Old Republic Home Protection Review 2024

Flexible service fees and competitive caps on electrical and plumbing repairs make the company a contender.

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Written by Whitney Vandiver
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Old Republic Home Protection
Old Republic Home Protection

4.0

NerdWallet rating

 
Get started

on Modernize's website

View details

4.0

NerdWallet rating

 
Monthly fees  
$45 and up

Service fees
$100 to $125
per claim

States available  
25
states, and Washington, D.C.
View details

With high coverage caps and flexible service fee options, Old Republic Home Protection is a good pick for homeowners who are looking for comprehensive coverage.

Old Republic Home Protection’s Basic plan covers a lot of appliances and systems, such as plumbing and electrical, compared to its competitors’ cheapest plans. All three of the company’s warranty plans feature high coverage caps for heating systems and no coverage caps for electrical repairs. The company also allows customers to choose between two service fees, which can lower their monthly premiums. Overall, Old Republic Home Protection has good customer satisfaction ratings.

Deciding factors

Monthly cost

$45 and up.

Service fees

$100-$125.

Annual cover cap*

  • No limit for electrical.

  • Varies by plumbing repair.

  • $6,500 for heating. $6,500 for air conditioning.

  • $3,500-$7,000 per appliance, depending on plan.

  • $1,000 for limited roof leak repair.

Average customer service rating†

3.67 out of 5.

Technician choice

You can use your own technician if the company approves the request.

*Annual cover cap assumes a 12-month plan. †Average customer service rating is based on three sources: Trustpilot, ConsumerAffairs (both consumer review sites) and the Better Business Bureau.

How does Old Republic Home Protection work?

Getting repairs

When you need service on a covered item, you can request a service technician to visit your home through the company’s website or by calling Old Republic Home Protection . However, if you need to submit multiple claims at once or need a technician to look at an item again, you'll have to call customer service.

Once you request service, Old Republic Home Protection contacts a technician.

  • The company’s technicians typically schedule appointments within 48 hours.

  • Once the technician identifies the problem, they verify coverage with Old Republic Home Protection; if it’s covered, the technician will then repair it.

Exclusions

Old Republic Home Protection covers items that fail because of everyday use, referred to as normal wear and tear. This includes issues related to corrosion, rust and buildup from sediment or chemicals, which many home warranties exclude. However, the company doesn’t cover items that:

  • Have pre-existing conditions (issues that occurred before the start of the service agreement).

  • Incur damage from people, pests or pets.

  • Have cosmetic defects that don’t affect the item’s function.

  • Are missing components or parts.

  • Do not have the proper capacity.

  • Are improperly installed.

  • The manufacturer has recalled or determined to be defective.

The company also doesn’t pay for routine maintenance. This exclusion is common among competitors.

Plan types and additional coverage

Old Republic Home Protection has three plans:

  • The Basic plan covers a heating system with ductwork; plumbing including garbage disposal, instant hot/cold water dispensers, pipe leaks and valves, drain line stoppage, toilets, water pressure regulators and water heater; electrical systems such as electricity, garage door openers, central vacuums, rekeying service and ceiling fans; and most appliances, including dishwashers, exhaust fans, trash compactors, refrigerators, stoves, microwaves and ovens.

  • The Deluxe plan has everything in the Basic plan plus coverage for air conditioning systems, plumbing fixtures such as faucets, electrical garage door components (such as remotes and keypads) and one washer and dryer set. It also adds coverage for correcting code violations, improper installations and hauling away replaced items.

  • The Elite plan has everything in the Deluxe plan but has higher coverage limits for appliances and includes an HVAC tuneup.

You can also add coverage for an additional fee. Old Republic Home Protection has optional coverage available for:

  • Pools and spas.

  • Septic tank and systems.

  • Additional refrigerators or freezers.

  • External plumbing and slab leaks.

  • Water softeners and filtration systems.

  • Guest homes up to 750 square feet.

  • HVAC tuneup.

  • Air conditioner for customers who purchase the Basic plan.

Coverage caps

Old Republic Home Protection limits how much it will cover toward a particular item, which is common among home warranty companies. These coverage caps include:

  • No cap for electrical.

  • Plumbing coverage varies by item ($600 for toilet replacement and $1,500 for plumbing pipe leaks, for example).

  • $6,500 per heating and air conditioning system.

  • $3,500 per appliance for the Basic and Deluxe plans; $7,000 per appliance for the Elite plan.

  • $500 for additional services with the Deluxe plan; $1,000 for these services with the Elite plan.

How much does Old Republic Home Protection cost?

Old Republic Home Protection plans start at $45.

We compared Old Republic Home Protection’s pricing by requesting quotes for three cities that have different costs of living.

City

Basic Plan monthly premium

Deluxe Plan monthly premium

Elite Plan monthly premium

Anaheim, CA

$45.

