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Are RV Extended Warranties worth it? If there is one thing more stressful than having something break on your RV, it’s worrying about how much the repair is going to cost you! Especially if you don’t have a stash of cash sitting around and waiting for your RV rainy day. Breakdowns, mechanical failures, and appliances that quit working are all part of the RV “adventure.”
We have certainly had our fair share of ‘adventures’ regarding RV repairs and breakdowns! Both with and without an RV extended warranty. We cover these in our in-depth expense report on the real cost of RV ownership after six years of full-time RVing and two motorhomes. And also our Full-time versus Part-time RV Ownership comparison report.
RV repairs can get expensive, stressful, and take some of the fun out of your RV lifestyle. That’s where an RV Extended Warranty may be worth considering – as a way of protecting you against these kinds of unknowns and hefty repair bills. But they aren’t exactly cheap. This brings us to the million-dollar question. Are they worth it?
The short answer is YES. But to learn more about why we think this, based on personal experience, please continue reading and jump to a section below in the table of contents.
EXCLUSIVE SUMMER OFFER: From now until August 31st, 2024 you’ll get a Free Year of RV Roadside Assistance Coverage when you purchase RV extended warranty protection through Wholesale Warranties. Keep reading for more details and to get a quote.
Quick links to sections of this article:
- What is an RV Extended Warranty?
- What risks are involved traveling with or without an RV extended warranty?
- Our personal experience
- How to choose an RV Extended Warranty
- The RV Extended Warranty we recommend
- Get an obligation free quote on an RV extended warranty
- APRIL SPECIAL OFFER: Get a free 1 year Roadside Assistance Membership
What is an RV Extended Warranty?
RV Extended Warranty, RV Warranty, RV Extended Service Contract, and RV Extended Service Plan. These are all names for the same thing. We’ll mainly use the term most commonly used – RV Extended Warranty – throughout this article.
What does an RV Extended Warranty cover?
An RV Extended Warranty is designed to cover mechanical and electrical breakdowns and repairs on your RV. Things like the repair costs of slide-outs, furnaces, air conditioners, water heaters, appliances, engines, etc.
An exclusionary policy will cover everything (non-maintenance) related that is not specifically listed on your policy as not being included. An Inclusionary (or Listed Components) policy will only cover what is specified in the contract.
Buying the right TYPE of RV warranty is very important. Many of the complaints and bad reports you may read about RV warranties most likely come from people who did not understand their policy or bought the wrong kind of coverage.
Exclusionary vs. Inclusionary RV Warranties
An EXCLUSIONARY policy is the best type of RV warranty. It offers the highest level of coverage you can get on your RV. It covers EVERY mechanical component on your RV, except for what is specifically listed under your policy’s “What is Not Covered” or “Exclusions” section. An Exclusionary RV warranty is the most comprehensive coverage available for your RV.
An Inclusionary Policy is also known as a “Listed Component” RV warranty. They offer lower (limited) coverage. These policies will list exactly which items ARE covered under the contract. If the item that fails is NOT on this list, it won’t be covered. That’s why it is considered a lower level of coverage than the “exclusionary” policy mentioned above. And are therefore less expensive.
Wherever possible, you want to get an Exclusionary RV Extended Warranty.
What does an RV Warranty NOT cover?
An RV warranty is NOT an insurance policy in that it excludes all collision-related and physical damages to your RV. It does not cover regular RV servicing and maintenance. So you will still have to cover the cost of oil changes, tires, rotations, etc.
RV warranties also exclude damage to your windows, flooring, furniture, upholstery, and awning materials. It definitely pays to take good care of your RV, service it according to your manufacturer’s recommendations, and also keep a log of all maintenance.
As always, read the contract and the terms and conditions of coverage carefully before signing! Know what you are – and are not – getting! And make sure you understand the process for filing a claim in case of a breakdown.
Is It Risky to Travel Without an RV Warranty? How much are repairs?
It is an RV. What could possibly go wrong?
An RV – no matter the type, brand, or price point – is a moving vehicle with countless moving parts traveling down the road like a rolling earthquake. Things will shake, rattle, and roll. Eventually, something is going to break. Possibly many things over time, and sometimes many things all at once!
No two RVs are the same. They won’t necessarily have the same issues, even if they are the same make, model, and year! Many variables play a part in an RV’s reliability. How you take care of the RV and how well it was built. How you drive it, and how much you use it.
The road and weather conditions it is exposed to. And honestly… luck plays a part too! Sometimes you can do everything right, and something STILL goes wrong. Go figure. Welcome to RVing 🙂
But you CAN minimize the likelihood of things going wrong. And minimize the financial impact if it does by taking good care of your RV and being protected by an RV extended warranty.
What are the odds your RV will need major repairs?
According to RV warranty claims records, at least three out of ten RVs will require a major repair in their second year on the road. By the 5th year, that leaps up to eight out of ten. And within eight years, virtually ALL RVs will need a major repair.
These days, with the increasing complexity, new technologies, and more appliances being added to RVs, we would not be surprised if those numbers are much higher in the years to come. Again, we feel the overall lower quality of recreational vehicles built in recent years may also increase the likelihood of that.
What do RV repairs cost?
Of course, that depends on the nature and complexity of the repair needed. Motorhomes – especially bigger Class A’s and Super C’s – tend to be more complex and expensive than smaller Class B’s, Class C’s, travel trailers, and fifth wheels.
RVs are becoming increasingly complicated with more technology, electrical, and mechanical systems. This means more things can also go wrong! We have seen RV repair facility hourly labor rates range between $85 and $150 an hour. The average tends to be around $120 – $130 an hour. But these can also creep up to $200 an hour on more expensive rigs.
What are the most common RV repairs?
According to Wholesale Warranties, the top five repairs for both motorhomes and towable RVs are air conditioners, slide-outs, leveling jacks, generators, and inverters.
Of course, there are many more things that can fail and need repair. We have personally experienced a failure of ALL five items listed above. Not all in one RV, but spread out among our RVs. And quite a few other repairs as well.
Let’s talk a bit about some of the RV repairs we have made over the years. And what was covered (or would have been covered) by an RV extended warranty.
A few important notes
Almost anything can go wrong. And it will.
Our Experience Traveling with RV Extended Warranties
Our First RV’s Extended Warranty
A bit more history on our first RV
What was covered by our RV extended warranty?
It’s worth noting that we owned the coach for 46 months out of the entire 60-month policy. Here’s a summary of what we had fixed during that time.
- 2014: The furnace and hose in the front area of the coach. Faulty ceiling light wiring.
- In 2015: Water heater. Driver-side electric window switch.
- 2016: New leveling jack springs. Track bar bolt and nut (suspension). Wheel Alignment. King Pins. Hotel accommodation and meals (twice)
- 2017: Jacks Controller for Leveling Jacks. Driver-side electric window switch. Fresh Tank Water Valve.
Our RV extended warranty covered parts and labor. Each time we took the RV in for a repair visit, we paid a $500 deductible. That is per visit (not per item), plus tax, freight for parts, shop supplies, and other items.
How much did it cost for our warranty?
- The total of these RV Repair bills and ‘out of crib’ expenses came in at around $8,683
- We paid $2,696 in deductibles, tax, freight for parts, shop supplies etc
- Our RV extended warranty covered $5,987
Policy cost and prior claims
The previous owner owned the coach and policy for 14 months. During that time (from his recollection), he claimed a faulty roof heat pump, which was covered by the policy.
