Some major insurance companies have refused to issue new policies on many Kia and Hyundai models in St Louis, Missouri, following a surge in theft rates since a TikTok video went viral demonstrating how to break into and drive off in many of the brands' 2011-21 model year vehicles. Other cities, including Columbus, Ohio, are reporting similar outcomes.

According to the St. Louis Post Dispatch, thefts of Kias and Hyundais jumped 1,450% last year in the city, from 273 to 3,958 vehicles. As a result, major insurers like Progressive and State Farm are refusing to insure those models in the area. Owners with existing plans are reported to be experiencing massive price hikes to their premiums.

"I've been in this industry for 15-plus years. It's hard to call a precedent for this," said Michael Barry, spokesman for the Insurance Information Institute, a consumer education organization.

The trend has become national since videos began surfacing on how to steal Kia and Hyundai cars, started by a group of teenage thieves who call themselves the "Kia Boys." It's a specific Tik Tok video that has taken things to a whole new level, though. The videos demonstrate the procedure using just a screwdriver and a USB charging cable.

"The method can be used on some models of those cars because manufacturers did not install engine immobilizers, an electric anti-theft security device," says the report. This suggests Kia and Hyundai might have to recall the affected vehicles, including the Veloster, Sportage, and Soul models, and then retrofit security features to try and mitigate the damage done to their brand image by the issue. Reportedly, some insurers aren't covering cars that use a keyless ignition system that can't be easily beaten.

Reportedly, in Columbus, 38% of cars stolen are Kias and Hyundais. In California, the Los Angeles Police Department issued an alert when it noted the theft rate had reached 20%. The alert suggests common last-century theft deterrents like steering locks and switches to disable batteries.