Last reviewed: 7 October 2026
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United StatesWarranty-expiring mailers, required purchases and sample contracts: what five state statutes say
Mailers and calls about an "expiring" vehicle warranty are a common way people meet a service contract. Idaho, Alaska, the District of Columbia and Maine each list four closely similar subjects a solicitor may not misrepresent (Idaho's list also reaches recreational vehicle manufacturers, dealers and owners), and New Hampshire lists pressure tactics. This page sets out those texts, plus what the five say about required purchases and sample contracts.
The short answer
- Four listed subjects: Idaho, Alaska, the District of Columbia and Maine bar false, deceptive or misleading statements about the solicitor's affiliation with a vehicle manufacturer, its possession of information about the owner's current manufacturer warranty, that warranty's expiration, and a requirement to register for a new contract to keep existing coverage. 2 3 5 6
- New Hampshire: bars "pressure tactics," with examples "fake checks, false final notices, false indications that a consumer has failed to activate something they already possess, and false notices of price increases." 7
- Required purchase: Alaska, the District and Maine bar requiring purchase as a condition of a loan or sale; New Hampshire bars requiring it or representing it as mandatory; Idaho requires a pre-sale notice that purchase is not required. 1 3 5 6 7
- Sample contract: Maine requires one to be available for inspection before sale; the District and Alaska require one on request. 3 4 6
"Your warranty is expiring": what four statutes say
Four of the statutes list four closely similar subjects of false or misleading statement in vehicle service contract solicitations (Idaho's list also reaches recreational vehicle manufacturers, dealers and owners). The lists are worded almost alike, but the people they bind differ.
| Statute | Who is bound | Subjects the statute lists |
|---|---|---|
| Idaho, § 41-6207(3) | "any company"; applies to written solicitation, advertisement or telemarketing.2 | The company's affiliation with a motor vehicle manufacturer, recreational vehicle manufacturer or dealer; its possession of information about the owner's current original equipment warranty; "all indications that such company's records show" the warranty is nearing or past expiration; and a requirement to register for a new contract to maintain coverage under the current contract or warranty.2 |
| Alaska, AS 21.59.130(g) | A provider or a third party acting on its behalf; applies to a solicitation, telemarketing or other advertising.3 | Affiliation with a motor vehicle manufacturer; information in the provider's possession about the owner's current manufacturer warranty; expiration of that warranty; and a requirement to register for a new contract to maintain coverage.3 |
| District of Columbia, § 31-2351.06(d) | A motor vehicle service contract provider or its representative, directly or indirectly, by written solicitation or telemarketing.5 | The same four subjects: affiliation, possession of warranty information, the warranty's expiration and a registration requirement.5 |
| Maine, 24-A M.R.S. § 7110(1)(G) | A provider of a service contract on a motor vehicle or its representative, directly or indirectly, by written solicitation or telemarketing.6 | The same four subjects.6 |
The statutes bar a false, deceptive or misleading statement on those subjects; they do not say that a mailing about an expiring warranty is unlawful if it is accurate. This page reports statutory text only; it does not describe enforcement.
New Hampshire's list of pressure tactics
RSA 415-C:7 does not copy that four-item list. It prohibits "pressure tactics," defined as any method of marketing having the effect of or tending to induce the purchase of insurance through force, fright, threat, whether explicit or implied, or undue pressure to purchase a consumer guaranty contract, and it lists examples: "fake checks, false final notices, false indications that a consumer has failed to activate something they already possess, and false notices of price increases."7 It also bars "unbranded consumer-specific direct marketing" that does not include the seller's name, address and phone number and the obligor's name as filed with the insurance department.7
Can anyone require you to buy one?
| Statute | What it says |
|---|---|
| Idaho, § 41-6206 | Before the sale, the provider must give written notice clearly disclosing that purchase of the contract is not required either to purchase or to obtain financing for a motor vehicle.1 |
| Alaska, AS 21.59.130(e) | A person may not require the purchase of a motor vehicle service contract as a condition of a loan or a condition for the sale of a motor vehicle.3 |
| District of Columbia, § 31-2351.06(c) | A person, such as a bank, savings and loan association, lending institution, manufacturer or seller of any product, shall not require the purchase of a service contract as a condition of a loan or a condition for the sale of any property.5 |
| Maine, § 7110(1)(F) | A person, including a bank, savings and loan association, lending institution, manufacturer or seller of any product, may not require the purchase of a service contract as a condition of a loan or a condition for the sale of any property.6 |
| New Hampshire, RSA 415-C:7, I(f) | No obligor, designee or representative, including a seller or administrator, may require the purchase of a consumer guaranty contract or represent that the purchase is mandatory.7 |
Can you read the contract before you pay?
| Statute | What it says |
|---|---|
| Maine, § 7103(3) | A provider "shall make a complete sample copy of the service contract terms and conditions available for inspection by a consumer prior to the time of sale."6 |
| District of Columbia, § 31-2351.03(c) | A provider shall provide a consumer with a complete sample copy of the terms and conditions before the time of sale upon the consumer's request; it complies by directing the consumer to a website containing a complete sample.4 |
| Alaska, AS 21.59.130(b) | On request, a provider must give a prospective purchaser a sample copy of its contract showing terms and conditions; it may comply by directing the purchaser to a website with a complete sample.3 |
| New Hampshire, RSA 415-C:6 | The obligor or sales representative must provide a receipt and a copy of the contract, including its terms, within a reasonable period after the date of purchase. The section does not require a pre-sale sample.8 |
| Idaho, § 41-6206 | The section requires a pre-sale written notice that purchase is not required, and bars use of a contract that is illegible, misleading or violates state law; it does not mention a sample.1 |
Related guides
For where to file a warranty complaint, see where to file a warranty complaint. For the federal telemarketing rules, see the robocall guide.
Where this fits our standard
Point 1 of our standard asks whether contract terms and exclusions are available before purchase, and point 7 covers marketing claims that contradict the contract. The statutes above show how some states put the sample-contract and solicitation rules into law. The Register describes a method, not a verdict on any company.
How to verify this yourself
- Open the sections cited in references 1 to 8. Every cell above comes from the statute named in its row.
What this page is not
This is general information about the text of five statutes, not legal advice. It does not say whether any solicitation or company violated any law, and it does not cover federal rules or other states. Alaska and Idaho rows cover vehicle service contracts only. Statutes change; confirm the current text before relying on it.
What to do next
Related guides: Idaho, Alaska, the District of Columbia, Maine and New Hampshire, or return to the vehicle warranty hub.