Black box insurance is often associated with young drivers. There are two reasons for this association. The first is because insurance for young adults can be astronomical. A cost - particularly at this time of life - you would no doubt do anything to reduce. Meanwhile, over the years we start to build up no claims and, as a result, our insurance may begin to decrease.
Secondly, young drivers are statistically more likely to be involved in an accident than drivers over 25.
That being said, insurance still isn’t cheap for older drivers. So, while you might not associate black box insurance with an older driver, that doesn’t necessarily mean they can’t benefit from it.
What is Black Box insurance?
Black box insurance is a term that has increased in use, but you might not be clear on what it is. As the name would suggest, Black box insurance requires a black box to be installed in your car. The box uses telematics technology to monitor how you drive. Some may find the idea of having a box fitted to their car off-putting, but driving safely could help you earn a more personalised premium.
This box is placed out of sight and will measure certain driving behaviours. You will be given a score to determine how much you should pay for your car insurance. It’s simple: the safer you drive, the more personalised your premium.
Benefits of the Black Box for older drivers:
Many drivers opt for black box car insurance over more traditional policies because it gives them the opportunity to earn a more personalised premium.
But, this isn’t the only benefit. As we get older, we can pick up bad habits when we are driving. A black box makes you more aware of how you drive, which gives you a chance to work on improving these areas. As a result, you’ll become a better driver which means you are less likely to be involved in an accident. Not having an accident will prevent you from losing the no claims bonus you have built up over the years.
Finally, a black box may be able to find your car if it is lost or stolen by tracking its location. Please note, it's only possible to track a stolen vehicle if the telematics device has been professionally fitted or fixed to the car battery.
What does a Black Box monitor?
Speed – this not only looks at whether you go over the speed limit, but how fast you drive on average.
Acceleration – pulling away at top speed will lead to negative results. You should accelerate gently and build up your speed gradually.
Time of day – some black box policies will determine the hours between which you are allowed to drive. Others won’t limit it, but they will track it. At WiseDriving, we don’t limit the time you can drive, so you don’t need to worry about this restricting you.
Harsh braking – the more you have to do this, the less likely it is that you are driving safely.
Driving fewer miles, on less dangerous roads, during the day is beneficial when you have a black box installed in your car.
This information lets your insurer build a picture of what you are like as a driver. Don’t worry, you are able to access this information at any point from your dashboard.
Is Black Box insurance for older drivers?
Black box is common for younger drivers, but older motorists can also benefit from having their driving monitored.
You might think a black box is something that should be installed in a teenager’s car because you care about their safety and want to encourage them to drive in a way that will minimise their chances of having an accident. Meanwhile, after decades on the road, you are an incredibly experienced and very safe driver.
While the cost of insurance may have been steadily decreasing over the years following your test, insurance for over 50s can still increase. No one wants to spend more than they have to and, if you are driving safely anyway, why not install a device that aims to keep costs low?
Telematics insurance was designed for new drivers and, if you don’t start learning until later in life, the black box will be as beneficial as it is for those who start driving at 17.
You may have recently claimed on your insurance. Whether the accident was your fault or not, this could significantly increase your yearly cost and mean you have lost the No Claims you had been building up. If this is the case, a black box will show your insurer that you are a safe driver and help to bring that cost back down.
Finally, for the elderly, it could be the perfect way to track their driving and make sure that, if the time comes when they are no longer safe to be on the road, they are made aware.
If you are an older driver who would like to benefit from black box insurance, get a quote today.
