The Good Sam Club offers a myriad of benefits to RVers. One of the products they offer is the Good Sam Extended Service Plan for RVs.
Susan and I have the Good Sam Roadside Assistance Plan which is different than the Extended Service Plan so make sure you read on to see the difference.
But, is the Good Sam Extended Service Plan right for you? The answer is different for everyone so read on to see if you think it will fit your needs.
Table Of ContentsNew RVs come with warranties. If you ever come across a brand-new RV that comes with no warranty, it’s in your best interest to walk away. The real question is: what does this brand new, shiny warranty actually cover? In fact, what it doesn’t cover is the part where you need to focus much of your observational energies. For the most part, even a very good warranty will not include things that are your fault, throughout the term of the warranty. If you tip your RV over because you T-bone it with your truck, the warranty is not going to cover that. It’s just common sense. When most RVers look at the warranty coverage, it’s a gloss-over deal. Take your time and make sure the warranty covers far more than it doesn’t. It won’t last forever and you want to get the most value out of it that you can.
The Good Sam (“GS”) Extended Service Plan (“ESP”) is not an extended warranty as we know it. It’s considered an insurance policy that covers mechanical breakdowns incurred by your RV or personal vehicle. The Extended Service Plan claims to be easier to understand than extended warranties. It’s designed to protect you from unexpected high repair costs or breakdowns.
The Good Sam Extended Service Plan must comply with insurance regulations and is also backed by underwriter QBE Insurance. QBE received an A+ rating from A.M. Best and an A rating from Standard & Poor. It’s worth checking coverage of several plans or policies as some extended warranties limit the number of miles you drive annually or the age of the vehicle. Another consideration is that warranties are only covered by the warranty provider. If they go out of business, so does your warranty. Please note Good Sam only offers a Vehicle Service Contract if you live in the States of New York or Indiana, due to particular laws of the state.
No, Good Sam ESP does not cover day-to-day maintenance of RVs or personal vehicles. The policy, in fact, requires routine, regularly scheduled maintenance according to your manufacturer’s requirements. GS can recommend a list of preferred service providers in your area who will offer a 90-day warranty. If you choose to go to one of them for routine maintenance, you’ll also receive a 10% discount on parts and labor. Remember, to keep accurate records and all receipts for maintenance performed on your RV or vehicle. Good Sam does offer free 22-point maintenance inspection for your RV, as often as you would like.
If you need a repair and Good Sam’s office is not open, you are able to follow the steps outlined in the ESP without receiving prior authorization. You also need to contact GS within five business days from the date of repair for reimbursement in compliance with the Terms and Conditions. If possible, wait until the GS office is open in order to receive authorization first. This allows payment to come directly from them instead of the need to wait for reimbursement.
No. GS offers the Good Sam Roadside Assistance Plan, separate from the ESP, which offers unlimited towing to the nearest service center or assistance with tire or battery issues.
If your RV breaks down while you are on the road you will most likely need a place to stay. Good Sam will cover the costs of meals and lodging for up to $100 a day for up to 5 days while your RV is being repaired. The Good Sam Extended Service Plan will also reimburse you for your rental car expenses at up to $60 a day for five days.
Yes. Your deductible applies to each occurrence. For example, a mechanic repairs the brakes and replaces the shocks as well. The deductible will be applicable for that complete occurrence. It does not apply to each repair made.
According to the policy you choose, Motorhome deductibles are $100, $250 or $500. Personal vehicle deductions are also the same as Motorhomes. Fifth Wheels and Travel Trailers can select a deductible of $100, $200, or $300.
No. However, the policy will not cover any pre-existing conditions of the vehicle that are present, “known or unknown,” when coverage is purchased. This sounds a bit confusing as to how one might know if an unknown pre-existing condition exists. However, we would assume a mechanic has knowledge once the repair is made as to how long the condition may have presented itself.
As you can see, that covers quite a lot of territory, and there are also some small-print services in there that aren’t on the above list.
Good Sam ESP will work with any service center in the US as well as Canada.
Different components and mechanical parts are covered under warranty anywhere from one to three years when you purchase a new RV or vehicle. Ensure you check the complete Manufacturer’s Warranty and what items are and are not covered.
