AI agents for business finance: what they can and can't do
What AI agents can do in bookkeeping, close, collections and compliance today, where a person must stay in charge, and how to judge a product.
The short answer
Black box (telematics) car insurance prices your policy partly on how you drive, using a device fitted in the car or a phone app. Direct Line's DrivePlus page, for example, says its device scores speed, smooth acceleration and braking, the roads you use, journey length and time of day, and offers a renewal discount based on your score. It can lower costs for careful new drivers, but terms differ, so read what each policy does with a poor score.
Nigerians who pass a UK test, or who start driving on their Nigerian licence, often find the first insurance quote higher than they expected. Insurers have no UK driving history to price, and may give little weight to driving history from abroad. Telematics, usually called black box insurance, is one way insurers offer cover to people they would otherwise price as high risk.
How a telematics policy works
Instead of pricing only on age, postcode, car and licence history, the insurer collects data on how the car is driven and uses it to set or adjust the price. There are broadly three ways to collect the data:
- a small box fitted to the car, sometimes by an engineer
- a plug-in device you fit yourself
- a smartphone app that records journeys
Direct Line's DrivePlus page gives a concrete example. It describes a plug-in device that is "easy to set up yourself", with a professionally installed device if your car is not compatible. Data is shown in the DrivePlus app or portal, with journey summaries, scores and regular emails.
What is measured
Each insurer chooses its own factors. Direct Line's page lists:
| Factor | Why insurers care |
|---|---|
| Speed | Speeding relative to limits is linked to accident risk |
| Smooth acceleration and braking | Harsh braking suggests late reactions or close following |
| Roads driven | Some road types carry more risk than others |
| Journey length | More time on the road means more exposure |
| Time of day | Late-night driving is usually priced as riskier |
Direct Line's page does not mention a curfew or a mileage cap. Other policies may have either, so read the terms of any policy you are offered rather than assuming.
Discounts, and what happens with a poor score
Direct Line says DrivePlus is for drivers aged 25 or under with a car built in 1996 or later. It offers an upfront first-year discount if you are new to Direct Line and have passed your test, with further discounts at renewal depending on your score: a higher score means a lower price. Its page does not say whether a poor score increases your premium.
That gap is the key question for any telematics policy. Before you buy, ask in writing:
- Can my premium go up during the year, or only at renewal?
- Can the insurer cancel the policy for a poor score or for removing the device?
- Is there a curfew, a mileage cap or a fee for extra miles?
- Who else may drive the car, and how are their journeys scored?
- What happens to my data, and for how long is it kept?
Who it suits
Telematics tends to make most sense for a careful driver who:
- drives mainly in daylight
- covers moderate distances
- is the main or only driver of the car
- would otherwise face a very high quote because of age or no UK history
It suits less well if you work night shifts, as many care and hospital workers do, because time of day is part of the score on policies like DrivePlus. In that case compare a standard policy too.
Getting the most from a telematics policy
If you choose telematics, treat the first months as a habit-building exercise. Check the app or portal after each week and look for the journeys that scored worst; on a policy like DrivePlus, which scores braking, speed and time of day, the low scores usually come from a small number of trips, such as a late drive home or a rushed school run. Plan those journeys differently where you can.
Keep the device fitted and working, and report faults straight away, because a policy that depends on data may treat missing data badly. If someone else drives your car, remember their driving is scored against your policy. Finally, put your renewal date in your diary: telematics discounts are often applied at renewal, so the quote you get then is the one to compare against the market.
A worked comparison
Example only; these are not quotes from any insurer. Ada is offered £1,900 for a standard policy and £1,500 for a telematics policy. Choosing telematics saves £400 in year one. If her score earns a 15% discount at renewal on a £1,500 base, year two costs £1,275. If her policy allowed a rise for poor driving and her score were weak, the saving could shrink or disappear. That is why the terms matter more than the headline price.
For the wider picture on insurance with a non-UK licence, see car insurance on a Nigerian licence. Whatever policy you choose, you must be insured to drive; the penalties for driving without cover are set out in our uninsured driving guide.
Where Pryme fits
Premiums are paid in pounds, often monthly. A Pryme account holds GBP with UK account details, so you can keep your car costs in one pounds balance. Pryme's Personal Assistant can remind you before renewal so you have time to compare.
Questions people ask
How does black box insurance work in the UK?
The insurer records how the car is driven, through a device or app, and uses the data to set or adjust your price, often at renewal.
What does a black box measure?
It varies by insurer. Direct Line's DrivePlus lists speed, smooth acceleration and braking, roads driven, journey length and time of day.
Can black box insurance go up if I drive badly?
It depends on the policy. Some pages describe only discounts; ask the insurer in writing what a poor score means for you.
Is black box insurance good for night shift workers?
Often less so, because time of day is scored on many policies. Compare a standard quote as well.
Sources
- Direct Line: DrivePlus black box insurance · accessed Oct 2026
- GOV.UK: Vehicle insurance, driving without insurance · accessed Oct 2026
- GOV.UK: Penalty points, new drivers · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.