Major insurance companies halt new policies for Kias, Hyundais amid St. Louis-area theft surge [St. Louis Post-Dispatch]
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Rates of stolen Kias and Hyundais exploded last year — a trend also seen nationally because of a viral TikTok video that shows how to break into and drive off in many 2011-21 models of the South Korean-made vehicles using just a screwdriver and a USB charging cable. The method can be used on some models of those cars because manufacturers did not install engine immobilizers, an electric anti-theft security device.
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Thefts of Kias and Hyundais jumped 1,450% last year in the city, from 273 to 3,958. The same was true in
"My wife and I have great credit, payment history, we pay six-month premiums, we have no claims and no accidents on this Kia — essentially your perfect insurance customer in all respects," he said. "I wasn't expecting it to get turned down."
When Kia and
The company made the decision to stop offering new policies in November, said
Other insurers, such as Nationwide and Geico, have opted to raise drivers' premiums on those makes and models instead.
"My first thought is, 'Holy cow that's outrageous,'" he told the
He, too, was denied by Progressive. Other companies quoted him rates as high as
"It's definitely frustrating," he said.
Despite companies' increasing rates — and outright refusals by others —
"We are aware that insurance companies are considering business decisions on how best to deal with the rise in thefts of certain makes and models of these vehicles," Luebbert wrote in an email. "Our department is monitoring the situation and working diligently to ensure that the business decisions comply with the
The companies are "well within their rights" to refuse new policies, said Barry, with the
Officials recommend drivers secure their Hyundais and Kias with a car wheel club and contact the manufacturers about security kits that can be installed to prevent theft.
Three national insurance groups sent a joint letter to YouTube last week urging the social media platform to remove how-to videos that provide detailed instructions for stealing Kias and Hyundais.
And in August,
Kia and
But in an ongoing, national class-action suit against the manufacturers, attorneys argue it is federally required for cars to have a system that does not start or steer when the key is removed.
"When the key is removed from the starting system, neither steering nor forward self-mobility is prevented," the suit said. "If it were, the vehicles would not be stolen at alarming rates."
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