Top 10 Black-Box Car Insurances
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Discover the methodologyWhile there are plenty of different types of insurance out there to choose from when it comes to covering you and your vehicle, there are few that offer customised deals to suit your individual style of driving.
Black box car insurance offers a unique stance of car insurance that can help you pay a premium that’s suited to you as an individual, rather than a cost calculated by insurance statistic averages.
In today’s guide, we’re going to detail everything you need to know about insurance with black box, whether it’s for you, and how you can find the best deal.
What is black-box car insurance?
Here’s black box insurance explained.
Black box car insurance, also known as telematics box insurance, is a form of policy allowing you to prove how safe a driver you are by physically installing a black box into your car that then tracks your driving performance.
Some of the figures that are tracked include how fast and hard you brake, how fast you go around your corners, and your speed in relation to the geographical location you’re driving in.
Based on the information given by these driving habits, you’ll then have your premium set by your insurance provider; a insurance black box quote customised for you.
What are the 3 types of telematic insurance?
When asking what is black box insurance, there are three main types of black box insurance you need to think about.
What is offered on each type of best black box insurance can vary depending on what your provider is offering, and some types may mix with each other, but the basic lowdown is as follows;
| Type of Black Box Insurance | Definition of Black Box Insurance |
|---|---|
| Black Box insurance | The most common form of box car insurance, your insurer will install a black box into your vehicle that then uses GPS tracking to monitor your driving performance. |
| Plug-and-drive insurance | Instead of installing a black box into the mechanics of your car, a plug-and-drive insurance policy will give you a device that plugs into your car through your vehicle’s cigarette lighter or dedicated charging port. |
| Smartphone app tracking | Instead of installing anything, some insurers offer the ability to download a dedicated app to your smartphone which you can then activate while you’re driving to monitor your performance and driving style; all without the need for a dedicated device. |
How black box driving car insurance works exactly?
If you opt for car insurance with black box, you’ll be told by your provider to take your vehicle to an approved installer, which could be a dedicated service or an approved garage. You will need to show proof of ownership of the vehicle and prove your identity with a driving license and your logbook or V5C documentation.
The box tends to be small in size, nowadays a similar size to an average smartphone, which is then placed in a hidden location where you won’t be distracted by it.
The box is powered by the car and will track every movement of the car from the moment it’s activated. The information is then sent wirelessly to the insurance provider who will then process the data to give you customised premiums, whether that’s monthly (the most common policy type) or annually.
What are the best black box car insurances?
Ready to find the best black box car insurance policy for yourself? Check out these car insurances quotes with black box to see which one best suits you, your insurance style, and what they offer you.
Cheap black box insurance policies will vary depending on your individual driving style, who you are as a driver, and the vehicle you’re driving!
| Black box insurance companies | Quotes | Features of policy | Opinion |
|---|---|---|---|
 | £3,880.89 per year |
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 | £2,296.63 per year |
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 | £3,006.69 per year |
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 | £2,875 per year |
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 | £3,012 per year |
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 | £4,831.68 per year |
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 | £3,600 per year |
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 | £2,978 per year |
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 | £2,486 per year |
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How much is black box car insurance?
To give you another breakdown on averages, here’s a table detailing how much you can expect to pay for telematics car insurance and to answer the question of is a black box worth it?
| Age Range | Average Premiums with Telematics Insurance | Average Premiums without Telematics Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| 17-20 | £1,200 | £2,000 |
| 20-25 | £1,000 | £1,360 |
| 25-35 | £820 | £840 |
| 35-39 | £700 | £575 |
| 40-49 | £630 | £420 |
| 50-55 | £540 | £315 |
| 55+ | £520 | £290 |
Who would need a black box car insurance?
Most commonly, young drivers, drivers with motoring convictions, and inexperienced drivers will benefit the most from a black box car insurance UK policy.
Asking the question should i get black box insurance? Since new and young drivers are fresh on the roads, statistics clearly state they are more likely to be involved in a car accident or motoring situations, simply due to lack of experience. However, this averagely results in higher premiums, which may not be fair if you are a safe driver.
Using a black box insurance policy means you’ll be able to prove that you’re a safe and competent driver and you won’t have to rely on the typically high prices that statistics force providers to use.
If you’ve had motoring convictions in the past, you can prove you’re a safe and reformed driver but using a black box insurance policy that shows that you, in fact, playing by the rules and driving within the boundaries of the law.
What cover black box insurance?
Just the same as typical car insurance, black box car insurance policies operate using the three standard policy types. These are;
| Type of Insurance | Definition of Insurance Type |
|---|---|
| Third Party Insurance |
|
| Third Party, Fire, and Theft |
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| Fully Comprehensive |
|
Does having a black box reduce car insurance?
Using a black box car insurance policy can definitely help to lower your premiums, but whether you’ll reduce your premiums will depend on how you drive as an individual.
If you drive recklessly, brake hard and fast, speed above national legal limits, drive an excessive number of miles, or drive at high-risk times of the day (such as typical rush hours or at night) your premiums can be much higher, even more so than a traditional car insurance policy.
Good to know
It’s always a good idea to think about when you’re going to be driving and what kind of driving style you have to see whether the benefits of black box insurance outweigh the cons. Make sure you also follow all black box insurance rules to avoid voiding your policy!
Does black box car insurance can detect collision?
If you find yourself in an accident situation or a collision, yes, your black box will detect this impact and will record the data from it.
The majority of black boxes have the capability to measure the G-force of a vehicle while traveling and it will notice the impact. This can be very beneficial because it can help your insurance provider to understand exactly what happened during a crash and what your reactions were, helping them to deal with the situation much more effectively than if no black box was present.
Are there extra fees coming with black box insurance?
Depending on your provider, you may have to pay some extra fees on top of your insurance premium, so you’re going to need to make sure you’re aware of these so you can afford to pay them at the activation of your policy.
The fees can be as follows;
- Installation fees - If you have a physical black box in your car, you may need to pay to have the box installed by a professional and approved fitter.
- Removal Fees - Once your policy is over and you plan to remove your black box, you may have to pay a fee to have the box removed.
- Reinstallation/Transfer - If you change cars at any point in the policy, you may need to pay to transfer your black box to the new vehicle, you may need to pay for this process.
- Replacements/Repairs - If your black box becomes broken or needs replacing due to a fault or through damage you’ve caused, you may need to pay for the replacement fee.
