EasyCare is a Vehicle Service Contract
Car owners refer to EasyCare as an extended warranty, car repair insurance, or many names such as these:
- Car Repair Coverage
- Extended Protection Plan
- Extended Auto Warranty
- Mechanical Breakdown Coverage
- Extended Service Protection
- Extended Repair Coverage
Car, truck or SUV owners often search for EasyCare using these terms because, with EasyCare, they pay a one-time up-front fee, and get coverage for costly repairs that often occur as a vehicle ages. Owners get protection from extreme repair bills, so they think of EasyCare as insurance. Many customers also think of EasyCare as an Extended Warranty, providing repair coverage beyond what their manufacturer's warranty provides, and providing repair coverage after their manufacturer's warranty expires. However, EasyCare is (technically speaking) neither insurance nor a warranty. It's much simpler than that. EasyCare is a vehicle service agreement under which EasyCare pays your repair shop directly for covered repairs, and pays you directly for covered emergency towing, rental car, and trip interruption costs.
So, What's a Vehicle Service Contract?
Just in case you're interested, here's a technical definition for "vehicle service contract". "A contract or agreement for a specific duration to repair, replace, or maintain a motor vehicle, or to indemnify for the repair, replacement, or maintenance of a motor vehicle because of an operational or structural failure due to a defect in materials or workmanship, or due to normal wear and tear. A vehicle service contract may also provide for the incidental payment of indemnity under limited circumstances only in the form of the following additional benefits: coverage for towing, substitute transportation, emergency road service, rental car reimbursement, road hazard protection, reimbursement of deductible amounts under a manufacturer's warranty, and reimbursement for travel, lodging, or meals."