As warranty brokers, it’s our job to provide digestible information to help educate you on your contract, including being transparent when it comes to what’s not covered. In spite of warranty policies protecting most components in your RV, they won’t cover everything.

In short, warranties are for the mechanical and electrical items in your motorhome. This means that these policies will not cover maintenance items, collision damage, cosmetic items, or upgrades. This outline will help you visualize what will and won’t be covered in your RV extended warranty policy.

RV Extended Warranty Details – What’s Not Covered

Take note of non-covered components for two reasons: first, knowing what won’t be covered helps set realistic expectations for coverage. Further, this is an important aspect of any policy as it pertains to the exclusion of Consequential Damage failures. Essentially, if a non-covered item in your RV damages a covered item, this failure would not be protected under your warranty.

Some policies will have the option to add consequential loss coverage to take care of this specific situation. As an example, if a $40 thermostat caused damage to your $5,000 radiator, and you had this coverage in place, your policy would cover the radiator. In contrast, if you didn’t have this protection, your warranty would be void on both parts, and you would be stuck footing the bill. Supplemental protection options, like consequential loss, can give you further peace-of-mind with your policy.

Keep in mind that warranty companies will always look at the root cause of the failure to determine whether or not an item will be covered. Take a leak for example. A leak is the result of something else failing. If something like a water heater or water pump caused the leak, that would be covered. In contrast, if a tree damaged your roof causing a leak – this would not fall under warranty protection, rather, your RV insurance.

So what items are not covered in an RV extended warranty?

Lamps

No lamp, regardless if your rig is new or used, will be covered under an extended warranty. This includes tail lamps, headlamps, and sealed lamps.

Weather Stripping and Unit Seals

Most seals and gaskets will be covered by reliable warranty companies, however, weather stripping and unit seals will not, no matter the warranty provider. These items are motionless seals that protect your RV from debris but do not contribute to a mechanical or electrical function. Therefore, these types of seals and gaskets aren’t covered in any type of policy.

Glass, Metal, Fabric

Aesthetic and structural components are also commonly excluded. This includes window glass, metal siding, wooden floors, furniture, and fabric. Again, keep in mind that these items do not serve a mechanical function, and are therefore not covered by an extended RV warranty.

A good example of aesthetic vs. mechanical components is your awning. If the fabric of your awning is ripped, frayed, or otherwise damaged, it would not be covered. However, if the motor that allows your awning to extend in and ceases to function, this mechanical part would be covered by a policy.

Upgrades

Upgrades on your rig will not be covered if the mechanical function is affected. For example, if you choose to modify engine parts in attempts to get better gas mileage, you are changing the intended function of the engine. This voids coverage for the part itself and any other components the upgrade affected. Plumbing and wiring, when modified, could also affect standard coverage.

Although warranties limit mechanical and electrical mods available, aesthetic upgrades typically would not affect your RVs protection.

Compare Coverage

There are limitations when it comes to warranty policies, but they cover the high cost of breakdowns that make or break your travel budget. A single hour of repairs on your RV will run you an average of $300.

With labor rates climbing at over $100 per hour, and parts running double that at $200, a single trip to the repair shop can cost thousands. The most common warranty claims range from $500 – $4,000 on a single repair! Keep these costs in mind when crafting your travel budget, and plan accordingly.

Coverage levels will vary between providers, and it’s important to read your policy thoroughly before making a purchase. The point of any warranty is to protect your investment. Reading the contract is the first step toward reliable coverage.

Request a copy of the exact terms and conditions and make sure your salesperson walks you through what they’re selling and will service your policy for the entire term. Reading the fine print in any contract is tedious, but thoroughly reviewing your extended warranty will provide realistic coverage expectations.

Additional Resources:

• Checklist for Filing Easy Warranty Claims in 2019
• Decoding Your RV Warranty Policy (Part III: Coverage)
• Decoding Your RV Warranty Policy (Part II: Repairs)
• Decoding Your RV Warranty (Part I: Basics)

RV Extended Warranties

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