- Kia Extended Warranty includes 5 levels of coverage.
- Kia vehicles have a high reliability rating, so some drivers may miss out on extra coverage.
- Compare Kia's extended warranty with trusted third-party coverage options.
Kias are known for their long limited warranties on new vehicles, but is Kia's extended warranty worth the investment after the factory warranty expires?
In this review, we'll discuss the ins and outs of Kia's extended warranty, including coverage options, costs, and additional benefits. We'll also take a look at Kia's overall reliability and factors to consider when buying a vehicle with an extended warranty.
After extensive industry research, our research team has ranked the best extended car warranties available in 2021, and you can read more about our top third-party picks for Kia Extended Warranties later in this article. To find the best advanced protection offer from leading providers, click below.
The Best Extended Warranty Companies We've looked at the best extended warranty providers for cars, and here are our top picks.
Best Overall | Best for Used Cars | Most affordable |
Endurance | CARCHEX | CarShield |
Get a quote | Get a quote | Get a quote |
(877) 374-1840 | (866) 254-0205 | (800) 563-2761 |
Kia Extended Warranty Overview
Kia Extended Warranty | Coverage terms |
---|---|
Transmission | up to 120,000 miles |
Silver | up to 120,000 miles |
Gold | up to 120,000 miles |
Gold Plus | up to 120,000 miles |
Platinum | up to 120,000 miles |
The Kia Extended Warranty is an optional vehicle protection plan designed to save you from paying for unexpected vehicle repairs after the factory warranty has expired. With the Kia Extended Warranty, your vehicle can be protected for up to 120,000 miles.
There are five Kia Extended Warranty options that you may qualify for depending on your vehicle:
- Transmission : Covers the engine, transmission, drive axle and optional components of a hybrid/plug-in electric vehicle.
- Silver: covers all components of the transmission coverage plan, as well as steering, brakes, air conditioning, electrical equipment and front suspension.
- Gold: covers all Silver Plan components as well as secondary engine, transmission, drive axle, brake, air conditioning, steering, front suspension, electrical and hybrid/removable parts.
- Gold Plus: covers all components of the Gold plan, as well as the engine cooling system and additional parts in each category of components.
- Platinum: acts as the exclusive warranty on all parts except for periodic maintenance and wear parts.
Each Kia extended warranty plan guarantees the use of genuine Kia parts and factory trained technicians for any covered repairs. Manufacturer vehicle maintenance contracts can also be transferred to any subsequent drivers if you sell your Kia before the insurance coverage expires.
Fringe benefits
Each of Kia's five extended warranty plans comes with several additional benefits, including:
- Towing insurance: covers $75 per accident for any towing costs.
- Car rental compensation: covers up to $35 per day for a maximum of 10 days while your vehicle is in the store.
- Travel Insurance: covers up to $100 per day, up to $500 total, for food and lodging if your car breaks down far from your home and you have to stay overnight while it gets repaired.
- Liquid Coating : Free fluid replacement with any covered repair.
While these benefits would be helpful in the event of a mechanical failure, they are not as extensive as the additional benefits of other manufacturers, both in terms of coverage and cost limits.
What is not covered by the Kia Extended Warranty?
Any extended vehicle warranty has certain exceptions, and the Kia Extended Warranty is no exception. Manufacturer's contracts for the maintenance of vehicles do not apply to:
- Misuse or abuse
- Incorrect use of liquid
- Environmental damage
- Negligence or improper maintenance
- Wear parts such as batteries and filters
- Regular maintenance such as oil changes and tire rotations
For covered repairs, Kia drivers can either take their vehicle to a local Kia dealer or one of over 6,000 authorized service centers in the US and Canada.
It is important to note that the manufacturer does not publish its Kia extended warranty cancellation policy online. Many vendors provide drivers with prorated warranty refunds, but it's best to check with your dealer about this option.
Kia extended warranty cost
Kia doesn't advertise the value of its auto service contracts, but we've been able to find customer reports that the manufacturer charges between $1,600 and $3,900 for a 10-year contract. The cost of a Kia Extended Warranty will depend on several factors, including:
- Your vehicle type . Coverage of some models may be more expensive.
