Kia Seltos Extended Warranty: Cost, Coverage and Plans

Kia Seltos extended warranty overview

An extended warranty for a Kia Seltos is a service contract you can purchase to continue covering your vehicle’s components after the factory warranty expires. Like a factory warranty, an extended warranty covers the cost of repairs for mechanical failures to parts and systems specified in the contract.

Coverage only applies to mechanical breakdowns that occur under normal conditions.

Kia Distinction Vehicle Service Contract is the brand name for the Korean automaker’s extended warranty program. Coverage varies by plan, with three options to choose from. Depending on the plan, you can extend your warranty protection for up to 10 years or 150,000 miles. This is longer than the maximum terms available from most manufacturer extended warranty programs.

These manufacturer-backed plans are only sold through official dealerships and are not offered to customers directly.

Kia factory warranty coverage terms

Kia covers the Seltos and other models with one of the industry’s most generous factory warranties. The factory warranty includes the following coverage:

How does a Kia Seltos extended warranty work?

Vehicle service contracts use a claims system to cover the cost of mechanical repairs not unlike the way car insurance works. When your Seltos suffers a mechanical breakdown, you initiate a claim with Kia and bring your vehicle to a service center for repairs. If the company approves the claim, it pays the repair shop directly, minus any deductible on your plan.

Kia’s extended warranty program differs from many manufacturer programs when it comes to repairs. Typically, automakers only cover services performed at dealerships or authorized service centers. Kia allows you to use its VSC coverage at any repair shop certified by the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). According to Kia literature, this gives you access to a repair network of over 6,000 locations throughout the U.S. and Canada.

When you choose to have your Seltos repaired at a Kia dealership, services will be performed by licensed technicians using brand-approved replacement parts. Independent repair shops, on the other hand, may use aftermarket or refurbished components.

What is excluded from a Kia Seltos extended warranty?

Every Kia Distinction VSC comes with a list of items the contract doesn’t cover. These are known as exclusions. Here are some common exclusions found in most vehicle service contracts:

• Damage resulting from a car accident
• Replacements for regular wear items like wiper blades and brake pads
• Routine maintenance services such as tire rotations and oil changes
• Damage caused by fire, severe weather or other incidents covered by a comprehensive auto insurance policy
• Cosmetic damages
• Intentional damage or damage resulting from misuse

Kia Seltos extended warranty plans

There are three Kia Distinction Vehicle Service Contract plans available for your Seltos. These are:

• Powertrain, which provides basic protection for only the most essential components in your vehicle that keep it running, such as the engine, transmission and drive axles.
• Gold, which adds protection for the cooling system, brakes, suspension and electrical system to the coverage included in the Powertrain plan.
• Platinum, which provides bumper-to-bumper coverage for all of a vehicle’s components except those listed as exclusions in the contract, similar to the Kia New Vehicle Limited Warranty.

Kia Seltos extended warranty plan coverage

To help you choose the best extended warranty plan for your Kia Seltos, we compare the key systems and components covered under each plan in the table below.

Kia Seltos extended warranty benefits

All Kia Distinction VSCs come with a few added perks on top of the coverage they provide. These benefits include:

• Roadside assistance coverage for emergency roadside services such as battery jumpstarts, lockout assistance, fuel delivery and flat tire assistance. Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• Towing assistance up to $100 per occurrence toward the cost of towing your vehicle to the nearest repair facility following a covered breakdown.
• Travel coverage that reimburses up to $100 per day for up to five days toward the cost of meals, accommodation and other travel expenses when a covered breakdown occurs more than 100 miles from home.
• Alternate transportation coverage that provides up to $40 per day for up to 10 days toward the cost of a rental car, rideshare services, public transportation and other methods of travel while your Kia is in the shop for covered repair work.

Kia Seltos extended warranty terms and conditions

Extended warranty contracts feature details in the fine print that are easy to overlook but important to understand since they affect how you can use the coverage you buy.

Kia Distinction Vehicle Service Contract plans include the following terms and conditions:

• Cancellation policy: You can receive a full refund if you cancel your Kia Distinction VSC within 60 days of purchase and haven’t submitted any claims. If you cancel your contract after 60 days or have filed a claim, you can receive a prorated refund.
• Transfer policy: You can transfer any coverage remaining on your Kia Distinction VSC to a new owner if you sell your Seltos by submitting documentation to Kia and paying a small transfer fee.
• Maintenance policy: You are required to perform all scheduled maintenance services recommended by the manufacturer in order to keep your coverage active. Kia can deny claims if a vehicle has missed one or more service intervals.

Kia Seltos extended warranty cost

Kia does not publish plan prices for its VSCs on its website or offer quotes directly to customers, which makes it difficult for our researchers to obtain and provide. Additionally, Kia dealerships set unique prices for extended warranties. So, the cost of the same plan can vary from one dealership to the next.

To get accurate cost information on a warranty for your Kia Seltos, call or visit a dealership and request a quote.

Kia Seltos extended warranty cost factors

Extended warranty costs vary significantly based on a number of factors, including the vehicle itself, coverage selection and provider policies. Below, we share the factors that have the most impact on the cost of a contract and how they affect the price of coverage.

Is a Kia Seltos extended warranty worth it?

While an extended warranty does provide protection against unexpected repair bills, it may not be worth the cost for your Kia Seltos. Reasons an extended warranty may not be worth it include:

Average costs for Kia Seltos repairs

Even though Kia vehicles tend to be reliable, there is always the risk that your Seltos will experience a mechanical failure that costs more than you can afford to fix.

Below is a list of some of the most common issues reported by Kia Seltos owners and the average cost of repairing them, based on data from RepairPal.

Consider whether you can afford to take on the risk of paying for repairs out of pocket instead of buying coverage.

When a Kia Seltos extended warranty makes sense

Even if the vehicle’s reliability and repair costs mean a VSC for your Kia Seltos is unlikely to pay for itself in covered repairs, there are a few reasons why buying a plan could be a good move. It’s worth considering an extended warranty if:

• It would be difficult for you to find $800 or more on short notice to pay for repairs
• Having coverage would provide you with peace of mind
• A major repair bill would significantly disrupt progress toward your financial goals
• You prefer making regular payments to avoid the risk of large, unexpected expenses

In other words, whether a Kia Seltos extended warranty is worth it comes down to your financial situation and preferences for managing risks and expenses.

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