What To Look For In Your Extended RV Warranty

What's The Deal With RV Warranties?

RV Warranties - a hot topic in the world of RVing. Hit the community forums, and you'll find countless threads with mixed reviews. Moreover, many influential RVers will have their own opinions about coverage and providers alike.

So, how do you make a decision on whether or not to buy an RV extended warranty?

The first step is education. Not all warranty providers are created equal, and understanding what you want out of your coverage will narrow down your choices. If you're brand new to RV warranties and protection products, start here to get a better picture of what this coverage does.

Claim my $300 discount on an Extended RV Warranty from America's RV Warranty

The Value of an RV Warranty

Cost-Effective Planning - The most important feature of a warranty is that it will step in to pay the repair cost of mechanical and electrical failures in your rig. As motorhomes and towable RVs have become increasingly complex, the demand for skilled RV mechanics has risen, resulting in an average cost that can devastate any budget. Oftentimes, these inevitable repairs are needed when you least expect them, and on average, you'll be spending about $300 per hour for parts and labor.

Personalized Coverage - RV warranty plans will differ significantly depending on the provider, but a reliable one will allow you to customize your coverage for your travel needs.

There isn't just one way to RV, and your warranty should be unique to your travel style. Whether your rig needs complete coverage or select coverages, there's an option for you.

How to Find Reliable RV Warranty Coverage

Community Opinions and Reviews - Educate yourself on the specific warranty provider using forums, reviews, and community message boards. RVers tend to be extremely helpful, and give their honest opinions about companies and products. Choose a policy with a reputation for great customer service and fair claims processing.

Sites like the Better Business Bureau, Google, Customer Lobby, iRV2.com, and RVNetwork.com are all great resources for unsolicited information about real RVer warranty experiences.

Read Your Coverage - As a consumer, you deserve the opportunity to research your warranty on your own. To do this, you'll want to read through an exact copy of the plan. If your salesperson is not willing to provide you with that contract, it could mean they're misrepresenting what they're selling you.

A reputable warranty provider will walk you through all of your options, and guide you through the process of finding the policy that's right for you and your budget. If you're only able to dissect a brochure or limited view of the policy, you won't get a full picture of what your warranty will and won't cover in the event of a breakdown.

Extended RV Warranty Eligibility for RVers

Most extended RV warranties are purchased at the same time as the vehicle. If you're making that purchase through a dealership, you'll likely hear their warranty pitch during the buying process. Make sure you explore your options and get a quote elsewhere to compare.

If you don't purchase a warranty alongside your rig at the dealership, or you purchased an RV via a private party, you're still in luck. Most online providers will be able to offer their coverage for motorhomes as far back as 20 model years old with less than 125,000 miles on the odometer. For towable RVs, coverage will typically stop around 15 model years old.

When Should I Buy an RV Warranty?

Another important part of the search for reliable coverage is timing. While many RVers believe they are only able to get coverage from the dealer at the time they are purchasing the RV itself, this is actually incorrect. Online RV warranty providers like America's RV Warranty will be able to set you up with coverage at any point during your RVing journey, whether you're buying a new unit, a used RV, working with a private party or dealership, coming out of another warranty, or simply a long-time RVer interested in protecting their road ahead.

That being said, there are certainly some key points to keep in mind as you look into when to secure your RV warranty protection. We'll go into a few of the most important ones here.

Should I wait until the manufacturer's warranty has expired to buy an extended RV warranty?

To put it simply, you will never get a longer term at a better price than when your rig is brand new.

Extended RV warranty providers know that the manufacturer's warranty will take precedence, particularly during the first year the RV is in service, so they offer great rates to these units. Securing your policy, likely up to seven years of coverage, when your manufacturer's warranty is in place will allow you to take advantage of these savings.

