Telematics Insurance
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Why Compare Cheap Telematics Insurance Quotes With SimplyQuote
Finding car insurance policies can be a nightmare. You’re trying to manage your life and work, and now you have to set time aside to do research into different insurance providers and the policies they offer.
But with SimplyQuote you can forget about the hassle, and let the completely free online comparison tool do the work for you! Simply provide us with some information about yourself and your car, and we’ll provide you with quotes from the UK’s leading insurance companies. No costs, no commitments, no stress!
What Do You Need To Get A Quote From SimplyQuote?
Simply provide SimplyQuote with the following information to receive telematics insurance quotes:
- Personal details: Your name, age, contact info and address.
- Car details: Registration, make and model, year.
- Driver details: Who all will be included under the policy (including yourself), driver/s age, claims history, driving history.
- Location: UK postcode where the car is parked overnight.
- Annual mileage: How far you expect to drive per year.
Why Do You Need Telematics Car Insurance?
Telematics insurance – also called black box insurance – is not a legal requirement; however, it is a great way to reduce your insurance premiums, especially if you’re a young driver.
Inexperienced or young drivers are considered a higher risk by insurance providers as they’re statistically more likely to be involved in an accident and to make a claim.
The costs will go down each year as long as your driving score remains high, and the feedback that you receive can also help you to become a better driver.
What type of black box data is sent to your insurance provider?
The black box sends data about your driving habits to your insurance company which they use to give you a driving score. This is mainly based on how well you keep to speed limits, your acceleration, what times you usually drive and your braking.
The data will not only help you to become a better driver but is also used to calculate your premiums.
The telematics box device provides information on:
- Your cornering
- Your mileage
- The number of journeys you make
- Your maximum speed
- Your average speed
- Your average journey time
- The type of roads you drive on
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Is Telematics Insurance Right For Me?
Black box insurance was originally created for young drivers aged 17 – 25 to reduce the high premiums usually associated with young drivers insurance. However, there are no age restrictions on who can get this type of insurance.
Before you get a black box insurance quote, consider the pros and cons to see if it is the right policy for you.
What are the advantages of black box insurance?
- Become a safe driver: You will receive individualised feedback on your driving behaviour so you can see where you can improve.
- Save money: When driving responsibly, your premiums will be reduced the following year.
- Theft prevention: The GPS device in the black box can be used to find your car if it’s stolen.
- Accident evidence: If you’re in an accident, the data can be used to determine who was at fault.
- Reassurance for parents: Parents of young drivers will have peace of mind that their kids are driving responsibly.
- Savings for driving less: If you don’t drive often or drive during off-peak hours, your premiums will be reduced.
What are the disadvantages of black box insurance?
- Restrictions: Your driving score may be reduced if you drive at night or exceed your annual mileage limitations.
- Driver score is not transferable: If you switch insurance providers, you’ll have to start from scratch and face higher premiums.
- Higher premiums for reckless driving: Driving too fast or slamming on the brakes can result in expensive premiums.
What are the black box insurance rules?
Sticking to these black box insurance rules will help you to keep your insurance costs to a minimum.
- Don’t drive too fast: Always stick to the speed limit (plus breaking the law will result in points on your licence).
- Accelerate carefully: Gently up your speed – this will also prevent you from having to hit the brakes suddenly.
- Give yourself enough time to brake: Maintain safe stopping distances to prevent sudden braking.
- Avoid driving late at night: Telematics policies often penalise drivers who drive late at night.
- Stick to your annual mileage: Make sure to calculate your expected annual mileage accurately and don’t exceed it.
- Don’t let a bad driver drive your car: Bad drivers’ driving behaviour will also be tracked, increasing your premiums. Only named drivers should be allowed behind the wheel.
- Leave the box alone: If you’re found tampering with the telematics box you may have to pay to have it replaced, or your telematics policy may be void.
What Are The Types Of Black Box Insurance?
