I've just had a call from my insurer (Admiral) asking if I'd like to install one of their black boxes (plug into the 12v charger and leave apparently) which gives me the opportunity to potentially reduce my premium by up to 20% next renewal.

Anyone else taken up this offer? Is it worth it? I am not too keen on any extra big brother policing in my life and this feels somewhat intrusive but if I don't take it up are they going to black mark me anyway on the basis that there must have been a reason for not wanting to take it up?

Cheers!

C African Bush Junkie ... in London!

Stats:
2006 TD6 Vogue SE
1972-2015 DeRanged Rover
2001 P38 dHSE (SOLD)

Given our recent experience with Admiral not only did we decline their offer of a black box but we will also be moving to a different company at renewal. We've had nothing but hassle with them and have no confidence they would behave well if we had to make a claim.

Strikes me that they might actually put premiums UP if your driving behaviour is deemed such that you're not driving to their considered standards.

I'd steer well clear!  Got - 2017 SDV8 Autobiography in Loire Blue
Had- 2008 TDV8 Vogue SE in Java black
Had - 2007 S/C in Stornoway Grey

I'd be wary about letting anyone fiddle with electrics on your car given how temperamental they can be.

I thought these were for 18 year old loop heads. 2017 5.0 Autobiography Supercharged
2005 Merc SL350
2005 Disco HSE 2.7 oil burner

mzplcg wrote:

We've had nothing but hassle with them and have no confidence they would behave well if we had to make a claim.

I made a claim with them last year & have to say they were very good. However, they then doubled my premium at renewal time so I moved to Aviva.

I wouldn't be keen on a black box - but then again, I know how I drive

There are far better insurance companies to deal with than Admiral. They were good for a multi-car policy with two cars, one my sons but as soon as we bought FF, they wanted huge amounts of money.

Direct Line was almost the cheapest and made no requirement for a tracking device either, something else Admiral insisted upon.

As for having any sort of telemetry or monitoring device, that's a firm nu-uh from me.

The truth is Insurance Companies are only ever trying to increase their profit margins, so believe these biased and big brother initiatives at your peril. Next thing they'll be sharing information about your personal driving habits with others in the industry.

If I understand correctly, these monitor things like acceleration, braking and cornering G. I wonder how this will work for an off-road vehicle.

Giantlandyman wrote:

There are far better insurance companies to deal with than Admiral. They were good for a multi-car policy with two cars, one my sons but as soon as we bought FF, they wanted huge amounts of money.

Direct Line was almost the cheapest and made no requirement for a tracking device either, something else Admiral insisted upon.

As for having any sort of telemetry or monitoring device, that's a firm nu-uh from me.

The black box my 17yr old has fitted works well to keep her reined in BUT! Would i want one fitted!!! No way paidro!!

V8Noise wrote:

There must be other issues at play here GLM. Admiral are consistently the cheapest for ours and have never insisted on a tracker. Mind you, SWMBO and I are both "ancient" and live in a sleepy Kent village where, if a gnome goes missing, it makes the front page of the Parish Council magazine. The car only does 3k miles a year which also makes a big difference.

Our premium for the current year on the S/c was just under £200 and includes Class A Business use.

i'd avoid the blackbox - i know someone that has it and they used every excuse under the sun not to give the full discount promised for "good behaviour" - one small speed infraction or a little bit of bad braking (it can't tell if done in an emergency or not) and it wipes out a lot of time spent on "good" driving

depending on your personal style of driving, i'd avoid - lots of comparison sites and opportunity to find cheaper insurance

depending on your second car, a classic car multi-policy may cover your FFRR.... MY11 Vogue 4.4 TDV8 - "African Queen"