Pros and Cons of Black Box Car Insurance

Cheaper car insurance is the holy grail of car ownership. As having insurance is a legal necessity, obtaining car insurance is less a matter of ‘if’ and more an issue of ‘who from and how much’. No one wants to spend more than they have to.

Unfortunately, cheap insurance for new drivers is very difficult to get. Insurance premiums are calculated based on how much risk you pose, and without any history of driving to analyse, or long-term experience to indicate skill, new young driver insurance can be a very high bill.

What is Black Box Car Insurance?

By having a device fitted to the car which sends data back to the insurers, this type of insurance helps the new driver prove their prowess on the road.

By having accurate information of their driving skill, the insurance company no longer has to rely on general statistics or a little faith, but can back up their underwriting with clear-cut evidence.

How Does Black Box Insurance Work? - Telematics Data

So what does the little black box send to the insurer? A standard telematics device details the following:

• Speed

• Distance and mileage

• Time of journey

• Braking

• Manoeuvring

This information can give a clear picture of your skill, even going into understanding whether you drive at more accident-heavy times, or the preparedness of your braking.

The data is also available to you with most insurers, with a custom app for your smartphone which allows you to see where your shortcomings are and improve them.

Is it Worth Black Box Insurance? The Pros and Cons

It sounds great – and for many it is, but like anything else there are pros and cons to having your insurance company track your every move.

PROS

The main pros of black box car insurance are lower insurance premiums due to more sensible driving techniques monitored by the box. You can also use the telematics statistics of your driving to help you improve, for example, if it shows you break too late then you can start driving with this in mind.

Read our full guide to how much you could save by having a black box fitted for more information. 

The black box constantly sends GPS signals to the insurers so it’s a massive thief deterrent. If your car is stolen then the black box information will help police recover your car.

The black box is also fitted with an accident alert system which informs the insurer immediately if you are involved in a crash. This could add an extra level of safety for you if anything should happen. Another bonus of the accident alert system is that claims are handled faster and can be more straight forward as the black box provides evidence to the insurance companies about what happened.

Read More: 5 Gadgets for Cheaper Car Insurance 

CONS

One of the downfalls of black box insurance is that sharing a car becomes harder, as the box does not discriminate between drivers and one person’s poorer driving can become a liability on the insurance.

For example, if you share a car with a parent who may have picked up some bad habits (speeding, harsh braking/steering etc.) then their driving will have an impact on your score.

It is also important that you stick within the pre-defined limits, outlined in your policy documentation – these usually include mileage restrictions and curfews, where you are only permitted to drive within certain hours. If you feel you are going to go outside of that limit, then you must contact your insurer in advance to avoid potential fees.

Finally and obviously: If you are a dangerous or careless driver, that’s going to show. Your reckless driving will not be reported directly the police or to any civil authorities, but can be given as evidence if requested by court order or law. 

For a quick look at black box insurance pros and cons see the table below;

PROS	CONS
Cheaper insurance premiums Improves driving Anti-theft tracking Accident Alert Claims handled faster	Mileage limits and curfew Personal data sharing Harder to car share

 Ingenie Black Box Car Insurance

There are many insurance providers that offer black box car insurance but, in our opinion, Ingenie offer the best policy when it comes to telematics. As a specialist black box car insurance provider, Ingenie offer learner driver insurance, as well as insurance for new drivers who have recently passed their driving test.

Ingenie black box insurance allows new drivers to bring their annual premiums down by up to 21% over the course of a year, while also informing them of where they are going wrong and how they can improve their driving.

Ingenie car insurance is fully comprehensive, meaning that you will be covered for damage sustained to your own car as well as the third party, and will be able to start building your own no-claims bonus.

Ingenie also offer temporary car insurance for learner drivers, allowing you to learn to drive in somebody else’s car without adding yourself to their insurance permanently.

You can get a quote on black box car insurance with Ingenie by visiting their website here.

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For more information on getting the cheapest car insurance, take a look at our useful guides on everything from the top five dash cams in the UK, to cheap car insurance for over 60s. 

And if you know anyone who's at the beginning of their driving experience, why not share the benefits of black box car insurance with them?!

Useful articles:

Black Box Car Insurance Can Save You Hundreds!

Black Box Insurance Saves Lives

7 Facts About Black Box Car Insurance