A warranty and a service contract are not the same thing. All new recreational vehicles will include some type of warranty, usually administered through the dealer and/or a network of service facilities. A service contract, on the other hand, is purchased separately and is between the buyer and the contract administrator, not the dealer.

A good written warranty should detail specific coverages and your responsibilities. By reading it, you should clearly understand these coverages, the term, the service available, and the payment policies. You should also have no doubts about coverage on the road. The best warranty would be "bumper to bumper" coverage, and should include:

Service contracts, also known as extended warranties, are usually viewed as insurance against problems that could occur above and beyond the coverages offered by a warranty. If you have a good warranty, a service contract may not be necessary until the warranty expires. Service contracts can cost $3,000 or more and vary greatly in coverage and reliability.

When considering the purchase of a service contract, ask yourself these questions:

What About Warranty Disputes?

If you encounter a problem with your warranty service, follow these steps:

When it comes to service after the sale, always practice the "buyer beware" approach. Believe nothing until you see it in writing. Buy from reputable dealers and manufacturers. Be sure you can get service on the road and at home. Keep up with your maintenance responsibilities. By doing so, you will be assured of many years of uninterrupted pleasure.

For Recreational Vehicle Extended Warranties We Heartily Recommend:
Warranty Direct
333 Earle Ovington Blvd.
Uniondale, NY 11553
800-632-4222

Other Extended Warranty Companies:

Name Address City • State • Zip Phone
APCO 6010 Atlantic Blvd. Norcross, GA 30071 770-394-7070
Dimension Service Corporation 2550 Corporate Exchange Dr., Ste 205 Columbus, OH 43231 800-457-7703
Interstate National Dealer Services, Inc. 333 Earle Ovington Blvd. Uniondale, NY 11553 800-942-0400
Kemper Cost Management 4343 Will Rogers Pkwy Oklahoma City, OK 73108 405-947-2827
Mechanical Breakdown Administrators, Inc. 9419 E San Salvador #105 Scottsdale, AZ 85258 480-860-2288
National Warranty Insurance Company 7407 O St. Lincoln, NE 68510 402-489-1990
United States Warranty Corp. 16 Alpha Park Cleveland, OH 44143 800-233-9878

See Also: Recreational Vehicles Extended Warranty