He recalls paying around $4,000 for the five-year exclusionary policy at the time of purchase from an RV dealer. It had the highest available deductible, $500 per visit.
Details on our other RVs with / without warranties below.
Our Experience Without An RV Extended Warranty
Ultimately, it’s all about risk management!
While RV shopping for our second RV, we mostly looked at RVs in the 3-10-year-old range. We did get some quotes from Wholesale Warranties on a few RVs that we got serious about. This helped us plan and budget for the overall cost of a potential purchase. But at the end of the day, we decided to roll the dice and bought our cheap, older motorhome.
This means we paid for our own repairs and labor. So essentially, we were now self-insured. How did that work out for us? Let’s take a look.
Repairs we made on our second RV
UPDATE:
We published this article on the real cost of RVing after six years of full timing. In that post, we detail the RV repairs to our Country Coach from March 2018 – June 2020. In a nutshell, we spent $23,268 in repairs and maintenance on our 1999 Country Coach motorhome.
Almost a third of that related to a single major repair – replacing the diesel fuel pump. We did not have an RV extended warranty. So we had to pay for this out of pocket (around $8K).
Our Next Two RVs RV Warranty Experiences
2019 Casita Camper RV Warranty
Our Casita camper trailer was a much simpler RV than our previous two motorhomes. After our previous experiences, we definitely wanted an RV extended warranty. Since it was such a simple RV, the warranty was inexpensive compared to motorhome warranties.
It was only a bit over $2,000 for a six-year warranty. After getting hit with a nearly $10,000 repair on our Country Coach earlier in the year, we wanted the peace of mind of knowing that if something goes wrong, the cost will be capped.
2017 Winnebago Navion RV Warranty
If you have been following our blog, you will know that we did an RV trip to Florida in an RV that we rented from a friend. Well, at the end of that trip, the original owner decided he was going to sell the RV, so we decided to buy it.
Repairs the original owner has had to do in the first few years included:
- There was a major water issue in the overhead cab. This was due in part to improperly sealed clearance lights. The repair was estimated to cost $15,000. This was discovered just before the factory warranty expired and was therefore covered by the original manufacturer. But the RV extended warranty company guaranteed that they would cover it if the manufacturer didn’t.
- 2020: $855.71 Bathroom door latch, replace max air fan, and replace propane regulator.
- So, the various warranties covered over double the cost of the RV extended warranty. And we still have more than a year left on the warranty.
Repairs while we have owned it
In the first few months, we used the RV extended warranty for two additional claims. The first claim was to repair the Cummins diesel generator. That was a $906.15 repair. The warranty reimbursed us $746.32 of that.
We also needed to repair tie rods for $588, which is listed as a covered item. But we forgot to tell our repair shop we had an extended warranty! We didn’t get advance authorization, so we did not receive reimbursement for that item.
There were quite a few other repairs that needed to be done in the first year. But most were maintenance issues or other small repairs that were either ineligible for RV extended warranty coverage or small enough that it was just easier to do ourselves than to take it into a shop.
In early 2023, we also needed to replace the overhead light console in the cab. This cost $862. Unfortunately, it was not covered by the warranty because it was caused by water intrusion (which we have since fixed ourselves).
Should You Consider an RV Extended Warranty?
Do you need an extended warranty on a new RV?
Technically, if you have a brand new RV, then you don’t need an RV extended warranty… YET. Most of your repairs should be covered by your RV manufacturer’s factory warranty. These usually last for one year, and some may last 2-3 years.
Additional considerations
Also, when new, a model doesn’t yet have a history of repairs. Some RV models may develop a higher-than-average reputation for repairs. Those models will then end up with higher-priced policies as the years go on since they are now known to be more troublesome. Buying the policy when the RV is new shields you from the risk of a higher-priced policy while, of course, also paying for the repairs in the meantime.
If you plan on owning your RV for more than a year, it’s probably a good idea to buy the RV extended warranty at the time of buying your RV. This gets you the best price possible. Some companies offer a payment plan if you aren’t in a position to pay for it upfront.
But try to avoid rolling it into your RV financing! If you roll it into financing, you could pay much more for it in the long run due to the interest charges.
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Considering an RV Warranty for a Used RV?
Should you buy an RV warranty from the dealer?
Probably NOT. Why? Well, there are multiple ways an RV dealer will try to make money from you when you are buying your RV. The RV itself, financing, non-essentials (e.g., paint protection), and an RV extended warranty, to name a few.
The dealer almost always marks up the RV’s extended warranty. This means you will likely pay more than if you bought a policy directly. AND the dealer will also try to convince you to roll the warranty into the financing.
Typically RV loans can be 10, 15, or even 20 years. And you’ll be paying interest on that. So you will pay WAY more than you should for the RV extended warranty there too. That means they get you on two counts – a marked-up policy AND financing costs.
It definitely pays to do your homework and get a quote in advance. At least then, you will be informed and know what to compare their policy and price to. So you can determine if it’s a good deal or not. Of course, you also want to compare “apples with apples” when looking at what you get. That’s price, coverage, terms, company reputation, and after-sales support when it comes time to make a claim.
Knowledge is power
It can be stressful and overwhelming enough to buy an RV. Being pressured into buying an RV warranty on the spot when it is time to close the deal – especially when you don’t know enough about them – can be an expensive mistake.
That is why we strongly recommend buying an RV extended warranty from an unbiased, reputable, independent provider. And getting a quote before buying your RV, so you can budget accordingly. Be prepared!
Buying your RV extended warranty directly from a company that deals directly with the end consumer – and when the RV is new – is always the most cost-effective way to purchase a policy.
Should you ‘self-insure’ instead?
But the gamble goes both ways. If you have a reliable RV and don’t experience any major or expensive issues, you could break even or come out financially ahead. But you won’t have the peace of mind that an RV extended warranty may bring. Only you can put a price on what that is worth to you.
Extra potential risk
One potential risk we see with self-insuring can occur if you are not disciplined – or don’t have the financial means – to take care of large and important repairs when they arise.
There may be a temptation to “put off” RV repairs because you don’t have (or want) to spend the money. Having an RV extended warranty may motivate you to make RV repairs promptly, knowing your policy covers it. This reduces the risk of a smaller issue becoming a bigger and more expensive one down the track.
We ‘self-insured’ our second RV. You can see what those repairs (among other expenses) cost us in this in-depth expense report.
What does an RV Extended Warranty cost?
Every RV extended warranty is different. The type of RV, mileage, year, purchase price/ value, engine type, make, and model all help determine the cost of an RV Warranty policy. It also depends on what type of coverage you want, or qualify for, at the time.
Typically, RV extended warranties are less expensive on towable RVs like truck campers, travel trailers, and fifth wheels. This is because there is no drivetrain as found in motorized RVs (Class A, Class B, and Class C).
The price will also vary depending on the deductible. You get to choose what level of deductible you’re most comfortable with. And, much like your insurance policy, a less expensive RV extended warranty policy will mean you pay a higher deductible. Choosing a lower deductible will mean a more expensive policy. We have seen deductibles range anywhere from $50 – $500 per repair visit (not per item).
Something to keep in mind. If you sell the RV before the contract expires, you can cancel the contract and get a pro-rated refund based on the unused time or mileage remaining on your RV Warranty term.
