Most owners assume the service schedule in the owner's manual is the only maintenance rule that applies to their car. A service contract can add its own requirements. Those requirements belong to the contract, so you need to read them there, not just in the manual.
Where does the duty appear?
Look for a section titled maintenance, care, owner duties, or conditions of coverage. Some contracts put the duty in the main terms, and others put it in a separate page or an addendum. Mark every place the contract mentions service, inspections, or proof of upkeep.
Does the contract name intervals?
Check whether the contract refers to specific service intervals, to the manufacturer's schedule, or to a schedule the provider wrote itself. Compare that against your manual. If the two do not match, ask the provider in writing which one controls before the first visit is due.
What proof does it ask for?
Read what the contract wants on a receipt or service record. Some contracts ask for specific services listed by name, the mileage at the visit, or the identity of the shop. A receipt that says only oil service may not meet a requirement that lists more than that. Ask the provider what a valid record looks like and keep a sample for comparison.
What happens if a visit is late?
Look for the language on reduced coverage, denial of a claim, or cancellation for failure to maintain. The contract may state the consequence directly, or it may leave the consequence open. Ask the provider in writing whether a late service changes the outcome of a claim, and keep the answer with the contract.
How do you keep track?
Write each required service on a calendar you check, and file the receipt the day you get it. Keep the mileage with each record. A simple folder with dated receipts is easier to defend than a memory of when the oil was last changed.
This is a reading guide
This article explains how service contract maintenance terms are usually written and what to look for in them. It is not advice on how to care for your car. For questions about the car itself, follow the owner's manual and ask a licensed mechanic. For questions about what the contract requires, ask the provider in writing and, if a dispute arises, consider speaking with a licensed attorney in your state.