Black box insurance is a great way to save money on your insurance, especially if you’re a young and/or new driver or if you’ve got driving convictions. But, how do you fit a telematics device? And can you fit it yourself? We’ll let you know in this blog.
What is a telematics device?
If you’re a young driver, you might have heard of this term before. A telematics device, also known as a black box, is a piece of equipment that fits in your car when you take out a telematics insurance policy.
The device itself measures aspects of your driving like speed, acceleration and deceleration to gauge how safe you are as a driver. The safer you are, the lower your insurance premiums will be when you need to renew your policy. You can learn more about this in our guide to black box insurance.
Can you fit a black box yourself?
Yes, our black boxes can be self installed. This means you don’t need to wait around for a professional to fit the telematics device.
Can a black box be fitted to any car?
A black box can be fitted to the majority of cars. If in doubt, it’s best to ask your insurance provider if your car can be fitted with a black box before signing up. Some black boxes can only be installed on vehicles less than 20 years old, while others might need certain features in the car in order to function (e.g. a cigarette lighter).
In some cases, your car can be modified by an engineer so it allows you to install a black box. You might have to get this done at your local garage before the black box can be fitted, though.
How are telematics devices fitted?
Our self-fitted black boxes are easy to install yourself.
These are fitted to the front windscreen of your car and connected using the car’s power source supply through either the cigarette lighter or a USB port. This means they’re usually visible to passersby, which, incidentally, can actually help to deter thieves!
Take our own black box insurance, FluxScore, for instance. The instructions are as easy as following the video below:
There are also some self-install devices that can be fitted directly to your battery, but these are a lot rarer than other types of self-fitted black boxes.
Do I need to do anything once the black box is fitted?
You’ll need to charge the black box periodically, but besides that you don’t need to do anything and the device will kick in automatically when you turn your car on.
How long does it take to install a telematics box?
Most self-installed black boxes, including ours, can be set up in just a few minutes. This involves a few quick steps:
- Wipe the windscreen with the alcohol wipe provided
- Heat the windscreen, attaching the black box to the windscreen (the correct way up)
- Apply power
This is a far cry from professionally fitted telematics devices. In such cases, you need to schedule an appointment with an engineer to fit your black box. This in itself can be a bit of a challenge, especially if you’re already juggling work and/or university. Most policies that require a professional fitting will prohibit you from driving until the device has been installed too, which can delay you getting on the road for weeks in some cases.
And even when you do get an appointment, you’ll have to hang around while the device is getting fitted – in most cases, this takes an average of one hour.
Thankfully, we offer fast delivery, generally the next day, and as it can be fitted in just a few minutes, you’ll be able to get back on the road quickly.
Is there any such thing as an easy-install black box?
Most black boxes that can be fitted by yourself are extremely easy to install. And best of all, you don’t need to pay for installation!
What happens if I change my vehicle mid-policy?
This will depend on your insurance policy. Please note that you should always let your insurer know if you change your car as this will likely impact your insurance premiums.
For our self-installed black boxes, let us know that you’re changing your vehicle and we’ll send out a new fitment kit so you can easily install your telematics device into the new vehicle. Note that you’ll likely have to purchase this separately.
What happens when my black box insurance expires?
If you’ve successfully completed the black box policy and you no longer need black box insurance, you can continue driving as normal. Once your black box policy has expired, the black box will stop collecting information on the way you drive.
In the event that you’ve installed your black box yourself and you’d like to get rid of your device, you can simply remove it from the windscreen and disconnect it from your car. Look out for any emails inviting you to recycle the black box sustainably, or alternatively, dispose of the black box carefully.
If you’d prefer to remove your device and it was installed professionally at the start of your policy term, it will have to be removed by a professional. You should request this service from your black box insurer. Unfortunately, as you don’t technically need to remove your telematics device, you’ll probably need to pay extra for this service.
If I want to sell or scrap my car, do I need to remove the device?
Yes, if you’re buying a replacement vehicle and your policy will remain active, you’ll need to remove the device from the original car before it’s sold or scrapped and install it in your new vehicle.
How does FluxScore compare?
FluxScore is our telematics insurance that rewards safe driving. Designed with an easy-to-install box, the device can be fitted by yourself without professional guidance. The connected app helps you track how safely you’re driving and provides feedback if any mistakes are made. For a free, no-obligation quote, call us on 0800 369 8590. Alternatively, use our callback form and we’ll call you back at your convenience. FluxScore offers up to 60% off your renewal premium when you drive safely with the black box device for a year or longer.
