Coverage for any Kia model, as well as your non-Kia vehicles
Disclosure: This content was produced by an independent editorial party for the purposes of educating our customers, and is not influenced by the other business operations of CARCHEX.
An extended car warranty is protection from the vehicle manufacturer against mechanical breakdowns. This term is sometimes incorrectly used to describe coverage from third-party providers, which offer similar protection plans called vehicle service contracts. CARCHEX is a vehicle service contract provider.
You could save thousands of dollars in unexpected repair costs when you buy an extended warranty or a vehicle protection plan for your Kia. Regardless of what Kia model you drive, or if it’s used or new, every vehicle eventually will show signs of wear and tear. To learn how to choose the right extended coverage product for your used Kia, click here.
Keep reading to learn the best way to ensure your Kia is covered for years to come, well past the duration of a factory warranty, and how to find the best continuing coverage for your Kia.
What Does the Kia Factory Warranty Cover?
When you purchase a new car from the Kia dealership, it comes with a factory warranty. Like most manufacturer warranties, the coverage lasts a certain number of years or miles, whichever comes first.
In what they call their 10-year/100,000-mile warranty program, Kia warranties include:
- 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty: Covering the engine, transmission, transaxle, and other powertrain system parts, this Kia drivetrain warranty lasts longer than what most car manufacturers offer.
- 5-year/60,000 mile limited basic warranty: This is a comprehensive, bumper-to-bumper warranty, meaning that it covers most parts of your car, with a short list of exceptions.
- 5-year/100,000-mile limited anti-perforation warranty: This warranty covers rust or other types of corrosion on your new Kia.
- 5-year/60,000-mile roadside assistance: This Kia vehicle warranty includes emergency roadside assistance and trip interruption services.
New Kia vehicles also include limited warranties for service adjustments, original equipment battery, paint, audio/entertainment, and replacement parts and accessories for 3 years/36,000 miles. Your emission control systems are also protected through the Federal and California emissions warranties. Terms vary based on the part and what state you’re in, but they range from 2 years/24,000 miles to 15 years/150,000 miles.
What’s Not Covered Under Kia’s Warranty?
On first glance, what Kia offers may look like it includes everything—especially with its industry-leading powertrain warranty—but it doesn’t. Kia factory warranties don’t cover damage from these situations:
- Vehicle misuse
- Accidents or collisions
- Theft or vandalism
- Environmental elements, such as hail, tree sap, floods, road salt, etc.
- Normal deterioration or “wear and tear” from regular use
- Window glass scratches, chips, or breaks
- Lack of or improper maintenance
- And more
Extra expenses like car rentals and tires aren’t covered, either. Kia also doesn’t provide trip interruption services, such as lodging or meal reimbursement.
Is a Kia Extended Warranty Worth It?
Even though it doesn’t cover everything, the Kia warranty does protect you from expensive, unexpected repairs. But what happens when that factory warranty expires?
You can purchase an extended warranty from the dealership or a vehicle protection plan from a third-party provider like CARCHEX to protect your car for years and miles to come.
Painful as it is, even the most reliable cars have issues. Repairs and routine maintenance costs can add up over time, and you’ll eventually end up spending more than you had anticipated without an extended protection plan.
Extra coverage can help you pay for problems associated with your vehicle. Without this protection in place, you could end up paying thousands out of pocket for common repairs.
Take a look at common Kia Soul repairs and their associated costs:
- Alternator repairs for a Kia Soul can cost you up to $585 in parts and labor.
- Catalytic converter replacement could cost upwards of $710 and lead to engine power loss if not fixed immediately.
- Kia Soul ignition coil replacement can cost anywhere between $150 and $200.
- When you hear strange noises coming from your car, you might need a new power steering pump. This part costs around $290.
- If your vehicle’s AC compressor is going bad, you will want to replace it immediately before it damages the rest of the system. This can cost between $850 and $1,050.
With a vehicle protection plan, you can save tons of money paying for costly, unexpected repairs.
What Does a Kia Protection Plan Cost?
The Kia protection plan cost is based on several factors:
- The provider (dealership or third-party company)
- The level of coverage
- How long the coverage lasts
- Your driving habits
- Vehicle model and year
- Vehicle age
- Vehicle mileage
- Your location
Keep in mind that the Kia dealer may include the cost of your extended warranty with your car payment. That means you’re paying interest on your warranty, too.
