Frequently Asked Questions

It is an agreement that pays for covered mechanical repairs after your factory warranty ends. You pay a set amount over time instead of the full cost of a repair when something fails. It is not car insurance: insurance covers collisions and damage, a service contract covers mechanical breakdown.

Most people use the terms interchangeably, but strictly speaking only a manufacturer can extend a warranty. What we and every other independent provider sell is a vehicle service contract. The practical effect is similar — covered repairs are paid for — and the difference matters mainly when you are comparing documents.

That depends on the coverage level you choose. Our plans range from the core systems that keep a car moving — engine, transmission, drive axle — up to an exclusionary contract that covers virtually every mechanical component except a short, named exclusion list. The Coverage Plans page compares the levels side by side, and your service contract is the definitive list.

No service contract covers everything. Routine maintenance, wear items with a designed service life such as brake pads, filters and bulbs, cosmetic damage, corrosion, and damage caused by inadequate maintenance are excluded. Pre-existing conditions — anything already wrong before coverage started — are excluded as well. The exclusion section of the contract is the part worth reading first.

Yes. You can take the vehicle to any licensed repair facility in the United States, including your dealership. You do not have to use a shop from a list.

Take the vehicle to a licensed repair facility and have them diagnose the problem. Before any teardown or repair begins, call the claims line at 1-877-252-8036 for authorization. Once the repair is authorized, payment goes to the shop directly for the covered amount and you pay your deductible. Authorization first is the step that matters — work started before it can be denied.

The part of a covered repair you pay yourself. The rest of the covered amount is paid to the shop. Deductibles vary by plan, and the amount that applies to you is stated in your service contract.

Most vehicle service contracts include a short waiting period after purchase before coverage begins. This is standard across the industry and exists to keep contracts from being bought to cover a failure that has already happened. The exact period is stated in your contract — ask about it before you buy so there are no surprises.

Coverage is generally transferable to a private buyer, which is worth knowing because it can raise what your car is worth at resale. Transfer conditions and any fee are set out in the contract, so call us before you sell and we will walk you through it.

Yes. Cancellation rights, including whether a refund is prorated and any administrative fee, are set out in your service contract and are also governed by the law of the state where you bought it. Call us and we will tell you exactly what applies to your contract.

Not while the factory warranty is doing the job. What a service contract buys you is the ability to lock in coverage and pricing before that warranty runs out — and before an inspection or higher mileage changes what you qualify for. If your factory coverage still has a long way to run, say so when you call and we will tell you honestly whether it is worth doing yet.

Eligibility depends mainly on the vehicle's age and mileage, and different coverage levels have different limits. The fastest way to find out is to tell us the year, make, model and mileage — either through the quote form or on the phone — and we will tell you which levels your vehicle qualifies for.