
Want the latest Car Deals before everyone else?
Enter your email to get early access to deals
(it's free)
June 21, 2022
Kia offers a fairly generous warranty on its new cars, but after that warranty expires, protecting your vehicle is still vital.
Extended warranties offer an opportunity to protect your car and your wallet from unexpected repairs.
However, there are many types of warranties to consider, including Kia’s own extended warranty.
Table of Contents
Kia is often rated one of the best companies for factory warranties. Here’s the breakdown of its factory warranty:
Kia’s limited powertrain warranty lasts for 10 years or up to 100,000 miles. It covers the transmission, engine, and driveline components of the vehicle. Note that this warranty is only valid for the original owner.
The limited basic warranty lasts for 5 years or up to 60,000 miles. This is bumper-to-bumper coverage including most parts.
The anti-perforation warranty lasts for 5 years or up to 100,000 miles. It covers the body sheet metal parts of a car and any perforation (holes) caused by material or workmanship issues.
Enjoy Kia’s roadside assistance plan for 5 years or up to 60,000 miles. You receive 24/7 assistance in the event of a breakdown, including for a battery, emergency fuel, wheel changes, and towing.
All certified pre-owned Kia vehicles include a 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty and 1 year/12,000 miles of Platinum warranty coverage.
Even though Kia offers a highly generous factory warranty, it still comes to an end eventually. As the end of your initial warranty approaches, you must consider your choices:
If you plan to get a Kia extended warranty, then you must do so before your factory warranty expires. Here are some steps you should take so you don’t miss out:
As you approach the end of your factory coverage, you can opt for a Kia extended warranty. Here are the details of the Kia Distinction Vehicle Protection Plan options:
The Powertrain Plan offers the most basic coverage. It covers the engine, transmission, and drive axle.
In addition to covering the same parts as the Powertrain Plan, the Silver Plan also includes coverage for:
The Gold Plan covers everything from the Silver and Powertrain Plans as well as:
In addition to covering the same components as the lower tiers, the Gold Plus Plan also covers:
The Platinum Plan is the highest level of coverage Kia offers and is the closest to bumper-to-bumper coverage. It includes all of the same components from the lower-tier plans. This plan is exclusionary coverage, meaning it only lists what is not covered.
All of the Kia Distinction Vehicle Protection Plans include these additional benefits:
The cost of your Kia extended warranty varies depending on which plan you choose as well as your vehicle model, condition, etc. For a typical warranty, consumers pay roughly $1,500-$2,500 for 7 years/75,000 miles of coverage. As the cost is extremely variable, it is best to request your personal quote, including quotes for different plan levels.
In general, the low yearly cost to maintain your Kia means that the warranty wouldn’t offer much savings. However, if you experience certain issues with the engine or transmission, then it’s well worth having the warranty. In these cases, the warranty can save you thousands of dollars.
Like most extended warranties, Kia does not cover:
As a subset of Hyundai, Kia has a good quality rating. According to the 2020 J.D. Power U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study, Kia had fewer issues per 100 vehicles than the industry average. Consumer Reports also ranks the carmaker as 9th in reliability, and RepairPal ranks it 3rd out of 32 brands.
While Kia is a fairly reliable brand, it is not 100% perfect or problem-free. As with any vehicle, there’s always a risk of an expensive repair coming up.
An extended warranty can help protect you from the cost of expensive repairs. This helps give you peace of mind and also helps your budget. Of course, the extended warranties also include several additional benefits to help you as a car owner.
If you plan to keep the car for a long time and aren’t able to pay for the repairs out of pocket, then an extended warranty may be the right choice. While Kia has strong options for extended warranties, you should still assess all of the options available (including third-party providers).
If you're looking for an extended warranty, there are plenty of third-party options to consider outside of the manufacturer.
Endurance [Review], YAA [Review], and Olive.com [Review] also offer extended warranties.
Kia | Endurance | YAA | Olive.com | |
Start Date | ||||
Availability | ||||
Max Coverage Length | ||||
Plan Options | ||||
Transferable? | ||||
Deductible | ||||
Repair Network | ||||
Cancellation |
Yes, you can cancel your Kia extended warranty at any time. You have a 30-day grace period that permits cancellation with a full refund. If you cancel after 30 days, you will receive a prorated refund only.
Staying on top of your Kia maintenance is critical for keeping your car in good condition. It’s also important for your warranty, as the warranty will not cover damage from lack of maintenance.
The specific maintenance recommendations vary by car model and age, but in general, Kia recommends:
Kia’s limited basic warranty lasts for 5 years or up to 60,000 miles.
You can select a term length that works best for you, but the longest Kia extended warranty available is 120,000 miles.
No, a Kia extended warranty does not cover routine maintenance.
Many car owners find the Kia extended warranty to be worth it, but you must assess the situation for yourself. Evaluate your personal budget, current/ future savings, and car ownership plans. Additionally, compare the cost, benefits, and coverage of multiple providers before choosing.
Yes, you can transfer your Kia extended warranty which is great news for the resale value of your vehicle.
On average, Kia vehicles are less expensive to maintain than others. The average annual repair cost is under $500. Still, the cost of a repair depends on the part and extent of the issue. For example, repairing a Kia transmission can be up to $3,500.
Under the Kia warranty, you can take your vehicle to any Kia dealership for repair. Bringing the vehicle to a third-party repair shop can void the warranty.
Get the latest Car Deals as soon as they come out.
Enter your email to be notified when deals are published (usually once a month)
Posted in Car Buying Tips, Car Warranty |
Want the latest Car Deals before everyone else?
Enter your email to get early access to deals
(it's free)