Warranties vs Mechanical Breakdown Insurance
Good Sam Extended Service Plan is not just a warranty, it’s fully insured Mechanical Breakdown Insurance. Learn the difference between other warranties and Mechanical Breakdown Insurance from Good Sam.
| Manufacturer Warranty |
Extended Warranty |
Good Sam Extended Service Plan |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Available for both new and used RVs and Autos | No | Yes | Yes |
| Covers vehicles up to 18 years old or 150,000 miles* | No | No | Yes |
| Has no limit to the number of miles driven per year* | No | No | Yes |
| Included in the RV's purchase price | Yes | No | No |
| Fully insured by A+ Rated Insurer | No | No | Yes |
| Backed by The Good Sam Club | No | No | Yes |
| Freedom to choose RV repair center | No | Varies | Yes |
| Fully transferable at no cost | Varies | No | Yes |
| Interest-free monthly payments available | No | No | Yes |
| Travel Expenses covered** | No | Yes | Yes |
| No overlapping other warranties | Varies | Varies | Yes |
| Customized plans with deductable options | No | Varies | Yes |
| Duration of coverage controlled by the customer | No | No | Yes |
| Covers parts and labor for covered repairs | Varies | Yes | Yes |
*For Good Sam Extended Service Plan, towable RVs must be 15 years old or newer, gas motorhomes, cars, trucks,
and SUVs must be 15 years old or newer with less than 100,000 miles and rear engine diesel motorhomes must be
15 years old or newer with less than 120,000 miles.
**With the Good Sam Extended Service Plan, travel expense benefits include up to $100 a day toward your lodging
and meals for up to 5 days if your vehicle is unusable due to a covered loss and we will cover up to $60 a day
for 5 days if your motorhome, car, truck or SUV is in the shop for a covered repair. Rental car benefit is not
available on 5th wheel and travel trailer coverage.
Questions and Answers
Click to expand answers
What is a Manufacturer's RV Warranty?
A manufacturer's warranty guarantees that the manufacturer will fix repairs that stem from defective materials or improper manufacturing. Every RV comes with multiple warranties. Each individual component, like the refrigerator, air conditioner, engine, transmission has its own separate warranty and each warranty can be a different term. Motorhomes, for example, typically have drive train components covered for three years or 36,000 miles while the appliances and coach components are covered for one to two years. Autos can have the drive train components covered long after other electronics and heating/AC coverage has expired. Travel trailers can have components covered by the manufacturer for one to two years.
What is an Extended Warranty?
An extended warranty, also known as a service contract or extended service contract, is sold separately by the dealership and covers components after the original manufacturer's warranty expires. It can be backed by the Dealer or by the plan administrator.
What to review in an Extended Warranty and Service Contract?
- Cost of the service plan
- Term limits
- Exclusions (unless expressed explicitly, an item is not covered)
- Pre-approval process—is it realistic to follow authorization requirements when you're on the road?
- Overlap of original warranty
- Deductibles and increases in charges for usage
- Transfer or cancellation fees if you sell your RV
- Restrictions on service locations
- Timeframe of eligibility to purchase service plan
- Who is the underwriter, if anyone?
What is Mechanical Breakdown Insurance?
For vehicles still with manufacturer's warranty remaining, our plan seamlessly dovetails with the original manufacturer's warranty.
When each of the original manufacturer's warranties expire, you can be assured that you have continuous coverage. If your vehicle
has no remaining manufacturer’s warranty, Good Sam ESP covers all listed components from day one and continues until your vehicle
reached 18 years old or 150,000 miles. Also, with Good Sam Extended Service Plan, you are eligible for travel benefits. These
benefits help pay for rental car, hotel & dining expenses when your vehicle is being repaired in the shop while you are traveling
more than 100 miles from home. Travel Trailers and 5th wheels are excluded.