News: Some auto insurers are refusing to cover certain Hyundai and Kia model (theft issues)

[Arcadia]

https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2023/01/27/business/progressive-state-farm-hyundai-kia/index.html
“(CNN) — Progressive and State Farm, two of America's largest auto insurers, are refusing to write policies in certain cities for some older Hyundai and Kia models that have been deemed too easy to steal, according to the companies.

Several reports say the companies have stopped offering insurance on these vehicles in cities that include Denver, Colorado and St. Louis, Missouri. The insurance companies did not tell CNN which cities or states were involved.

The Highway Loss Data Institute released insurance claims data last September that confirmed what various social media accounts had been saying: Some 2015 through 2019 Hyundai and Kia models are roughly twice as likely to be stolen as other vehicles of similar age, because many of them lack some of the basic auto theft prevention technology included in most other vehicles in those years,according to the HLDI.

Specifically, these SUVs and cars don't have electronic immobilizers, which rely on a computer chip in the car and another in the key that communicate to confirm that the key really belongs to that vehicle. Without the right key, an immobilizer should do just that -- stop the car from moving.

Stealing these vehicles became a social media trend in 2021, according to HLDI, as car thieves began posting videos of their thefts and joyrides and even videos explaining how to steal the cars. In Wisconsin, where the crimes first became prevalent, theft claims of Hyundais and Kias spiked to more than 30 times 2019 levels in dollar terms. 

…

"State Farm has temporarily stopped writing new business in some states for certain model years and trim levels of Hyundai and Kia vehicles because theft losses for these vehicles have increased dramatically," the insurer said in a statement provided to CNN. "This is a serious problem impacting our customers and the entire auto insurance industry." 

Progressive is also cutting back on insuring these cars in some markets, spokesman Jeff Sibel said in an emailed statement.

"During the past year we've seen theft rates for certain Hyundai and Kia vehicles more than triple and in some markets these vehicles are almost 20 times more likely to be stolen than other vehicles," he wrote. "Given that we price our policies based on the level of risk they represent, this explosive increase in thefts in many cases makes these vehicles extremely challenging for us to insure. In response, in some geographic areas we have increased our rates and limited our sale of new insurance policies on some of these models."

Progressive continues to insure those who already have policies with the company, he said. Progressive is also providing them with advice on how to protect their vehicles from theft.”

ETA:

same link

”Both automakers also said they are developing security software for vehicles that were not originally equipped with an immobilizer. Kia said it has begun notifying owners of the availability of this software, which will be provided at no charge. Hyundai said its free software free update will be available next month.

Hyundai also said it is providing free steering wheel locks to some police departments around the country to give local residents who have Hyundai models that could be easily stolen.Hyundai dealers are also selling and installing security kits for the vehicles, the company said.”

Edited January 30, 2023 by Arcadia

[athena1277]

How do you know if your car is one that is easier to break in to?  I didn’t see a link to specific models with this problem.  I wonder if they will issue a recall.  

[Arcadia]

16 minutes ago, athena1277 said:

How do you know if your car is one that is easier to break in to?  I didn’t see a link to specific models with this problem.  I wonder if they will issue a recall.  

page 3 table 1, those models where the immobilizers are not applicable.
 

https://www.iihs.org/media/0e14ba17-a3c2-4375-8e66-081df9101ed2/opm7QA/HLDI Research/Bulletins/hldi_bulletin_38-28.pdf

From the same CNN link

”Both automakers also said they are developing security software for vehicles that were not originally equipped with an immobilizer. Kia said it has begun notifying owners of the availability of this software, which will be provided at no charge. Hyundai said its free software free update will be available next month.

Hyundai also said it is providing free steering wheel locks to some police departments around the country to give local residents who have Hyundai models that could be easily stolen.Hyundai dealers are also selling and installing security kits for the vehicles, the company said.”

[skimomma]

I love the way 2015 - 2019 is considered "older models."  By that logic, our cars are antique!

[teachermom2834]

12 minutes ago, skimomma said:

I love the way 2015 - 2019 is considered "older models."  By that logic, our cars are antique!

I know! I thought for sure this would include our newer cars until I realized the two Hyundais in our family (which we consider fairly new cars) are 2013 😂

[1234]

Yeah, we just bought a used Hyundai since I got a job. We’ve only needed one car for so long but it won’t work anymore. Adding the 2015 Hyundai was expensive and I was so confused as to why. We’re in Chicagoland and I know the thefts have been going on here but I didn’t even think about when we purchased it this weekend. It was just a good deal so we did it. We do park in a restricted garage so hopefully ours will be fine. 

[stephanier.1765]

My son's girlfriend's sister just had her Kia stolen. They couldn't get the alarm off so they drove it around the apartment complex until they found another one. Stole that car and left hers there.