Kia vehicles are among the most reliable in the auto industry according to expert studies, and they don’t often incur expensive repair costs. However, even dependable vehicles break down sooner or later, which is when a Kia extended warranty could come in handy.
But is Kia’s coverage the best option for your vehicle? In this article, we’ll take a look at Kia’s factory warranty, reliability ratings, average repair costs, and more to help you determine the potential value of a Kia extended warranty. We’ll also see how Kia’s extended warranty options stack up against one of the industry’s best extended car warranty providers.
To know which warranty is right for you, you’ll want to compare pricing for your vehicle. You’ll need to contact a dealership for a Kia extended warranty quote, but you can get free quotes from several leading third-party providers below.
Kia Extended Warranty Coverage
When you buy a new Kia from the dealership, you can purchase Kia’s extended warranty coverage that can protect your vehicle for up to 120,000 miles. Five plans are available: Powertrain, Silver, Gold, Gold Plus, and Platinum.
Kia Extended Warranty |
Coverage Terms |
---|---|
Powertrain |
120,000 miles |
Silver |
120,000 miles |
Gold |
120,000 miles |
Gold Plus |
120,000 miles |
Platinum |
120,000 miles |
Kia Extended Warranty Plans
Kia’s extended warranty plans increase coverage from its Powertrain warranty to the Platinum plan. When deciding if a Kia extended warranty suits you, it’s necessary to understand the specific scope of each plan; you might want a low-level coverage plan or the extensive range of the Platinum plan. Below we will discuss each extended warranty plan and the parts covered.
Kia Extended Warranty |
Details |
---|---|
Powertrain |
The most basic warranty plan covers essential vehicle components such as the engine, transmission, and drive axle. |
Silver |
The Silver plan protects the same parts and the Powertrain warranty plus more. This plan adds additional coverage for the steering, brakes, air conditioning, front suspension, and electrical systems. |
Gold |
The Gold plan includes all of the parts covered by the Powertrain warranty plus the steering, brakes, and suspension components. |
Gold Plus |
This plan adds additional coverage to the Gold plan and includes the fuel and cooling systems and front and rear suspension. |
Platinum |
The highest level of Kia warranty coverage is comparable to the bumper-to-bumper factory warranty. This exclusionary plan includes almost every vehicle component minus a list of certain parts. |
Kia Powertrain Extended Warranty
The Powertrain warranty covers your car’s basic powertrain components. This includes the engine, transmission, transaxle, transfer case, and drive axle. Kia’s new car powertrain warranty provides more coverage than this plan, it is essential to read any vehicle service contracts carefully before signing. This plan provides protection for the following parts:
- Engine
- Transmission
- Trans Axel
- Drive Axle
- Hybrid / Plug-In Electric Compressed Natural Gas Components
Kia Silver Extended Warranty
The silver plan protects all of the same parts as the powertrain warranty but with some additional systems covered. This plan includes coverage for:
- Steering
- Breaks
- Air Conditions
- Front Suspension
- Electrical
Kia Gold Warranty
The Gold warranty covers most major vehicle components, including the engine, cooling system, transmission, drive axle, steering, brakes, air conditioning, suspension, and electrical systems for up to 120,000 miles.
Kia Gold Plus
The Gold Plus plan adds additional coverage to the Gold plan. The Gold Plus plan provides protection for the following components:
- Cooling
- Fuel
- Air Conditions
- Steering
- Front Suspension
- Rear Suspension
Kia Platinum Warranty
The Platinum warranty is an exclusionary contract that covers nearly all Kia parts. Some of the only parts that aren’t covered are the pressure plate, airbags, body parts, trim, tires and wheels, non-hybrid/electric batteries, lightbulbs, upholstery, safety restraint systems, the exhaust system, brake linings, drums, rotors, and pads.
Kia Extended Warranty Additional Benefits
All Kia extended warranty plans include perks such as towing, roadside assistance, flat tire service, rental car reimbursement, and trip interruption coverage up to $100 a day for a maximum of three days.
Kia Appearance Protection
Kia owners also have the option to purchase an appearance plan, which covers:
- Dents and dings
- Windshield chips
- Headlight brightening
- Interior repair services
- Road hazard tire and wheel protection
Kia Care
Kia Care is a pre-paid maintenance plan that offers three levels of coverage, Kia Care, Kia Care Plus, and Kia Care Premium. When you purchase a Kia Care maintenance plan, you will receive a coupon booklet with all your pre-paid services. The plan saves drivers money by paying for maintenance now and avoiding any inflation in the future.
- Kia Care: Covers engine oil and filter changes as well as multi-point inspections
- Kia Care Plus: Includes Kia Care Plan coverage plus tire rotations and key replacement.
- Kia Care Premium: Includes Kia Care Plus coverage and climate control air filters, and engine air cleaner filters.
Kia Extended Warranty Cost
A Kia extended warranty must be purchased from a dealership, which means the final price is likely to be negotiable. In our research, we found one customer who reported paying around $1,600 for a 7-year/75,000-mile Kia extended warranty. The customer did not say what car they own or which plan they chose, but even for the lowest level of Kia extended warranty coverage, this is a competitive price for vehicle protection.
However, the cost of any extended warranty is variable, so a protection plan for your Kia may differ from this example.
Factors that will determine the cost of your Kia extended warranty include:
- Vehicle model
- Vehicle age and mileage
- Contract deductible option
- Contract term length
- Location
Is A Kia Extended Warranty Worth It?