The three main types of black box insurance are social, social and commuting, and business use insurance. There are also additional insurance types which will be discussed below.
Social
If you choose social cover when taking out a black box car insurance policy, you’ll be covered for all types of driving that aren’t related to your work or business. This includes things like driving to the shops, visiting family, and going on holiday.
Social and commuting
Social and commuting insurance gives you the same cover as a social policy but means you can also use your car to commute to a single place of work.
Business use
If you’re planning to commute to more than one place of work or to drive between business sites, you’ll need to have a business use policy in place.
Other types of telematics car insurance
Pay per mile
This type of policy means the cost of your insurance is determined by how many miles you drive. You pay a small amount so that your car is covered whilst it’s parked and then a certain amount for the miles you drive each month. So, less monthly mileage will lead to cheaper insurance.
Plug-and-drive
A plug-and-drive policy is the same as black box insurance, but instead of having a black box fitted into your car, your insurer sends you a small device that you can slot into your car’s 12V power socket. This device will then send your insurer data about your braking, cornering and speed.
Telematics mobile apps
This type of policy also works in the same way as a black box policy, but your driving data is monitored via a telematics app on your mobile phone using GPS.
What Are The Different Levels Of Black Box Car Insurance?
The three levels of black box car insurance are third-party only, third-party fire and theft, and comprehensive cover.
Third-party only (TPO)
Third-party only telematics insurance gives you cover for damage caused to a third party (including damage to their vehicle, property or injuries) during a car accident, but doesn’t cover you or your car.
Third-party, fire and theft (TPFT)
Third-party, fire and theft telematics insurance means you won’t be covered for damage caused to your own car during an accident, but you will be covered for damage caused to a third party. You will also be covered for car theft and fire damage.
Comprehensive cover
Comprehensive telematics insurance means you’re covered for any damage to your own car and any damage to a third party that is caused as the result of an accident. It also means that you’re covered for fire damage and theft. Any legal expenses or compensation should a claim be filed against you will also be covered.
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Which Add-Ons Are Available For Telematics Insurance?
The following optional cover can be added to your telematics policy for improved protection:
Breakdown cover
Adding breakdown cover to your black box car insurance policy means that you’ll be entitled to roadside assistance if your car breaks down. Your car may also be towed to the mechanic if it can’t be fixed.
Courtesy car cover
If you add a courtesy car cover to your black box insurance policy, you’ll be covered for the costs of a replacement vehicle while your own car is being repaired. Many policies will also cover you for a replacement vehicle in the event of your own car being written off.
Windscreen cover
This covers the costs of replacing or repairing your windscreen if it is cracked or smashed. An excess fee is usually applicable, the size of which will depend on your policy.
No-claims bonus protection
No-claims bonus protection means your no-claims bonus won’t be affected for certain types of claims. Depending on the type of accident you claim, your bonus could still be affected, so make sure you read the terms and conditions of the policy carefully.
Legal cover
Adding a legal cover to your TPO or TPFT black box insurance policy gives you cover for any legal costs if you take another driver to court or if you have to defend yourself in court against a claim.
Personal accident cover
If you add personal accident cover to your policy, your insurance provider will pay out if you’re killed or injured in a car accident.
Overseas cover
International driver cover means you’ll be insured to drive your car in other countries. The rules and requirements vary for different countries, and some policies will only cover you to go to Europe (called EU cover). So, always be sure to check exactly what your policy covers you for.
How Much Does Telematics Insurance Cost?
The cost of your telematics insurance premium will depend on the black box data collected, your level of cover, and the type of insurance you choose.
Young drivers insurance usually costs more than £2,500 per year, whereas a standard car insurance policy costs about £940 for comprehensive cover. With telematics insurance, you can reduce your young driver insurance premiums so that it is closer to that of standard car insurance – and even less than that average too!
Which factors impact the cost of black box insurance?