$60.

$80.

Scottsdale, AZ

$45.

$55.

$70.

Tulsa, OK

$50.

$60.

$75.

Average price

$46.67.

$58.33.

$75.

All prices shown are for the $125 service fee option; with a lower service fee selected, monthly premiums might be higher.

The Deluxe Plan was $5 to $15 more per month than the Basic plan, depending on the location. This can cost customers $60-$180 more a year. The Elite plan was $25 to $35 more than the Basic plan, coming out to $300 to $420 more a year.

Like its competitors, Old Republic Home Protection charges customers a service fee every time a technician replies to a claim. The company calls this a “trade call fee.”

  • You can choose to pay $100 or $125 for service fees when they sign up for a plan. 

  • The monthly premium is higher if you choose a $100 service fee instead of a $125 service fee. 

  • You'll pay the service fee even if Old Republic denies the claim.

Good to know! Old Republic Home Protection's service fees vary by state and by plan. Be sure to review the fine print in your contract to understand what your service fee will be.

Old Republic Home Protection, like most home warranty companies, guarantees technicians’ work for 30 days. If a customer has to request a second repair within the 30 days following the first repair, they won’t pay a service fee.

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Monthly fees
$50 and up
Service fees
$70–$125
per claim
States available
50
states, and Washington, D.C.
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states, and Washington, D.C.

Themes from customer reviews

NerdWallet considered customer reviews from three review websites to get a wider perspective of customer experiences. We’ve highlighted the types of experiences that we’ve found to be most common, keeping in mind that online reviews tend to lean toward negative experiences.

Trustpilot: 3.9 out of 5. ConsumerAffairs: 3.8 out of 5. Better Business Bureau: 3.33 out of 5.

Among negative reviews, customers highlighted unreliable technicians who were unable to repair covered items and poor communication with customer service representatives. Customers who gave Old Republic Home Protection high marks comment on quick response times for repairs and helpful customer service.

Pros of Old Republic Home Protection

There are several benefits to Old Republic Home Protection’s plans, including:

  • High coverage limits. Old Republic Home Protection’s coverage caps are higher than most of its competitors, especially for HVAC systems and appliances. It also ranks high for electrical because it has no caps on those repairs.

  • Choice of technician. The company lets customers choose their own technicians if they request to do so. Not all home warranty companies have this option.

  • Good customer satisfaction. Old Republic Home Protection’s overall customer satisfaction scores are higher than some of its competitors, especially for quick repairs and customer service.

Cons of Old Republic Home Protection

There is a downside to Old Republic Home Protection:

  • Doesn’t pay for full access repair. If a technician needs to cut into a structure, such as a wall or ceiling, to access a covered item, Old Republic Home Protection’s plans won’t pay to repair the structure. It will pay to have it brought back to a rough finish but not textured or painted.

Alternatives to Old Republic Home Protection

First American Home Warranty

First American Home Warranty
First American Home Warranty

3.5

NerdWallet rating

 
Get started

on First American Home Warranty's website

View details

3.5

NerdWallet rating

 
Monthly fees 
$42 and up

Service fees
$75, $100 or $125
per claim

States available 
36
states, and Washington, D.C.
View details

Liberty Home Guard

Liberty Home Guard
Liberty Home Guard

5.0

NerdWallet rating

 

(844) 451-1023

M-F 9:30am-9:30pm ET, Sa 10am-7pm ET, Su 10am-6pm ET

Call Liberty Home Guard

Get started

on Liberty Home Guard's website

View details

5.0

NerdWallet rating

 
Monthly fees 
$50 and up

Service fees
$70–$125
per claim

States available 
50
states, and Washington, D.C.
View details

(844) 451-1023

M-F 9:30am-9:30pm ET, Sa 10am-7pm ET, Su 10am-6pm ET

Call Liberty Home Guard

American Home Shield

American Home Shield Home Warranty
American Home Shield Home Warranty

4.5

NerdWallet rating

 
Get started

on American Home Shield's website

View details

4.5

NerdWallet rating

 
Monthly fees 
$20 and up

Services fees
$100 or $125
per claim

States available 
48
states, and Washington, D.C.
View details

Select Home Warranty

Cinch Home Services Home Warranty
Cinch Home Services Home Warranty

4.0

NerdWallet rating

 
Get started

on Modernize's website

View details

4.0

NerdWallet rating

 
Monthly fees 
$31 and up

Service fees
$100, $125 or $150
per claim

States available 
48
states, and Washington, D.C.
View details

More home warranty reviews from NerdWallet:

Methodology

NerdWallet's Home Services team evaluated home warranties across several factors, including cost, covered items, coverage limits, customer ratings, ability to choose your own technician and warranty on work completed. Because costs can vary by location, it's best to get quotes from multiple companies before making a decision. Read more about how NerdWallet rates home warranties.

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