When is the best time to buy an RV Warranty?
Pros of an RV Extended Warranty
- Allows you to manage financial risk with increased control of your RV-related expenses.
- An RV warranty company (administrator) will ensure RV service centers are not overcharging for repairs.
- You can include the warranty when selling the RV privately. This is an advantage for the buyer while making it easier for you to sell.
- A good policy will give you peace of mind, knowing you’re covered for major RV repairs.
- The policy may also include roadside assistance and towing benefits.
Cons of an RV Extended Warranty
- Usually, a sizable investment. And you may not get the full value out if your RV doesn’t need any major repairs.
- It may be cost-prohibitive. Or your RV may be ineligible if older (16–20+ years), or that have high mileage.
What to look for in an RV Warranty Company
There are many things you should look for when selecting an RV Extended Warranty company. Focusing on price alone is very short-sighted. You will want to consider these important points:
1. Confidence in a reputable company with a proven history?
You may have heard horror stories of people being left high and dry by companies that went out of business, rendering their RV extended warranty useless. Be sure to buy your RV extended warranty from a company with policies backed by “A” Rated Insurance Carriers with proven financial stability and staying power.
Avoid any RV Warranty programs offered through “Risk Retention Groups” (RRGs). If you want to read more about those and the risks, click here. But really, avoid them.
2. Knowing where you can get repair work done
Find out your options for using RV repair centers all around North America. You don’t want to be limited to using certain RV shops, networks, or facilities. When traveling around the country, you will want convenience and flexibility in where you get service.
3. Option to transfer or cancel your plan
You should get a transferable plan in the event you sell your RV. It may make your RV more attractive to a buyer. Or you may choose to cancel the policy for a pro-rated refund. Check the refund policy and find out if there is a ‘probation period.’ Admin fees may apply.
RV Extended Warranty Companies / Policies
Xtra Ride (through Protective Asset Protection)
- Our first RV extended warranty (that we inherited with our Tiffin) was an Xtra Ride policy through Protective Asset Protection. While they were mostly good to deal with regarding having our claims paid, they have also changed some of their business practices in recent years.
- They do not deal directly with the public. And you can only buy a policy through an RV dealership at the time of an RV purchase. So, you cannot buy a policy a month or a year or two after your RV purchase.
- You also cannot buy a policy from them on a pre-owned RV that you purchase from a private party. And, because you can only buy the policy through a dealer, it also means the price is more likely to be marked up. Therefore, it is more expensive.
- It may not be as easy to get an advance quote from Xtra Ride or the dealer before purchasing your RV, which makes it difficult to compare prices or accurately budget for your total purchase costs.
Good Sam Extended Service Plan (through Good Sam)
- Camping World Holdings own Good Sam. While we have not had an RV extended warranty – known as an extended service plan (XSP) – through them, we did have Good Sam Roadside Assistance – for just one year. We changed to another provider after a few poor experiences with Godd Sam.
- Based on our research of Good Sam extended service plan policies, we found reviews at both ends of the spectrum. Some good. Some bad. We do not know firsthand the current financial state of Camping World, nor do we wish to speculate. But as with all big purchases, we encourage you to do your homework before signing any contracts. And stay aware of potential risks.
Wholesale Warranties (Viking Protection Plan)
- Wholesale Warranties is an independent brokerage company that deals directly with the consumer. They can offer RV extended warranties at “wholesale” prices, as they are not marked up by a dealer. Wholesale Warranties have access to several warranty providers. So they are not biased toward just one. They will recommend the RV Warranty program that best suits your specific needs.
- The Wholesale Warranties Viking Protection Plan is their exclusive, white-label plan. It also covers consequential damage or commercial use, including renting out the RV. We like that Wholesale Warranties strongly focuses on customer service and education. And they provide guaranteed coverage, positive customer service, and competitive, fair pricing.
- Their team is the middle person between you and the RV Warranty company. This makes it easier to navigate the claims process and act on your behalf as needed. Wholesale Warranties also offers contracts to Canadian customers. In our research, we found they have an A+ rating on BBB and a 5-star rating on CustomerLobby.
- We have obtained several quotes from them while RV shopping and always found them extremely competitive, knowledgeable, and helpful. Our most recent RV extended service contract through Wholesale Warranties was in 2023 for our 2021 Tandara Fifth-Wheel.
So Who Do We Recommend?
It is for all of these reasons that we personally recommend Wholesale Warranties. We have consistently found them to offer the best service, the most competitive prices, and the best options for customers – while getting consistently high ratings.
Over the years, several of our RVing friends, the RVLove community, and students of our RV Success School have purchased an RV extended warranty through Wholesale Warranties. We have received many positive reports and feedback about Wholesale Warranties so far. You can also Google some of their 100+ reviews, with an average rating of 4.9 out of 5.
We contacted Wholesale Warranties to get quotes during our RV shopping process in 2018 when preparing to switch our motorhome. And they are who we choose to buy a policy from for the Casita RV purchase. Our 2017 Winnebago Navion had an RV warranty which was transferred to us by the original owner.
We have a warranty from Wholesale Warranties on our current fifth-wheel trailer.
You can click here or call 800-939-2806 to get an obligation-free quote.
In summary, we recommend you get at least two quote comparisons. Crunch the numbers. Consider your own risk tolerance, and weigh up whether or not an RV extended warranty is worth it for you.
Well, we hope this article has been helpful. We would love to hear your experiences, questions, and comments below.
Related Articles:
When is the Best Time to Buy an RV Warranty? How to Beat Price Rises?
The Real Cost of RV Ownership: Repairs, Maintenance, Depreciation, Finance, etc
Quick links back up to sections of this article:
- What is an RV Extended Warranty?
- What risks are involved traveling with or without an RV extended warranty?
- Our personal experience
- How to choose an RV Extended Warranty
- The RV Extended Warranty we recommend
- Get an obligation free quote on an RV extended warranty
- APRIL SPECIAL OFFER: Get a free 1 year Roadside Assistance Membership
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GOT COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
We would love to hear from you. Drop us a note in the comments section below.
90 thoughts on “RV Extended Warranties. Are They Worth it? 2024 Update”
I have had Good Sam for two years. The issue is they nit pick to avoid paying for items. I and the service rep have spent hours dealing with them. An example is they only cover electrical components. If the item is inside a sealed component they won’t cover the item and outright denied the repair.
It’s just to difficult to deal with them and I am going to cancel. People don’t want to accept the coverage for this very reason.
Hi Charlie,
Sorry to hear your experience with Good (‘bad’) Sam insurnace. I have heard that about a few carriers, and many times about good sam. That is part of why we like Wholesale Warranties, because they can help negotiate on your behalf. -M
Thank you. We love to hear that our content is helpful to others. Glad to help.
Get answers about
1. Review limits, at what amount of repair cost does the claim go to someone else to review coverage.
2. Tie back is this agreement restricted by distance. ALOT of them do have up to a 100 MILE tie back to selling dealer or sister store locations.
3. If it is a exlusionary (or sometimes called Comprehensive) what does it NOT cover?
4. IF you buy a lower level option and get a stated level agreement, what would happen if something broke and you needed to upgrade to a higher level plan?
