State guide · MDNo paid placement
Home warranty
in Maryland.
Maryland governs service contracts through its Commercial Law Article, and providers that follow it need not comply with the Insurance Article.
Regulated as a service contract3 reviewed providers ranked
Photo · R Architecture / Unsplash
Why Maryland is different
Maryland governs service contracts through its Commercial Law Article, and providers that follow it need not comply with the Insurance Article. Every contract must be in writing. It must state its price, coverage, exclusions, claim procedure and cancellation terms. A buyer who has made no claim may cancel within 20 days of receiving it and get a full refund. The Attorney General can go to court to stop violations.
Source: Md. Code, Com. Law § 14-403 (contract terms, cancellation) (State statute, accessed 2026-10-07) · Md. Code, Com. Law § 14-406 (Attorney General enforcement) (State statute, accessed 2026-10-07) · Md. Code, Com. Law § 14-409 (providers need not comply with the Insurance Article) (State statute, accessed 2026-10-07)
Coverage-priority context · MD
What breaks in Maryland.
Issue 01
Humid summers driving heavy air-conditioning load and compressor wear
Issue 02
Cold winters placing load on furnaces and raising burst-pipe risk
Issue 03
Older housing stock in the Baltimore area with aging plumbing and electrical
§ 02Best providers in Maryland
01
AHS
American Home Shield
Homeowners who want broad systems coverage and a choice of service fee.
Score
4.1/5
02
CHS
Cinch Home Services
Homeowners who want a high total limit and value-added perks and accept a higher deductible.
Score
3.9/5
03
CHW
Choice Home Warranty
Budget-focused homeowners who want a predictable flat service fee and straightforward plan choices.
Score
3.7/5
§ 03Common questions for Maryland
When does coverage start after I buy a plan?
When the waiting period in your contract ends. Providers set different lengths. Liberty Home Guard's sample policy starts coverage 30 days after purchase and requires covered items to be in working order that day. American Home Shield's 2024 sample plan agreement shows an initial waiting period of 0 days. Under Liberty's terms, a covered item that breaks on day 20 falls inside that 30-day holding period and is not covered, so read each provider's sample contract before you buy.
Can I buy a plan after something has already broken?
You can buy one, but the two sample contracts we read would not pay for a breakdown you already have. Liberty Home Guard's sample policy "does not cover any known or unknown pre-existing conditions." American Home Shield's 2024 sample plan agreement says a covered breakdown "must occur during the Plan Agreement Term," and it excludes earlier breakdowns that "were either known by you or were reasonably detectable by you."