Best Home Warranties in Maryland

• Our top picks include American Home Shield, Choice Home Warranty, American Residential Warranty, Select Home Warranty and Cinch Home Services.
• To find the best home warranty in Maryland for you, assess your risks and coverage needs, then comparison-shop for a good deal.
• A home warranty in Maryland typically costs anywhere from $35 to $105 per month. Many companies charge closer to $50 or $60 per month, though.

Here are our favorite home warranty companies in Maryland, based on local reviews:

• Our top pick overall: American Home Shield
• Our pick for quality technicians: Choice Home Warranty
• Our pick for flat pricing: American Residential Warranty
• Our pick for low service fees: Select Home Warranty
• Our pick for customer service: Cinch Home Services

Methodology

To select our top picks, we started with 18 home warranty companies available in Maryland that have an average consumer rating of at least 3.5 out of 5 stars on our site. We analyzed reviews by home warranty customers in Maryland to get an idea of which companies offered great service and coverage to homeowners in the area.

On top of having a good reputation with Maryland residents, all our top picks offer a variety of plan options, competitive service call fees and trustworthy repair technicians.

American Home Shield has been in business for over 50 years, offering customizable home warranty plans. At the time of publishing, American Home Shield has over 17,000 contractors in its network and over 2 million members across the country. It also offers a 30-day workmanship guarantee.

We’ve compared this company’s plans based on select coverage items below.

*For a home in Baltimore at the time of publishing

American Home Shield had the strongest local review data of any home warranty company we analyzed in Maryland, earning it our top overall pick.

In a review posted to our site, Chris from Baltimore wrote, “I called Home Shield and from start to finish, everything about the experience was great. Even the guy who came was knowledgeable, quick, and respectful. That was my first claim with Home Shield. We have two other houses, and I'm thinking about getting one on the other two houses as well.”

Marc from Glenarden also had a good experience, writing, “We had an AHS warranty at our old home and we had no issues with them, so we set it up for our new home as well. … All in all, American Home Shield is pretty good.”

Choice Home Warranty has over 4.5 million service requests under its belt, and its contractor network includes more than 25,000 technicians nationwide. CHW offers 24/7 customer service, and you can request a repair online or over the phone.

We’ve compared this company’s plans based on select coverage items below.

*For a home in Baltimore at the time of publishing

Choice Home Warranty’s review data has a strong positive trend in Maryland. Reviewers also commonly mention the company’s technicians as a major benefit.

“I was very pleased with the work performed by both technicians on Friday and Saturday,” wrote Audra from Severn. “Both completed the repairs in no time, which was appreciated because I did not want my time tied up. Both technicians were very professional. They provided details on the work that was completed and answered my questions.”

Beth from Reisterstown reported that “Kevin ** was incredibly thorough and did a wonderful job at fixing my A/C. He explained things that could help in the future and made suggestions, but wasn’t pushing extra services or purchases. I think he truly loves what he does and wants the best for his customers. Highly recommended.”

American Residential Warranty offers coverage for home appliances and systems in all 50 states. It provides 24/7 customer service, including emergency services; however, all service claims must be submitted by phone, and cancellations must be through a written notice. ARW doesn’t offer any long-term contracts, so your plan can last for as long or as little as you want.

We’ve compared this company’s home warranty plans based on select coverage items below.

*At the time of publishing

Reviews for American Residential Warranty in Maryland are very good overall, giving the company the second-highest ratio of 5-star to 1-star reviews in the state. Reviewers are often enthusiastic about American Residential Home Warranty’s coverage and how the company stands behind it.

Patrick from Annapolis mentioned that “this company has come out and repaired my refrigerator that would have been an $800 repair or a full $1200 replacement. As well as repaired my air conditioning unit a couple of times ... they are there for you when you need them.”

“Most recently I called in a request for repairs on my stove,” wrote Sharon from Silver Spring. “As always I received fast efficient and courteous service. I am a senior and this plan is well worth the money.”

Select Home Warranty offers coverage for your home systems and appliances no matter their make, model or age as long as you maintain them and they’re working when you sign up. It provides an unlimited number of covered repairs, and coverage is available for a variety of property types, including condos and multiunit buildings.

We’ve compared this company’s plans based on select coverage items below.

*For a home in Baltimore at the time of publishing

Select Home Warranty has earned mostly positive reviews from people in Maryland. Many reviewers also report being happy with discounts they received from the company.

Caroline from Olney “was researching Home Warranty plans to replace my current one and found Select Home Warranty as a top rated match in my area. … Cost and coverage is excellent. We have lowered our annual rate with the discounts and lowered our deductible as well.”

Brittnay from Elkton reported that “they have offered great discounts. It is so nice to know [we're] safe.”

It’s worth noting that we haven’t included discounts in the price quotes throughout this guide — those offers may not always be available. However, you should consider each company’s current promotions as you shop for a home warranty.

Cinch Home Services has more than 40 years of experience offering home warranties nationwide. This Florida-based company has a vetted network of technicians, and it offers a 180-day workmanship guarantee. You can request service online or by phone.

We’ve compared this company’s plans based on select coverage items below.

*For a home in Baltimore at the time of publishing

Cinch’s reviews in Maryland are pretty good, and the company gets frequent compliments for its customer service.

“Cinch gets right through it,” wrote Lenny from Clinton. “They understand what the customer's asking of them.”

Donald from Cambridge mentioned, “I thought that a home warranty was something that was necessary with some of the appliances that I have. It's very valuable and gives peace of mind. … I'm very satisfied with the customer service. I'm also very pleased with the work done by the people who've come out.”

There are a lot of options to choose from when you’re shopping for a home warranty in Maryland, but a good way to start is by thinking about what kind of coverage you want. When you’re looking at coverage plans, think about which of your home systems and appliances are most at risk and which you’d least like to go without.

Though Maryland doesn’t have the most extreme climate, your environment can still influence the kind of coverage you should look for.

Maryland can get cold enough in the winters and hot enough in the summers that you wouldn’t want to go without your home’s heating and cooling systems, so coverage for your heater and air conditioner might be useful. If you live on the coast, you also might want protection for your electronic items since the salty air can put extra wear on them, especially if they’re exposed to the outdoors.

Once you know what kind of coverage works for you, look for companies offering what you’re after. Find some plans that meet your criteria, and get quotes for each of them so you can comparison-shop and choose the right one for you.

Maryland’s laws regarding home warranties (also called home service contracts) are modeled after an example created by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). The Maryland Service Contracts and Consumer Product Guaranty Act requires, among other things, that home warranty contracts disclose:

• The duration of the warranty
• Maintenance requirements
• The service to be provided
• How you can request service
• How to resolve disputes

However, according to the Maryland Department of Labor, there is some confusion about what government office regulates home warranty companies in the state.

The Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC), part of the Department of Labor, typically doesn’t enforce warranties because its authority is limited to investigating whether the initial construction or installation work was done correctly. As such, you may not have access to MHIC’s Guaranty Fund if something goes wrong with your home warranty.

Instead, Maryland law leaves enforcement up to the state’s attorney general. So, if you have an issue with a home warranty company’s practices, consider filing a grievance with the Maryland attorney general’s office.

Choosing between home warranty companies in Maryland may seem difficult, but it doesn’t have to be. Learn as much as you can before you start shopping, then look for companies that meet your needs, read reviews and compare offers. If you want to read more, check out our national home warranty buyers guide or our helpful articles on home warranty costs and coverage.