A quote for a vehicle service contract is not one number. It is the result of several settings that the seller chose or offered you, and each setting moves the total. If you only compare the bottom line, you cannot tell whether one contract is cheaper because it asks less of the seller or because it gives you less. Before you compare anything, list the levers and see which ones were set for you.
The levers that usually set the price
Term length is the most common lever. A contract that runs longer, or that lasts for more miles, generally costs more because the seller carries risk for more years and more driving. Ask what the term is measured in, years, miles, or whichever comes first. A contract that ends at the first of two limits can end sooner than the one you pictured.
The mileage cap at purchase works in the opposite direction from what many shoppers expect. A car that already has more miles on the odometer is a higher risk to the seller, so the quote often reflects that. Vehicle age at purchase plays a similar role. Check whether the quote was built for a newer car than yours, because the figure you were shown may not match your vehicle.
The deductible is a trade. A higher deductible, paid by you on each claim or each visit, usually comes with a lower price. That can make sense if you would rather carry a known out-of-pocket cost than pay for coverage you may never use. It stops making sense if you cannot pay the deductible on the day the shop needs it. Decide what you can cover in cash, then price the deductible level that fits.
Coverage tier is the lever that changes what the contract includes, not just what you pay. Two quotes from the same seller can differ because one tier includes more parts or systems. Put the tiers side by side and read the coverage lists themselves, not the tier names.
The add-ons and the stacking
Price often rises after the base figure is set. Look for taxes, administrative or registration fees, add-on items such as roadside help or rental car coverage, and any finance charge if the contract is rolled into a loan. Each one is a separate line that is easy to miss inside a payment figure. Ask for the total you will pay, with every line shown, before you agree to anything.
Who sells the contract also changes the number. The same coverage can be priced differently by a dealership, a finance office, or a company that sells direct. Compare the same term, mileage cap, deductible, and tier across sellers so the only difference is who is asking.
How to use the levers when you compare
Write down the lever settings for each quote in the same order. Then change one setting at a time and ask the seller what happens to the price. If a small change in deductible moves the total a lot, the seller is pricing that lever hard, and you should know it. If a longer term adds little, the longer term may be the better value, but only if you would still be driving the car through it.
The published terms of each provider are in the tables on this site, and the methodology page explains how we read them. Our tables do not tell you what your quote should be. They show what each company prints, so you can line up the same settings against the quote you were handed.
Ask for every lever in writing. A verbal promise about the term or the deductible is not the same as the signed form. Also check the cancellation terms, because any refund on a contract you end early depends on the figures printed in it, and those figures are part of what you are paying for.