How acquainted are you with the Kia Problem?
Even in the event you answered “By no means,” you could have nonetheless heard concerning the TikTok development of individuals hot-wiring and stealing Kias and Hyundais for enjoyable.
This was an alarming flip of occasions for the homeowners of round 8.3 million at-risk vehicles, a quantity estimated by the Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration. Whereas each Kia and Hyundai have introduced software program updates to handle the problem, lots of these automobiles are nonetheless unprotected, in accordance with the NHTSA — together with the vehicles owned by each writers of this text.
For full transparency: Ryan drives a Hyundai, Drew drives a Kia and neither car is at present eligible for the software program updates. So this text is extra than simply one other project — it’s additionally the recommendation we’re following to guard our vehicles.
What's the Kia Problem?
The Kia Problem began in Milwaukee with a gaggle known as the Kia Boyz. They gained native notoriety in 2021, however discovered a nationwide viewers in July 2022 when a TikTok video confirmed how one can hot-wire a Kia with solely a screwdriver and a USB cable.
Kias and Hyundais have been focused due to an ignition software program vulnerability, in accordance with the NHTSA. A number of fashions from 2011-2022 don’t have anti-theft know-how that’s grow to be the business normal. And when the Kia Problem turned a viral development, it brought on a spike in automotive theft.
In 2021, 6,970 Kias and Hyundais have been reported stolen in Milwaukee, in contrast with 895 Kias and Hyundais in 2020, in accordance with the workplace of the lawyer normal of Wisconsin. And Milwaukee is only one affected metropolis — Atlanta, Chicago and Denver even have seen will increase in thefts of the automobiles. You may examine for information on automotive thefts in your space by way of USAFacts, a nonprofit that collects U.S. authorities information. The group compiled information on reported automotive thefts from greater than 500 police departments and federal businesses nationwide.
How the Kia Problem might have an effect on your insurance coverage
Having your car stolen is a nightmare. After submitting a police report, you might also should submit separate insurance coverage claims for the car and any valuables inside, which is able to seemingly have an effect on your insurance coverage charges.
Now, the elevated danger for particular Kia and Hyundai years and fashions has made insurance coverage corporations cautious of masking these automobiles. In an emailed assertion, State Farm confirmed it has “briefly stopped accepting” functions in some states for some Hyundai and Kia automobiles.
Progressive has taken an identical stance, saying in an emailed assertion that the corporate has seen theft enhance by an element of 20 in some areas. A spokesperson confirmed through e mail that the corporate will proceed insuring present prospects however has issued fewer new insurance policies and elevated premiums in some places.
What you are able to do to remain insured
For those who drive a Kia or Hyundai, listed below are a number of methods to enhance your probabilities of staying insured and protecting your charges in examine.
Contact your carmaker
Kia and Hyundai have rolled out free anti-theft software program updates for fashions on the highest danger. Contact your producer to see in case your mannequin is eligible, and if not, what choices you've.
For instance, Drew came upon his Kia is eligible for the software program replace, though the replace received’t roll out for his specific automotive till someday this summer time.
Ryan was in a position to get reimbursed for a steering wheel lock (with receipt) after a telephone name to Hyundai confirmed his automotive is ineligible for the software program replace. Hyundai did announce plans to reimburse homeowners for different anti-theft units like alarm kits.
Kia homeowners: Name 800-333-4542.
Hyundai homeowners: Name 888-498-0390 or go to HyundaiAntiTheft.com.
Contact your insurer
It’s laborious to foretell how the software program replace will influence Hyundai and Kia homeowners’ automotive insurance coverage within the close to time period, however there’s hope the replace might finally ease any value burden for affected drivers. In an emailed assertion, Progressive inspired homeowners to get the software program replace “as quickly as doable” and mentioned it can monitor the software program’s effectiveness and alter Progressive insurance policies accordingly.
For those who haven’t acted but, make the decision to your agent or firm quickly. “Most individuals don’t wish to take care of insurance coverage till they should file a declare,” says Scott Holeman, a spokesperson for the Insurance coverage Info Institute, a company consisting of insurance coverage provider member corporations.
You can begin by asking the next questions:
- Do I've the protection I would like? Complete protection pays for automotive theft and vandalism, and rental reimbursement protection helps pay for a rental automotive in the event you want it.
- How are my charges impacted? Don’t be stunned in case your charges go up whenever you renew your coverage, particularly in the event you reside in a high-crime space. Typically, the extra in style a automotive is to steal, the costlier it's to insure.
- How can I get a greater worth? Ask about reductions and different methods to decrease prices. For instance, in the event you don’t drive a lot or in the event you park in a storage, you would possibly qualify for decrease charges. And let your insurer know in the event you’ve gotten the software program replace or put in anti-theft units.
Store round
Some price will increase are outdoors your management. “The excellent news is that auto insurance coverage is a extremely aggressive business,” Holeman says. Even in the event you drive an at-risk Kia or Hyundai, some insurers will provide higher charges than others, so don’t be afraid to buy round, Holeman says.
NerdWallet recommends evaluating automotive insurance coverage quotes no less than every year. You must also store round any time you progress, purchase a brand new automotive or expertise a giant life change like getting married.
How one can keep away from getting your automotive stolen
There are a number of greatest practices you may observe to cut back the percentages of getting your automotive stolen, no matter its make:
- Park sensible. When doable, park in extremely seen areas, corresponding to beneath a streetlamp or in safe places like garages. Lock your doorways, shut your home windows and hold valuables out of your automotive.
- Set up an anti-theft system. Take into account including safety like an aftermarket engine immobilizer or alarm system.
- Add visible deterrents like a steering wheel lock or blinking mild. The presence of an anti-theft gadget might make would-be thieves assume twice about stealing your automotive, Holeman says. Hyundai and Kia additionally provide window stickers for patrons who get the software program replace. You possibly can even purchase a pretend anti-theft blinking mild or window sticker on-line.
- Monitor your automotive (simply in case). In case your automotive doesn’t have a car restoration system, take into account including one. You may even cover a small monitoring gadget like an Apple AirTag someplace in your automotive, Holeman says.
All of the prevention on the planet can’t shield you completely from automotive theft. Nevertheless, following these steps gave us peace of thoughts, and we hope it helps you, too.
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Drew Gula writes for NerdWallet. E mail: dgula@nerdwallet.com. Ryan Brady writes for NerdWallet. E mail: rbrady@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @reallyryanbrady.
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