Consider This When Shopping for a Kia Extended Protection Plan
Beyond the cost, there are other things to consider in your Kia extended vehicle protection purchase. Think about these questions:
- Where do I like to get repairs done? If you’re attached to your local repair shop, remember that the manufacturer’s warranty may require you to only visit its auto shops or approved locations.
- What are my future plans for the car? Whether you intend to drive your Kia into the ground or turn around and sell it, a coverage plan can benefit you. If you plan on keeping it, a protection plan could save you money on those inevitable repair bills. If you want to sell, a protection plan could increase the resale value of your Kia. That’s because most vehicle service contracts are transferable to subsequent owners.
- What third-party provider is best? There are quite a few third-party protection plan providers in the market. We’ve done the research and can show you why CARCHEX comes out on top.
What Does a Kia Extended Warranty Cover?
The best extended warranties beyond Kia’s standard comprehensive and powertrain warranties should manage every possible scenario under the hood.
For new and certified pre-owned vehicles, Kia extended warranty plans from the dealership are called Kia Distinction Protection Plans. There are five different coverage options:
- Powertrain Coverage: This plan covers your engine, transmission, transaxle, transfer case (excluding standard transmission clutch assemblies and components), drive axle, and additional hybrid, plug-in electric, or compressed natural gas components.
- Silver Coverage: This level includes powertrain coverage plus steering, air conditioning, front suspension, electrical, and additional hybrid, plug-in electric, or compressed natural gas components.
- Gold Coverage: In addition to what’s offered in Powertrain and Silver, the Gold level includes more parts of the engine, transmission, drive axle, steering, and more.
- Gold Plus Coverage: This higher level of coverage includes everything in the Gold plan plus even more specific parts for the cooling, fuel, air conditioning, electrical, and more.
- Platinum Coverage: The Kia Platinum extended warranty is Kia’s bumper-to-bumper extended warranty. It covers almost every part of your car, with only a short list of exceptions. Examples of exclusions are brake linings, solar powered devices, tires, wheels, light bulbs, upholstery, catalytic converter, and others.
Compare Extended Vehicle Protection Plans from CARCHEX
At CARCHEX, we offer five levels of coverage—Titanium, Platinum, Powertrain Plus, Powertrain, and Extra Care—with a number of personalized protection plans available within each level.
Based on the plan you choose, you will have coverage of your engine, transmission, drive axle, fuel delivery components, A/C components, electrical system, and more. With Titanium coverage, you could have protection of nearly your entire vehicle. Our longest term is up to 10 years with exclusionary coverage. Coverage is available up to 150,000 miles, while Kia limits you to 120,000 miles.
Benefits of Extended Kia Coverage from CARCHEX
A CARCHEX extended vehicle protection plan offers the following benefits.
Why CARCHEX?
Affordable payment plans, including low monthly options |
Ability to choose from thousands of repair facilities, so you can take your car to a place you trust |
No-Haggle, Low-Price, Everyday Guarantee™ |
|---|---|---|
Extended coverage benefits, including towing, 24/7 roadside assistance, rental car services, gas delivery, and trip interruption service |
Diagnostic fee coverage |
Claims paid directly to repairs shops |
24/7/365 direct quote engine that gives you an instant price for a vehicle service contract |
Part repair and replacement |
Customer promise of Customer Experience Above All |
Better Business Bureau (BBB) accreditation |
Endorsements and partnerships with trusted industry brands, including Edmunds.com and CARFAX |
30-Day Money-Back Guarantee that allows you to get a full refund if you are not satisfied with your purchase* |
Buy a Vehicle Protection Plan for Your Kia Today
Get a no-hassle extended Kia service contract and the peace of mind that comes with it. At CARCHEX, we have over 20 years of reliable service and an A+ rating from the BBB.
Whether you’re driving a used or pre-owned certified Kia, we are here to provide quality information about your vehicle protection options and offer an affordable rate.
Sources:
Kia:
https://www.kia.com/us/en/content/why-kia/quality/warranty-quality
Edmunds.com:
https://www.edmunds.com/auto-warranty/warranty-and-roadside-assistance-coverage.html
Car Care:
http://www.carcare.org/car-care-service-schedules/general-service-schedule/