A Good Sam ESP is a great complementary service alongside your RV manufacturer’s warranty. In some cases, your ESP will cover things that your manufacturer’s warranty won’t.
Buying a Good Sam ESP will ensure your coverage does not lapse, and you’ll lock in a more affordable rate since your RV or vehicle is new. Based on GS claims, 3 out of 10 Motorhomes need repairs in their second year; 8 out of 10 need repairs in their fifth year and all Motorhomes need repairs by their eighth year.
Yes! Let’s say your RV refrigerator breaks down and will cost $500 to repair. You may feel more comfortable replacing the refrigerator with a new model. The $500 repair estimate can be applied towards your purchase of a new refrigerator.
If you cancel within the first 30 days of coverage, you’ll be reimbursed 100% of your paid premium, minus any claims that may have been paid within that time frame. If you cancel after 30 days, you will be refunded a pro-rata amount for the months that are left, plus a $50 cancellation fee.
A quote must be obtained either online or through a phone call to GS. As with any insurance policy, particular questions will be asked pertaining to your individual vehicle in order to determine a price for the policy.
You can choose your deductible, your payment plan, and how you pay. You can cancel at any time. For a quote or further information, google www.goodsamesp.com or call 866-589-8570.
Yes, it is fully transferable. If selling your RV/vehicle privately, the new owner also has the option to continue the ESP at no additional costs.
Your towable fifth wheel, travel trailer, or toy hauler will initially qualify if it is less than 15 years old. Good Sam Extended Service Plan protects used RVs with a value of up to $300,000.
Used motorhomes up to 15 years old and 100,000 miles can be covered with the ESP. For used motorhomes, ESP covers RVs with a current value of up to 700,000.
You can cover your tow vehicle or TOAD with the Good Sam ESP, too.
The eligibility requirements for used cars, trucks, and SUVs are that the vehicle should be less than 15 years old with less than 100,000 miles. Good Sam ESP covers new and used automobiles up to $60,000 in current value.
The good, the bad, or the in-between – here’s what we found consumers are saying.
The Good Sam page has reviews from happy customers who have used their ESP on several occasions. They report it to be hassle-free, a good investment, great service, solid, and reasonably priced when taking into consideration the repairs it covered for them.
Also, there are a multitude of forums; one being community.fmca.com, that discuss the Good Sam ESP. Several forum readers posted that their experience has been very good and to their satisfaction.
As with many sites, complaints abound. We have learned through forums that many policyholders feel “ripped off,” neglected, or frustrated. One consumer’s complaint was that while the ESP pays “per occurrence,” they had the same occurrence (issue) on several occasions and were unable to receive payment because the repair was not made at the same service center due to their traveling.
Another RVer had GS approve a new part and two days later he received a call that GS had found a used part for him instead and he’d have to pay the restocking fee for the new part.
Many RVers are the DIY type, so take it upon themselves to make repairs. They feel no need to take extended warranties or policies on anything they purchase.
Good Sam does not sell RVs, though you can sell your RV through many of Good Sam’s network of RV dealerships. In a nutshell, the dealerships connected with Good Sam take care of all the hustle and bustle of selling the RV for you. When it’s all said and done, you’ll get a check in the mail.
Good Sam mostly sticks to the roadside assistance, TravelAssist, and membership side of things. Of course, Good Sam offers some things that will certainly help you sell your RV at a higher price. Mechanic services, tire repair services, and battery services are all things that may be necessary to get your RV back in tip-top shape for selling.
With the proper research, you can find what best suits your needs and understand if owning a Good Sam ESP is a good decision for you. Most importantly, keep your RV in good working condition. Wishing you safe travels!
Do you have experience with any Extended Service Plans you would like to share? Please leave a comment below.
Mike Scarpignato created RVBlogger.com over five years ago in 2018 to share all we have learned about RV camping.
Mike is an avid outdoorsman with decades of experience tent camping and traveling in his 2008 Gulf Stream Conquest Class C RV and 2021 Thor Challenger Class A motorhome.
We attend RV Shows and visit RV dealerships all across the country to tour and review drivable motorhomes and towable trailers to provide the best evaluations of these RVs in our blog articles and YouTube videos.
We are 3/4-time RVers who created RVBlogger.com to provide helpful information about all kinds of RVs and related products, gear, camping memberships, tips, hacks and advice.
