How acquainted are you with the Kia Challenge?
Even in case you answered “Not at all,” you might 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 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. While each Kia and Hyundai have introduced software program updates to deal with the difficulty, lots of these autos are nonetheless unprotected, in keeping 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 presently eligible for the software program updates. So this text is extra than simply one other task — it’s additionally the recommendation we’re following to guard our vehicles.
What is the Kia Challenge?
The Kia Challenge began in Milwaukee with a bunch referred to as the Kia Boyz. They gained native notoriety in 2021, however discovered a nationwide viewers in July 2022 when a TikTok video confirmed find out how to 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 keeping with the NHTSA. Several fashions from 2011-2022 don’t have anti-theft know-how that’s develop into the business commonplace. And when the Kia Challenge turned a viral development, it induced a spike in automobile theft.
In 2021, 6,970 Kias and Hyundais have been reported stolen in Milwaukee, in contrast with 895 Kias and Hyundais in 2020, in keeping with the workplace of the lawyer basic of Wisconsin. And Milwaukee is only one affected metropolis — Atlanta, Chicago and Denver even have seen will increase in thefts of the autos. You can examine for information on automobile thefts in your space by means of USAFacts, a nonprofit that collects U.S. authorities information. The group compiled information on reported automobile thefts from greater than 500 police departments and federal companies nationwide.
How the Kia Challenge might have an effect on your insurance coverage
Having your car stolen is a nightmare. After submitting a police report, you might also must submit separate insurance coverage claims for the car and any valuables inside, which can possible have an effect on your insurance coverage charges.
Now, the elevated threat for particular Kia and Hyundai years and fashions has made insurance coverage corporations cautious of masking these autos. In an emailed assertion, State Farm confirmed it has “temporarily stopped accepting” functions in some states for some Hyundai and Kia autos.
Progressive has taken an analogous stance, saying in an emailed assertion that the corporate has seen theft improve 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
If you drive a Kia or Hyundai, listed here are just a few methods to enhance your probabilities of staying insured and maintaining your charges in examine.
Contact your carmaker
Kia and Hyundai have rolled out free anti-theft software program updates for fashions on the highest threat. 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 gained’t roll out for his explicit automobile till someday this summer season.
Ryan was in a position to get reimbursed for a steering wheel lock (with receipt) after a telephone name to Hyundai confirmed his automobile is ineligible for the software program replace. Hyundai did announce plans to reimburse homeowners for different anti-theft units like alarm kits.
Kia homeowners: Call 800-333-4542.
Hyundai homeowners: Call 888-498-0390 or go to HyundaiAntiTheft.com.
Contact your insurer
It’s laborious to foretell how the software program replace will affect Hyundai and Kia homeowners’ automobile 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 soon as possible” and stated it would monitor the software program’s effectiveness and regulate Progressive insurance policies accordingly.
If you haven’t acted but, make the decision to your agent or firm quickly. “Most people don’t want to deal with insurance until they have to file a claim,” says Scott Holeman, a spokesperson for the Insurance Information Institute, a corporation consisting of insurance coverage service member corporations.
You can begin by asking the next questions:
- Do I’ve the protection I would like? Comprehensive protection pays for automobile theft and vandalism, and rental reimbursement protection helps pay for a rental automobile in case you want it.
- How are my charges impacted? Don’t be shocked in case your charges go up once you renew your coverage, particularly in case you stay in a high-crime space. Generally, the extra widespread a automobile is to steal, the dearer it’s to insure.
- How can I get a greater worth? Ask about reductions and different methods to decrease prices. For instance, in case you don’t drive a lot or in case you park in a storage, you may qualify for decrease charges. And let your insurer know in case you’ve gotten the software program replace or put in anti-theft units.
Shop round
Some price will increase are exterior your management. “The good news is that auto insurance is a highly competitive industry,” Holeman says. Even in case 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 automobile insurance coverage quotes at the very least every year. You also needs to store round any time you progress, purchase a brand new automobile or expertise an enormous life change like getting married.
How to keep away from getting your automobile stolen
There are just a few greatest practices you possibly can observe to scale back the chances of getting your automobile stolen, no matter its make:
- Park good. When doable, park in extremely seen areas, comparable to underneath a streetlamp or in safe places like garages. Lock your doorways, shut your home windows and maintain valuables out of your automobile.
- Install an anti-theft system. Consider 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 suppose twice about stealing your automobile, Holeman says. Hyundai and Kia additionally provide window stickers for purchasers who get the software program replace. You may even purchase a pretend anti-theft blinking mild or window sticker on-line.
- Track your automobile (simply in case). If your automobile doesn’t have a car restoration system, contemplate including one. You may even conceal a small monitoring gadget like an Apple AirTag someplace in your automobile, Holeman says.
All the prevention on the planet can’t shield you fully from automobile theft. However, following these steps gave us peace of thoughts, and we hope it helps you, too.
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Drew Gula writes for NerdWallet. Email: [email protected]. Ryan Brady writes for NerdWallet. Email: [email protected]. Twitter: @reallyryanbrady.
The article Kia and Hyundai Thefts Could Affect Your Insurance Rate Soon initially appeared on NerdWallet.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”