A covered repair can take the car out of your life for days, and the transportation step is where many people learn, too late, that nobody arranged anything. The contract may or may not include help getting around while the car is in the shop, and the rules for that help sit in the terms rather than in the friendly voice at the front desk. Work through the sequence below before the car goes in, not after.
Start with the first call. Ask whether the contract includes any transportation while a covered repair is underway. Ask what form it takes: a loaner from the shop, a rental the provider arranges, a reimbursement you claim afterward, a ride service, or nothing at all. Ask for the answer in writing and keep the name of the person who gave it.
Next, pin down the limits. Ask about the daily limit, the total limit, the class of vehicle you can drive, and what happens if the repair runs longer than the total allows. A limit that sounds generous can run out on the day the parts are still on order. Find out whether the limit starts when the car goes in or when the claim is approved, because a gap between those two moments is exactly where people get stuck.
At drop-off, say out loud that you need transportation and ask who must approve the rental before you leave. If the provider has to authorize it, get the authorization reference before you walk away. Ask who hands over the rental keys, who pays the rental company, and whether you need to show a card at the counter. If you will pay anything yourself and expect reimbursement, keep the receipts and write down the name of the person who told you it was reimbursable.
Between drop-off and pickup, check the status at set intervals so the rental does not run longer than it should. Ask the shop when it expects the car to be ready and whether the rental stops on the day the repair is finished or after a grace period. Ask where to return the rental and whether you can return it to the shop. A rental that keeps running after the repair is done is a cost the contract may or may not cover.
At pickup, compare the car against what you were told. Check the mileage, ask for the paperwork showing what was repaired, and read the invoice for any line that is not covered and why. Keep every document from the visit with the rest of your contract file.
If the contract provides no transportation at all, the problem is yours to plan. A ride, a neighbor, or a rental on your own card are all options, and any money you spend is yours unless the terms say otherwise. Some providers handle their own claims, which changes who you call first and who approves a rental. Those providers are listed here: direct vehicle service contract providers that handle their own claims.