Have you ever seen a car fitted with a telematics device? The chances are you might have done without realising, because these devices are usually fitted out of sight. So just where does a telematics device live within your car?
Telematics boxes (otherwise known as black boxes) are fitted inside your car, normally behind the dashboard, which is why they’re usually out of sight. The telematics box is completely safe and won’t affect the workings of your car in any way when placed into its location. These boxes are also fitted by an engineer who will know where to place the box. The engineer will come out to fit your box at a time suited to you, and the cost of this is entirely included in your premium, which means no worrying about hidden costs or fees. It’ll also be deactivated in the event of you cancelling your policy meaning it will no longer collect any data. This also means you won’t have to remove the box as it’ll already be deactivated and won’t have any effect on the rest of your car – however, you can choose to have the box removed after you’ve done with it for an additional fee.
If you have a mobile app policy, you’ll be sent a telematics device in the post, which you can install yourself. The cost of this device is again included in your initial premium, so there’s no hidden fees or charges. The mobile device is plugged into your cigarette lighter and collects data from there, connected to an app on your mobile phone. The instructions on how to install and connect these devices are simple, and will be included with your device once it arrives. There is also a self-install device that you can connected to your car battery yourself – if your policy uses this method, you’ll receive full instructions on installation when your device arrives in the post.
Once fitted, the telematics devices will begin to collect data about how well you drive, meaning that your insurance is tailored to you as an individual, rather than everyone else’s driving. You’re in control of how much you pay: the higher your Driving Behaviour Score is, the safer the driver you are and the more you could save. The lower it is, the more you could be paying for your insurance. Your Driving Behaviour Score – or DBS – is calculated based on the following four factors: how quickly you accelerate, the sharpness of your braking, your top speed and the time of day that you are driving. If your score increases over time, you could earn discounts on your premium – it’s that simple!
