If you’re an avid RVer, you’ve probably seen the FMCA name once or twice. Today we’re diving deep into what FMCA is, and why we’re thoughtfully not members.
Like all RV memberships, it has many pros and cons!
Let’s dive in.
What does FMCA stand for?
The Family Motor Coach Association was created almost 60 years ago as an organization that offers assistance, training, and support to RV owners across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Great Britain, and beyond.
Members are required to follow a code of ethics that includes being “good neighbors, careful and responsible RV owners and operators, and good citizens of our communities.”
FMCA provides events for their membership, and because they have more than 100,000 members the group can offer great benefits with collective purchasing.
About FMCA: A Brief Overview
Formed in 1963 by 26 families that met in Maine to socialize with other “house car” owners, the Family Motor Coach Association became the premier organization for those who have self-contained recreational vehicles.
Today there are more than 100,000 members in more than five countries, with over 500 chapters that assemble members with like interests together.
They present specialty events for these groups, and the entire FMCA organization plans two large international RV conventions each year in the United States, attracting around 5,000 RVs!
FMCA Membership Benefits and Discounts
Membership in the Family Motor Coach Association provides the following:
- FMCA Magazine – a monthly magazine with RV travel and repair tips and member stories
- FMCA Newsletter – a monthly online newsletter with member forums
- Tire Saving Program – large discounts on RV tires whenever you need them
- FMCA Campground – enjoy two free nights every month at the FMCA member-only campground in Cincinnati
- Discounted Mobile Wifi Plans – Sprint offers unlimited data plans for $50 per month to FMCA members, and Verizon has a 25GB month plan on broadband for $50.
- FMCA University – virtual classes on RV tips and advice from industry experts are available online to members
- FMCAssist – with membership, emergency medical evacuation, RV return, pet return, prescription drug card and more are available when emergencies happen 100 miles from home
How Much Does an FMCA Membership Cost?
RVers can receive an FMCA membership for a fee of $60. New members receive a custom-made plate to attach to their RV, and every member gets a membership card, decal, and guide.
Is an FMCA Membership Worth the Price?
In looking at the benefits and discounts FMCA offers its members, only you can decide when or if you will be able to utilize them.
Will you need new tires on your RV this year?
The Tire Saving Program can keep hundreds of dollars in your pocket. What if you fall ill on the road and need to have your motorhome or trailer driven back home while you are incapacitated?
There’s more money you will save AND you’ll have peace of mind in knowing your RV is being well taken care of. Do you enjoy meeting with other RVers at events around the country?
FMCA can make that happen, too.
Why We’re Not FMCA Members?
We’ve joined many RV membership clubs over the last five years. Escapees & Harvest Hosts are, by far, our two favorites.
But why haven’t we joined the FMCA RV club?
The answer is pretty easy. We weren’t a “family” during most of our RV travels. We began our RV life as two adventurous souls and a companion pup.
Even though you don’t have to be a family to join FMCA, the branding never enticed us to sign up.
Also, we couldn’t join for many years because they previously didn’t allow travel trailer owners to join. This rubbed us the wrong way, too! Even though RVs of all types are now allowed to sign up, the memory of exclusion is still there.
Most great discounts provided with an FMCA membership are also available with an Escapees membership.
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The video is inaccurate with respect to thier discussion of FMCA membership (per 2017 FMCA vote and you state correctly in your text above) accepts all types of RVs owners, not just motorhomes.
FMCA has more benefits than just those. And their events are pretty amazing too. Harvest Hosts was not for me, yet I know you love them and they pay you. Fmca may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I can tell you they saved my bacon when I had a flat tire and was trying to get home quickly due to a loss in my family. If you haven’t ever tried it out I don’t think I’d discourage and disparage a service.
My husband and I (and our pup) are not a “family” in your definition, but that has not affected how much we enjoy being a part of FMCA. To be honest, their large rallys do have some children attending but by far most are adults, and the activities cater to almost exclusively to adults. We enjoy the organization immensely. and BTW we are also Good Sam and Escapees members. We also belong to Harvest Hosts, but have never taken advantage of their free stays.
FMCA dues are now $75.00 per year. There FMCA Assist benefit alone is worth this amount each year even if there were no other benefits offered. Escapees does not offer any benefit like this. We are also Escapee members and have attended a few local activities but have not found any that we like. We have also attended several FMCA activities and have enjoyed them. I understand how you feel about FMCA not including travel trailer owners because I agree, they should have always included them. The FMCA Assist benefit has provided me with tremendous security when we travel far from home.
