Anyone else having trouble insuring their Kia?

I own a 2016 Kia Optima Hybrid and recently decided to shop around for car insurance after my current rates went up. I’ve got a great driving record, but one competitor refused to insure my car because of the high rates of theft. Has anyone else had issues with insurance for their Kia? What are you doing about it?

Have you gotten the software update yet? Make sure you have proof and send it to your insurance company. It’s free and might help with your rates. Here’s the link to check if your model qualifies: https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2023-05-09/models-covered-by-hyundai-and-kia-anti-theft-software-update.

@Fife
Even with the update, the damage to the steering column can still be expensive to fix if someone tries to steal your car.

@Fife
Does the software update apply to the 2016 Optima Hybrid models?

Kei said:
@Fife
Does the software update apply to the 2016 Optima Hybrid models?

Nope, hybrids and push-button start models don’t need the update. It’s mostly for cars with physical keys, since they’re the ones being targeted. Push-button models already have an immobilizer.

@Quincy
Good to know! Mine has the push-button start, so I guess I’m in the clear there.

@Fife
Not trying to be rude, but what’s the point of the update? Even if they don’t steal your car, they’re still going to break your window and mess up the steering column. It seems like the damage is done regardless of the software.

@Keir
The update prevents the thieves from driving away with your car. While it doesn’t stop them from breaking in, it might lower your insurance if you show proof of the update. Plus, you can get a free steering wheel lock from Kia or your local police department for extra security.

@Fife
It’s wild that even with all this, insurance rates are still so high!

Weston said:
@Fife
It’s wild that even with all this, insurance rates are still so high!

Exactly! They’re just looking for the Kia logo and breaking in, not even checking to see if it’s one of the models that can be stolen.

@Fife
It’s not exactly ‘free’ if you end up with all the repair costs. People are stuck dealing with damage and higher insurance just because they bought the wrong car.

@Keir
They totaled my car after it was stolen.

@Fife
I’ve got a 2015 Kia Soul, but it’s not listed anywhere as being affected. Any idea why?

Try checking out smaller, regional insurers that aren’t as well-known. We switched from Nationwide to a smaller company and our rates went down significantly.

Progressive, Allstate, and Geico wouldn’t insure my Kia. I ended up going with The General, but I’m paying $5,230 a year for it.

ClaimsCynthia said:
Progressive, Allstate, and Geico wouldn’t insure my Kia. I ended up going with The General, but I’m paying $5,230 a year for it.

That depends on the year and model. It’s not like they refuse to cover all Kias.

ClaimsCynthia said:
Progressive, Allstate, and Geico wouldn’t insure my Kia. I ended up going with The General, but I’m paying $5,230 a year for it.

Wait, how much are you paying? $5,230 a year?

ClaimsCynthia said:
Progressive, Allstate, and Geico wouldn’t insure my Kia. I ended up going with The General, but I’m paying $5,230 a year for it.

Yeah, what’s your actual monthly payment?

@Hal
Yep, $5,230 a year, but that’s because I need delivery insurance for my job.

ClaimsCynthia said:
@Hal
Yep, $5,230 a year, but that’s because I need delivery insurance for my job.

That’s insane! I pay less than that for my 2021 model, and that includes my loan payments.