Black Box Car Insurance Quotes for Young Drivers

Compare black box car insurance quotes for young drivers from the leading UK insurers and find the best deal for you.

Although cheaper than standard insurance, even black box insurance, also called telematics insurance for young drivers, can make a dent in your monthly income. The cost of car insurance does not favour the young.

However, there is some good news! After twelve months of claim-free driving, you qualify for a no-claims bonus with significantly lower insurance premiums by as much as 50%.

Many young and new drivers accept a few temporary restrictions of a black box for big savings on their car insurance and the benefits of safer driving.

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Black box insurance myths

There are likely some exclusions on your policy (as with all insurance policies), but don’t fall for the myths – it’s not that restrictive. For instance, you probably won’t be penalised for:

Curfews: Don’t worry; you can still drive when you want.  Very few black box insurance policies have a curfew on driving late at night. However, you are more likely to be in an accident when it’s dark outside. And if it’s a regular habit, you could see a slight increase in premiums.

Long/frequent drives: You aren’t restricted to a trip to Asda and back once a week. You’re not limited to how much you can drive, but again, you may see a higher premium if you log high mileage.

Check for any curfew or mileage limits: It’s rare but not unheard of, some black box and telematic policies can impose a curfew or mileage limit if they want to – make sure this is realistic before you sign on the dotted line.

Shift workers: You must find the right black box policy if you’re a shift worker. Investigate the fine print and ensure you won’t get heavily penalised for driving at night. There’s no harm in picking up the phone from a prospective insurance company.

blue flying pigs with white wings representing common black box insurance myths

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How is the black box fitted?

The device, about the mobile size, is fitted to the dashboard or even under the car bonnet. It’s not something you can do yourself, though.

Once you sign up for the insurance policy, your provider will send out a third-party – an approved installer – to fit the box into your car. It’s worth noting here you need to have the following documents handy before they arrive:

  • Your driving licence or documents to show you’ve passed your test
  • Your car’s logbook (V5C) to prove you own the vehicle. If you are still waiting for the V5C, you’ll need some other document to show you’ve purchased the car
tools required to fit a black box

What is black box car insurance?

A telematics insurance policy means the insurance company monitors how you drive the same in a ‘black box’ format. A small device that’s fitted to your car and actively feeds back information to the insurer on how safely you’re driving!

So, if you drive safely, you could see lower car insurance premiums. However, drive recklessly, and you could face a higher premium.

Another benefit of a telematics box is tracking your car in case of theft. As the black box uses GPS, the police can use your black box to track the location of your vehicle.

chart showing how the black box device works with blue symbols for device, measuring your driving, how to view and savings

How much does black box car insurance cost?

comparison chart for telematics v standard insurance costs for students

According to MoneySuperMarket data collected between January and March 2020, accurate as of June 2020

It’s hard to say – black insurance policies, and all insurance policies in general, are individual dependent. Your situation and details will determine your costs.

However, black box insurance is a great way to save a significant chunk on your insurance costs if you’re a very young and inexperienced driver.

As you can see on the table, black box insurance is best suited to young drivers, such as 17 to 19-year-olds. As you get older, it becomes less of a good deal.

Remember, black box insurance serves a purpose – it’s a cheaper way to get yourself on the road. There are some restrictions, but they’re minor. Plus, it won’t be forever – in a few years, regular insurance rates won’t be as astronomical as they are now!

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Who is black box insurance for?

In general, black box insurance is only for young or inexperienced drivers, who tend to be under 25, because insurers see this age group as the highest risk.

Of course, many young drivers aren’t happy about the prospect of a black box – it can feel like someone is always watching you drive, and it seems to take away from your freedom.

However, you have nothing to worry about if you’re a safe driver! You’ll be fine if you’re not regularly speeding, putting your foot completely down to accelerate, and emergency braking every time you reach a traffic light.

By taking out telematics car insurance, you could achieve lower insurance premiums than with standard (no black box insurance).

According to data**, a considerable proportion of young drivers take out a black box insurance policy:

  • 54% of drivers between the ages of 17 and 19 take out black box insurance
  • 13% of drivers between the ages of 20 and 24 take out black box insurance.
  • 5% of drivers between the ages of 25 and 29 take out black box insurance.

As you can see, black box insurance is designed for the youngest and most inexperienced drivers.

If you’re getting on the road, lowering your insurance premium can be an excellent option. You won’t need it forever!

**According to MoneySuperMarket data collected between January and March 2020, accurate as of June 2020 

How does black box insurance work?

Signing up for black box car insurance is very simple. Once you purchase a policy, your insurer will get someone to come out and install the device in your car. The ‘black box’ is about the size of a pack of playing cards and be placed somewhere that won’t distract you.

Once installed, your insurer will monitor your driving habits and use this data to adjust your premiums!

Drive like a maniac, and you will see much higher premiums. Drive safely, and you’ll get the best bang for your buck.

What information will my insurer track?

The black box uses GPS to send information to your insurer. They will collect the following info:

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pc and smart phone to show how you can review your driving

How can you view your driving information?

Usually, black box insurance providers will send you a link to an online dashboard or a smartphone app. You can analyse your driving stats and your strengths and weaknesses. Working on your weak points can improve your driving skills and lower your insurance premiums!

Drive safely to save money

It’s vital to remember that insurers want you to drive safely. It’s in their best interest that you don’t get in an accident (and it’s in yours, too!)

Don’t think black box insurance means you must drive well under the speed limit, though. As long as you follow the rules of the road, black box insurance is a great way to lower your insurance premium.

It’s worth noting – your insurer will only use your driving data to calculate your premiums. It will not share your data with the police unless requested as part of a criminal investigation.

Are there different kinds of telematics insurance devices?

Yep! There are a few types of telematics devices available

Black box

 

The black box is the most widely used type of telematics cover. Your insurer will arrange for a third party to install a black box in your car, which uses GPS to track your driving. ‘Black box’ might give off the impression of a large, invasive device, but it’s the size of a mobile. You won’t even notice it’s there.

Plug-and-drive

 

Like black box, plug-and-drive devices also use GPS technology, but rather than installing a black box; your insurer will send you a device that plugs into your car’s charging port or cigarette lighter. You don’t need a third party to install it.

Smartphone App

 

Nowadays, some insurers offer an app you can install on your smartphone that tracks your driving similarly without installing a separate device in your car.

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Are there any extra fees?

Probably unsurprisingly, you’ll have to pay a couple of fees to install and remove the black box. They’re as follows:

  • Installation fees: to have the black box fitted in your car by an approved installer
  • Removal fees: when your policy comes to an end, and they stop monitoring your driving
  • Transfers/reinstallation: fees if you want to change the car being monitored
  • Repair/replacement costs: if you cause damage to the black box
large blue circular £ sign with young person

What about other telematics?

blue outline of pair of scales to weigh up the pros and cons of telematics insurance

The appeal of a plug-in device and mobile app is that you can install this yourself!

You won’t have to pay for any installation or removals. However, sometimes plug-in and mobile app telematics are more expensive overall.

You’ll need to compare each individually and whether it’s worth paying the fees for the black box.

You could save up to £490*
*51% of consumers could save £490.26 on their Car Insurance. The saving was calculated by comparing the cheapest price found with the average of the next four cheapest prices quoted by insurance providers on Seopa Ltd’s insurance comparison website. This is based on representative cost savings from June 2023 data. The savings you could achieve are dependent on your individual circumstances and how you selected your current insurance supplier.