Crash Course:
- The cost of a 10-year extended Kia warranty ranges from $1,183 to $2,856.
- Powertrain, Gold, and Platinum are the three extended warranty plans offered by Kia.
- Kia is a generally reliable car brand, though an extended warranty can still cover unexpected repairs as your car gets older.
A Kia extended warranty protects your car for up to 150,000 miles and has three coverage levels: Powertrain, Gold, and Platinum. Purchasing a Kia vehicle protection plan extends the coverage typically offered by the factory warranty to help you save on covered repairs.
In this review, we’ll discuss the ins and outs of the Kia extended warranty, including coverage options, costs, and added benefits. We’ll also review Kia’s overall reliability, which factors you should consider when purchasing an extended car warranty, and how to choose the best extended car warranty plan for your needs.
Kia Extended Warranty Coverage
With a Kia extended warranty, your vehicle can be covered for up to 150,000 miles in the event of a mechanical breakdown caused by defective factory parts or bad workmanship. Kia offers three vehicle service contracts that pay for covered repairs at any authorized Kia dealerships, more than 6,000 authorized service centers, or any licensed repair facility in the U.S. or Canada.
Note that some Kia Protection Plans list coverage for similar vehicle systems. For example, Silver and Gold plans both list coverage for electrical systems, but the Gold plan will cover more components of that system.
Kia Extended Warranty Plans
Below, we break down what each level of Kia extended warranty covers:
| Kia Extended Warranty | Details |
|---|---|
| Platinum | The Platinum plan provides almost the same level of coverage as Kia’s factory bumper-to-bumper warranty. This exclusionary plan protects every part of your vehicle minus a small list of excluded parts. |
| Gold | The Gold plan covers your vehicle’s powertrain, cooling system, brakes, air conditioning, suspension, electrical system, and some hybrid components. |
| Powertrain | The Powertrain plan provides basic warranty coverage for the engine, transmission, and drive axle. |
Kia Platinum Extended Warranty
As an exclusionary warranty, the Kia Platinum plan covers most repairs and parts, except for routine maintenance and wear-and-tear items including:
- Pressure plate
- Airbags
- Body parts and panels
- Trim
- Tires and wheels
- Non-hybrid/electric batteries
- Lightbulbs
- Upholstery
- Safety restraint systems
- Exhaust system
- Brake linings, drums, rotors, and pads
Kia Gold Extended Warranty
The Gold extended protection plan protects most of your vehicle’s major components. In addition to the coverage under the Powertrain plan, this plan adds protection for the following items:
- Air conditioning
- Brakes
- Cooling system
- Electrical systems
- Front and rear suspension
- Some hybrid/plug-in electric components
Kia Powertrain Extended Warranty
Kia’s extended powertrain coverage handles only the most essential components of your vehicle. This plan provides coverage for the following parts:
- Engine
- Transmission
- Drive axle
- Trans axle
- Hybrid/plug-in electric compressed natural gas components
Kia Term Care Select Platinum Plus Coverage
Kia Term Care Select Platinum Plus is a coverage plan that covers many of your vehicle’s components, in addition to mechanical failure protection for the following wear-and-tear items:
- Brake pads
- Battery
- Tires and wheels
- Headlamps
- Windshield wiper blades
- Belts and hoses
- Electrical components
- Wheel alignments
Replacement is limited for certain parts and systems throughout the duration of the contract. For example, Kia will only replace one set of front and rear brake pads or shoes during the contract term, and tire or wheel replacements are limited to $200 for each with a $1,200 lifetime maximum.
Term Care Select Platinum Plus Coverage also includes the following benefits:
- Key replacement service: Once-yearly replacement of a key or key fob, limited to $400 per repair or replacement
- 24-hour roadside assistance and towing: Up to $100 per occurrence
- Lockout protection: Up to $50 per occurrence
- Trip interruption: Up to $100 per day for food and $500 per occurrence for lodging, and alternate transportation
- Emergency message relay: Up to three messages
- Roadside Connect
- Custom Trip Routing
- Turn-by-turn directions
- Cross-country perks
Kia Extended Warranty Benefits
Each of the three Kia extended warranty plans comes with a few additional benefits, including:
- Towing coverage: Provides $100 per incident for any towing expenses.
- Alternate transportation coverage: Covers up to $40 per day for a maximum of 10 days while your vehicle is in the shop. You may use this coverage to rent a car or for alternative options like public transportation or ridesharing.
- Travel coverage: Covers up to $100 per day, up to $500 total, for food and lodging if your vehicle breaks down far from your home and you have to stay overnight while it’s being repaired.
- Fluids coverage: No-cost fluids replacement with any covered repair.
