Many young people and parents shudder at the mention of ‘black box’ - but do you know what telematics scores are actually based on? Before scrolling past that telematics quote, make sure you’re in the know about how telematics policies really work.
It’s easy to be a safe driver with telematics insurance, as you’ll receive useful hints on how to improve your score. You also get detailed breakdowns of your best and worst areas, so you can see what you need to work on in order to save yourself money. By helping you to become a safer driver, we not only save you money but also reduce the risk of you getting into an accident. This means less money to be spent on your car and more money spare for you!
1. The sharpness of your braking
If you’re frequently braking sharply, this could mean that you’re not paying as much attention to the road as you should be. This doesn’t mean that, if once in a while a car brakes sharply ahead of you and you have to do the same, you’ll pay for it! If this only happens every now and again, you’ll average out any of those anomalies without having a big effect on your score.
2. The speed of your acceleration
If you often accelerate harshly, this could mean that you’re not driving particularly safely. Again, this doesn’t mean that if you have to get out of a junction quickly every once in a while you’ll pay for it. If you normally accelerate gradually, your score will not be dramatically affected.
3. Your speed
Breaking the speed limit on a regular basis will cause your score to decrease. Also, if you often exceed the speed limit, your policy could be cancelled or you could be expected to pay more. We’ll let you know when your speed has gone above the safe level to make sure you’re aware and encourage you to be more careful next time. However, if we detect an extreme speeding event, your policy may be cancelled straightaway – so be sure to watch your speed.
4. The time of day you are driving
If you regularly drive at night, you’re more likely to have an accident, and so you could be required to pay more. However, occasional night-time driving won’t have a huge effect on your score – as long as you continue driving safely.
If you want to become a safer driver, and save money at the same time, telematics insurance might be for you! Drive well, and your insurance costs will go down, but drive poorly and they’ll go up – ultimately, you’re in control of how much you pay. Car insurance doesn’t need to cost the earth, so don’t pay through the nose for your next insurance policy.
