3 Mistakes To Avoid When Purchasing An RV Trailer Warranty
RV trailer warranties are supposed to ease a buyer's mind, giving you the assurance that you won't need to pay for costly repairs soon after your trailer is purchased. Reading through various terms and coverages, though, is not easy. Here are three common mistakes to avoid when purchasing an RV trailer warranty.
1. Misunderstanding Warranty Type
There are several types of RV trailer warranties offered by car dealers and manufacturers and all of them offer slightly different coverages. The last thing you want when an unforeseen repair is needed is to find out that the warranty you purchased doesn't cover it.
Basic or bumper-to-bumper warranties cover all of the trailer's parts that may need to be repaired or replaced for a reason other than "normal wear and tear." Not all trailers come with such bumper-to-bumper warranties, however. Some might have more paired-down warranties that limit coverage for appliances, electrical systems, plumbing, or other specific features.
When you understand the included warranty coverage well, you can accurately determine whether you should add any optional warranty protections.
A manufacturer or dealer may also offer a roadside assistance warranty that would cover towing and similarly related charges in the event of a mechanical breakdown in the axle or elsewhere on the trailer. This may be helpful if you don't already have a roadside assistance plan.
2. Failing to Accept Owner Responsibility
As mentioned above with basic warranties, most will not cover what manufacturers consider "normal wear and tear." These are usually small repairs such as replacing tires. Make sure you understand which repairs you are responsible for outside of the warranty coverage.
In addition, some warranty terms require that RV trailer owners bring their trailer in for regular maintenance visits. Not only is it important to do so for safety reasons and to keep all systems properly serviced, but your warranty may also require these maintenance visits to be documented.
If your trailer does have an unexpected issue needing repair and you are unable to produce documentation of its maintenance history, the warranty could be voided.
3. Missing the Deductible
A deductible is a portion of repair expenses that the RV trailer owner is responsible for before the warranty becomes applicable. For example, you may have a $100 deductible on your warranty, meaning that you must pay for the first $100 of repairs and the warranty will pay for anything over $100 after that.
Deductibles are more common in extended warranties than basic ones that come with the purchase of a trailer. An extended warranty cover repairs after the original warranty expires, but be aware that the terms and coverages are often different from the original.
For more information on warranties, reach out to an RV trailer provider.
