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Black Box Car Insurance

Telematics that helps young and new drivers save by rewarding safe driving

Fed up with expensive car insurance because you’re a young or new driver? RAC Black Box Car Insurance is here to help. A little black box in your car shows us how and where you drive. And the safer you drive, the lower your price could be at renewal. As an added bonus, you’ll also get FREE RAC Breakdown Cover^{^} for a year when you select it.

Drive well, save money

You’ll get a Driver Score out of 100. And the safer you drive, the more you can save at renewal.

Free installation

We’ll install your black box for you to make life easy. Just let us know where and when.

No curfews

You’re free to drive any time you like – and you choose your own mileage limit too.^~

Who is black box car insurance for?

If you’re a new driver, or a young driver under 25, black box car insurance may be a cheaper option for you. As you have less experience behind the wheel, traditional insurers consider you a ‘higher risk’. But black box insurance is different – using telematics technology to monitor your driving, we can see how risky you really are. And we’ll reward you for driving safely with a lower renewal price.

How does black box car insurance work?

Get your black box installed
We’ll do this for you – just book an appointment within 14 days of your policy start date.

Step 2. Get your Driver Score

Download the RAC Black Box Driver app to see your score out of 100. And we’ll give you tips on how to improve it.

Step 3. Enjoy a lower premium

The higher your Driver Score, the safer your driving and the lower your insurance premium could be next year.*

Download the RAC Black Box Driver app

Get feedback on your driving, check your Driver Score and get tips to help you lower your insurance price. All you need is your smartphone.

Download the app

Why choose RAC Black Box Car Insurance?

We believe safer drivers should save money, no matter how old you are. Our telematics box lets you prove you’re a safe driver. So you could be rewarded with a lower price at renewal.

12 months’ FREE RAC Breakdown cover. Just add RAC Roadside to your policy.^

Uninsured driver promise. You won’t lose your no claims bonus if your car is hit by an uninsured driver and it wasn’t your fault (available with Comprehensive cover).

Free Motor Legal Protection. Get up to £100,000 of cover for the first 12 months, at no extra cost^†.

Vandalism promise. You won’t lose your no claims bonus if your car’s vandalised (available with Comprehensive cover)

No curfews to worry about. You’re free to drive where you want, when you want^~.

What is black box car insurance?

Black box car insurance is a type of insurance that uses telematics (also called a ‘black box’) to monitor how you drive. This lets you prove you’re a safe and responsible driver. And when you renew, you’ll pay a premium based on how you drive. So the safer you are, the more you save. Watch our video guide to find out more.

How could I save with black box car insurance?

As a young or new driver, car insurance is expensive because you're thought to have a higher risk of having an accident than someone who's been driving for longer. But here's how you can save with black box car insurance:

Prove you're less risky. If you drive safely the data from your black box will show that you're less of a risk. Then your premium could be reduced as a result.

Build your no claims discount. If you don't make a claim within a year, you'll build up your no claims discount. And the more years you have, the cheaper your insurance is likely to be.

Other factors. As with any car insurance, things like the age of your car and where you park it overnight will be used to calculate the price you pay.

More information

Existing customers

All the information you need to retrieve a quote, amend your policy or make a claim

Optional extras

View all the optional extras available when you buy RAC Black Box Car Insurance

Review the cover levels of our Black Box Car Insurance

Fitting the box

Find out how easy it is to get the box fitted to your car

Help for parents

Find out how Black Box Insurance could help your child get on the road

Your Driver Score and Alerts

How do we calculate it? What do you do if you get a Red Alert? We explain all in our Driver Score guide...

Our FREE RAC Driver App

Use it to track your RAC Black Box Driver Score and review your driving. Get tips on how to drive more efficiently...

RAC Guide to Black Box

Everything you need to know about Black Box Car Insurance - also known as 'telematics'...

How does Brexit affect RAC Insurance customers? Our handy guide explains what you need to do and when.

We also offer

New Driver Insurance

Find out how new and inexperienced drivers can help lower their car insurance premium

Young Driver Insurance

Find out how young drivers could save money with RAC Black Box Insurance

Learner Driver Insurance

Flexible, short term cover allowing learners the chance to gain experience behind the wheel at home

Temporary Car Insurance

Pay-by-day car insurance from 1 hours-30 days

Pay by Mile car insurance

A new kind of car insurance for lower mileage drivers.

Frequently Asked Questions about Black Box Car Insurance

Q. What is telematics?

Telematics insurance monitors the way you drive through a black box installed in your car. It tracks things like your speed, acceleration and braking to calculate how safe a driver you are. And your insurance premium is based on this.

