In the world of motoring, as with that of car breakdown cover, things change fast. One of the most game-changing introductions of recent times is the black box, or telematics system. The technology is starting to come to the attention of more and more motorists - both because mainstream insurers are offering black box policies and because there may be big savings to be made for some drivers who decide to get a black box fitted.
What is a black box?
The so-called 'black box' is a device that can be fitted to your vehicle as part of your insurance policy. Using a technology called 'telematics', it senses how well the vehicle is being driven and sends data back to the insurer.
Cheaper insurance?
While it may seem rather Big Brother-like in nature, it appears that some drivers will indeed benefit from a black box policy. But, it seems, not all. For younger drivers who want to persuade their insurers that they are not stereo-typically risky drivers, it may be a good way of cutting premiums. Equally, for older drivers who tend not to use their cars very much (and have low mileage provisos built into their premiums), it may also help reduce costs.
It may also be good news for female drivers, who can no longer benefit from the 'safe driver' image of women due to legislation recently brought out; from December, insurers can no longer increase male premiums based on sex. The black box, however, will reward safe driving.
But purchasing a black box policy is far from straight-forward, as anyone who has tried to do so will agree. Equally, it is by no means certain that having a black box fitted would reduce everyone's premium, particularly 'average' drivers who do not fit into the above categories.
Watch this space for more on black box insurance.
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