Introduction to Telematics 

Telematics Black Box Insurance uses a revolutionary technology that has transformed the landscape of car insurance and driving habits. At its core, telematics involves installing a telematics device—often called a black box—into your car. This telematics device uses advanced GPS technology to track your vehicle’s location, speed, and fuel, providing real-time data on your driving behaviour. For young drivers and first-time drivers, telematics offers a unique opportunity to demonstrate safe driving and earn cheaper car insurance premiums. By leveraging telematics, drivers and insurers gain valuable insights that lead to safer roads, lower insurance premiums, and smarter driving decisions. 

Our aim is to help you drive safer and avoid having an accident. We have over 455 million kilometres of worth of historic telematics data and safety data to help perfect our scoring system.  

Your Driving Behaviour 

- Speed 
- Driving smoothness - braking, acceleration, and cornering) 
- Distance you’re travelling 
- Where you’re travelling 
- When you drive 

Benefits for Drivers 

Adopting telematics insurance brings a host of benefits for drivers looking to save money and improve their driving habits. One of the most significant advantages of this telematics solution is the potential to lower your insurance costs by proving you’re a safe driver. Telematics devices provide detailed feedback on your driving behaviour, helping you identify areas for improvement and encouraging safer driving habits. This personalised approach allows insurers to offer more tailored car insurance policies, rewarding drivers who consistently demonstrate safe driving with cheaper car insurance and reduced premiums. With these benefits, it’s easy to see why telematics insurance is becoming the preferred choice for drivers who want to save money and drive smarter. 

Top Tips to Improve Your Driving Habits and Score 

Telematics Black Box technology can monitor driving behaviour providing driving score updates so you can pinpoint where your score may be dipping.  

Ensure you have topped up enough mileage/kilometres, to avoid running out of kilometres, and having sufficient remaining kilometres to complete your journeys. 

To maintain a low braking score, slow down gradually when approaching roundabouts and ensure you are giving yourself enough time to prepare for upcoming hazards. Keeping a safe distance from other cars will give you enough reaction time if the car in front brakes suddenly. Having a black box fitted helps track and improve your driving performance by recording your driving behaviour. 

It is also important to bear in mind how you brake; slow and progressive braking will not affect your driving score and will also put less pressure on the wear of your tyres. Remember to drive safely at all times to maintain a good score and avoid accidents. 

If you have been notified about cornering, this means you may have driven around corners at a higher speed than recommended. Paying attention to the speed limits and driving in a more controlled manner will reduce the probability of causing an accident and also help you save around 20% in fuel. 

Become a Better Driver 

Occasionally exceeding limits by small amounts will not affect your policy, however persistent or excessive speeding will impact your driving score, and that could lead to your insurance premium rising at renewal or your policy being cancelled. As we like to reward you for safer driving, dangerous speeds are treated seriously. Driving at/or over 160kph would probably result in an instant ban if you were caught by the Gardai. These regulations apply to drivers in Ireland. 

We won’t cancel a policy as a result of a bad driving score, however we use a three stage process when sending alerts to warn you about persistent dangerous speeding. A ‘dangerous’ speeding event is when the car is driven 25% above the speed limit (e.g. 125KPH in a 100KPH zone). Your insurance provider monitors your driving data using telematics to enforce these rules and assess your risk level. 

The Three Stages 

Stage 1: The first stage is reached where the device detects more than two dangerous speeding events and a warning will be given when the third event is detected.  

Stage 2: The second stage is reached if you have two additional dangerous speeding events recorded. 

Stage 3: The third stage is reached if you have two additional dangerous speeding events recorded. Reaching this stage would result in a ten day written notice of cancellation being issued, and the termination of your policy. 

Excessive speeding, driving at or over 160KPH, would result in an immediate ten day written notice of cancellation being issued, and the termination of your policy. The above three stage process does not apply to excessive speeding. 

Our telematics technology has reduced accidents by 68% and we hope to continue with the success of our clever technology. 

Installation and Maintenance of Your Device 

When you take out a policy, you’ll either receive a professionally fitted device or one sent directly to you with instructions for self-installation. This must be installed within 14 days to avoid cancellation. It’s your responsibility to ensure any co-owners or finance providers approve of the installation. The device is compatible with all vehicles and won’t impact any existing manufacturer or aftermarket warranties. While it’s designed to be low maintenance, it does use your car battery, so keeping your vehicle in good working condition is essential.

If any issues arise, our service provider will attempt to repair or replace the device free of charge, and they may notify you of issues such as a low battery. 

Device Use, Signal Limitations and Tampering 

Driving data collection relies on GPS and mobile networks, meaning it may occasionally be affected by poor signal or external conditions. This doesn’t necessarily indicate a fault, but our service provider will try to resolve any issues. If no GPS signal is available, kilometres driven may not count toward your driving score. You must not tamper with or remove the device, alter its SIM, or interfere with its GPS signal. Any unauthorised interference will void all warranties and your insurance cover, and you may be liable for the cost of repair or replacement. Proven tampering will result in cancellation of your policy. 

Telematics Car Insurance for First Time Drivers 

For first-time drivers, telematics black box insurance is an invaluable tool for building safe driving habits from day one. By having a telematics device installed in their vehicle, new drivers receive instant feedback on their driving behaviour, helping them learn and improve with every trip. This technology not only provides data analytics supporting young drivers in developing responsible habits, but also gives parents and guardians peace of mind by allowing them to monitor driving patterns and ensure safety. Telematics insurance can also make car insurance more affordable for first-time drivers, who often face higher premiums. By demonstrating safe driving, new drivers can save money and enjoy a more personalized insurance experience. With telematics, first-time drivers are set up for success, gaining the skills and confidence needed for a lifetime of safe driving.