Q. Can I earn no claims discount with black box car insurance?

Yes. As with other car insurance, you can earn a year’s no claims discount (NCD) by completing the full 12 months of insurance without making a claim. We’ll apply your NCD to your quote at renewal.

Q. Will I automatically get a discount for using a black box?

Not always. You’ll need to drive safely and listen to feedback from your black box to improve your driving. Then, when it’s time to renew your black box insurance, you’ll get a discount.

If you’re considered more of a risk on the road, we’ll increase your premium at renewal. And we can also cancel your policy if you drive dangerously.

Q. Who can apply for black box car insurance?

Anyone who has a full UK driving licence can get black box car insurance. It’s a particularly good option for new and young drivers with little driving experience, as you can save money at renewal.

If you’re still learning to drive, you may want to consider specialist learner driver car insurance.

About the RAC Black Box

Q. What’s in a black box?

We pack a lot of technology into our black box to accurately assess your driving. This includes a:

GPS chip – this tracks your location, just like in mobile phones
G-force sensor – this monitors how the car is driven
SIM card – this sends driving data to us
Back-up battery – just in case your black box is damaged, or your vehicle loses power

Q. Does the black box restrict where and when I can drive?

No. With the RAC, you can choose your own mileage limit when you get a quote. Just make sure you provide a realistic annual mileage. If you go over your limit, your premium could increase, or we could cancel your policy.

There are no curfews either~, so you can drive wherever and whenever you want.

Q. What if my car already has a black box or I change my car?

Even if you already have a black box from another provider, we still need to install an RAC Black Box when you take out a policy with us.

If you decide to change your car while your policy is running, your black box will need to be transferred to your new car. We can do this for you, you just need to get in touch to arrange an appointment. There may be a small charge.

Q. What data does a black box collect about me?

The black box collects this information: your speed, acceleration, braking and how you drive around corners or bends. Don’t forget, the black box tracks the driving behaviour of everyone driving the car, not just you.

We also collect data about what time of day you drive, as this may increase your ‘risk’ as a driver. For example, if you drive mainly at night (between 7pm and 6am) or in rush hour traffic. You can read more about the way in which your personal data will be used when you purchase RAC Black Box Insurance in our Privacy Policy.

Q. What happens with the data that a black box collects?

We use the data from your black box to assess your driving style and alert you if we think you need to drive more safely and responsibly. At renewal, we can then price your premium based on how safely you’ve driven during the year.

As the policyholder, you can access this data in the RAC Black Box Driver App or your online account. As your insurance provider, we can also access this data for administration purposes. Your driving data isn’t shared with anyone else (for example, parents or guardians).

Q. What if I need to unplug my black box?

It’s fine for a mechanic to unplug the black box as part of a service or check-up. Just make sure you ask them to plug it back in. It’s best to let the garage know you have a black box when you get there.

Likewise, if you’re carrying out checks yourself, don’t forget to plug the black box back in before you start driving again.

If your black box isn’t plugged back in, we’ll get in touch to ask you to reconnect it. If you don’t, your policy may be cancelled.

Fitting a black box

Q. How do I have a black box fitted?

Once you’ve bought your RAC Black Box Insurance, you need to book an appointment to have your black box installed. We’ll notify you of this by email. Just book a time and location that suits you. You need to have your black box installed within 14 days of your policy start date.

Q. When do I need to have the black box fitted?

You’ll need to have a black box fitted within 14 days of your policy start date. We’ll do this for you – you just need to book appointment to let us know where and when. If you miss your appointment, there will be a charge of £45.

Q. How much does it cost to fit a black box?

Unlike some insurance providers, we don’t charge extra to install your black box. Just so you’re aware, here are our cancellation terms:

Cancellation fee within 14 days: £35
Cancellation fee after 14 days: £125
Installation no-show fee: £45

Black Box Car Insurance policy questions

Q. Can I amend my policy online?

Yes. If you purchased your insurance with us after 30/03/2021 you can log in to your online account any time to make these changes to your policy:

Change of vehicle (this will require new box fitting)
Change of use
Change to personal details such as name, date of birth, occupation or contact details
Change to drivers on the policy
Accept your renewal
Upload and download documents

Just so you’re aware, here are our fees and charges for amendments:

Change made online yourself: £15.00

Change made via the call centre: £35.00

For existing customers who purchased their insurance prior to the 30/03/2021, please contact the customer service team to discuss our fees and charges and make a change.

Q. Can I drive at night?

Yes. There are no night-time curfews and we won’t charge you extra for driving at night.