- Your driving habits
- Your annual mileage
- The time of day you drive
- Age and driving experience of you and any named drivers
- Your location
- Car make and model
- Driving history
- Claims history
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How Can You Reduce Your Black Box Insurance Premiums?
Black box insurance is already a way to reduce young driver or standard car insurance premiums. But, here are some ways to reduce your telematics car insurance premiums even more.
Add an experienced named driver
Adding a named driver with more experience to your black box insurance policy can reduce the costs of your premiums as this driver will be considered less of a risk by your insurer.
Keep your mileage low
Your insurer will use the black box to gather data about your driving, and they will give you feedback about your mileage. If you keep your mileage low, your insurance premiums should be reduced as you’ll be less likely to be involved in an accident.
Pay a voluntary higher excess
One way to save money on your insurance is to volunteer to pay a higher excess fee than you would normally. This should reduce the amount you pay for your premiums, but you need to make sure you would be able to pay the excess fee if you were involved in an accident.
Compare quotes
Before you take out black box insurance, you should compare quotes from several different insurers to get the best deal available. It’s always best to compare quotes when it’s time to renew your policy as well, as you may be able to find a more affordable option elsewhere. SimplyQuote can help you with this.
Choose the right car
The car you drive can have a big impact on the cost of your insurance. Generally, cars that are in lower insurance groups are cheaper to insure as they’re considered to be safer by insurers.
Secure your car
Making your car more secure is a simple way to lower your insurance premiums. You can increase the security of your car by adding alarm systems, parking in a garage, and adding immobilisers.
Pay annually
Paying your insurance as a lump sum upfront means you will skip paying monthly interest on your instalments, saving you money over the course of your insurance term.
How To Compare Telematics Insurance Quotes With SimplyQuote?
Comparing quotes with SimplyQuote couldn’t be easier:
- Fill in an online form: Provide us with the necessary information so we can provide you with quotes.
- Choose insurance add-ons: Decide how covered you want to be.
- Compare telematics insurance quotes: Find the best quote to fit your needs and budget.
- Save money today: Find the best insurance deal and start saving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Telematics insurance, or black box insurance, is a type of policy where the driver allows their insurance company to install a telematics device into their car so that their driving behaviour can be monitored and the costs of their insurance adjusted accordingly.
The most common device that insurance providers use is a telematics box. There are also policies that use different devices, such as plug-in devices that slot into the car’s cigarette lighter and telematics mobile phone apps.
Whichever device is used will work in the same way and send driving data to the insurance company to calculate a driving score. The driving score is used to assess if you’re a safe driver; if so, your car insurance premium should be reduced.
Generally, the driving score will range from 0 to 100, and a high score will lead to cheaper car insurance. Most insurance providers will also allow you to keep track of your own score and give you feedback so you can adjust your driving style and keep your score as high as possible.
Black box insurance works by having a device installed in your car or an app installed on your phone that tracks your driving habits. This data is then used to determine your insurance premiums. The safer driver you are, the lower your premiums go.
Depending on what type of car you have, the black box will either be installed under the bonnet or beneath the dashboard.
Your insurance provider will usually pay for the black box to be installed, so you shouldn’t have to worry about any extra costs.
At the start of your policy, you will usually make an agreement with your insurer on an annual mileage limit that you can’t exceed. If you do exceed it, you will most likely be able to add extra miles to your annual limit – usually for an additional cost.
Black box insurance policies last for the same period as standard insurance policies, which means the black box will be in your car for at least 12 months unless you cancel mid-term. Once your term is over, you can choose to renew your policy or cancel it and have the black box removed.
Some black box policies can include curfew systems as part of their conditions, but this is usually something that you can opt out of if you don’t want it to be included in your policy. However, if you agree to only drive at certain times, it can lower your insurance costs.
Black box insurance policies are not just for young and inexperienced drivers; drivers aged between 25 to 29 years old could save up to £264 a year on average by having one installed.