Mileage is the reading on the odometer, but the question that decides a contract is whether the car is still worth the repairs it is likely to need. This piece helps you tell whether that point has arrived.
Signs the problem is real
The car has needed repairs on different systems within the same year. A single repair bill is one event. Repeated bills on different parts point to a car that may be nearing the end of its useful life for you. Write down each visit, the part, and the amount paid.
Compare the repair total to the car's value
Look up the car's current resale value in a source you trust, and set it beside your repair total for the last year. If the repair spend is close to the value, a new contract is a bet on the same kind of spend. A contract does not change the car's value, and it does not promise that the next repair will be paid.
Decide how long you will keep the car
A contract makes sense only when the car stays in service long enough to use it. Ask how long you expect to keep the car, whether the car is paid off, and whether you may need to sell it during the contract term. Read the cancellation and transfer sections before you decide.
Know what a contract cannot fix
A service contract does not repair a fault that is already present on the day it starts. It does not replace wear items such as brake pads or tires. Name the problem you have before you shop, so the contract is measured against that problem and not against a general feeling.
For the published figures and the questions to bring, start at the front page table, then read the scoring rubric.