What is a Black Box?
The WiseDriving black box is a small device that is fitted to your vehicle. It can either be fitted by you or by our team of professional engineers. It uses telematics technology to record your driving behaviour.
Your driving behaviour score is calculated by measuring speed, acceleration, braking and night-time driving. The black box is also fitted with GPS technology which records the types of roads that you use.
Are there any safety benefits to having a Black Box?
Yes - the key safety benefit of having a black box installed is the accident alert. If your vehicle experiences a certain G force or above, it suggests impact. If this happens, we will try to call you.
If we believe that you might be injured, we may call emergency services on your behalf. The potential for saving lives may prove invaluable.
Frequently Asked Questions about Black Box Car Insurance
Will it save me money?
Some telematics policies make you wait until renewal to see if you have saved any money. Instead, WiseDriving rewards you throughout your policy.
We check your driving score after the first 60 days. If your score has improved, we will look to see if you are entitled to a refund. However, if your score has reduced, there may be additional premiums to pay.
After the initial 60-day update, we will repeat this process every 30 days throughout the life of your policy. This means you control how much you pay by how you drive. It’s that simple.
Premium reviews are not affected by any claims you make during the policy year. If you have a claim in your current policy year, this won’t be considered until your renewal.
Will the WiseDriving box be removed if I cancel or do not renew my policy?
No. Upon the expiry of your policy we remotely instruct the WiseDriving box to deactivate and stop transmitting driving data. However, if you wish to have the WiseDriving box removed, this can be arranged.
Removal of a black box is subject to a charge to cover the call-out and administration costs. See the charges table within our terms and conditions. If you have a self-install box, we can provide instructions for you to remove this yourself.
How does the policy work?
Upon installation of your WiseDriving box, we will begin to receive data on what sort of driver you are. For example, we’ll know:
- whether you obey speed limits
- how aggressively you accelerate and brake
- what time of day you are driving
Using this information, we calculate your personal driving score out of 100.
What happens if the WiseDriving box stops working?
Should we stop receiving data from the WiseDriving box, we can usually remotely diagnose and repair the fault. If this is not possible and the box was installed by our engineering team, we will contact you and arrange for an engineer to come and identify the problem. The engineer will repair or replace the WiseDriving Box.
If you have a self-install box, we will send you a new box in the post. You can then install the new box in your car. If your WiseDriving box is not operating correctly, please get in touch with us.
Who pays to fit the box into my car?
The price of fitting our telematics device to your car is already included in your initial premium. That means that you don’t need to worry about hidden fees and expenses when insuring your car. With WiseDriving, what you see is what you get.
An engineer from our partner company will come out to whatever location you specify when booking the appointment. They’ll fit the box to your car, and you’re all set.
Are there any hidden charged or restrictions?
You state how many miles you intend to drive during the year. If you think you will do more miles than expected, then please contact us or visit your online portal to increase your mileage limit. This may be subject to an additional premium.
Could my car insurance premium go up as well as down?
Yes. Your premium could go up, go down, or stay the same. This all depends on your driving score. If your score is low, however, we'll provide you with helpful hints and tips to get back on track!
Correct at the time of publication. Information in this article has been gathered from various sources, therefore WiseDriving cannot be held responsible for any view or opinion expressed herein.
