claims should have a 24 to 48-hour response time, there might be delays if you filed outside standard business hours. If the home warranty company grants initial approval to your claim, they'll match you with a service contractor from their network. The contractor will schedule a consultation with you to inspect and diagnose the problem. Once they get final approval from the warranty company, they'll proceed to make repairs and manage billing on your behalf.

Can I transfer my policy to the next owner of my home?

Most home warranty companies permit you to transfer your policy to a new homeowner if you need to move. Sometimes, transfers will be free, and other times, the company will levy a transfer fee for the service. Home warranty companies may also sell separate, special coverage plans that you can easily transfer to prospective homebuyers. Sellers can purchase these plans to raise their home's appeal in a competitive market.

Home warranty contract fine print

Before you choose a home warranty, examine its terms and conditions to ensure they're compatible with your needs. As you read through the sample contract, look for these key details and clauses:

  • Coverage limit: Each home warranty has a coverage limit that establishes how much a company will cover per individual claim. Warranty contracts could also have annual coverage limits.
  • Service call fee: Each time you file a claim, the home warranty or repair company will levy a service call fee. These fees usually run from $75 to $125.
  • Workmanship guarantee: The workmanship guarantee is the time during which the home warranty company will not charge additional service call fees for a repair if an in-network technician has recently tried to fix the item. The industry standard is 30 days, although some companies offer longer workmanship guarantees.
  • Cancellation: A home warranty contract should include information on cancellation and refunds. If you cancel within the first 30 days of signup, many companies will offer a complete refund of your annual premium.
  • Exclusions: Be sure to familiarize yourself with component-specific exclusions in the home warranty company's sample contracts. Some parts of a device might be excluded even if the appliance itself is typically included under the policy.

Facts about Austin

Average High in July
96°F
Austin
83°F
National Average
Average Low in January
42°F
Austin
17°F
National Average
Average Daily Sunlight
74%
Austin
69%
National Average
Our Top Pick
Provider logo
4.5
Our Rating
  • Extends 60-day workmanship guarantee
  • Holds high customer ratings
  • Offers customization with 38 add-ons
Explore Plans
Provider logo
4.4
Our Rating
  • Covers rust and corrosion damage
  • Offers comprehensive coverage limits
  • Provides flexible service fees
Limited Time Offer: 50% Off
Explore Plans
Provider logo
3.8
Our Rating
  • Charges low premiums
  • Includes roof-leak coverage
  • Offers solid HVAC coverage
Explore Plans

Our methodology for selecting home warranty providers

We review national home warranty providers against our full home warranty methodology. We score warranty providers based on coverage options and limits, price, brand reputation, customer service, extra features and availability.

Contact us at feedback@homefront.usatoday.com if you have questions or feedback on this article

Editorial note: The name “Homefront” refers to the alliance between USA TODAY and Home Solutions that publishes review, comparison, and informational articles designed to help USA TODAY readers make smarter purchasing and investment decisions about their home. Under the alliance, Homefront provides and publishes research and articles about home service and home improvement topics. Homefront has an affiliate disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Homefront editorial staff alone (see About Homefront). Homefront adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is believed to be accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information. Go back to top

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