5. Is there EVER a chance of goodwill on a non covered part
I could go on for days, but then I would confuse you and just do information overload
Thanks for your input. Agreed, those are good specific detailed questions to get answers on when shopping warranties. -M
Has anybody had experience good or bad dealing with americas rv warranty, will .ook into wholesale warranties also,arw is connected with fortegra in. Co. And seems to cut one of middleman out,thanks
Sorry we have no experience with America’s RV Warranty to share. We always recommend getting at least 2 quotes and compare apples with apples! We like that Wholesale Warranties is a broker that represents several policies and can recommend the best one for you, cutting out the middle man as you say (and markup). Good luck!
I bought a warranty and GAP from RV Country with the idea I could cancel it with a full refund in 45 days. I found the same coverage online for $1400 less than what I paid at RV Country. Preserve was the extended warranty company.
I canceled it and it’s 100 days and no refund. I’m out over $5,000 and no one will account for where the money is or when I can get it.
I’ve also waited 100 days for any parts to come in to fix my new toy hauler. Forest River makes a heck of a yard ornament.
Wow that sounds like a rough situation! We aren’t familiar with that warranty or company – but RV extended warranty companies are notoriously SLOW in processing things. I would keep on them – in writing so you have a ‘trail’ whether that is by email or registered mail. Email easier. You should have a copy of your contract specifying cancellation policy – attach a copy of that, along with your cancellation (hopefully you provided this in writing) and send to the warranty company / RV dealer – to the TOP. If you still get no joy, submit a claim to your credit card company (if that’s how you paid for it) with all of your written evidence. And yes, the last couple of years have been challenging getting parts with the supply chain issues – So frustrating! Really hope it all works out for you soon. Good luck!
Boy do I wish I read this article before we bought our Extended Warranty from the dealer BYoung RV now LazyDays! Total ripoff!
DO NOT BUY AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THRU ASSURANT!! We drove around the country for 4 months without a working refrigerator due to service appointments behind so backed up. ASSURANT will only pay for repairs that are pre authorized at a authorized repair facility. Repair facilities will not make an appointment just to obtain a pre- authorization. I have wasted at least 20 hours and now $10,000 on this scam trying to get any of our claim covered
Oh dear – so sorry to hear of your experience! That sounds frustrating. Had not heard of Assurant but will keep this in mind. Hope you get it resolved soon!
I am an RV mobile service tech business. I have to say there are warranty services that are horrible to deal with. My policy is NO to a warranty that is not above a certain dollar amount. Why? It takes minimum 1 hr of phone time working with your warranty company. Often I am on the phone for 2 hours or more. I don’t get paid for that. Your $200 deductible on a $500 job with $300 in parts is not worth the extra time it takes dealing with them. One warranty company, just today, tried to get me to box up a failed 2007 inverter and send it to their repair facility. (what business are they in? Maybe they should BE an RV repair facility???) And they want me/you to pay for boxing & shipping it both ways. The Agent insisted the inverter was “field repairable” even though I would have to drill out 18 rivets just to get the cover off to attempt to repair an inverter that was end of life according to the manufacturer. Often these extended warranty companies want to dictate how long a repair should take by the book not taking into account the way the coach was built/ what else must be done to affect the repair. These costs I have to pass onto you. And you say to me: “But I have a $200 deductible!”. I am a mobile business with no shop. I am a 1 person operation. 3 warranties a week would kill my effectiveness. Few extended warranty company lets me hand you a bill, you pay me and they reimburse you. I must call them and over the phone itemize, haggle and negotiate your warranty. NOT WORTH IT! Some warranty companies are great to work with. The difference between a Bronze and a Gold plan can change everything! If your warranty costs $9,000, personally I recommend keeping that in the bank ang forgoing extended warranty. I am the guy on the other side, this is my perspective. But I have seen disappointed faces too many times! II doubt they will publish my comment, if they do, take note. I have my own rating system for extended warranty companies. Some I will never do business with again! So when you bring out your policy and see a sour look on my face… try to see it from my point of view. I do not have time to list all of the problems I have had with extended warranty companies. And I fear their lawyers so I won’t list names. Do your homework. They salesman makes kickbacks selling you. And the first thing to know about buying and RV?: The biggest lie is “We checked out EVERYTHING!”.
Hi Chad, thanks for sharing your experience from the perspective as a mobile tech! There are definitely some warranty companies and policies that are better than others for sure. And understand why you don’t want to share names. Also agree the better (often ore expensive policies) may be the best way to go… and it all depends on the rig. We have owned a couple of Class A motorhomes and those repairs can get expensive, especially on the diesels. For some, it may make sense to self insure and just pay out of pocket, but like anything, it’s all about risk tolerance. Personally, we find RV breakdowns stressful enough as it is, wondering what is the issue, and how long will it take to fix it… without having to ALSO stress about what it might cost! Our exclusionary policy turned out to be worthwhile on our first coach… our 2nd motorhome had too many miles to qualify for a policy, but if it had, we would have definitely come out ahead. We only ever once called a mobile repair tech – on our first coach. We never called/used on our second coach. But the good thing for you is, there is plenty of business out there right now, so we hope you’re able to get by and thrive, with non-warranty work, as it sounds like it might be too much hassle for you with certain jobs. As you said “Do your homework” is the best advice you can give any RV buyer.. take your time and explore all your options, budget for everything… and make the choice that is right for you. All the best!
Would love to know the names of the reputable warranty companies you have worked with.
Wow thanks for sharing!
Very helpful article. We’re in the process of purchasing a used Class C RV. Unfortunately, I was disappointed to learn that Wholesale Warranties will not cover used RVs that are rented. They will only provide coverage on rental RVs that are new and you must add the coverage at the time of purchase.
Do you have any recommendations of companies that will provide extended service contracts for Used RVs that are rented? Thanks!
We didn’t know that! So if you own a used RV and want to rent it out, it’s not covered? Good to know this. Sorry we don’t know of any other companies that can help with providing extended warranty coverage on used, rented RVs… but will keep our eyes and ears open!
Thanks for the note with the update! Will make those changes to the blog post. Look forward to another trip down to the Keys sometime in the future! Cheers
Greet article. I was only reading it because I am having issues with a good sams extended warranty. We paid $3000 for the warranty and it has been a night mare. They always have an out. Do not waste your money on it.
Yes, sadly, we have heard too many similar stories, hence we don’t recommend GS… it. may be worth looking into your options canceling and getting a partial refund and getting a better policy from Wholesale Warranties which will likely also be cheaper – just make your you are comparing apples with apples! (eg. if say an exclusionary policy)
Hello all
This is a very comprehensive article that was well researched. I would like to know which company you (or the audience) would recommend to cover a 2008-2011 Newmar with e-plex.
Thanks
Hi Michael – glad you found the article helpful! We recommend getting a warranty quote from Wholesale Warranties – https://rvlove.com/warrantyquote – they can cover a motorhome in that era you mentioned.