Your next question might be: but won't I have overlapping coverage? And the answer is yes! However, the cost savings may mean this isn't such a bad thing. Further, any repairs that aren't covered by your manufacturer can be pushed to your extended protection. This will vary based on your specific contract, but providers often include great additional benefits in their policies, such as RV Roadside Assistance, Tire and Wheel Protection and RV Tech Assistance. While your manufacturer may take care of the repairs during the first year, they likely won't provide coverage for things like blown tires, tows, lockout services, and more. If you secure your RV extended warranty right away, you can utilize these services should you need them at any time during your policy term.

So, should you wait? It's up to you! Just keep in mind this decision will affect the price and term you are able to secure for your RV warranty.

It's winter, and I won't be using my rig. Should I wait until spring to buy an RV warranty?

Another factor RVers will want to take into account is the time of year. As many RVers store their rigs during the winters, they will elect to hold off on buying an extended warranty until they're actively traveling again. And while this is an option, it's something most RV warranty providers will caution you against.

Again, this is going to come down to pricing. On January 1st of each new year, all RVs are considered one model year older. Age of the vehicle is one of the major components in how RV warranty providers price out their protection options. As your rig ages, the likelihood of failure increases, which will drive up the cost of your policy. This means that as all rigs age each new calendar year, the cost of RV protection for these vehicles does go up.

Additionally, these changes at the new year may affect the level of coverage and term you qualify for. Some RVs will age out of coverage altogether, while some may see a significant drop in the length of policy they can purchase, along with a price increase.

And lastly, while it can be tempting not to pay for RV protection until after the winter season is over, it may cost you on the RV repair front. Many RV warranty providers report that a significant number of claims occur in the spring, particularly for RVs that have been stored all winter. These vehicles are really not made to sit unattended without being driven, and therefore suffer breakdowns during these periods of disuse.

If you have your RV warranty in place before you put your rig into storage, any of these failures that are covered by your policy will be paid for! If you wait, you'll have to pay for the repairs, and then pay for your RV warranty protection after those repairs are completed.

Types of RV Warranty Policies

Now that you're ready to shop for an RV Extended Warranty, it's good to know about the types of policies available to you. America's RV Warranty offers different policy options for motorhome owners and for towable RV owners. And if you're already an Escapees RV Club member, you can save $300 on any of these extended RV warranty plans from America's RV Warranty.

ARW provides warranty options for nearly every type of recreational vehicle, including:

• Motorhomes (Class A, Class B, Class C)
• Travel trailers
• Fifth wheels
• Toy haulers
• New and used RVs

Coverage is available for RVs up to 20 years old, and contracts may last up to eight years, depending on the vehicle and plan selected.

America's RV Warranty offers four primary coverage levels. These plans increase in scope from basic mechanical coverage to comprehensive exclusionary coverage.

1. Select Coverage Plan

The Select Coverage plan is the entry-level extended warranty offered by ARW. This is not available to towable RV owners, just those who own a motorhome.

What It Covers

For motorhomes, the select coverage plan focuses on everything but engine, transmission, and drive axle components. This plan includes:

• Steering components
• Suspension components
• Heating and cooling systems
• Engine cooling components
• Fuel delivery components
• Electrical components
• Brake components
• Fresh/waste water system components
• Appliance components
• Interior and exterior components
• Slide-out room components
• Kitchen center components
• Generator/power plant components
• Entertainment components

Even without engine, transmission, and drive axle repairs covered, this plan covers a lot of ground and can protect owners from significant repair costs.

Best For

This plan is often chosen by RV owners who want a lot covered at a lower price.

2. Plus Coverage Plan

The Plus Coverage plan focuses on those key automotive features that you may have missed from the Select Coverage plan. This is also only available to owners of motorhome RV types.

This plan includes

• Chassis engine components
• Transmission components
• Drive axle components
• Engine cooling components
• Steering components
• Fuel delivery components
• Chasses A/C components
• Electrical components
• Suspension components
• Brake components

Best For

RV owners who want protection for the vehicle side of the motorhome without paying for full coach coverage.

3. Total Coverage Plan

The Total Coverage plan includes items from both the plus and the select coverage plans.

