RV Warranty: The Ultimate Guide to RV Extended Warranties

It’s no secret that RVs breakdown.

If you’ve owned an RV before, you know it’s really a matter of when you’ll end up in a repair shop…not if.

The cost of those repairs is only going up. Thanks to an increase in RV popularity and more bells and whistles on the modern RV, that next repair bill might mean a big hit to your travel budget.

How to Save on RV Repair Costs and Protect Your Travel Budget

So how do you protect your life on the road? You have options, but many RVers are turning toward RV extended service contracts, or RV warranties, as a way to protect their budget. The most important part of an extended RV warranty is understanding what the coverage will do for you, what it won’t cover, and how to find a reliable provider who will be there for you when you need them most.

Let’s do it! Dive in on RV warranty education with us to learn more about protecting your road ahead.

What is an RV Extended Warranty, and what will it cover?

Simply put, an RV extended service contract, commonly referred to as an RV extended warranty, is a contract that agrees to pay for the cost of repair for mechanical failures on your rig, in exchange for a premium and deductible.

RV warranties are designed to cover mechanical working components on your RV. They will often be broken down into various levels of coverage, including:

Exclusionary RV Warranty: This is the highest level of coverage available, and is a great fit for those who don’t want to worry about any repair bills while traveling, as well as those whose RVs have many luxury components like washer/dryers, solar panels, and more. An exclusionary policy will tell you exactly what is not covered. If your failure is not on the exclusions list, your RV warranty will cover the repair.
Listed Component or Comprehensive Coverage: This type of policy is written as the reverse of an exclusionary plan. Your contract will give a specific list of what will be covered by the policy, and if your failure is not on this list, it will not be covered. This is a great and very comprehensive option that comes in at a lower price than the exclusionary plan, making it one of the most popular RV warranties.
Powertrain Only RV Warranty: It’s all in the name! This type of policy is designed to cover the most expensive potential repairs your motorhome faces: your engine and transmission. If it makes the RV “go”, it will be covered, but all coach components will be excluded. This is a popular option among handy RVers who like to perform more minor repairs.
Coach Only RV Protection: This type of RV warranty will cover the items in your coach, while specifically excluding engine and powertrain components. You’ll still have coverage for appliances, heating and cooling components, leveling systems, and more, but your engine will be excluded.

RV Extended Warranties – Repair Costs

But what actually breaks down, and how much will it cost?

Below you’ll find a breakdown of the top 5 most commonly paid claims by Wholesale Warranties, a leading RV warranty provider. In addition to these items, you’ll find engine failures at $25,000+, refrigerators coming in at up to $3500 a pop, and generator issues ranging from a few hundred dollars to $4,000! You can click here to learn more about common RV repair costs.

What is NOT Covered by RV Warranties???

Knowing what is not covered is equally as important as knowing what is! Regardless of which level of coverage you purchase, you should know that no RV warranty will cover everything on your coach. If you’re being sold a “bumper-to-bumper” policy, turn the other way—they don’t exist!

What isn’t covered will of course vary by coverage level, but no RV extended warranty will cover:

Aesthetic Items – Remember, these policies are designed to cover functioning mechanical components. Things like flooring, paint, glass, and furniture don’t serve a mechanical purpose, so they aren’t covered.

Next, maintenance items and services. RV warranties are designed to cover breakdowns, but the cleanings, oil changes, and other maintenance services suggested by your manufacturer are not going to be covered.

And lastly, physical damage, accidents, weather, vandalism, and anything that would fall under your comp and collision RV insurance will be excluded by your RV warranty.

Which RV Warranty is Right for Me?

Not all warranties are create equal, and that’s just as true for RV warranty providers. There are some key things to look for when determining if the policy and provider you’re looking at are the right fit. Let’s get into those now…

Stability is key! Your RV warranty should be backed by an insurance carrier, and that carrier should be well-regarded for financial stability through groups like AM Best. Having an insurance carrier or “obligor” on the contract means that should something happen to the warranty administrator or provider, your claims would still be paid, and your coverage would still be valid.

Ease of use. There isn’t a lot of value in an RV warranty that is tough to use! Always look for where you can take your rig for repairs. You should work with a policy that will allow you to take your rig to any facility or mobile mechanic of your choice. You’ll also want to look at their claims process: do they require reimbursement? Is it tough to get ahold of them? Claims should be handled as quickly and easily as possible, to get you back on the road where you belong.

Finding the right RV warranty provider & who is Wholesale Warranties?

We keep mentioning “provider”—this is a hugely important part of buying! You can purchase an RV warranty policy in a few places. Of course, there is the dealer who will likely offer you a plan at the time of purchase. Or, you have the options to go through a direct-to-consumer company. At LiveCampWork, we recommend Wholesale Warranties. And we’ll tell you why!

Wholesale Warranties is a leading provider of RV warranties direct to the customer. Their focus is on education, and customer experience. From your initial quote straight through to purchasing, and then to claims, you’ll work with real, dedicated individuals on staff. Your RV Warranty Specialist will learn who you are as an RVer in order to recommend the best policy for you. They’ll walk you through your coverage options, deductibles, payment details, and more—and they’ll always give you a full copy of the policy before you buy.

One of the things that makes Wholesale Warranties unique is their approach to taking care of customers even after they’ve purchased. If you buy your warranty from a dealer, and you have issues when it comes time to make a claim, there isn’t really anyone to turn to for help. Wholesale Warranties actually has an internal claims support staff. While they don’t handle the claims processing in house—RV warranties are never sold by the administrators themselves—they do have a team dedicated to answering questions, helping you find repair facilities in your area, or even going to bat for you if you’re up against a denial you disagree with. There is no other provider offering this kind of service, but we think it’s what RVers deserve.

And at the end of the day, whether you’re choosing to go through Wholesale Warranties, your dealer, or another provider, don’t take their word for it! Always do your own research. Customer advocacy tools like the Better Business Bureau, TrustPilot, and Google Reviews, as well as industry-specific organizations like Escapees RV Club and popular RV forums, are a great way to get a realistic view of how a company performs. You’ll want to see reviews from real RVers who have made real claims before deciding to purchase.

RV Breakdowns Happen. Make a plan for how to handle them!

Whether you choose to go with an RV extended warranty or not, make sure you’re prepared for RV breakdowns. We know they happen, and we know they’re expensive, so don’t allow the next big failure to sideline your hard-earned travels! If you’d like to learn more about RV protection from Wholesale Warranties, you can click here to get a free quote, and learn more about your options.

Plan for repairs, then hit the road!