Everything You Need to Know About Campervan and Motorhome Warranties

November 30, 2022 in Tips for Owners, Maintenance & appliances & Buying a vehicle

What is a motorhome warranty? How much do they cost? What do you need to look out for in picking a campervan warranty? Today, we're going to cover all of those questions and more. Motorhome warranties are simple enough, once you know exactly what you're looking for. They're simply another cost of owning a motorhome.

We'll cover getting your warranty from the deal, renewing a warranting, buying one for a privately purchased vehicle, and ensuring your hirer can use it too.

What is a motorhome warranty?

Firstly, let's cover the basics of what a 'warranty' even is.

There are 2 general types of warranty; the Insurance Policy and the Warranty Guarantee. As a customer, there isn't much difference in terms of the cost, service or ability to claim.  The important thing is how many stakeholders are in the ‘sales chain’ and the quality of the product you are getting.

A ‘Warranty Guarantee’ is provided by the original manufacturer, so there tend to be fewer links in the sale or approval chain.

Now let's cover some advice for picking a motorhome warranty.

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What is the difference between a motorhome warranty and insurance?

Insurance covers damages based on accidents and other incidents, while warranty covers mechanical failures and wear-and-tear. For example, hitting a sign would require you to claim on your insurance. But the water pump failure due to age, would require a claim on your warranty. Your insurance is focused on unexpected damage, while the warranty is for unavoidable issues.

Aim for UK-Based

If you're going for an ‘Insurance policy’ warranty, choose a UK-based insurer. This ensures they follow FCA regulations and provide everything you need. This also makes it easier to get in touch with them, or to complain to the FCA if you're required.

This is not to say that all foreign underwriters are bad, just that extra caution should be taken, as your vehicle is an expensive investment.

How long is the period of cover?

The period of cover can be as little as 3 months, 6 months, 1 year or even 2 years.  A manufacturer one usually starts with 3 years.

Shorter periods can be expected with older or cheaper vehicles, but it's worth shopping around to find a better offer. If a company won't give you a longer warranty for a newer vehicle, this is a bad sign. 

How important is the Claim Value?

Claim Value can be important, but only as long as it is what it looks like! You'll find Claim Values for as low as £250 or as high as £2000 per claim. Keep in mind that the higher the value, the more strings may be attached. You tend to see Claim Values of £1000.

Always check whether the amount given is for a single claim or the total claim value for the year. Unfortunately, damages can occur more than once a year, so don't be caught later with fine print saying you can't claim again! 

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What should you prioritise in choosing a Motorhome Warranty?

  • A fast claim service, ideally by a simple telephone call.  Some companies have a modern, fast and call-based claim service. You don't want to be waiting for ages to be paid out.
  • The size of the company doesn't matter! Smaller companies may be handling fewer claims and work through them quicker. But a larger company might also have better systems in place. It's a case-by-case basis and you should work off the information provided.
  • How quickly can your vehicle be fixed? You don't want to spend your entire holiday without hot water or stuck somewhere.
  • Make a list of your priorities and compare your options. Never go for the first company you find! Compare the price and the cover between your options. Also, focus on suggestions given by people you know who have experienced it first-hand over a sales rep. And if something sounds too good to be true, it likely is.
  • How easy is it to claim? Do you have to manually post your form? Do you have to wait for approval for everything? These are important questions that can save you a great deal of frustration later!
  • You might get offered additional services; truly consider if you actually need these. You can always start with the basics and expand them later. These services are designed to increase their income.
  • Where can you get the repairs done? Some companies will have restrictions on who can carry out the work, for example, only Approved Workshop Scheme (AWS) engineers. This might seem like more hassle but also ensures quality for the work done, and shows they prioritise quality over cheap.

There you have it, everything you need to know about campervan and motorhome warranties. If you still have any questions about the impact of hiring out on your motorhome warranty, reach out to us!