When considering a Kia extended warranty, it helps to compare expected repair costs with the cost of coverage. The best protection plans will pay for themselves by fully covering the cost of repairs. However, even if a warranty costs more than your vehicle’s average repairs, it can still be worth it to protect you against an especially expensive breakdown.
Are Kia’s Reliable?
Kia vehicles are very reliable according to RepairPal, ranking third overall in RepairPal’s 2020 reliability ratings. The average annual Kia repair cost is $474. Though this differs for each Kia model, it is much lower than the industry-wide average of $652.
Select Kia models, their reliability ratings, and common problems are outlined below.
RepairPal Reliability Rating |
Average Annual Repair Cost |
|
---|---|---|
Kia Sorento |
4.0 out of 5.0 |
$533 |
Kia Optima |
4.0 out of 5.0 |
$471 |
Kia Sportage |
4.0 out of 5.0 |
$462 |
Kia Maintenance Cost
As you can see, Kia vehicles are exceptionally reliable, with most models costing less than $500 per year to maintain.
This is likely less than you would pay for Kia extended warranty coverage. However, some common issues can require costly repairs that customers may need help paying out of pocket. A Kia extended warranty not only gives drivers peace of mind that expensive repairs will be covered, but it can also be a way to finance repair costs.
Factory Warranty
All new Kias come with a manufacturer’s warranty at no additional cost. The Kia factory warranty is extensive, and powertrain coverage lasts longer than even some manufacturer extended warranties.
New Kia warranty coverage includes:
- 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty
- 5-year/60,000-mile limited basic warranty
- 5-year/100,000-mile anti-perforation warranty
- 5-year/60,000-mile roadside assistance benefits
The five-year limited basic warranty protects nearly all Kia-installed parts, with the same exceptions as the Kia extended warranty. After five years, only powertrain components are protected.
Certified Pre-Owned Warranty
Certified pre-owned (CPO) Kia vehicles are protected by a 10-year/100,000-mile pre-owned powertrain limited warranty.
If you do not plan to own your Kia for more than five years, it is unlikely that you will need extended protection. However, Kia coverage is transferable. This means that a Kia extended warranty could help raise the resale value of your vehicle if you sell it within the limits of your contract.
Best Extended Car Warranty For Kia
It’s worth considering third-party extended warranties in addition to those offered by the manufacturer. Third-party providers may offer more flexible coverage terms, more deductible options, and longer contracts.
Our review team has examined every major extended auto warranty provider in the industry, taking a look at plan options, costs, customer reviews, and more. We found Endurance to be among the best third-party providers on the market.
See how a Kia extended warranty compares to Endurance warranty coverage below.
Kia Extended Warranty |
Endurance Extended Warranty |
|
---|---|---|
Start Date |
When factory warranty expires |
Anytime |
Longest Term |
120,000 miles |
200,000+ miles |
Number of Plans |
3 |
6 |
Deductible |
Varies |
$0, $50, $100, $200 |
Repair Facilities |
Kia dealerships |
Repair shops certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE®) |
Extra Benefits |
|
1 year free of Elite Benefits, which includes:
|
How to Purchase |
Purchase from dealerships |
With Endurance, customers have access to more plan options. However, two of the most important factors for an extended warranty are cost and quality of coverage. The highest level of protection offered by a Kia extended warranty will likely cover as much or more than an Endurance warranty. Because dealership pricing may be negotiable, Kia coverage could also be cheaper.
Extended Warranty Kia: Conclusion
Kia vehicles are known for their reliability, according to experts like RepairPal. The cars come with a lengthy manufacturer’s warranty, so many drivers may choose not to buy a Kia extended warranty. However, an extended warranty is worth considering for those intending to keep their Kias longer than ten years or who want bumper-to-bumper warranty coverage.
A Kia extended warranty from the dealer provides comprehensive coverage at relatively low rates. Unlike a third-party provider, there is a guarantee that repairs will be made by Kia-trained technicians using genuine Kia parts.
Recommended Providers
Our review team conducted an extensive review of the best-extended warranty companies in the industry, taking into consideration, plan options, pricing, customer reviews, and more. Third-party extended warranty providers often offer longer Toyota warranty coverage at more affordable prices than extended warranty plans from the automaker. Third-party providers also allow you to purchase extended warranty coverage after the new vehicle warranty expires.
To see how much you would pay for your Toyota, get free quotes from a few leading providers and compare plans side by side. We recommend getting free no-obligation quotes from third-party providers such as Endurance and CARCHEX for your Toyota vehicle.
Endurance: Best Overall
Our review team ranked Endurance 4.6 out of 5 stars and gave it the award of Best Overall. The company has been a third-party extended warranty provider since 2005. The company has 4 out of 5 stars from customer reviews on Truspilot.
Endurance offers multiple plans, deductibles, and payment installment options. All Endurance plans come with additional benefits such as 24-hour roadside assistance, trip interruption benefits, and rental car coverage.
CARCHEX: Best For Used Cars
Our review team ranks CARCHEX 4.3 out of 5 stars and gives it the Best For Used Cars award. The company was founded in 1999 and has an A+ rating with the BBB. CARCHEX offers five plans with various coverage levels and some of the best coverage options for high-mileage vehicles. CARCHEX plans are refundable with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Kia Dealer Extended Warranty: FAQ
Below are frequently asked questions regarding Kia’s extended warranties.