Compare BIG Warranties Home Insurance Quotes Against The Market

If you are searching for "BIG Warranties Home Insurance," it is important to clarify a very common misconception right away: BIG Warranties does not sell standard Buildings or Contents insurance. They will not insure the physical bricks and mortar of your home against a fire, nor will they cover your TV if it is stolen in a burglary.

Instead, BIG Warranties (based in Bournemouth) is one of the UK’s leading specialists in Home Emergency, Boiler, and Appliance Cover. They provide the targeted, rapid-response protection that steps in when your boiler breaks down in the middle of winter, a pipe bursts, or your washing machine suddenly stops spinning.

Because they don't offer core property insurance, you will still need to buy a standard home insurance policy elsewhere. You can get independent advice and a personalised quotes comparison for comprehensive home insurance (and see how standalone emergency cover compares) from one of our expert advisers below:

What type of cover do they provide?

Because BIG Warranties does not provide "Bronze, Silver, Gold" buildings and contents insurance, their product lineup is entirely focused on mechanical breakdowns and home emergencies. You can buy these as standalone products or bundle them together:

Home Emergency Cover

This is their flagship product, designed to stop a minor domestic crisis from becoming a major disaster.

• Scope of Cover: It provides 24/7 access to a nationwide network of contractors to resolve complete heating failures, burst pipes, electrical emergencies, lost keys, and pest infestations.

• Generous Limits: They allow up to 3 claims per year, with a generous claim limit of £2,500 per claim (and an annual aggregate limit of £5,000).

• Overnight Accommodation: If a burst pipe or lack of heating makes your home uninhabitable, they will contribute up to £250 for your family to stay in a hotel.

Boiler Breakdown & Replacement

A highly popular add-on or standalone policy specifically targeting the heart of your home's heating.

• Repairs: Covers call-out charges, labour, and parts to get your boiler running again.

• Replacement Contribution: If your boiler is deemed "beyond economical repair," BIG Warranties will contribute up to £500 towards a replacement if the boiler is under 6 years old (or £250 if it is older).

Appliance Insurance

If your standard contents insurance doesn't cover mechanical breakdown (which it usually doesn't), BIG Warranties fills the gap. You can insure specific white goods like washing machines, cookers, and fridge-freezers against sudden faults, covering the cost of parts and expert call-outs.

Landlord Cover

They offer dedicated Home Emergency and Appliance policies tailored for landlords, ensuring that rental properties meet legal habitability standards quickly if the heating fails, protecting the landlord's rental income and keeping tenants happy.

How BIG Warranties calculates premiums

Because BIG Warranties does not underwrite complex property risks like flood or subsidence, their pricing model is completely different from standard home insurance:

• Fixed Pricing: Cover is usually sold at a fixed monthly or annual premium based purely on the level of cover you select (e.g., just the boiler, or full home emergency).

• Excess Choices: You have control over your price. You can choose to pay a £95, £60, or £0 excess per claim. Choosing a higher excess will lower your monthly premium. (Note: If you choose the £0 excess option, a mandatory £60 excess still applies to any claims made within the first 90 days).

• Multi-Appliance Discounts: If you are insuring white goods, they often provide discounts if you bundle multiple appliances onto the same policy.

Pros and cons

Here are the pros and cons of choosing BIG Warranties for your home emergency and appliance cover:

BIG Warranties Home Emergency & Appliance Cover

Pros:

• Generous Claims Limits: The £2,500 per claim limit for home emergencies is significantly higher than the £500 or £1,000 limits usually bolted onto standard bank home insurance.

• Boiler Contribution: They actually contribute towards a new boiler (up to £500) if yours completely dies, which many competitors refuse to do.

• 24/7 UK Call Centre: Essential around-the-clock support when a pipe bursts at 2 AM.

• No Hidden Labour Costs: Approved contractor call-outs, parts, and labour are all included within the claim limits.

Cons:

• Not Standard Home Insurance: You still have to buy a separate buildings and contents policy to protect against fires, floods, and burglaries.

• Depreciation on Appliances: If an old washing machine breaks, they factor in its age and depreciation when offering a settlement, meaning it is not strictly "new-for-old" replacement.

• Exclusion Periods: Standard exclusion periods apply (e.g., boiler replacement contributions do not apply within the first 30 days of the policy).

Customer reviews

BIG Warranties places a heavy emphasis on customer service, and they generally perform very well on independent review platforms.

• Trustpilot: They hold a strong rating on Trustpilot (typically around 4.0 to 4.6 out of 5 based on thousands of reviews). Customers frequently praise the friendly, UK-based call centre staff who clearly explain the terms and conditions without using heavy jargon.

• Claims Handling: Reviews for their emergency contractor network are largely positive, with quick dispatch times. However, some negative reviews stem from customers misunderstanding that older appliances are subject to depreciation payouts rather than full brand-new replacements.

• Industry Awards: They have previously been awarded a 5 Star Rating for Home Emergency Cover by Moneyfacts, confirming their product holds up incredibly well against the wider market.

How to get a BIG Warranties quote

You can get a quote for Home Emergency or Appliance cover directly on the BIG Warranties website in a matter of minutes, or by calling their UK-based team.

However, before you buy a standalone emergency policy, it is crucial to check your main buildings and contents insurance. Many premium 5-Star home insurance policies automatically include Home Emergency cover as standard. You don't want to pay twice for the same protection!

At Money Helpdesk, our property experts can help you review your current setup. If you are looking to arrange robust cover for your home - and want to know if you need standalone emergency cover - get in touch and we will present you with your best options.