We have always purchased extended warranties on our cars, and have had very good luck with the few claims that we have made. So when we bought our 2017 Class C with 17000 miles on it, we thought it prudent to purchase one. We bought the Good Sam extended warranty as well as the Good Sam vehicle insurance. WHAT A MISTAKE!!! I would not give this company another penny. We had heard that Goos Sam had changed and now denies every claim and that has been our experience. We had an issue with our water system after several months and several more thousand miles of operation so called Good Sam and took our RV to a repair shop that they recommended. The shop performed the repairs and let us know that there was some breakage that should be covered. Sure enough Good Sam has denied all claims as “pre-existing conditions”. Pre-existing? After 4 years and over 20000 miles? BUYER BEWARE! This company is not honoring its obligations with us, and per our mechanic, many others. We are appealing and have asked Camping World for assistance. I am also trying to find out if our state’s insurance commission licenses extended warranties, since this type of “bait and switch” should not be tolerated. If anyone has information as to how to action a bad faith extended warranty denial, it would be much appreciated. Until then we are simply sharing our experience. Thanks for this forum.
Hi there Nancy – we are so sorry to hear of your experience with Good Sam! Honestly, we have heard both good and bad reports on the Good Sam policies – we have never owned one from GS ourselves, and would not buy one. So thank you for sharing your experience, for the benefit of others who are reading this post and the comments. This is also the reason we recommend Wholesale Warranties, as we are confident in the service they offer. You might want to reach out to Alan Warren of the RV Show USA – I know he has covered some of this topic on his show, and warned folks to cancel and cash in their policies. He may have some suggestions for you on who to contact to help with your situation. I am assuming when you purchased the policy, they did not insist on an RV inspection so any “pre-existing conditions” could be noted on the policy? We just got an inspection done on our warranty for our Casita, for the Wholesale Warranties policy, the inspector was VERY thorough, and it came out with a clean bill of RV health. Phew! Anyway, hope those suggestions help. All the best!
Wow, this article had loads of information, suggestions, and tips. Thanks for the time and effort you put in to post the extensive article. I’m not yet an RV motorhome owner (first time) but if things work out for me I plan on a purchase of a 2 – 3 year old Motorhome. I appreciate your story and tips. I’m 78 years old and still pretty active and fairly mechanically minded so I can repair and fix many things but not sure about motorhome things. I’m not wealthy but believe I can pay cash for the motorhome (several in mind) I have spotted, and still, have enough savings to cover modest park fees, insurance, etc. But had not considered extended warranties to cover major repairs and roadside assistance fees. This is starting to scare me a little as I’m by myself and not rich so I may have to rethink my life going forward. I don’t plan to be on the road a lot but several trips a year.
I do want to know what most motorhome parks (not fancy) charge for 50 amp full hookups for a 37ft motorhome.
Hi Jimmy, so glad you found the article helpful! Yes, it can be a lot to wrap your head around. That is definitely great you are a handy guy and can DIY a lot of RV fixes yourself. It will save you a lot of money and hassle when it comes to RV repairs. Now to your question… extended warranties are a personal decision and everyone has to weigh up what’s right for them in terms of budget, risk tolerance etc, but you definitely want to ensure you have some kind of slush fund for RV repairs if you don’t take out a warranty… there is no one RV brand that is trouble free, and motorhomes have a lot more complexity than trailers. It would be really helpful for you to read our recent article on the Real Cost of Ownership – based on us owning 2 motorhomes – a newer Class A gas and an older Class A diesel – over the past 6 years. Ohttps://rvlove.com/2020/10/21/the-real-cost-of-rv-ownership-after-6-years-and-2-rvs-heres-what-we-spent-on-rv-repairs-maintenance-and-depreciation
Of course, every RV / person / situation is different… but personally we don’t like expensive RV repair surprises as those are rarely budgeted for! We had to replace the diesel fuel pump in our coach earlier in 2020, and nearly fell over when we learned the repair would cost $8,500! We had no choice but to fix it – ouch! Keep in mind, it was a 20yo motorhome with 250K miles, so that is a huge factor! It’s unlikely that would happen on a newer MH, but there are certainly plenty of things that can still go wrong. A friend who has a 2016 Monaco Diplomat and owned since new (5 years of full timing so far) purchased an extended warranty through Wholesale Warranties just as his one year factory warranty was about to expire and he has already gotten his money’s worth out of it in covered repairs. Example: He had slide wall issues and the manufacturer claimed that was not part of the structure of the RV (!?) and so wouldn’t cover the repair – his extended warranty did, however, saving him quite a few thousand. He still has a year or two to go on his warranty and he’s at break even already, plus he has peace of mind should anything else occur in the future. Another friend owns a 2017 Class C Winnebago with an extended warranty that has also already paid for itself in repairs against the purchase price. We just bought a little Casita trailer a few months ago and while it’s a much simpler, less expensive RV, we still took a warranty out on it as it only worked out to be a few hundred per year, and it was worth it to us not to have to worry if anything more extensive were in need of repair. I guess we just like the peace of mind of warranties. Personally, we would buy an extended warranty if/when we buy another motorhome… experience has shown us how many things can happen! We don’t share this to scare you, but to ensure you are well prepared before making such a big decision. As you know, RVs depreciate, and RV repairs cost money, but the fact you’re in a position to buy a 2-3 yo motorhome and pay cash for it puts you ahead of most. We would recommend – as part of your shopping and research on particular units – do get a quote for an extended warranty on short listed RVs as part of your due diligence / total expected purchase price. It costs nothing to get a quote, but what it will cost to purchase can tell you a LOT about how reliable that particular RV can be and help you budget. Also if you decide to sell the RV in a few years, it can be easier to do so with a warranty, to give the next buyer peace of mind (as was the case when we bought our first RV).
Again, after reading our 6 Real Costs of RV Ownership post we think you will get a much better sense of what to budget for with a motorhome: https://rvlove.com/2020/10/21/the-real-cost-of-rv-ownership-after-6-years-and-2-rvs-heres-what-we-spent-on-rv-repairs-maintenance-and-depreciation/
To answer your question about the cost of motorhome parks for 50A full hookup sites – that will really depend on where you travel, but budget for $40-60 a night on average. You can certainly find less expensive – and more expensive – and camping memberships can help you save on camping fees. Also by staying weekly, or monthly, you will get much better rates – if you travel at a slower pace, it will be less stressful, more relaxing, and also cheaper in fuel and campgrounds! You can often find more reasonably priced campgrounds 5-50 miles away from the most popular places like national parks and major tourist attractions. State parks and county parks are also in the $20-$40 range, and we are seeing more and more upgrade to 50A service. National parks don’t always have hookups and can be hard to get reservations, especially with a 37′ rig, but there are still a few – Crater Lake in Oregon is one example that can accommodate big rigs.
We also wrote these 6 year summary articles on RV camping expenses over the years…which will give you a good idea of camping expenses and ways you can save:
What has RV Camping Cost us over 6 Years – https://rvlove.com/2020/09/20/what-has-rv-camping-cost-us-over-6-years-of-full-time-rving
Thousand Trails – is it Worth it? – Our Comprehensive Review after 6 Years – https://rvlove.com/2020/08/06/is-thousand-trails-worth-it-our-comprehensive-review-after-6-years-823-nights-of-tt-camping-2020
Hope this helps! Wishing you every success in your plans to hit the road! It really is a great lifestyle and looks like you are doing your homework, which will definitely pay off! Don’t let all this scare you – just be prepared. Life is short and meant to be lived! And there is no better way to explore North American than by RV. It’s a beautiful country with SO much to see and do! So go for it! And et us know if you have more questions on these other articles as well.