Total coverage includes

• Chassis engine components
• Transmission components
• Drive Axle components
• Engine cooling components
• Steering components
• Fuel delivery components
• Chassis A/C components
• Electric components
• Suspension components
• Brake components
• Fresh/water water system components
• Heat system components
• Deluxe appliance components
• Interior and exterior components
• Slide-out room components
• Kitchen center components
• LP Gas system components
• Hi-tech components
• Leveling system components
• Power system components
• Roof/basement AC components
• Generator/power plant components
• Entertainment components
• Wear & tear
• Seals and gaskets

Best For

Motorhome owners who want protection for both the driving components and the living space, which is where many expensive repairs occur.

4. Complete Coverage Plan (Exclusionary Plan)

The Complete Coverage plan is ARW's most comprehensive warranty option.

Unlike the previous plans, which list specific covered components, this plan is an exclusionary policy. And this plan type is available to both motorhome and towable RV owners.

How Exclusionary Coverage Works

Instead of listing what is covered, exclusionary policies list what is not covered. Everything else is eligible for coverage.

Excluded items from the complete coverage plan are:

• Pre-existing Issues: Problems that existed before you bought the plan are not covered.
• Lack of Maintenance: You must keep your service records! If a part fails because you didn't change the oil or fluids, it's not covered.
• Modifications: Adding oversized tires, lifting the suspension, or altering emissions systems can void coverage.
• Common Maintenance & Wear
• Tune-ups & Wear Items: Filters, spark plugs, brake pads, batteries, and tires are your responsibility.
• Cosmetics: Paint, trim, upholstery, carpeting, cabinets, and "squeaks and rattles" aren't included.
• Structural: Damage to the frame, walls, windows, and "acts of God" (like hail or floods) are usually handled by your primary insurance, not this contract.
• Overheating: Damage caused by running the engine or generator while it's overheating.
• Advanced Lighting: High-end LEDs, HID headlamps, and bulbs (unless it's a specific light switch failure).
• Software: Computer updates and telecom wiring are excluded.

Mechanical breakdowns caused by normal RV use and mobile mechanics remain covered.

Best For

Owners who want maximum protection with the least ambiguity about what is covered. Exclusionary policies are generally considered the closest equivalent to a manufacturer's warranty.

Additional Features of ARW Warranty Plans

Several features distinguish America's RV Warranty from many competitors. The following coverages are automatically included in America's RV Warranty plans.

Full-Time RVer Coverage

No extra fees or coverage needed for full-time RVers.

Commercial Use Coverage

Covers towable and coach units registered to the name of the business.

Power Surge Protection

Protects electrical systems from damage caused by external power surges when plugged into campground pedestals.

Consequential Loss Coverage

Covers damage caused when a non-covered component fails and damages a covered component.

Mobile Mechanic Coverage

ARW allows repairs to be performed by mobile RV mechanics and covers up to $500 of the service fee per issue.

Repairs Anywhere

Repairs can be completed at any licensed repair facility or mobile mechanic in the U.S. or Canada.

Transferable Coverage

If the RV is sold, the warranty can be transferred to the new owner, which may increase resale value.

Parts and Labor Coverage

Extended warranty plans typically cover both parts and labor for eligible repairs, minus the deductible.

Optional Add-On Coverage

In addition to the main plans, ARW offers the optional coverage upgrade to protect your tires and wheels. Tire and Wheel protection covers repairs or replacements due to road hazards such as potholes or nails.

So, What's the Deal with RV Warranties?

Not everyone will want an extended warranty and will prefer to take the financial risk against the odds of a breakdown. On the other hand, there are many RVers that believe the peace of mind is worth the investment. Protecting your travel budget is much easier when you know you have a provider who will go up to bat for you when an unexpected breakdown happens. That's exactly what a reliable warranty company will do. There's a lot of education, case studies, and reviews out there - so do your research and use these tools to decide if this type of coverage is right for you!

Get a quote and build your own RV extended warranty policy today at americasrvwarranty.com.