Black boxes.. the catch?

MidlandsGlory

My son will hopefully get a test sooner or later and will move from cheap learner insurance to an expensive full policy.
On the face of it, Black box policies sound good claiming a big discount on the next renewal if the driving was acceptable.
But as far as I can see, the box data isn't universal, its specific to the insurer that provides the box. So indeed they could offer a renewal with a discount, but off a hugely jacked up quote in the first place. My experience of my own insurance is they always try to ramp it up on renewal so I shop around and switch every year to keep the price the same.
So the whole exercise could be pointless as you would not be free to shop around for potentially a way better deal on the basis of a 1st years NCB. Again, my own experience at renewal times is there is always some insurer looking to boost their figures and offering a really good deal at the time. 
So my instinct is simply to look for the best deal box or no box regardless, or am I missing something?

Scrapit

Yes, the black box providers usually include the option to charge you more mid policy if and when your driving doesn't meet their standard.

lesalanos

I would try to find without a black box if possible. 

Increasing the policy or cancelling mid term is not unusual.  A couple of slip ups can be all it takes.... i appreciate that these slip ups can be exceeding speed limits and the letter of the law states that you should be below 30 for example at the sign but in reality when driving the driver may get distracted by nuns, kittens etc and be above the limit for a short time. 

On the flip side the 2nd insurer didn't activate my sons box for a few months after renewal so he was at 100%

AdrianC

MidlandsGlory said:

My son will hopefully get a test sooner or later and will move from cheap learner insurance to an expensive full policy.
On the face of it, Black box policies sound good claiming a big discount on the next renewal if the driving was acceptable.

And that's the bit a lot of people don't like...

But as far as I can see, the box data isn't universal, its specific to the insurer that provides the box. So indeed they could offer a renewal with a discount, but off a hugely jacked up quote in the first place. My experience of my own insurance is they always try to ramp it up on renewal so I shop around and switch every year to keep the price the same.

And a new blackbox insurer can install their own box...

Dr_Crypto

I find them creepy and am glad I learned to drive before they were launched.
There are so many stories about them going wrong resulting in people being stung. I can believe it too. My car has a system whereby it displays the speed limit for the road on the dash (must be GPS based). Sometimes it goes mad and thinks I’m on another adjacent road and therefore speeding - eg there’s a road near me in which the motorway is parallel to a 30mph road and it frequently tells me off for speeding for doing 70 on the motorway!

chrisw

My son had the Tesco one at 18 and I have to say, it did make him very aware of how he was driving and I would say on the whole was a good thing. He never actually had any feedback back from it so I presume his driving was ok. There are options to challenge obvious anomalies like 70 in a 30 but it was never an issue for him. Just make sure the mileage allowance is sufficient at the start as buying extra miles can be expensive.

It was quite a bit the cheapest in his first year, but in the second year it was only about £20 cheaper than without a box so he went without.

So I would say go for the best deal on the comparison sites each year, regardless of whether a black box or not, unless there's very little difference then I would say go without, purely for the freedoms it gives.

jazzyja

I had a black box for 2 years, can honestly say I didn't mind it. They never put my premium up, every so often they sent me £30 voucher for good driving etc. (I was with carrot). First year I was happy so renewed with them as again the other insurers without a box were sky high. I did find they were harsher with me the second year and I never got any vouchers. The 3rd year my insurance was low enough to ditch the box. I did have to drive like an OAP mind. You do have to be very well behaved! Can't even go out after 11pm! It depends on the person and what they're driving habits are.

born_again

Never mind the fact they can cancel the policy (has to be declared for years) at any point if they think the driving is not up to scratch.

When daughter passed her test, black box ins was more expensive than the main line ins co's without.

Grumpy_chap

lesalanos said:

the driver may get distracted by nuns

Is that common for anyone anywhere ever?

Mercdriver

Grumpy_chap said:

lesalanos said:

the driver may get distracted by nuns

Is that common for anyone anywhere ever?

Not as common as kittens

Dr_Crypto

What about a convent of nuns carrying baskets of kittens or even litters of kittens carrying baskets of nuns?