Minnesota woman is denied car insurance by State Farm because of critical design error in the make and model of her car
A Minnesota woman has revealed how multiple car insurers have denied her coverage - because of the specific make and model of her vehicle.
State Farm and Progressive both told Erin Walters they won't offer her insurance on her 2019 blue Hyundai because of 'high theft rates' associated with the car.
Thieves target the model due to its lack of an immobilization system, which makes it easy to steal.
After being a loyal State Farm customer for five years, Walters tried to renew her policy last week only to be rejected.
'I was shocked that State Farm was denying me,' she told WCCO News. She added that she would never have bought the Hyundai had she been aware of the issue.
She is now urging Hyundai to issue a recall of the vehicles and install anti-theft software.
Erin Walters, a Minnesota woman, recently found out her 2019 blue Hyundai Elantra isn't eligible for car insurance with State Farm or Progressive
Walters is pictured inside her car, the first new vehicle she's been able to buy in 30 years
State Farm released a statement to WCCO explaining in more detail why Walters and other customers won't be getting coverage for certain Hyundai and Kia models, another car brand that's prone to theft.
'State Farm has 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. This is a serious problem impacting our customers and the entire auto insurance industry,' a spokesperson said.
'We take seriously our responsibility to manage risk and the impact of excess claim costs on all our customers. In this case, it became necessary to take action to protect our policyholders and our business.'
Walters was initially happy with her car as it was the first time she had been able to buy a new vehicle in 30 years.
But now that she can't drive it without breaking the law.
Between 2011 and 2021, nearly 10 million Kia and Hyundai cars sold in the US were not equipped with immobilizers and could therefore be started easily and primitively with just a flat head screwdriver and a USB cable.
Once a thief pulls off the plastic steering column shroud, they can then rip out the keyed ignition barrel and use the end of a USB cable to rotate a square tab and start the car. The cable is not used to transfer any data.
Since there's no immobilizer, there is nothing to stop the car from then firing up.
Because of this critical design flaw, videos showing teenage vandals breaking into these cars and driving off with them have gone viral.
Walters poses next to her new car shortly after she bought it
Walters said she has to spend four hours a day at the minimum trying to find a car insurance policy now that State Farm rejected her
State Farm cited 'theft losses' when explaining why it has been denying insurance claims for certain Kia and Hyundai models
The phenomenon is so common that they're now referred to as 'Kia Boys,' and these carjackings by inexperienced, thrill-seeking drivers often have deadly consequences.
In 2022, four teenagers including a 14-year-old mother were killed after a stolen Kia Sportage was crashed in Buffalo, New York.
For Walters, all of this means she has to spend four hours a day at minimum searching for a company that will insure her car.
'I've never cried over a car before,' she said.
When she tried to get insured with Progressive, it too said her car was uninsurable.
'Thank you for shopping with Progressive - based on vehicle information we are unable to offer you a policy due to high theft rates,' the company told her when she applied.
State Farm has previously declared 105 Kia and Hyundai models 'ineligible' for insurance because of the high rate of carjackings.
