Telematics question

oldwiring

My grandson passed his test 6 months ago and I have covered him on my policy for use of my car. he is shortly 18. My car is an elderly Fabia 16v 1.4 hatch with a long MOT, fully serviced, and with fairly recent cambelt and pump change.

I am thinking it's time to give up because of my age and a few incidents, but it would a waste to scrap the car too, as it is low mileage for age, and would gift is to him.

I see that insurances nsist on Telematics boxes, but assuming his parents are also named drivers, one with own car, the other with company vehicle, who so will only occasionally use the fabia, what happens, when the parents use it? Can the box be turned off, or know it is being driven not by the grandson? Will it notice the inevitable changes in driving style, even though parents are safe drivers? Would that be to his detriment?

lisyloo

If they are sticking to speed limits then what is the issue?

wongataa

oldwiring wrote: »

I see that insurances nsist on Telematics boxes, but assuming his parents are also named drivers, one with own car, the other with company vehicle, who so will only occasionally use the fabia, what happens, when the parents use it?

The same as what happens when your grandson uses it.

oldwiring wrote: »

Can the box be turned off,

No

oldwiring wrote: »

or know it is being driven not by the grandson?

It won't know who the driver is.

oldwiring

Much as I thought, but are there any downsides for careful drivers?
Even the most careful person can make a slight error, and I'd hope telematics and its interpreters was not a straitjacket. Is it, or is it not?

forgotmyname

Buyer beware.. with a telematics policy.

Brake sharply to avoid a dog or child running into the road and you maybe penalised. Brake sharply to avoid an accident and you maybe penalised.

oldwiring

@forgotmyname I would hope the driver were given an opportunity to explain such incidents. If insurers give no such opportunity, it makes me wonder, whether they want new driver customers period- a funny way to do business.:(

SonOf

Much as I thought, but are there any downsides for careful drivers?

Yes. We live at the end of a farm track and the track has pot holes. That gives two issues. a) the track is "off-road". So, telemetrics that look at road type will give it a negative score. b) the track not being flat causes a bumpy ride. That can trigger a negative for erratic driving. Each bump in the track could

Insurers do not like rural roads. (no speed restriction but too thin and bendy to do 60mph). Spend a lot of time on those and it can impact on your premium. (80% of young driver fatalities occur on rural roads)

Not all black boxes are the same and they can record different levels of data. There are also too many reports of an incorrect analysis of the data. So, you need to be looking at the data on a regular basis to make sure it is correct. People have had the data show they were in an accident when they were not. Or in totally different locations to where they were.

I tested a telemetrics box for non-insurance purposes on my land rover defender. It showed me having an accident every few hundred yards as the ride was harsh and it was misreading the data.

I see that insurances nsist on Telematics boxes

There are plenty that do not insist on telemetrics.