What’s the Difference Between an RV Warranty and an RV Extended Warranty

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When you buy an RV, you have lots of options when it comes to insuring it so that you can afford to use it each year without worrying about repairs. RVs are almost always sold with a warranty, and you can also purchase extended warranties. Protecting your investment with a warranty is key, which is why you need to be educated about your warranty options.

RV extended warranty products are ideal to fill in the gaps after your regular warranty ends. Most manufacturer warranties last from one to three years, but you will, of course, want to use your RV for many more years than that. Protecting your RV with a quality warranty matters so that you can have peace of mind each time you head down the road.

What is an RV Warranty?

An RV warranty is the product that is sold with your RV in most cases. This RV warranty will usually start out covering most of the components of your RV for the first year and then coverage will taper off in the years to come. Powertrain warranties typically last longer than warranties for things like appliances and electrical systems.

Your warranty from the manufacturer or the entity that sold you the RV will provide you with lots of coverage in most cases, but you will potentially want more coverage than this warranty can offer. Additionally, your warranty will likely end after your first three years of ownership, but it is unlikely that you will want to sell your RV or trade it when it is still so new. You will need an additional, extended warranty to cover your RV for the rest of the years that you will continue to have fun with it once the manufacturer’s warranty is up.

What is an RV Extended Warranty?

The RV extended warranty is an ideal solution if you are looking to protect your RV well into the future. These policies can cover lots of different things, from your engine to your transmission to your electrical systems and your appliances. There are lots of ways to customize this kind of warranty, and you will need to look at the fine print of each warranty that you are interested in to see what coverage is offered. The more coverage you can get for an affordable price, the better.

Remember that there will be things that are not covered under an RV extended warranty. Things like normal wear and tear and issues that you caused yourself by getting into an accident on the road, for example, will not be covered. You should be clear about how your policy works before you select one policy over another. The limitations of each policy may vary and might impact your choice.

Remember as well that these policies will have a co-insurance cost. You will pay a deductible to use your policy, and you will want to be aware of what the deductible is on each policy that you are looking at buying. This is another area where companies can vary in their offerings. You should be aware of your deductible costs when you select any kind of insurance product of this type.

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What Are the Kinds of Extended RV Warranty?

There are usually different kinds of warranties that you can select for your RV when you want to extend the original warranty. You will be able to pick and choose, in most cases, from these policy types.

1.     Powertrain Warranty

This warranty will protect your transmission and certain parts of the engine while the policy is in effect. You will want to read the fine print carefully with this kind of warranty. Some makes and models of motorhomes or RVs will not be covered as thoroughly as others. RVs with known issues with their engines will not be as easy to get coverage for as RVs that have a better reputation for longevity when it comes to the powertrain.

2.     Electrical, Heating, and Cooling Warranties

These warranties cover your AC and heating systems and sometimes will also extend to other systems that are connected, such as your electrical systems. Electrical problems can happen to any RV due to the pressure that driving down the road can have on these delicate components. If you have a generator, you might also get coverage for the generator within this policy.

3.     Appliance Warranty

It is usually possible to get coverage for your appliances on an extended warranty. If you are worried about your fridge, oven, or microwave breaking or simply getting too old to work well, you can get coverage on your extended policy that will cover these items.

4.     Awning and Outdoor Component Warranties

If your RV has lots of outdoor components, such as outdoor kitchens, awnings, or other items that extend from the side of the RV, you might want coverage for these components and parts. You can get specific policy coverage for this part of your RV, or it might be built into a policy that covers many kinds of damage.

Remember, as well, that there are bumper-to-bumper warranties that you can buy, which will almost always cover most of these items. This is often the best value for your money, but you might not be able to access as much specific coverage in one area of focus as you would if you were to get unique policies for specific parts of your RV. Bumper-to-bumper coverage is frequently what you get access to for the first year, so this kind of extended warranty might be what you are looking for when it comes to RV coverage.

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Having an RV Extended Warranty is a Great Plan

There are lots of reasons that you will benefit from having an extended warranty for your RV. You might find that the repairs that electrical systems or appliances need are too expensive when you don’t have a warranty to cover them. Avoiding having to park your RV and wait until you have the money you need saved to repair it can be frustrating. An extended warranty can give you peace of mind that you can use and enjoy your RV all year long.