A repair under a contract can be done with several kinds of part. The paper may name the original part, or it may allow an equivalent, a comparable part, a remanufactured part, or a refurbished one. The words used decide which of these a shop may fit, and they often sit in a definitions section that is easy to skip.
Words to find in the paper
Search the contract for original equipment, equivalent, comparable, remanufactured, refurbished, used, and aftermarket. Read the definition of each word, because a term defined in the paper may mean something narrower or wider than its ordinary meaning. Note whether the seller or the shop decides which part is fitted, and whether the holder must approve a substitute before it is installed.
Check the effect on the repaired part
Find out whether the contract gives the repaired part its own terms, and how long those terms run. Ask whether a substitute part carries the same terms as the original, or whether the paper is silent on the point. Note whether any manufacturer warranty on the item treats substitute parts differently, since the two papers may not agree.
Compare the quote with the contract
If a shop gives a quote that names a part, match the part description to the words in the contract. A quote that names a part the contract does not allow is a question to raise before the work starts. Keep the quote with the signed page and the approval record. Do not treat a quote as the contract, since the signed document controls.
Where the state rules sit
The rules for a seller in a given state are set out on that state's page on this site, which names the regulator, cites the statute or program, and says whether the state publishes a roster as of a stated date. For example, the Florida service contract rules and roster page sets out that state's details. This guide has not read the rules of every state, so check the page for the state named in your contract and confirm each point against the paper you are given.