While these perks would be helpful in the event of a mechanical breakdown, they’re not as extensive as other manufacturers’ additional benefits, both in terms of coverage and cost limits. Kia extended warranties do not come standard with roadside assistance services such as fuel delivery, lockout assistance, or battery jumpstarts.
What’s Not Covered Under the Kia Extended Warranty?
Any extended car warranty comes with certain exclusions, and the Kia extended auto warranty is no different. The manufacturer’s vehicle service contracts will not cover:
- Damage from misuse or abuse
- Breakdowns caused by improper fluid use
- Environmental damages
- Negligence or improper maintenance leading to damage
- Replacement of wear-and-tear parts like batteries and filters
- Routine maintenance services like oil changes and tire rotations
Kia Distinction Vehicle Protection Plans
In addition to Kia’s extended warranties, the company offers Kia Distinction Vehicle Protection Plans. These appearance protection plans cover your vehicle in the case of cosmetic body or interior damage and include coverage for:
- Dents and dings
- Windshield chips
- Headlight brightening
- Interior repair services
- Road hazard tire and wheel protection
Kia Care Maintenance Plans
For owners who would like to budget for scheduled maintenance, Kia sells pre-paid maintenance plans, offering coverage up to six years. Kia Care provides annual services based on the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule.
Kia Extended Warranty Cost
Kia does not advertise the cost of its vehicle service contracts, but we were able to find customer reports of paying anywhere from $1,183 to $2,856 for a 10-year contract. The cost of your Kia extended warranty will depend on a few factors, including:
- Vehicle type: Certain models may be more expensive to cover.
- Vehicle age and mileage: The sooner you purchase coverage, the cheaper it will be.
- Deductible: Choosing a lower deductible usually leads to a higher overall coverage cost.
- Coverage length and type: Longer, more comprehensive coverage plans tend to cost more.
For some Kia owners, purchasing an extended warranty directly from a Kia dealership may cost more than coverage from a third-party warranty provider.
Is a Kia Extended Warranty Worth It?
If you do not plan on keeping your Kia past the original manufacturer’s warranty, an extended warranty is most likely not worth it. However, if you plan on driving your Kia for years to come, investing in an extended warranty can save you money in the long run. Instead of paying for costly repair bills out of pocket, extended warranty coverage allows you to pay a monthly premium, and in return, the provider will pay for the cost of repairs for protected parts.
In general, you should always compare manufacturer extended warranties, like the Kia Protection Plan, to third-party warranty providers. Third-party, or aftermarket, providers typically offer more available plans, lengthier coverage terms, and more comprehensive coverage and benefits than manufacturers.
Are Kias Reliable?
In the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study, Kia ranked 11th out of 29 automakers for how many issues per 100 vehicles had problems. The average in the study was 202 problems per 100 vehicles. Kia scored better than average, with 196 problems reported per 100 vehicles.
To further determine a car brand’s reliability, we look to RepairPal, a site that analyzes customer reports to estimate common repairs and repair costs for 32 car brands. According to RepairPal, Kia scores 4.0 out of 5.0 stars, or third out of 32 car brands, for reliability. Owners should expect an average annual repair cost of $474. That’s lower than the industry-wide annual repair cost average of $652.
Below, we’ve outlined RepairPal’s findings on Kia’s reliability:
| RepairPal Factor | Kia | Average Across All Brands |
|---|---|---|
| Average Annual Repair Cost | $474 | $652 |
| Repair Frequency | 0.2 times per year | 0.4 times per year |
| Chance of a Severe Repair* | 10% | 12% |
What Kia Coverage Do You Already Have?
Before deciding to buy an extended warranty, you’ll need to analyze the likelihood of future repair costs and the value of purchasing extra coverage. Consider the coverage you may already have for your car, like the Kia warranty for new cars and the certified pre-owned (CPO) Kia warranty.
Kia Factory Warranty
The Kia factory warranty is one of the longest in the industry. New Kias come with a bumper-to-bumper warranty lasting five years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first. New vehicles also come with a 10 year or 100,000 mile powertrain warranty. In addition, new Kia vehicles come with:
- Anti-perforation warranty: 5 years/100,000 miles
- Hybrid and electric vehicle system warranty: 10 years/100,000 miles
- Roadside assistance: Towing services, with limits, for up to 5 years/60,000 miles
- Audio, paint, and standard battery coverage: 3 years/36,000 miles
Kia CPO Warranty
Certified pre-owned Kias come with a 10-year or 100,000-mile powertrain warranty and one year of 12,000 miles of Kia Protection Plan Platinum coverage. Every CPO Kia also comes with a 10-year and unlimited miles roadside assistance service contract.
