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Why You Should Service at an OEM Dealership

When your maintenance light pops up on your dashboard, it's time to bring your vehicle in for service. You have dozens, or even hundreds, of different options to choose from between dealerships, independent mechanics or third party service shops. With so many options available, why is going to an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) dealership still your best choice? Let's take a look. 

 

OEM Advantage 

There are many other advantages that an OEM or original equipment manufacturer provides over a non specialized service shop. 

Firstly, technicians at a Kia dealership are trained specialists in all Kia vehicles. Factory trained technicians can diagnose and fix problems faster than independent mechanics thanks to constant training and more experience working on Kia vehicles. Diagnosing and repairing issues faster saves you time, money and helps you avoid costly and time consuming repeat trips to fix an ongoing problem with your vehicle. 

Resources like techline, which combines the knowledge of thousands of certified Kia technicians across Canada and the U.S. to problem solve and list commonly known issues, is exclusive to OEM dealerships like Kia Victoria. Experience and knowledge makes a huge difference when servicing your vehicle, which is why our all-star lineup of technicians here at Kia Victoria have hundreds of years of combined experience between them. 

Secondly, licensed dealerships offer additional services and warranties that aren’t offered from less reputable independent, or third party service providers. Dealerships can complete no cost recalls while you are getting your vehicle serviced. These recalls can vary in urgency but it's always a smart idea to have your vehicle up to date with any recalls. 

Lastly, OEM parts are made specifically for your vehicle and offer additional warranty coverage over using 3rd party or aftermarket auto parts. Certified Kia parts and labor have a 12 month/ 20,000 km replacement warranty. The warranty for aftermarket parts will vary but most of the time will only include parts coverage, leaving the customer to cover the labor costs if any replacement is needed during the warranty period. 

 

Convenience

One of the biggest annoyances with getting your vehicle serviced is that you need to interrupt your busy day to drop it off for service. While you’ll still need to drop it off, Kia Victoria can make your service experience as convenient and relaxing as possible. 

We have multiple transportation options including loaner vehicles, taxi vouchers, bus tickets and loaner bikes to get you to your destination. Want to wait for your service instead? No problem, our first class customer lounge will keep you comfortable while you wait with multiple beverage and snack options. 

Beyond making your experience more comfortable, dealerships also have a much larger service shop with more employees compared to independent shops. This means dealerships will start working on your vehicle faster and if any additional maintenance is needed, dealerships can source parts faster thanks to working directly with the manufacturer. 

Resale Value

Having a full list of service records from a reputable dealership can actually increase the value of your vehicle when you go to sell it down the line. Seeing service records of consistent maintenance from a dealership shows potential buyers that your car is in great shape and has the records to prove it. Because OEM parts are made specifically for your vehicle, it also reduces the likelihood of service issues throughout the full life of the vehicle. 

 

Book in for Service Now

We'd love to see you! Give us a call at 250-360-1111 or book online here. You, and your Kia, will be glad you did.

Curious about Kia Canada Recommended Service Schedules? Contact us and we can let you know when you're next due. Or check out the schedules here: gas/hybrid vehicle schedule and the electric vehicle schedule.