Mileage is one of the terms on the paper, but it is not the only one. A car can be described by a factory warranty, a seller's quote, and a service contract, and the three papers may use different words for the same car. Before you sign, find which paper the contract says governs, and read the others against it.

The three papers

A factory warranty is the manufacturer's written promise, limited in time and in miles and set by the manufacturer, not by the contract provider. A quote is an offer of terms, and many quotes say they depend on the signed contract. A service contract is the agreement you sign with the provider. It sets what the provider accepts, what it lists or excludes, how a claim is made, and how the contract can end.

When two papers disagree

Look for a clause that names the documents the contract includes, sometimes called an entire agreement or incorporation clause. Check whether the quote is attached, referenced, or left out. If the quote promises a term the contract does not state, the contract is the paper to ask about, and the question should go to the provider in writing before you sign. Verbal statements at the counter are not part of the paper unless the contract includes them.

Read the lines that name the car

  • The mileage and age line the provider uses for accepting the car, and whether it is counted at signing or at inspection.
  • The parts list or the exclusion list, in full, with the engine, transmission, and cooling systems read separately.
  • The definition of a covered failure, and how a claim is started.
  • The waiting period, the cancellation route, and the transfer route, each with its notice terms written in the contract itself.

Ask for the paper before the counter

Request a copy of the contract and any warranty summary before you commit, and read them at home. Compare them with the quote line by line. A contract handed over only at signing leaves you less time to check the matching lines.

The factory lines and printed limits for each step are on this site's threshold pages, and the ranked list is on the front page of this site. Use them to start the comparison, then read each contract on its own terms. A ranked list never replaces the paper in front of you.