Well, I have to trade in my car, even though I like it very much

[Rorey]

A couple of years ago I needed to buy a different car. I found a 2016 Kia Soul with less than 20,000 miles on it. It worked out very well for me until that damn Kia Challenge thing on TikTok. In case anyone doesn't know, it's a challenge to steal Kia Souls.

My Soul is safely tucked away in my garage every night, and when I park it in public I use two steering wheel locks. I haven't been able to get the anti-theft thing yet from my local dealership because the roll out on that is s l o w.

I recently got my insurance renewal notice, and my rate has skyrocketed. I'm shopping around for a better rate. The first company just said "NO" because my car is a Soul.

I hope whoever made up that Kia Challenge thing gets what they deserve. I really wanted to drive my Soul for a long time, but it looks like I'm going to have to get something else.

[CountAllVotes]

1. The company I have is very good

Maybe they will take you if you don't have anything on your record.

Their name is Wawanesa Insurance. They are a Canadian company based out of San Diego, CA.

Let me know if you want their phone number.

Sorry to read about your problems with the insurance!

[Rorey]

4. Thank you!

I'm going to shop around, for sure. I'll check out that company.

[Rorey]

21. I don't think they deal with us Coloradans

I tried to get a quote on the website and it said they don't offer coverage in my area.

Thank you for the suggestion anyway.

[GenXer47]

2. get an electric scooter

[Rorey]

6. That really wouldn't work for me

Besides it not being practical for me, at my age I wouldn't feel safe in this town.

[MichMan]

3. You could always drop your comprehensive and just keep liability, unless you havent paid it off yet

Take your chances no one will steal or vandalize it, it won't catch fire, or a tree won't fall on it.

[Think. Again.]

5. I have a feeling...

...that this Sol theft thing will only last as long as every other tiktok trend and so you might be able to just wait it out until the rates goes back down once doing handstands on highway billboards or somethng becomes the next rage.

[Rorey]

9. I'm hoping that's the case

I watched a video of someone stealing a Soul. It took less than two minutes.

[DetroitLegalBeagle]

15. This has been going on for a couple years now

I think the original video came out in 2021. It's probably not going away until Kia can get every car with the issue fixed.

[dflprincess]

7. You may want to wait on the trade

I doubt you'll be able to get a decent deal for it right now. Dealers aren't going to take cars they can't sell.

[Rorey]

11. That's another fear of mine

I'm thinking about giving it to my daughter, selling her van, and getting something that is better suited for road trips. She'll be moving in with me in the coming months anyway, so it can stay safely in my garage. She really doesn't go anywhere much other than doctor appointments and the grocery store, so it can stay in the garage. I'll just have to put up with the higher rate for a bit, probably.

[spooky3]

8. Too bad you can't take a Sharpie and make it a Soulcrusher. Nt

[Rorey]

13. If only life was so easy

[SleeplessinSoCal]

10. TikTok ought to pay for your increased rate.

This is madness.

[Rorey]

12. I definitely agree! NT

[ret5hd]

14. Kia is the one to blame.

Kia is the party that decided to cut corners to save a few cents per vehicle.

Kia knew that would make it easier to steal.

Kia knew there are thieves out there.

Kia depended on “security through obscurity”…one of the least effective security protocols.

Yeah, of course we should blame the thieves, but we all know thieves are gonna thieve.

[Niagara]

16. I'm not convinced that you have to trade in your vehicle, Rorey.

According to this Forbes article, you can take your vehicle to the local dealership and see if you're model of vehicle falls under the software update for both Hyundai and Kia.


This article states that the Hyundai software update if free, but it wasn't so clear about Kia if this update is free. I would assume so, but that detail isn't specific. All you can do is ask the local dealership.


https://www.forbes.com/wheels/news/kia-hyundai-car-thefts-security-kit/



Good luck!

[Rorey]

17. Thank you

I had actually called about some sort of solution before I went on a road trip last month. When I'm home, my car is always tucked away in my garage at night, so I wasn't worried. I've just been so busy lately that it keeps slipping my mind to call or go to the dealership to ask what they can do.

Thank you for the reminder!

[Niagara]

19. You're welcome, Rorey.

If you can, please keep us updated.

[Prairie_Seagull]

18. I would check with my ins. co and see if they would give you a better deal if you were to have

an on-board anti-theft device that is wired in to your rig. Could be as easy as a couple of well routed wires and a switch that only you would know about. I had one in a older collector car years ago and there was a savings on insurance as I recall.

On Edit- Of course this would need the requisite engineering done by a good tech.

[Rorey]

22. I'm waiting to hear from an insurance broker

I went to the dealership and was told that the theft deterrent software isn't available to us in Colorado yet. I just contacted Kia again, and will see what they say. I'm thinking that I'll have to trade my car in, but regardless, if Kia doesn't do what I think they should, it's unlikely that I'll buy another Kia.

I'm making some big changes in my life, and have been thinking that I want to break down and buy a new car for the first time in my life within the next six months. I've never had anything but used. I'm pretty much settled on a hybrid, but don't know what yet.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

20. Hyundai keeps sending me notices about getting the anti-theft upgrade.

I don't need it. I have push button ignition and even the notices clearly state that push button cars aren't affected. I may need to trade in just to stop wading through all the IMPORTANT NOTICES!