Black box insurance to help young drivers save money
Black box, or telematics, insurance can be the most affordable way for many young drivers to get insured, whether you're a new driver or you've already been on the road for a few years.
Standard insurance policies use factors such as age and driving experience to calculate premiums, which means careful young and new drivers often pay as much for their car insurance as poor drivers.
A black box policy bases your premium on your individual driving behaviour, so careful drivers can get cheaper cover.
Affordable black box insurance for young and new drivers
What is black box insurance? A small piece of telematic equipment called a black box is fitted to your car. The black box regularly transmits data about your journeys and your driving style back to the insurer, where it's analysed to calculate your insurance premium.
Many insurers can offer you an annual black box policy giving instant cover, no night-time curfews, better rates for careful drivers and the chance to start earning your own no claims bonus.
Why black box insurance can be a good choice for young drivers
If you want your policy to treat you as an individual rather than a statistic, fitting a black box could let you do just that.
Black box insurance can help good drivers save money
With a standard policy, young drivers are rated on general statistics, which means good drivers often pay as much for their car insurance as poor drivers. A policy based on telematics means your premium will be based on your individual driving habits, so you could save money.
Improve your driving skills
The feedback you get from your black box data helps you to see where you might be able to improve your driving, whether that's braking more gently or slowing down on bends. The financial incentive to lower your premium can be really motivating, too!
Feedback for parents
Parents of young drivers have obvious concerns when their child starts to drive. The feedback provided by black box data can help to reassure them that their child is driving sensibly, or offer opportunities for them to make suggestions that will improve their driving habits.
How is black box data used?
Black box data helps insurers to build-up a profile of how you drive, which is used to assess your insurance risk. Drivers are provided with secure access to this data, too, via a website or app, so you can see how your driving might be affecting your premium.
What data does a black box collect?
Some examples of black box data that might be monitored:
- Driving performance (such as speeding, acceleration, braking and cornering)
- Number of trips and average journey time
- Distance travelled
- Time of day or night
- Types of road you use (country lanes, motorways, known dangerous roads)
Can you drive before a black box is fitted?
Most black box policies allow you to start driving straight after your policy starts. You'll be sent a self-fit black box through the post - just fit this to keep your policy valid.