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Anyone ever used the AA caravan warranty ?

Can't seem to find a caravan I like near me so wondered if I had to buy one further away would be worth buying without warranty and getting the AA warranty instead otherwise I will have to take the caravan all them miles every time I have a problem

kinda hope this makes sense ?

I don't have it but am familiar with this kind of warranty. Its called a warranty but in reality its an insurance policy.  It is not an all embracing policy as it only covers the components listed in the insurance document, unlike a manufacturers warranty. It does not cover all components in a caravan, so make sure that it covers all of the components you want to have covered. The policy meets the cost of repairing those specified components damaged only by the specified risks.

An example of the potential limitation of the policy (from the very sketchy detail I have read) is that it will cover the cost of repair to a specified component if it is damaged by water ingress. It does not indicate that it will remedy the cause of that water ingress. So it may not cover any part of the shell which opens up to let water in. Having said that the exclusions are contradictory as they indicate that damage by water ingress is not covered. So you need to read the policy very carefully and challenge any insurance salesman on any points you are unclear about. If that salesman makes a promise about the policy that appears to be at odds with the wording of the policy then ask him to confirm it in writing. I am not saying that the AA would mislead, its just that on my reading of their documents there is some ambiguity which requires clarification. Isn't that common for many policies though?  

The policy does not cover any components that were faulty at the time the policy is taken out. So if you make a claim soon after taking out the policy there is a potential argument there. Probably common for insurers.

It would be worth you getting a copy of their policy to ascertain just what they cover and what is omitted and then look at other warranty/insurance policies for comparison purposes first before any final decision.

If you buy from a dealer the manufacturers warranty comes as standard with a new van. For second hand there is always a limited warranty so you will get one anyway. The AA policy does not cover any components covered by any other warranty from the manufacturer or dealer any way. Then there are your Consumer rights against the dealer which means that if anything is wrong you would need to go back to the dealer anyway. I suspect that your concern about the warranty is misplaced in view of just how these contract matters work.

If you are buying from some distance away ask the dealer if they can reach an agreement with your local workshop for it to do any warranty work. If they can't at least you will get a day out taking the van back so buy from a very nice area to visit.

Phil

Have the caravan independently inspected before you buy and secure from the enginer a written report on the van. That would assist any future claim as well ensure that if there are any defects, not covered by the limited warranty, you can just walk away.

As regards defects in the shell causing damp, if that is there when you buy the warranty will not cover you, unless the AA has modified the policy. If you do not have the van independently checked you do not have your arguments ready for the insurers when they allege that the damp was theree when you bought it to avoiid paying out. If the damp appears later, you may not be covered anyway.

DO NOT JUST ACCEPT THE AA WARRANTY AND ASSUME IT COIVERS EVERYTHING. Always read the policy.

Phil

try here

http://www.mobilecaravanengineers.co.uk/mcea-find-an-engineer.htm

Quote: Originally posted by murdo on 05/2/2012

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I am looking at a second hand van where the owner is offering this warranty. Does this mean that if there is damp within the time period covered..I am still not really protected if it's the shell?

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You say that the "owner" (rather than a dealer) is offering an AA warranty. Is this a private sale then? If so then the Sale of Goods Act will not apply. If it is a private sale, just because the "owner" has an AA warranty, it does not mean that you will have it when you buy the van. Is that warranty transferable? You need to read the terms of the warranty to find out.

Just out of curiosity, why is there a manufacturers warranty and AA warranty? It would be somewhat unusual to find that both are in place.

Phil

I had heard the AA were no longer offering new caravan "waranties" but may be wrong and will stand corrected. If so it might be worth checking that any current policy is indeed transferable. Personally I would spend £100 and get an independant check on the van before buying for peace of mind.

Gateway Leisure offer a similar product if you wanted to go one yourself once you have the van but again read the small print as although they cover water ingress upto 7 yrs the max amount per claim is £1000.

Two warranties from a dealer......now there's a novelty. So the manufacturers warranty only has 7 months and the AA one will pick up after that. For any damp issues that the AA warranty may not cover, you would need to faal back o nyour Sale of Goods Act rights. Warranties tend to mean that problems are just dealt with whereas if you make a claim under the SOGA it can be an argument  before they will do anything.

If you do get an independent engineer to check it over then anything found means that you will be buying with knowledge of a defect which can limit your ability to make a claim against the dealer after you have completed the purchase. However, it does mean that you can ask the dealer to put it right before you buy.The last time I looked at an AA warranty it did not cover any defects that were present before you buy, so an inspectio nwould give you that peace of mind.

It's a balance. Depends how much you are spending and whether the £70-£100 you spend on an engineer  would be value for money.

Phil

Take all the benefits they offer and enjoy the van

Phil

As the van is so far away, Perhaps you may not be familiar with the dealer. Spending a lot of money on a van we want it to be right. Having warranties etc are all well and good but a van regularly in the workshop is of no use even if the repairs are being done for free. Then, as the dealer is a long way away, if there is anything wrong, the van has to be towed all the way back there and then another trip to pick it up. I can understand you being nervous. There are many tales of woe on here but remember that when folk get a good deal and nothing goes wrong they don't always pop up and let us know. There will be more happy buyers than unhappy.

Overcoming those nerves starts by asking the right questions about the purchase, such as coming on here.

For peace of mind, buying scond hand, personally, I would get an independent engineer to give it the once over, unless I had 100% confidence in the dealer, and then ask the dealer to remedy any problems if there are any. Then you have the warranties for more peace of mind. As the van is about three years old I guess it will be costing a lot of your hard earned cash so £70-£100 for an engineers report is perhaps small beer in the scheme of things.

Ask the dealer if it will deal with the AA over any warranty issues or will you be expected to contact them direct and to then organise a local dealer to deal with any warranty repairs. Worth knowing just what the process is.

Whilst you have the benefit of the SOGA, buying from a dealer, there is always the "It's not our problem you have a warranty contact the AA "and for the AA to be saying, "The problem must have been there when you bought it contact the dealer" kind of scenario. At least if you are going back to the dealer and the problem is sorted you don't really care if its the dealer's responsibility or the AAs as long as the dealer and the AA sort it. between themselves.

You will be paying for the AA's insurance warranty via the purchase price, so the warranty, beneficial as it may be, is the dealers way of avoiding SOGA responsibilities, so read that warranty and understand how it will be dealt with.

Where your own money is concerned it pays to be nervous!!! It focusses the mind

All the best

Phil