Best of LIFE – Julie & Marc
Hi Marc and Julie,
We follow your Vlog and read this article and the comments thoroughly. We are upgrading our trailer and buying a brand new one that is much larger. Your article was so helpful and well written. It clarified what we thought we knew but didn’t. I love your content and humor in your articles and videos. Thanks for all the work. We for two… really appreciate it.
Jim and Lauri Amandus
Thank you so much for your lovely comment about our content. So glad to hear that you have found them so valuable and informative. Thank you again -M
Fantastic article for a 75 yr. old widow woman who just bought a 2021 Winnebago Micro Minnie. The quotes from the dealership were outrageous. I was going to purchase Good Sam and just pay for the entire 6 years in one shot. Now i am going to contact Wholesale Warranties and get a quote. So does the the company who sells me the warranty coverage – do they pay for repairs? Thanks again.
Hi Pam, WOW good for YOU buying your Winnebago Micro Minnie! We are so excited for you and your new adventures. So glad the article was helpful. And thank you for sharing your experience with the dealer quotes – we have heard reports of some policies being marked up 2-3x! When you get a policy through Wholesale Warranties, yes they should pay for the repairs HOWEVER we have had an experience where we paid for a repair and had it subsequently reimbursed by the warranty company. It may depends on the situation / repair. But DO ask this question of the person you speak to at Wholesale Warranties. Having warranty coverage will give you peace of mind, especially being a solo widow woman traveler without a handy hubby to fix things as you travel. You are very welcome. We wish you all the best for safe and happy travels!
Marc,
I have owned five different RV’s and the first thing I do when I buy one is enroll it on Good Sam’s Club Extended Service Plan.
You briefly mentioned Good Sam’s plan but did not go into much detail.
The extremely important difference between Good Sam’s plan and an Extended Warranty Plan is that Good Sam’s Plan comes is like an insurance policy under jurisdiction of insurance plans in the state of Colorado. With an Extended Warranty plan you are at the mercy of the using company in it being administered .
The other dramatic difference is the cost. With an Extended Warranty Plan you have to pay for the total cost, depending on how many years you purchase, at inception, typical thousands of dollars.
With Good Sam’s Club Extended Service you only pay at inception a monthly payment based on deductible. Taking the $500 deductible my monthly payment has been less than $100 per month. The policy is transferable and cancelled at any time without any penalty. Another trick I use when first buy my RV is to take the lowest deductible for the first months until have eliminated major problems then later raise deductible to lower payment.
Another important feature, which I have used successfully, if they balk on a claim is to complain the the State Insurance Commissioner.
Mike
Florida
Florida
Hi Mike, thanks so much for sharing your experience. No we did not go into detail on the Good Sam policy, as based on our research and knowledge, did not feel comfortable recommending that as an option. Partly due to concerns around the company, as covered in the post. We don’t know about all Extended Warranty companies, but we do know that Wholesale Warranties does offer a monthly payment plan for a period of time, and the policy can be cancelled for a pro-rata refund, should the RV owner decide to sell the RV and no longer need the policy. Also a good tip about filing a complaint with the State Insurance Commissioner if you have any issues with claims. And starting with a lower deductible then dropping it later. As always, we recommend people do their own research and compare apples with apples, when it comes to deciding on RV extended warranties – and whether or not it is right for them. Definitely important to only buy from a reputable company with sound administration and that honors valid claims. We see the decision to buy an Extended Warranty as the price one is willing to pay for peace of mind and limiting financial impact of expensive repairs. And it’s always smart to get a few quotes when shopping around. Thanks again for sharing your experience – wishing you safe travels!
Warranties will not cover maintenance related leaks, so why not give your RV roof enduring protection with RV Roof Magic. RV Roof Magic is a multipurpose roof sealant that not only seals the roof, but also protects it from harsh weather conditions.
Yes it’s important to maintain one’s RV roof – we used Dicor products to do an RV clean and prep https://amzn.to/37vHIkO and then resealed the roof https://amzn.to/3o8TBTz . Good to know you also have products, will take a look. Cheers
Hi! Thanks for the article. We purchased a Portfolio Protection ESP from the dealer only because we were told we can cancel for 100% refund within 60 days – which we will do. We found a comparable, and probably better, plan from Protective Asset Protection for about 40% cheaper. I don’t know if they have changed, but we did not have to get this policy through the dealer – they are selling direct to us. Also, in the interest of transparency, do you receive anything from Wholesale Warranties? I have seen a couple of people inquire, but you never did answer.
Hi Sharon, That is good to know! We did not realize PAP now sells direct – so we will need to look into that. I wonder if it is because you purchased new from a dealer and it falls within that qualification? As you have seen – the dealer marked up the price of the policy substantially! So glad the article was helpful in terms of saving you some money! Yes, we are affiliate partners of Wholesale Warranties – we do not recall seeing any other questions about this that we missed or were unanswered…? Was that here on the blog? We are clear in our disclosure in the first para of the article (as you will see in all of our blog posts) that some links may be affiliates. We never recommend anything that we do not fully believe in. We regularly recommend companies and services that offer NO affiliate commissions whatsoever – that is never the reason we would recommend someone. It is ALWAYS based on the quality of the product and service, and our genuine belief that it would benefit our community, and that we can feel confident in sharing with our audience. And also based on our experience. Our opinions are not – and never have been – for sale. That is why our community trusts our recommendations. That said, we totally understand your reason for asking. Hope that helps!
My experience with extended warranties include Good Sam and it has not been good. They will simply tell you it was a pre-existing condition and deny your claim. I had a catastrophic failure of the wheel bearing spindle and hub which cannot be pre-existing under any circumstance. $2,200 in repairs in my claim is denied it’s 17 minutes. Be cautious if you have a new RV stick with the factory and extended warranties offered by a dealer stay away from Good Sam those guys are Crooks.
Sadly we have heard many unfavorable reports about Good Sam. We are sorry to hear of your experience. We also caution people to look further than the extended warranties offered by the dealers, as we know several people have found they were over charged by several thousand dollars more than they needed to pay, as it was marked up substantially for the same kind of policy one could by wholesale (not retail. We consistently get positive feedback about Wholesale Warranties from our RV Love community, which is why we are confident in recommending them and always personally obtain quotes on policies when shopping for RVs so we know what to expect.
Good Sam is way over priced, Americas warranty is much less and they do an outstanding job with customer service, Wholesale Warranties is also a very good company, I have had both I am going with my new 40 Ft. DP with Americas warranty
Thanks for sharing. It definitely pays to do research, to make sure you are comparing equal warranties, coverage and reputation. -M
I had a break line rupture and they denied my claim it was @ 1400 dollars.
Sorry to hear that your claim was denied.
Which company were you with?
VERY thoughtful, well-researched and presented article. THANK YOU.
You’re welcome! Glad it was helpful.
Thanx! Great insight. We are purchasing our first RV, a 2017 Winnebago Journey 40R, from a very conscientious, long-time RV’r. He has 4 years left on their Coach-Net Extended Service Agreement, which he said was transferable to us. Not 100% sure this is as easy as it sounds. The Plan Administrator decides “if” the plan can transfer from the seller to us, the buyers. Even if transferred, it may take up to 30 days after approval to begin coverage.
A new Coach-Net policy would be 300% higher than the transfer costs!
Will check out Wholesale Warranties, apples to apples!
Keep up the great Blogs and Emails!
