Recently, it has become very easy to steal Kia cars and their makes. The problem is caused by a viral TikTok that showed a keyless vehicular exploit. Now, Hyundai and Kia owners are denied insurance coverage in cities like Columbus and St. Louis. Even worse, these companies refuse to cover cars that aren’t subject to exploitation.
Progressive, State Farm are among insurers refusing coverage
Reports from the Department of Agriculture indicate that State Farm and Progressive are among the major insurers refusing to cover Hyundai and Kia models. And while these companies have denied insurance coverage to new Hyundai and KIA owners, existing policyholders also face issues. Drivers who renew existing policies see price hikes.
often at a rate above average for similar vehicles.
Undamaged Kia and Hyundai cars are still not covered
One important thing to note is that key start only Kia and Hyundai models are prone to theft easily. Those with push-button start aren’t affected, but insurance companies don’t notice the difference. A St. Louis County resident was denied coverage by Progressive for his Hyundai Elantra, even though it was a push-button operation. It couldn’t be stolen with the same easy exploit, but that didn’t seem to help his case, as renewing his existing policy would cost an additional $200 over six months.
How often do Hyundai and Kia cars get stolen?
While thefts have slowed in recent months, in St. Louis they increased 1,450% in 2022. Nearly 4,000 of these South Korean models were stolen in the city in 2022, compared to just 273 the year before. Hyundai and Kia cars account for 38% of car thefts in Columbus, Ohio, while in Los Angeles 20% of stolen cars come from South Korean brands.
How did Hyundai and Kia fix the problem
Unfortunately, there is no easy fix for current Hyundai and KIA models. Despite calls for manufacturers to be held accountable, Hyundai and KIA are taking a bit of ownership of the situation. In a statement, attorneys for Hyundai and KIA indicated that immobilizers are not a federal requirement. However, all Hyundai and Kia vehicles from November 2021 onwards have immobilizer technology. For those who drive affected vehicles, they recommend installing a security kit—a retrofit that will cost you $500 to install.
Many, including insurance companies and police departments, don’t think this is enough, but for now, there’s no bigger solution on the horizon.
