State guide · MNNo paid placement
Home warranty
in Minnesota.
Under chapter 59B, service contract providers register with Minnesota's commissioner of commerce and are exempt from the state's other insurance laws.
Regulated as a service contract3 reviewed providers ranked
Photo · R Architecture / Unsplash
Why Minnesota is different
Under chapter 59B, service contract providers register with Minnesota's commissioner of commerce and are exempt from the state's other insurance laws. Registration costs $750 a year. Before selling, a provider must arrange one of three backstops: an insurer's reimbursement policy, a 40 percent reserve plus a deposit of $25,000 or more, or a $100 million net worth. Buyers who have made no claim can send a contract back for a full refund for 20 days after it is mailed, or 10 days after it is delivered at the sale. Every contract must spell out how it can be cancelled.
Source: Minnesota Statutes chapter 59B, service contracts (insurance exemption, registration with the commissioner of commerce) (State statute, accessed 2026-10-07)
Coverage-priority context · MN
What breaks in Minnesota.
Issue 01
Extreme winter cold placing very high sustained load on furnaces and boilers
Issue 02
Significant frozen-pipe risk during prolonged deep-freeze stretches
Issue 03
Heating-system strain shortening the service life of older furnaces
§ 02Best providers in Minnesota
01
AHS
American Home Shield
Homeowners who want broad systems coverage and a choice of service fee.
Score
4.1/5
02
CHW
Choice Home Warranty
Budget-focused homeowners who want a predictable flat service fee and straightforward plan choices.
Score
3.7/5
03
HHW
HSA Home Warranty
Home buyers and sellers who want transaction-period coverage from an established parent group.
Score
3.6/5
§ 03Common questions for Minnesota
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."