A vehicle service contract only helps at the shops it lets you use, and that detail often gets less attention than the coverage list. Before you sign, work out which shops can do the repair, who chooses them, and what happens when your car is far from home.
Three network models
Contracts usually let you use shops in one of a few ways. Some accept any licensed repair facility. Some point you to a network of approved shops, often listed by the provider. Some are built around a single chain or around the dealer that sold the contract. Each model changes your choices, so ask which one applies before you compare anything else.
Who picks the shop
Check whether you choose the shop when the car breaks down, or whether the provider assigns one. Some providers require the shop to contact them before work begins, and some send you to a preferred facility by default. If you can choose, check whether that choice must be approved, and whether a shop you picked can be swapped out in the middle of a claim. Read the clause that describes the choice, not a summary of it.
When your shop is not on the list
This is where many problems start. Find out whether you can use a shop outside the network, whether you pay first and request reimbursement, what paperwork you must keep, and how long the provider has to respond. Ask whether a repair at an unlisted shop is handled on the same terms as one at a network shop. Get the rule in writing, because a verbal assurance from a seller does not change the contract.
Network lists change
A list of approved shops is a snapshot. Ask how often the provider updates it, where the current version lives, and who tells you when a shop leaves. Save a copy of the list when you sign, then check it again before you need a repair in a town you do not know well. Some providers run their own claims, which can change who you call first. For that comparison, read the page on direct providers that handle their own claims.
Questions to ask before you sign
Which shops can I use, and is there a way to see the current list? Can I take the car to any licensed facility, or only to network shops? What happens if I am on a trip far from home? Who approves the repair, and how long does that take? Can I change shops during a claim? What proof of the repair do I need to keep? Ask each one, then compare the answers across providers using the full table on this site, because a single network rule tells you little until you see how the rules line up.