- Your car's age and mileage. The sooner you buy coverage, the cheaper it will be.
- Your Franchise: usually choosing a lower deductible results in a higher total cost of coverage.
- The duration and type of your insurance coverage. Longer and more comprehensive insurance plans are usually more expensive.
The Kia Extended Warranty covers all parts and labor. Service plans may be funded by your vehicle, but we generally don't recommend doing so as you will end up paying interest on your protection plan.
Do you need a Kia Extended Warranty?
Should Kias extend the car warranty? The answer depends on several factors, including the reliability of your Kia, your ability to pay out of pocket for unexpected car repairs, how long you plan to own your Kia, and your existing insurance coverage.
To determine the credibility of a car brand, we turn to RepairPal, a site that analyzes customer reports to estimate total repair and repair costs for 32 car brands. Below, we've outlined RepairPal's findings on Kia's reliability.
RepairPal Factor | Kia models | Average across all brands |
---|---|---|
Overall Reliability Rating | 4.0 out of 5.0 | — |
Average annual repair cost | $474 | $652 |
Repair Frequency | 0.2 times a year | 0.4 times a year |
Probability of major repairs * | 10% | 12% |
* A major repair in this case means that it will cost at least three times the annual average cost of repairs.
According to RepairPal, an extended vehicle warranty may not be required for Kia drivers. Most Kia models seem to be reliable, needing little maintenance. However, this does not mean that unexpected mechanical or electrical repairs are not possible. According to JD Power 2020 Vehicle Reliability Survey in the USA SM , which measures how many problems per 100 brand vehicles, Kia models are only slightly above the industry average for reliability. Of the 100 Kia vehicles studied, 132 problems arose.
What Kia coverage do you already have?
You can also consider coverage you already have for your vehicle, such as the Kia New Vehicle Warranty and the Kia Certified Pre-Owned Warranty (CPO).
Kia's factory warranty is one of the longest in the industry. New Kias are covered by a bumper-to-bumper warranty of five years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first. New vehicles are also covered by a 10 year or 100,000 mile powertrain warranty.
CPO Kias also has a 10-year powertrain or 100,000 mile warranty. However, instead of a limited new vehicle warranty, CPO Kias provides one year or 12,000 miles of platinum coverage.
If you do not plan to own the vehicle beyond the stated coverage limits, there is no point in investing in additional insurance coverage.
Benefits of Kia Third Party Extended Warranty
Buying a Kia Extended Warranty from a dealership is just one way to get extra peace of mind on the road after the factory warranty has expired. You can also opt for Kia independent protection. While both providers have pros and cons of extended vehicle warranties, here are a few benefits of buying third-party coverage:
- Third party providers offer longer coverage periods.
- There are additional coverage options for older, high mileage vehicles.
- You can purchase insurance coverage at any time, not until the New Vehicle Limited Warranty expires.
For drivers interested in Kia's extended warranty, we recommend Endurance and CARCHEX.
Endurance: Best overall
Endurance works directly with customers, making the claims and proposals process simple and efficient. The provider offers six coverage plans with limits up to 8 years or 200,000+ miles - almost double the amount of Kia's extended warranty. Endurance contracts are available in all US states except California.
For more information, check out the full Endurance Warranty Review. Click below for a free personalized quote from a supplier.
Best Overall |
Get a quote (877) 374-1840 An industry veteran who deals directly with your plan, from proposal to application |
CARCHEX: The Best for Used Cars
If you have an older, high mileage Kia vehicle, you may not be able to purchase an extended Kia warranty from the manufacturer. For drivers in this situation, we recommend contacting CARCHEX. Backed by industry experts such as Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds.com and CARFAX, CARCHEX has been a leader in automotive warranty services for over 20 years. The provider offers five coverage plans with limits up to 10 years or 250,000 miles, whichever comes first.
Read our CARCHEX review to learn all the ins and outs of provider coverage and click below for a free, personalized CARCHEX quote.
Best for Used Cars |
Get a quote (866) 254-0205 Top rated provider with unrivaled customer service and affordable coverage |