Thefts of Hyundai and Kia vehicles have soared thanks to social media and a lack of engine immobilizers, and this has resulted in a handful of insurance companies refusing to cover affected models.
Now we’re getting a better idea of which vehicles are being blacklisted as WWL has obtained a list from State Farm. It instructs employees not to insure certain models, “unless the sales associate has verified the presence of a passive engine immobilizer.”
The list is extensive and mentions the 2015-2021 Accent, Elantra, Kona, Santa Fe, Sonata, and Tucson. It also includes the 2015-2018 Veloster.
Also: Kia And Hyundai Owners Getting Rejected For Insurance Coverage Over Theft Risk
On the Kia side, listed models include the 2015-2021 Forte, Optima, Rio, Sedona, Soul, and Sportage. The 2015-2016 Optima Hybrid and Sorento have also been placed on the naughty list.
Two employees told the station that the blacklist only applies to customers seeking a new policy and is in effect for the states of Georgia, Louisiana, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington. As a result, if you own one of the listed models, you might want to stick with your current provider for the time being.
When WWL reached out to State Farm, the company confirmed it has “temporarily stopped accepting new customer applications, in some states, for certain model years and trim levels of Hyundai and Kia vehicles, because theft losses for these vehicles have increased dramatically.”
As we’ve previously reported, the Cook County Sheriff’s Department has seen a 936% increase in Hyundai and Kia thefts, while they’ve shot up 85% in Los Angeles. The problem has gotten so bad, cities are trying to sue the automakers and groups have pushed social media companies to remove ‘how to’ videos.
