Michael and Kerry Lawrence are done with Kias.”We were really naïve when the first car was stolen. It was, ‘Oh, well we have insurance, it’s going to be fine,” Kerry said. Sister station WISN 12 News spoke to the Lawrences on Wednesday. They said they were stuck in a lease they couldn’t break. Thieves stole three of their Kias and the dealership continued replacing one with another.”Kia really, they couldn’t have been less helpful,” Kerry said. The third time it happened, thieves totaled their car, ending their lease and ultimately their policy with Progressive Auto Insurance.”Because of the amount of money they spent on us the last few months, they’ve said they’re not going to renew our policy,” Michael said. Sister station WISN 12 news has learned insurance coverage for Kias and Hyundais is becoming more of an issue.In 2022, police reported more than half of the 8,082 cars stolen in Milwaukee alone were Kias and Hyundais.It’s something the Insurance Information Institute confirms companies are now taking into consideration.”The auto insurance industry has become quite alarmed at this trend when it comes to Kia and Hyundai,” said Michael Berry, chief communications officer at the Insurance Information Institute.Berry said insurance agencies not renewing policies has typically been a rare phenomenon.He adds Kia and Hyundai owners are also likely to face higher rates and suggests getting extra coverage.”You want to make sure you have what’s called the optional comprehensive coverage. This is going to cover you for theft and vandalism,” Berry said. The Lawrence family isn’t alone in their issue with insurance. Jeanette Shields said thieves stole her Kia twice.She said the first time, they crashed it and put sugar in her gas tank. The second time she said thieves ran it into a pole.Shields said her insurance, West Bend Mutual is now dropping her.”I can understand it’s odd to have two thefts on the same vehicle, but it’s not my fault,” Shields said. “It’s those kids, it’s the Kia Boys.”Progressive did not respond to repeated requests for comment. A spokesperson for West Bend Mutual said in an email to sister station WISN 12 News “there are a number of factors that go into a decision to not renew someone’s policy, which includes payment activity, claim activity, driving records, among other things.”Kia sent a written statement, saying:”Kia remains concerned about the recent trend among youth in some areas, encouraged by social media, to target certain Kia cars with a steel key and “turn-to-start” ignition systems. In many cases, the vehicles are stolen solely for the purpose of operating in a reckless manner. Such criminal conduct endangers our local communities and violates property rights.While no car can be made completely theft-proof, Kia continues to make steering wheel locks available to customers through interested local law enforcement agencies, subject to available supply, at no cost to concerned owners of these vehicles. Kia also continues its efforts to develop additional solutions for vehicles not originally equipped with an immobilizer, including the development and testing of enhanced security software. All 2022 models and trims have an immobilizer applied either at the beginning of the year or as a running change, and all Kia vehicles meet or exceed Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.Kia customers with questions regarding their Kia vehicle should contact the Kia Consumer Assistance Center directly at 800-333-4542.”Watch the video above for the full story.
Michael and Kerry Lawrence are done with Kias.
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“We were really naïve when the first car was stolen. It was, ‘Oh, well we have insurance, it’s going to be fine,” Kerry said.
Sister station WISN 12 News spoke to the Lawrences on Wednesday. They said they were stuck in a lease they couldn’t break. Thieves stole three of their Kias and the dealership continued replacing one with another.
“Kia really, they couldn’t have been less helpful,” Kerry said.
The third time it happened, thieves totaled their car, ending their lease and ultimately their policy with Progressive Auto Insurance.
“Because of the amount of money they spent on us the last few months, they’ve said they’re not going to renew our policy,” Michael said.
Sister station WISN 12 news has learned insurance coverage for Kias and Hyundais is becoming more of an issue.
In 2022, police reported more than half of the 8,082 cars stolen in Milwaukee alone were Kias and Hyundais.
It’s something the Insurance Information Institute confirms companies are now taking into consideration.
“The auto insurance industry has become quite alarmed at this trend when it comes to Kia and Hyundai,” said Michael Berry, chief communications officer at the Insurance Information Institute.
Berry said insurance agencies not renewing policies has typically been a rare phenomenon.
He adds Kia and Hyundai owners are also likely to face higher rates and suggests getting extra coverage.
“You want to make sure you have what’s called the optional comprehensive coverage. This is going to cover you for theft and vandalism,” Berry said.
The Lawrence family isn’t alone in their issue with insurance.
Jeanette Shields said thieves stole her Kia twice.
She said the first time, they crashed it and put sugar in her gas tank. The second time she said thieves ran it into a pole.
Shields said her insurance, West Bend Mutual is now dropping her.
“I can understand it’s odd to have two thefts on the same vehicle, but it’s not my fault,” Shields said. “It’s those kids, it’s the Kia Boys.”
Progressive did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
A spokesperson for West Bend Mutual said in an email to sister station WISN 12 News “there are a number of factors that go into a decision to not renew someone’s policy, which includes payment activity, claim activity, driving records, among other things.”
Kia sent a written statement, saying:
“Kia remains concerned about the recent trend among youth in some areas, encouraged by social media, to target certain Kia cars with a steel key and “turn-to-start” ignition systems. In many cases, the vehicles are stolen solely for the purpose of operating in a reckless manner. Such criminal conduct endangers our local communities and violates property rights.
While no car can be made completely theft-proof, Kia continues to make steering wheel locks available to customers through interested local law enforcement agencies, subject to available supply, at no cost to concerned owners of these vehicles.
Kia also continues its efforts to develop additional solutions for vehicles not originally equipped with an immobilizer, including the development and testing of enhanced security software. All 2022 models and trims have an immobilizer applied either at the beginning of the year or as a running change, and all Kia vehicles meet or exceed Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
Kia customers with questions regarding their Kia vehicle should contact the Kia Consumer Assistance Center directly at 800-333-4542.”
Watch the video above for the full story.
