People make jokes about recreational vehicle extended warranty scams, but do they really understand what an extended warranty for an RV does?
RVing has been gaining popularity over the past few decades. In fact, there has been a 62% jump in RV ownership among United States households since the year 2001. This should come as no surprise when you consider the benefits of owning an RV. A recreational vehicle gives you the freedom to spontaneously explore new places with all the comforts of a home.
However, RVs are prone to breaking down as they get a bit older, and when they do, the repairs can be costly.
An RV extended warranty will cover the cost of most RV maintenance and repairs on your behalf. With an extended warranty, you can rest easy knowing that you have minimized the financial risk of your RV.
Now, you might be wondering – how exactly does a recreational vehicle extended warranty work? That’s what this post will explain.
Let’s dive in.
1) How Does an RV Owner Get an Extended Warranty?
Many RV owners don’t know where or how to buy an extended warranty. Fortunately, it’s a pretty simple process.
You can purchase coverage from a third-party RV extended warranty company. These companies almost always allow you to get a free quote for your RV and offer you different levels of coverage.
Before you start searching for an RV extended warranty, you need to set a budget and do your research.
First, you should request several free quotes from competing companies. From there, you can either take the lowest offer or negotiate the cost of your preferred coverage.
Sometimes, an extended warranty company will lower the price if you come prepared with competitive pricing.
Once you find a warranty policy that meets your needs and budget, you can buy it upfront. A worthwhile extended warranty company will also offer payment plan options if you prefer. Now, choosing an extended warranty by yourself can be intimidating. These are packed full of fine print and tricky workarounds – and getting the coverage you need may not be apples-to-apples.
That’s why we’re here. Our experts will discuss your needs and help pair you with the ideal warranty provider, and plan to cover all your bases.
2) The Basics: What an Extended Warranty Covers
Before going into any more detail, let’s first discuss what recreational vehicle extended warranties cover.
A recreational vehicle extended warranty covers the costs of RV maintenance and repairs associated with electrical and mechanical component failures. There are different forms of extended warranty coverage, but they generally cover transmission, brakes, leveling systems, appliances, and more.
Some RV extended warranties offer added benefits to help you avoid sudden service fees if something goes wrong on an RV road trip. These benefits may include emergency roadside assistance, towing services, and rental car reimbursements.
3) Stated VS Exclusionary RV Warranties
There are two different types of extended warranty coverage policy options, stated and exclusionary. Here are the differences between the two.
These are the most comprehensive plans offered by RV extended warranty companies. It covers all mechanical items except for the ones specifically listed as not covered.
An exclusionary policy covers the cost of repairs on most mechanical and electrical components of a recreational vehicle. However, these warranties do not cover the cost of lost or stolen items, accident repairs, or weather damage. This policy also excludes nonmechanical items such as oil changes and regular maintenance services.
Here are a few examples of items commonly excluded from this policy:
Stated coverage – or an inclusionary warranty – works in the opposite way of exclusionary. These policies provide a detailed list of what is covered. So, if an item is not on the list, it’s not covered by the warranty plan.
Most extended warranty companies offer various options for inclusionary coverage policies to fit customer’s specific needs and budgets.
Here are a few examples of RV components covered in this policy:
4) How Long Do Most RV Extended Warranties Last?
The length of an extended warranty for RVs differs depending on the policy you buy.
Many RV extended warranty companies allow you to decide the length of your coverage through the agreed-upon service contract. In addition, if you want to expand your warranty coverage, you can do so by contacting the policyholder.
If you purchase a new recreational vehicle, it will come with a manufacturer warranty. However, this warranty will only last for a couple of years or up to a certain number of miles, which might not be enough to keep your RV protected. In fact, there is an 80% chance that your recreational vehicle will suffer a breakdown by the fifth year of ownership.
Since the chances of an RV breakdown increase each year – an RV extended warranty gives you the peace of mind of knowing that your vehicle will be covered.
5) Are Extended Warranties on RVs Worth It?
Now that you understand what an RV extended warranty is, you may be wondering if it’s worth buying. Perhaps the biggest benefit of an extended warranty is peace of mind.
If your RV breaks down or requires emergency repairs, it can be extremely costly and time-consuming. You might have to save up money, research your options, or abandon the repair altogether.
Recreational vehicles should be enjoyable, not stressful. They certainly are not meant to sit in your driveway while you wait to find a solution to expensive repairs.
With a recreational vehicle extended warranty, you can hit the road with the peace of mind of knowing that you’ll be covered if anything happens. In addition, you may even have added benefits depending on your extended warranty coverage.
• Claim assistance
• Roadside assistance
• Travel reimbursements
• Technical support
• Pet benefits
• Towing services
In short, an RV extended warranty protects your investment for years to come, so you can continue enjoying it without worry.
We hope this post has given you a better understanding of what an RV extended warranty is, what it covers, and the benefits it can offer. With an extended warranty, you can worry less about sudden expensive repairs and focus more on enjoying your RV.
If you are interested in buying an extended warranty for your recreational vehicle, RVing Solutions can help. We will discuss your needs and show you the ideal coverage options with added benefits such as technical support and emergency roadside assistance.
We invite you to get started with a free quote today!
Published August 4, 2021