We joined FMCA in order to have the benefit of their robust roadside assistance. We compared widely and found nothing near the benefits for the price. We are not big on gatherings with strangers, so we haven’t attended any of their rallies. Not saying we won’t at some point, but we have not so far. It gives me peace of mind to know that I can get RV specific roadside assistance if needed. I think if you compare benefits with other plans, you might be tempted to give them a closer look.
Please, re-read the information provided. I am a new full timer and there is nothing disparaging presented here. They only provided information that applied to them at the time and gave a positive review of what is included with the membership.
Hi Barbara, congratulations on your being a new full timer. My point above is that the 2015 Technomania video used in this article is an old, misleading & inaccurate with respect to the FMCA (refer to video timeline 5:10 mentioning FMCA motorhome only membership). The author’s are certainly permitted to their opinion but need to strive to be accurate to continue to be creditable. I usually enjoy Drivin & Vibin articles very much but in this case the support video could mislead the readership. Misrepresentation is disparaging. Anyway, my only point is to use a video that accurately reflects the subject matter or remove it so as not to mislead others.
I think that you both are selling FMCA membership short, very short. Two years ag, in February, I purchased a vintage 1974 FMC 2900R motorhome (yes, just like the one Charles Kuralt drove in his long-running CBS News “On the Road” series). At the same time as I bought the FMC 2900R, knowing that I would be driving it 70 miles home, called in and signed up for full FMCA membership.
A good thing that I did as less than a half-hour later, my engine let go, leaving me stranded on the side of the CA-22 freeway. Friends helped me get towed off the freeway and into a nearby side street. While it took me almost three hours to get towed home on a huge flatbed trailer, I was back in my RV park by midnight.
The cost, had I not had FMCA coverage, would have been between $900 and $1,000 for the service. I was able to locate a shop, right across the street from my RV park, who did the removal and reinstallation on my engine for $2,500 (I was able to locate a rebuilt low-compressing Chrysler 440 out of a van for just $400 from a friend). I’m now on the road in a classic FMC 2900R for less than $8000, with a brand new engine.
As I need tires, thanks for reminding me of their Tire Savings Program as my tires are date-coded to be seven years old and while they look OK, I believe they should be replaced, just to be safe.
It only seems that at the start of the FMCA was a requirement as in no trailers. That’s the Association’s by-laws. Defination of F”MC”A MC =motor coach=something with a motor within the traveling unit. As time moved forward things changed. I do think maybe FMCA needs to change their organization to be exclusive of travel trailers. Maybe FMCTTA. Kind of think this opens my mind in joining this group and I have read great things about it and the bennies. But every organization promotes what they think is best or needed. So as next spring arrives and I prepare to return to the luxury of RV travel its on my list of joins.
You need to update your FMCA information. Much of it is no longer correct. For example, membership is less, you no longer get 2 free nights at their campground, and neither Sprint (which no longer exists) or Verizon offer the hotspots (it is AT&T and the price is higher). You also don’t mention their free insurance (FMCA Assist). Please be sure to provide correct, updated information. Thank you.
Hello,
Read your article on FMCA. Our dues are only $50.00 a year and FMCAssist is 75 miles from home. O mile if full time. We have moved to a new company that has a lot more to offer. Assist also covers you in car, boat, airplane, etc. Our Tech connect isn’t using Sprint any more, because couldn’t get a fair contract for our members. We use another carrier. I hope you will consider joining us at a convention or 10 of our Area Rallies. Give a call to the FMCA Office in Cincinnati for updates. Noticed this article was written August 2020. Family we take seriously, it doesn’t just mean your immediate family, it includes all FMCA members are family. Personally, we have found some wonderful friends in FMCA. Escapees and Harvest Host, both are good organizations. We enjoy our memberships. Hope you will one day enjoy ours. Stay safe.
I think you’re being a reverse snob about FMCA. We joined a couple of years ago especially for the trips they have, and we’re delighted with it. The other benefits are just icing on the cake. And it may say family in the name but everyone we’ve met are definitely empty nesters, with the time and desire to travel throughout the year. I suppose if $85 a year will break the bank,then don’t do it, but I frankly find that hard to believe. I’m disappointed in you. Btw, our last trip had Class As, Bs and Cs–and 5th wheelers! If it rolls, it goes.