HI Robert, Glad you found the article helpful. Our first RV warranty was transferred via the original owner and only cost us $75 (back in 2014) and from memory happened pretty quickly – it was an Xtra Ride policy (which you can only buy new from dealers at time of RV purchase). Definitely worth getting a comparison quote from Wholesale warranties and check the inclusions, terms, coverage and price against the Coach-net option. We aren’t as familiar with the Coach-net policy. But definitely always worth getting other quotes to compare against before making a big, costly decision or purchase. Great to buy a used one from a conscientious, long time RVer – it will likely be much better than buying a new one and having to work out all the bugs! Glad you enjoy the content – more to come! All the best to you and enjoy your new coach and travels!
We are a couple of seniors who owned a pop up camper for many years. We sold that and have not camped in about 10 years. We decided if we were to ever camp again it would need to be a small travel trailer. After much searching we decided on a Kodiak Ultra Lite 201QB as that is large enough to fit our needs. After reading all of the comments on this page, I now wonder if we have done the right thing. What I understand is this: An Extended Warranty purchased from company other than dealer would be the best option for us and also purchase a separate contract for Towing.
I found your article very helpful and thought provoking. Thanks.
Glad you found it helpful Linda. You may get a decent price and extended warranty from a dealer – what we are saying is to do your homework and get a quote from a company like Wholesale Warranties, which can provide quotes on various policies from different companies – and compare apples with apples. Dealers often mark the extended warranty prices up – AND also encourage buyers to roll into the financing (which we don’t recommend). The main thing is you get some quotes, make sure it’s an exclusionary policy, compare the contracts carefully, and ensure the company behind it is reputable and not likely to go out of business so you are not left high and dry. Hope that helps!
Use AAA RV Coverage for towing.
Thanks very interesting blog!
What company did you switch to for roadside service?
We switched to the program through FMCA, and have been very pleased with the service through them. Though we might be switching again to CoachNet. We have heard a lot of good feedback about CoachNet.
We purchased an extended warranty with our gently used 06 Southwind. The cost was about $4100, and to date has paid out $1300 for a slide out motor replacement. We are nearing the end of our 5 year contract and contemplating purchasing another, edging towards not doing it (didn’t make $$ sense based on our previous history).
And that all changed a few days ago. Our Norcold 1200 fridge died. It developed the dreaded ammonia leak and the cooling unit is shot. Luckily we installed an ARP control and it shut the fridge down and averted disaster (the 1200 is notorious for causing fires). Our fridge repair (cooling unit) replacement was just approved, so we are closer to breaking even on our initial extended warranty investment.
Thanks for a detailed article, I will use some of this info to help decide if we purchase another warranty or not.
Hi Steve, Wow, thanks for sharing your story! Most importantly, we are glad no-one was hurt and a potential fridge disaster (fire?) was averted. Those RV fridges are expensive to replace – we have heard stories of RV fridge replacements costing up to $4,000 including installation! You are a great example of being able to go either way – self insure or get the extended warranty. Of course, the older the coach gets, the more things may require repair… but it really is a ‘gamble’ either way, and one that each person must weight up for him or herself. The way we look at it is, even if we come close to breaking even on a warranty, the peace of mind we get from ‘just in case’ a bigger repair may be required would be worth it to us… but again, that’s a very personal decision based on many factors. Glad what we shared was helped as you weigh up the pros and cons for your own situation. Cheers!
Great article Mark! Your website is educating me on so much as we explore upgrading to our first new trailer. I was saddened to learn that your recommendation to purchase directly from Wholesale Warranties is not an option for California residents who do not have an out-of-state address. Any other tips or tricks to get a policy from Wholesale Warranties?
Hi Doug, glad you found the article helpful. We’ve reached out to WSW to ask for their advice on your options. May not hear back until early next week, so stand by… or you could give them a call? But we’d like to know the answer ourselves and share it here. Thanks for your comment / question. We’ll get back to you ASAP. Have a good weekend until then!
Hi Julie, Thanks for contacting WSW about policies in CA. I’m hopeful they’ll have a good solution 🙂
Hi Doug, well we got an answer back from Wholesale Warranties, and here is their reply:
“It is true that the policies we offer are not available to those whose sole-address is California. We truly wish there were other ways around it but due to a recent CA law change the only way through this is providing a vacation home/rental, an LLC or a mail forwarding address that is outside of CA. I hope this helps and clarifies things a little better!”
Not sure how helpful that is Doug… but if you are planning on doing full time or extended RV travel anyway (even part time) it can be very useful setting up a mail forwarding service that provides you with an address for your mail. They would give you an address with a “box number” and you could use that for your Wholesale Warranties policy/address. There are several mail service options – we use Escapees. We will continue to look for alternatives and update our blog post as necessary.
Yes, they indicated something about CA requiring Sales Tax and thus their policies are only available via those methods or directly from the dealerships. Oh well, I appreciate your help tracking down that confirmation! Safe travels 🙂
Drats! Thanks for letting us know!
Thanks for your very informative article! We have bought a new Grand Design 5th wheel and hope to take delivery very soon. I would like to know who you would recommend for emergency road service. AAA has RV road service but I am worried about getting service if we should have problems in remote areas. Do you have any recommendations for emergency road service companies?
Thanks,
Caroline
Hi Caroline
Glad the article was helpful and congrats on your new Grand Design! While there are quite a few companies out there offering roadside assistance, we definitely recommend you get one that will cover your RV in the event you need to be towed! Also we recently learned that RV extended warranty companies are moving away from offering “out of crib” travel expenses while these are being picked up by some roadside assistance companies, so keep an eye out for that benefit, as well as RV towing and related incidents. While we used Good Sam roadside for one year, to be honest, we cannot recommend them as we were less than happy with the service. We changed to FMCA Roadside Rescue a couple of years ago and have only had to use once – to get towed! And they did cover all of that expense, as well as our ‘out of crib’ travel expenses while our RV was being repaired. Of course, we had to pay for the RV repair. The catch is you have to be an FMCA member in order to join their roadside rescue program…but we were already, they are good for tire discounts as well (FMCA).If you do decide to join FMCA, please let them know you were referred by RVLove member #464400. And we have heard only good things about Coachnet, so feel confident enough recommending them, even though we haven’t been a member… they are well known and respected. Hope that helps!
I own a 2005 Newmar Dutch Star. 64 000 miles. I bought US Warranty full extended warranty cost 7000. I have had frige fail convection oven fail inverter fail washer fail deductible 150 per claim my coverage for 5 years 2023 or 120000 miles policy well worth
We purchased an RV, fifth wheel, and 2019 and only drove it from Arizona to Oregon and decided that full timing was not for us. We want to sell it now. Can we get money back from all of the warranties that we signed up for for the next seven years.
Hi Beverly, Sorry to hear the lifestyle isn’t for you. It can take some time to adjust to, and we typically suggest people give it up to a year to adjust. We cover all this in Part 2 of our book “Living the RV Life” in the Emotional Considerations topics. Have you read it? It may be worth doing before making the big and (potentially costly) decision to sell the RV.
Re your policies, without knowing what warranties you purchased, we cannot answer that question. You would need to contact the company(ies) directly to have them answer that question. But if you bought an RV extended warranty, most companies should let you transfer that to the new owner when selling the RV privately. Or if you trade it in at a dealer, they should refund you a pro-rated amount. Wishing you all the best!
