Telematics Box

dirtychinchilla

dirtychinchilla

dirtychinchilla

Soldato
Joined
2 May 2011
Posts
12,279
Location
Woking
Afternoon all,

I'm 24 and am renewing my car insurance. Direct Line have offered me 20% off if I get a telematics box installed, and apparently it has no negative effect on any prices for myself in the future. They say it's just to collect data. Considering the 20% reduction in cost, are there any disadvantages to having one?

The only thing may be restricted driving hours, but if they are just collecting data then I can't see why that would have any relevance.

Thanks in advance,

dirtychinchilla
 
How much do they charge to install the box?
How much do they charge to move the box to a different car? (and is this likely throughout the policy period?)
How much do they charge to remove the box if you move to a different insurer next year?

You don't want to save £100 on your policy, only to have to pay £250 to have the box taken out in a year when you move to a different insurer, or if you change car!
 
When you speed a little on the motorway at night when nobodies around, how much do your premiums go up? What happens when someone slightly goes into the back of you but it's not serious and you'd prefer to stay outside of the insurance? ;)

Don't do it. Boxes are something to steer well clear of IMHO.
 
Haggisman said:
How much do they charge to install the box?
How much do they charge to move the box to a different car? (and is this likely throughout the policy period?)
How much do they charge to remove the box if you move to a different insurer next year?

You don't want to save £100 on your policy, only to have to pay £250 to have the box taken out in a year when you move to a different insurer, or if you change car!
Click to expand...

They don't charge for any of those things, I don't think, except for, perhaps, removal. I'll ask.

I'll save £200. Good point though, I'll check up on the charges.

I'm more concerned that they'll know how I drive and will therefore charge me more.

Hyburnate said:
When you speed a little on the motorway at night when nobodies around, how much do your premiums go up? What happens when someone slightly goes into the back of you but it's not serious and you'd prefer to stay outside of the insurance? ;)

Don't do it. Boxes are something to steer well clear of IMHO.
Click to expand...

That's what I asked the chap. He said that your price doesn't go up at all, you just get a normal price next year. This is why I'm asking for opinions though :p

Factual ones please!
 
Not a bleeping chance I'd let anyone fit one of those to my car.

Although the phone call I'd receive from them after doing a track day would make me grin!
 
Last winter the car in front of me slid on the snow, off the road and "gently" into a ditch. I stopped to check they were ok and before the girl got out the car her insurance company were on the phone telling her that she had had an accident. As she was a tad shocked, I spoke to them and they told me they are linked to a monitor service and flag up any sudden movement and excess speed. They know exactly where you are at all times as well for "curfew" reasons.

As said I would avoid.
 
from my understanding (which is pretty much just my thoughts) it will only affect your premium when it comes to renewal, which is where you can be stung by "well if you don't want to pay our premium...give us lots o cash to remove the box".

I image the data recorded is that similar to the aviva app (see thread where people posted their ratings :p ), but wouldn't put it past them to have a nosey at the data if you were ever involved in an accident....like with planes, the data is there...why not use it to get a better "non-bias" account of what your vehicle was doing.

I for one will not be opting to have these in the car *says wearing a tinfoil hat*
 
Thanks for an actually informative post!

I'll definitely be enquiring about prices for installation, removal, etc. They're only supposed to be used for young people also, so by the time I review I'll be 25 (at which point I don't think you can have one any more) so they may have to just remove it anyway. I wouldn't like them looking at my data if I had an accident, but £200 is quite attractive.
 
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