Before a service contract is sold, someone should look at the car. Whether you do that look yourself or pay an independent shop to do it is a real decision. It matters because a contract may treat a problem that already existed at sale differently from one that appeared later. You do not need to settle this with a contract in front of you. Settle it before the paperwork appears.
What a driveway check can and cannot show
You can check fluid levels, look for leaks under the car, listen for noises on a short drive, test the lights and the air conditioning, and read the tire tread. That covers a lot of obvious trouble. What it cannot show is the condition of parts hidden under the car or inside the engine, or the trouble codes that only a scan tool reports. If the car is older or has high mileage, the hidden parts are where the surprises tend to be.
What a shop inspection adds
An independent shop can lift the car, look at the underside, scan the computer, and write down what it finds. That written report helps in two ways. It records the condition on the day of the look, and it gives you a neutral account to compare with whatever the seller says. Ask the shop to list anything it noted as worn but not yet failed. Those notes are the ones that tend to matter later.
Questions to ask before you choose
Ask the seller whether the car has been inspected before and whether that report can be shared. Ask the shop whether it will write its findings on its own form and sign it. Ask yourself whether you could explain a finding to a provider if one came up. If you could not, the shop report is worth the trip.
When to do it yourself
If you know how to read a dashboard, check a battery, and inspect the brakes by eye, a careful driveway check may be enough for a used car you plan to keep only briefly. If you intend to hold the car for years, or if the contract will be sold on it at the same time, an independent look leaves the stronger record. Make the choice on purpose and write it down.