Just so you know, driving between 6pm and 6am on a regular basis will have an effect on your Driver Score. This is because the chances of having an accident increase during these hours. So it could reduce any discount you may be offered when you renew your policy.

Q. Am I insured to drive my car before the box is fitted?

Yes. You’re insured to drive your car from the policy start date.

You need to have your box fitted within 14 days of this date. Otherwise, your policy will be cancelled, and you’ll have to pay a cancellation fee.

Q. Does black box car insurance work with any car?

Yes. We can fit a black box to any car, no matter what make or model. And we’ll always install it for free.

Q. I don’t have my car anymore – what should I do?

Let us know by calling our customer service team. Lines are open Monday to Friday 9am-6pm; Saturday 9am to 4pm.

If you have a new car, you can update your policy with your new car details via your online account. Online policy management is only available for customers who purchased their policy on or after 30/03/2021. Alternatively, if you no longer have a vehicle, you can cancel your insurance by speaking to a member of our team.

If you’ve declared your vehicle as off-road (with a SORN), or it’s been stolen or written-off, you also need to let us know.

Q. What if someone else drives my car, but they’re covered by their own insurance?

We calculate your Driver Score based on all car journeys, no matter who’s driving. If someone else is driving your car, you need to let them know that their driving is being monitored as it will impact your insurance.

RAC Black Box Driver app & Driver Score

Q. Is there a RAC Black Box app?

Yes. If you have RAC Black Box Car Insurance, you can download the RAC Black Box Driver app here:

The app uses the same login details as your online portal. It’s a quick and easy way to check your Driver Score, as well as your car’s health and journey details. You can also set dates for your vehicle tax, MOT and service.

Q. How do you calculate my Driver Score?

You’ll receive a Driver Score on a scale of 1 to 100. The higher your score, the safer your driving.

Your Driver Score is based on 5 elements:

Acceleration
Braking
Night driving (7pm-6am)
Speeding
Urban driving (35mph zones or below)

Each of the above is weighted and then scored in line with the amount of driving you do within a 7-day period, or when you’ve driven 200 miles.

Q. How can I see my Driver Score?

You can check your Driver Score in your RAC Black Box Insurance Portal . Or you can download the free RAC Black Box Driver app – on iOS or Android.

Q. Will other drivers of my car affect my Score?

Yes. The Driver Score is calculated on the journeys your car makes regardless of who is driving. You will need to let any additional driver know that their driving behaviour will also be monitored and will contribute to your overall Score.

Q. Why is my driver data missing from the app or my online account?

There could be a number of reasons for this. For example:

Your black box has been unplugged by you or a mechanic and hasn’t been reconnected.
Your car’s in a signal black spot, such as an enclosed garage or underground car park. If this is the case, don’t worry – your black box will send the data once it regains signal.
There’s a delay in data showing in the app.

If you can see data in your online account but not in the app, this is nothing to worry about. Sometimes it just takes a little longer to show in the app.

If you can’t see your journey in the app or your online account after an hour or so, it’s worth double checking that your black box is still connected. If it is, please contact the team to discuss. Lines are open Monday to Friday 9am-6pm; Saturday 9am-4pm.

Q. Why has my Driver Score changed when I haven’t driven my vehicle recently?

Your Driver Score is a rolling 7-day score. It can change even when your vehicle isn’t being used. This happens as time passes and journeys are no longer included in the driver score calculation.

This will still apply even if the vehicle has not been driven as the score is calculated against the distance travelled.

Q. The road speed limit is incorrect – can this be changed?

We use UK and European mapping databases to make sure we have the most up to date and accurate platform. We update the database at least every 6 months. Sometimes, road limits can change before our database is updated. If the speed limit you’re reporting has changed, we can amend that limit for future use.

Other FAQs

Q. Will you tell the police if I speed?

If you drive over the speed limit, we don’t automatically share telematics data with the police. If we receive a request for the data from the police, or other authorities, we may disclose information collected by the RAC Black Box if it is lawful to do so.

Q. What happens if my car is stolen?

If your car is stolen, you should always report this to the police. If we can, we’ll provide you with the last known location of your RAC Black Box.

Q. I’m driving less miles now, could I be saving on my car insurance?

If you drive under 6,000 miles a year and are over 21 RAC Pay by Mile Car Insurance may save you money. Every driver and vehicle combination is unique so we can’t promise it will be cheaper. Comparing it on a like for like basis you could save up to 26%. If you find you’re increasing your mileage, then you can cancel the policy at any point. Don’t worry, there are no cancellation fees. Get a quick quote and find out if you could save.