Hi Marc and Julie. Thank you for your well researched article on extended warranties. If I may, I would suggest adding one item to your pro list for buying an extended warranty, a consideration given to me by a friend who owns an RV repair shop. He tells me that since they are so busy, they will take care in priority of customers with warranties. Without it, you may have to wait longer to get your repairs done. Keep on your good work. Thanks.
Thank you Yves – we appreciate your sharing that tip! It is good to know that some repair shops prioritize warranty customers. We have personally been serviced fairly quickly in these instances… however have also hard opposite stories, that cash customers sometimes get faster service? Perhaps it depends on the shop. But we can certainly add that to the article as a consideration. Thanks for taking the time to share!
Do you have any experiences with the company called compass
Hi Paul, Not personally. And not enough to report on here in this article (yet). Our initial research on Compass shows the policy is offered by AGWS (American Guardian Warranty Services), through dealerships. Their reviews seem reasonable enough on Google (4 average based on 123 google reviews) but their BBB rating is fairly low. In trying to learn more about them, we were somewhat uninspired by the scant detail they share on their website regarding their policies. We will need to dig a lot deeper to learn even more before sharing / adding to our post. At present, the policy appears to only able to be purchased through a dealer/agent (not direct from the company) so do be aware there could be a markup on the policy cost. Definitely get some price comparisons from 2-3 companies and be sure to compare ‘apples with apples’ and pay close attention to their reputation when it comes to paying on claims. Don’t make your decision on price alone. The most important thing is the big ticket items are covered when you need it! And, of course, be sure to read the fine print of any contract you sign. Not sure how much that helps. We’ll continue to look into them.
I liked your article but I do have one question.
In your article you state; “Many get their moneys worth out of them and then some. Others break even. And a few end up buying the warranty and don’t claim enough to cover what they paid.” If this is accurate, how can the Warranty companies stay in business and make a profit. They must have more money coming in than going out.
Thanks!
Hi Jim, This is a great question, and we felt it would be better answered in more detail, by a senior executive within a warranty company. We appreciate your patience, while waiting to get this response from Jeff Shelton, CEO of Wholesale Warranties. Hope it helps!
“Great question. As you might guess, warranty companies need to make money to stay in business and at the same time add great value to consumers. When it comes to getting repairs done, warranty companies have several advantages that allow them to be more efficient and cost effective than the average consumer.
Starting out, claims departments have access to complex databases that allow checks and balances to determine average repair times for most any repair on even the most complex of units. This gives them the opportunity to question labor hours and repair prices and is a deterrent to repair facilities to over inflate labor and repair costs.
In addition, since warranty companies are a large portion of many repair facilities businesses, in many cases they are able to negotiate the labor and repair costs and receive “volume” discounts that would normally be unavailable to the average consumer. Although we will never be able to predict if any one particular unit will have high repair costs, the combination of high efficiency, and extremely accurate information using a large volume of RV’s, makes the idea of getting coverage a no brainer for more and more RVers. I hope that helps!”
Jeff Shelton
CEO,Wholesale Warranties
Great content here! Thank you! Just bought a 2017 Airstream Interstate 24’ GT Tommy Bahama edition. Opted out of the expensive extended warranty offered by the dealer (Nationwide). In the process of getting quotes from GS and WW now.
Awesome – enjoy that beautiful Airstream!
After reading an article from the Axle Addict who wrote that all RVs being manufactured are of such poor quality we are now hesitant in purchasing one. Your article shed some light but is the quality of RV manufacturing that poor?
I haven’t read the article from Axle Addict that you mention, so I can’t comment on that specifically. But, RVs are very complex, and are built in relatively low tech facilities. People often try to compare them to automobile standards. RVs definitely fall short of automotive standards, and have a reputation for regularly needing maintenance and repairs. Ironically, new units often have more repairs than well cared for pre-owned ones as the previous owner has worked out the initial issues. If you are expecting a completely trouble free experience owning an RV, you will likely be disappointed. Some of those repairs can be quite expensive, and manufacturer warranties are relatively short, which is part of the appeal of having an extended warranty.
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts about warranties. We have been researching Rv’s and narrowed down to 2 prospects, if we do make a purchase. I’m trying to educate myself with as many things as I can, because I have heard too many horror stories. So all of what you had to say has helped a lot..
Glad to hear it Karen. Yes RV warranties are a hot topic and people love to share their horror stories, but there are so many factors that play a part. On the other hand, we have also heard a great many positive stories, where RV warranties saved folks from some very scary bills. Like we said, do your homework, get some quotes, weigh up the pros and cons… and decide if it’s right for you. If you go with a reputable company that is financially stable, well backed and has positive customer reviews/ratings, that will help reduce your chances of having any horror stories of your own. All the best to you!
Thankyou so much, we are purchasing a new entegra 36h 2020, were due to pick it up in march! Yes its brand new and friends told us we were crazy on buying new! But we’re comfortable and excited, we have the 2/3 year warrantybut were taking your recommendation for wholesale warranties! Thanks again , sincerely the Rojo family
Hi there Rojo family! Congratulations on your new Entegra purchase! We do love Entegras, but haven’t actually seen the 36h model yet, so will have to check it out at the Tampa RV Show next month. Glad you found the article helpful. With so many technologies and electronics on today’s new RVs, there is just so much more that can go wrong… (welcome to #rvlife LOL) and therefore potentially be expensive. Considering your purchase is a sizable investment, if it were us, we would take out an extended warranty too. But we do appreciate that is a personal choice… it all comes down to what are you willing to pay for peace of mind. All the best to you and happy holidays! – Julie and Marc
Thanks for the GREAT info. Some great Sunday morning reading. Not buying yet but will save this to read at a later time. I am also reading your book “Living The RV Life” in my spare time.
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the article, and are enjoying the book. We love that they have been so helpful to others.
Thanks for all of your hard work putting this information together. Everything you said makes sense to me. We made the mistake of getting the extended warranty when we purchased our first ever RV, from the manuf. I was smart enough to keep it outside of the financing. We were also sold a ‘tire’ warranty, which after 3+ years I have decided was not necessary. The RV Extended Warranty has been a worthwhile purchase as we have had several issues with the slides.
Thank you. We are glad you value what we create. Glad to hear that your extended warranty has been worthwhile, and that you kept purchase out of the financing. Thanks again.
I had originally bought a road side assistance with Coach Net when I purchased my 5th wheel brand new and through the dealer. This last year have been looking for an extended plan. But if I bout before my plan was expired I had to go back through a dealer. Which I did not want to do. But when my plan was expiring I did indeed go back to Coach net and go the extend, road side and the tire plan. As I write this I’m not sure it if was exclusionary or inclusionary but I like what they had and had used the road side assistance previously and had a very good interaction with them. If I recall this plan covered a long time period than wholesale warranties that I had also looked at. With just about an identical price. Anywho, that’s my two bitts worth. Nice article you have written.
Thank you. Glad you liked the article, and found coverage that works well for you.
Fabulous well written article that we’ll refer to as we continue searching the RV market! An eye opener….Thanks Mark
Thank you. We love to hear that our content is helpful to others. Glad to help.
I’m surprised that you left out any information or comments about Coach Net. Obviously you must have some type of financial arrangement with WW.
We have used Coach Net for roadside assistance but not for extended warranties.