Short answer
A service fee (also called a service call fee, trade call fee, or deductible-style fee) is a fixed amount you pay each time a contractor is sent for a covered request. Many contracts charge it per visit or per claim, even if the item turns out not to be covered. Some plans let you choose a higher or lower fee in exchange for a different price.
How a service fee works
When you request service, the provider sends a contractor to diagnose the problem. Under many contracts, you owe the service fee for that visit. If the repair is covered, the provider pays the rest, up to the contract’s limits. If it isn’t covered, you may still owe the fee, plus the cost of any work you choose to have done.
Service fees are one of the easiest terms to compare. They’re also among the most important, because they show up on every claim.
Per visit, per claim, or per trade?
The way a fee is charged can make a big difference:
- Per claim. One fee covers the original visit and related follow-ups for the same problem. Return visits for the same issue often cost nothing more, but check the contract.
- Per visit. Each trip by a contractor may cost a new fee.
- Per trade. If a problem needs more than one type of contractor, for example a plumber and an electrician, each may come with a separate fee.
Look for how the contract defines a “claim” or “service request” and when a new fee is triggered.
When you might pay a fee and get no repair
Many contracts charge the service fee even when the outcome is:
- The item or part isn’t covered
- The failure is excluded, for example as a pre-existing condition
- The contractor finds no problem
- You decide not to go ahead with the repair
That’s why it’s worth reading the coverage list and exclusions before you file. See how to file a claim.
Choosing a higher or lower fee
Some providers let you pick from several service fee levels. Usually, a lower service fee comes with a higher plan price, and a higher service fee comes with a lower plan price. Which is better depends on how often you expect to file:
| If you expect… | A lower fee may suit you if… | A higher fee may suit you if… |
|---|---|---|
| Several requests a year | Older or heavily used equipment makes frequent visits likely | — |
| Few or no requests | — | You mainly want protection against a rare, expensive failure |
These are hypothetical patterns, not recommendations. Work through the numbers using your own quotes and our cost guide.
Fees beyond the service fee
Depending on the contract, you might also run into:
- Emergency or after-hours charges
- Costs above the coverage cap
- Charges for excluded parts, code upgrades, permits, or access
- Fees for using your own contractor, if that’s allowed at all
Next steps
- Write down the service fee and how it’s charged for each plan you’re comparing.
- Estimate how many requests you might make in a year. Then see how fees fit into total yearly cost.
- Read how claims and service requests work before you need to file.
This page is general education, not legal, financial, or insurance advice. Home warranty terms vary by provider, plan, and state; the contract you sign controls what is covered. Spotted an error? Request a correction.
