State Farm, Progressive drop future Kia and Hyundai coverage

It's something no car company wants to be known for being easy to steal, but certain Kia and Hyundai models now have that notorious reputation. Yeah Boy transports stolen cars after videos like this where teenagers show step by step how to use a USB to outwit those without a key. ignition, starting the engine with something as simple as a cell phone charger, lowering it, and then breaking it down Now, two major insurance companies have realized that Progressive and State Farm announced this week that they will not issue new policies for some of the years of the car manufacturer's model.

Although they did not specify which ones, Progresista, citing high theft rates, said in a

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ment citing that 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 difficult to us to guarantee the

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. Farm has also temporarily stopped issuing new policies for certain vehicles in states where theft has increased dramatically, saying action became necessary. The viral car hacking trend has caused serious damage. Beyond letting owners pick up the pieces after their cars are totaled, unfortunately, they are very easy to steal.

You can search for information that was published last year. Four teenagers were killed in a car crash in upstate New York involving a stolen Kia. This is a terrible, terrible outcome for such young children. who have their whole lives ahead of them Highway Loss Data Institute analysis of 2021 insurance claims breaks down how risky it is to own one of these vehicles report says theft claims were nearly twice as common for vehicles Hyundai and Kia as a group that for all other manufacturers between vehicles from the 2015 to 2019 model years, if you had known the car was unsafe, you would know you wouldn't have gotten a brand like that, you would have gotten a different car.

Kia responded to the measure through insurance. The companies in a statement said they are taking steps to update the technology in newer models and offer some owners software upgrades. He went on to say that Kia America regrets this decision by certain insurers and its impact on the owners and lessees of select Kia vehicles that we anticipate. It will be temporary NBC News also reached out to Hyundai, but we have not yet heard back. The theft problem is one Denver resident Susanna Campora knows all too well the first time it was tried and the second time it was completely stolen since I got it back.

Being stolen, there was another occasion when someone broke into the car. The insurance companies' move won't affect current policyholders, but this key owner tells our affiliate Kusa she hopes to be a target again and asks what time I live in the car of 2018. You know, I don't live in the '70s or '80s, where it's like, oh, here's a screwdriver and let me take this car now, it's a little wild. Stephen Romo joins us now Stephen, you mentioned there that KIA will offer some upgrades, but but the big question is, even if you get the upgrade, do you get the insurance back?

Yes, that is a decision, of course, for those insurance companies. Something remains to be seen. They say those key updates will come out sometime this summer and until then. They say they have some low level options like a steering wheel lock that they are giving people who have these models affected by this to get a club so you have a club yeah good memory those infomercials for people , if that is. basically what they are giving to try to give people something to keep these cars from being stolen. Thank you for watching our YouTube channel. Follow today's top stories and breaking news by downloading the NBC News app.