A service contract rarely arrives as one document. You may see an advertisement, a sales screen, a short summary sheet, a quote with a price, and then a long form to sign. Each of these describes the product in friendly language, but only the full form sets out what the provider must do and what it may refuse. If the summary and the form disagree, the form is the document to read first, and it is worth asking the seller which one controls.
Read the papers in order
Start with the full contract and treat everything else as a pointer to it. Look for the definitions section, the list of covered parts or systems, the exclusions, the claims process, the waiting period, the cancellation section, and the transfer section. Then compare the summary against each of those sections. Any statement in the summary that does not appear in the form is a question to put to the seller in writing.
Warranties, endorsements, and the quote
Some sellers attach a separate warranty document, an endorsement, or a rider. Ask whether those papers add to the contract, change it, or are the contract itself. Ask for the quote in writing as well, and check that the term, the mileage limit, and the vehicle details on the quote match the form you will sign. A mismatch is far easier to fix before signing than after a claim.
Ask for the form before you pay
A seller who will not show the full form before payment is asking you to rely on a summary, which is a weak basis for a multi-year decision. Some providers publish a sample contract so you can read the wording before you buy. You can start with our list of vehicle service contract companies that post a sample contract, and then ask any other seller for the same document.