Any opinions on using 'Telematic' / 'Black Box' devices to reduce car insurance ?

Mervyn_King

Just wondered if anyone had any experience / opinions for or against these devices fitted to cars to reduce insurance costs. Family member has just passed driving test and using a box would typically reduce £1,000 insurance to £800. But if you 'misbehave' could the original 'no box' premium be exceeded on renewal ? If not surely there's nothing to lose ? And of course it should make you drive more safely. Thanks for any responses.

forgotmyname

Depends on the terms, the usual issues are any discounts or premium increases if your driving is substandard. But who decides what is acceptable?

Your driving down the road well below the limit and someone pulls out even though your clearly visible, you brake sharply and your penalised for that.

rs65

Mervyn_King wrote: »

But if you 'misbehave' could the original 'no box' premium be exceeded on renewal ?

Presumably you are agreeing to 12 months so if you don't like their renewal offer, go elsewhere.


Personally, I don't like the concept.

rudekid48

forgotmyname wrote: »

Depends on the terms, the usual issues are any discounts or premium increases if your driving is substandard. But who decides what is acceptable?

Your driving down the road well below the limit and someone pulls out even though your clearly visible, you brake sharply and your penalised for that.

It's not that simple. What is measured is patterns of behaviour - if you regularly brake sharply then yes you are right but the circumstances you describe would not make any significant difference as a one off event. They are looking for people who regularly accelerate sharply then brake sharply.

forgotmyname

rudekid48 wrote: »

It's not that simple. What is measured is patterns of behaviour - if you regularly brake sharply then yes you are right but the circumstances you describe would not make any significant difference as a one off event. They are looking for people who regularly accelerate sharply then brake sharply.

The issue is still that its not a fixed known quantity, there have been threads where they were rated OK but still penalised.

Just reminds me when we wanted a new iron, reading reviews some people said its really light and others said its too heavy.
Well which one is it? Light or heavy?

Is your driving upto standard? depends on whether the person checking your scores had a bad day or in a good mood?

rs65

forgotmyname wrote: »

The issue is still that its not a fixed known quantity, there have been threads where they were rated OK but still penalised.

When you think about it there has been surprising few negative threads. The ones I recall are in the early days where the complaint was about inconsistency of results.


Wonder how many of these devices are currently installed.

rudekid48

rs65 wrote: »

When you think about it there has been surprising few negative threads. The ones I recall are in the early days where the complaint was about inconsistency of results.


Wonder how many of these devices are currently installed.

There are somewhere in the region of 5-600k right now. Roughly 40% of all new young drivers. There are still a couple of pretty rubbish products out there that have curfews and stiff penalties but the vast majority are now more about encouraging good driving habits through rewards. The really interesting thing is that the frequency of serious accidents amongst 17-19 yr olds has reduced by around 40% in that age bracket where a box is fitted which can only be a good thing.