Kia Extended Warranty Review
Based on RepairPal’s data, an extended car warranty may not be necessary for Kia drivers. Most Kia models seem to be reliable, requiring few repairs. However, this doesn’t mean an unexpected mechanical or expensive repair is impossible. For covered repair work, Kia drivers can take their vehicle to a local Kia dealer or to one of Kia’s 6,000 authorized service centers in the U.S. and Canada. Keep in mind, you must buy the manufacturer’s extended warranty before the original factory warranty on your vehicle expires.
Aftermarket Warranty
Buying a Kia extended warranty from the dealership is just one way to get added peace of mind on the road after your factory warranty expires. You can also opt for a third-party vehicle service contract to protect your Kia. While there are pros and cons of extended car warranties, here are a few benefits of purchasing third-party coverage:
- Longer coverage terms
- Additional coverage options for older, higher-mileage vehicles
- Purchase any time
Best Extended Car Warranty for Kia
Our review team determined Endurance and CARCHEX offer the best extended warranties for Kia vehicles. We recommend you gather quotes from several warranty companies and the manufacturer to compare costs, benefits, and coverage.
Endurance: Best Overall
Endurance works with customers directly, which makes the claims and quotes processes simple and efficient. This is one reason the company earned 4.8 out of 5.0 stars in our thorough review of extended warranty options. In business since 2006, Endurance offers six coverage plans with term limits up to 8 years and unlimited miles. Endurance contracts are available in all U.S. states, except California, where the company offers mechanical breakdown insurance instead.
CARCHEX: Best Reputation
If you own an older, higher-mileage Kia vehicle, you may not be able to purchase an extended warranty from the manufacturer. For drivers in this situation, we recommend reaching out to CARCHEX. Backed by industry experts like CARFAX, Kelley Blue Book, and Edmunds, CARCHEX has been a leader in the car warranty industry for over 20 years. The provider offers five coverage plans with term limits up to 10 years or 250,000 miles, whichever comes first.
Kia Extended Warranty Overview
The Kia extended warranty is an optional vehicle protection plan designed to keep you from paying for unexpected car repairs after your factory Kia warranty expires. As Kia Protection Plans are sold through dealerships, the coverage details and availability may vary based on your location and vehicle. Below are high-level details common to every extended warranty contract from Kia:
- Coverage terms: Kia’s protection plans provide coverage for up to 10 years or 150,000 miles – whichever comes first.
- Transferability: The manufacturer’s vehicle service contracts are transferable to any subsequent owners if you sell your Kia before coverage expires.
- Covered repairs: Each Kia extended warranty plan guarantees the use of genuine Kia parts and factory-trained technicians for covered repair work.
- Cancelation: Kia’s extended warranty cancellation policy is not available online. Many providers give drivers prorated warranty refunds, but it’s best to check with your dealership about this option.
- Financing: Kia’s extended warranty plans can be financed with your vehicle, but we typically don’t recommend doing this as you’ll end up paying interest on your protection plan.
Below, you can check out how our research team rated Kia’s extended warranty coverage:
| Rating Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Coverage | 4.6 |
| Cost | 4.5 |
| Accessibility/Usability | 4.2 |
| Benefits | 4.5 |
| Overall Rating | 4.4 |
Kia Extended Warranty: FAQ
Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about Kia extended warranty plans:
How much does a Kia extended warranty cost?
The cost of a 10-year extended Kia warranty ranges from $1,183 to $2,856 based on our research.
Does Kia offer an extended warranty?
Kia offers three extended warranty plans – Platinum, Gold, and Powertrain. Each plan lasts up to 10 years or 150,000 miles.
What does a Kia extended warranty not cover?
Kia warranties have many standard exclusions, such as glass, vehicle body damage, trim, tires and wheels, batteries (except hybrid and electric batteries, which are covered), safety restraint systems, emissions systems, and brake linings, drums, rotors, and pads.
Our expert review team takes satisfaction in providing accurate and unbiased information. We identified the following rating categories based on consumer survey data and conducted extensive research to formulate rankings of the best extended auto warranty providers.
- Industry Standing: Our team considers Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings, availability, and years in business when giving this score.
- Coverage: Because each consumer has unique needs, it’s essential that a car warranty company offers an array of coverage options. We take into account the number of plans offered by each provider, term limits, exclusions, and additional benefits.
- Affordability: A variety of factors influence cost, so it can be difficult to compare quotes between providers. Our team performs ongoing secret shopper analyses for different vehicles, mileages, warranty plans, and locations to give this rating.
- Customer Service: Reputable extended car warranty companies operate with a certain degree of care for consumers. We take into account customer reviews, BBB complaints, and the responsiveness of the customer service team.
*Data accurate at time of publication.
