How does the black box data for your car work?

Fat Horny Ghost on 03/01/2019 - 08:05
Last edited 03/01/2019 - 08:17

Question: How does it work? Do Australian cars have it? Can it be used to lower insurance premiums and assist with disputes or stolen vehicles?

Read in a OZB post that most modern cars have a black box which records your speed and a lot of other data such as… re-crash speed, engine throttle, changes in forward velocity and airbag deployment times. Seatbelt. " Some capture 30 types of data.

How does does it work? Do most modern Australian cars have it or are they optionally installed say for insurance purposes

Seems like I can only find info for US..

85% of U.S. vehicles now have EDR devices that "must capture and preserve at least 15 types of crash data, including pre-crash speed, engine throttle, changes in forward velocity and airbag deployment times." Some capture 30 types of data.

Also read it can be good for your insurance (if you are a good driver) https://www.finder.com.au/black-box-car-insurance#6

Pros and cons of black box car insurance in Australia
Advantages:

Can be used to quickly achieve the equivalent of a high no claims bonus
Will actively result in lower premiums for good drivers
GPS functionality assists recovery if your vehicle is stolen
Helps you become a safer driver
Provides thorough information and evidence in the event of a dispute
Disadvantages:

It is currently only available with comprehensive car insurance policies
You will be required to pay an additional one-off fee in order to rent the black box
You will need to actively review your driving behaviour to get the best value rather than simply installing and then forgetting about it
You may have concerns regarding data collection and privacy issues

Thinking this could lower premiums OR assist with disputes

Automotive

Comments

  • singlemalt72 on 03/01/2019 - 08:12

    I know some insurers in the USA provide a telematics device that is plugged into the OBD2 port of the car and records such data.
    https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/how-do-those-car-insuran…

    As far as I am aware, no insures in Australia currently offer this for domestic insurance, but a previous government department I worked for has recently put telematics in all their vehicles, partly to manage vehicle use but also for reduced insurance costs.

    • websterp on 03/01/2019 - 08:39

      I know http://insurancebox.com.au/ using a telematics device on their client vehicles to give the driver a score based on their driving style.

      • Fat Horny Ghost on 03/01/2019 - 08:42

        It says from that website..

        The Insurance Box product is not available for new customers until further notice.

        Perhaps they were trialling it? If we need to install telematics device on our car then I'm guessing Australian cars don't have it installed like the USA?

  • BOGOF on 03/01/2019 - 08:43

    Black box insurance (telematics) is also used in the UK, aimed at young or newly qualified drivers. I am not aware of any Australian insurance company using this, but in the UK it may reduce premiums. However as it constantly monitors driving habits, it may increase premiums, as payments are month to month i.e. reward and punishment….see brief article below:-
    https://www.moneysupermarket.com/car-insurance/how-does-blac…

  • [Deactivated] on 03/01/2019 - 08:58

    Some vehicles record this type of thing in the computer.
    Reminds me of a car my friend had in dealership's mechanic a few years back, teenage son of car owner, ended up busted speeding, when they looked at onboard computer records showing over 200km/hr speeds, then informed the parents.

  • vinni9284 on 03/01/2019 - 10:12

    Provides thorough information and evidence in the event of a dispute

    I would say Dashcams have way more weight when it comes to this.

    In my view, it's another Big-Brother system to obtain data from you and another reason for your Insurance company to deny a claim if they can.

    Cheers

    • [Deactivated] on 03/01/2019 - 10:20
      -2

      if your at fault the insurance company doesn't deny your claim. Doesn't matter if your were 200 they still have to pay.

      • vinni9284 on 03/01/2019 - 10:24

        Are you sure about that?
        Please send me a link where an Insurance company pays out a claim if you break the law.
        Even at the time of the accident, if your car is not roadworthy, they don't pay.
        If your BAC is over the legal limit, they don't pay … and the list goes on!
        Why do you reckon they are so lucrative?
        Cheers

        • [Deactivated] on 03/01/2019 - 12:59
          -1

          It's called an at fault claim, here is a link to an article that describes how to lodge an at-fault claim.

          https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-advice/car-insurance-claim-…

          Show me where it says if a driver is breaking any law what so ever the insurance doesnt pay out? There is almost always one person at fault.

          you are correct about BAC and suspended licences, and if you are car is unroadworthy and that contributed to the accident then they wont pay (if you look hard enough almost every car could be found unroadworthy).

          • vinni9284 on 03/01/2019 - 13:43
            -1

            @[Deactivated]: Btw, broken link.
            Let me ask you, is driving 200 Kmh on our roads legal?
            At fault claim refers to an accident at fault and not purposefully driving at an illegal speed limit.

            Ooops! i just smashed your house as i lost control at 200 Kmh!

            If there is proof that you broke the law on purpose at the time of the accident, the insurance can reject your claim.

            • [Deactivated] on 03/01/2019 - 14:23
              -2

              @vinni9284:

              Let me ask you, is driving 200 Kmh on our roads legal?

              You must be (Mod: Removed inflammatory comments), do you have a licence? Have you ever driven on the road in Australia? Of course it is illegal in almost all of Australia. So what does that prove? driving at 9km over the limit is also intentional?

              If there is proof that you broke the law on purpose at the time of the accident, the insurance can reject your claim.

              You got a source for that or is just something you believe to be true. Stop talking out of your ass and check what your saying before you say it.

              Accident is an out of date term that is not used as it implies no one is at fault, which is very rare.

              Running a red light, talking on the phone, speeding, failing to give way, overtaking on a double white line, tailgating (I could go on) all illegal and intentional acts and the insurance will usually pay out.

              Here is a link which provides a list of common exclusions, it does not mention anything about what you said https://www.finder.com.au/car-insurance-exclusions

              also here is the standard RAC PDS it also does not support your claims (page 21)

              https://www-cdn.rac.com.au/-/media/files/rac-website/home-an…

              Can you link to a PDS that does support your claim that if your intentionally breaking any laws, no matter how minor, then the insurance WILL deny your claim.

              • vinni9284 on 03/01/2019 - 15:40

                @[Deactivated]:

                Stop talking out of your ass

                You don't have to be rude on this forum.
                If you want to address a point or provide a reference, please do so but try not to put others down even if you think their responses are irrelevant.
                Show some respect.

                The 200Kmh was a reference from a previous poster, @Chewybacca
                That was where my hierarchical post started from

                @Chewybacca

                ….when they looked at onboard computer records showing over 200km/hr speeds, then informed the parents

                I understand that is not a common occurrence and as per your comment below, that is the discretion of the insurer.

                As per your post

                Running a red light, talking on the phone, speeding, failing to give way, overtaking on a double white line, tailgating (I could go on) all illegal and intentional acts and the insurance will usually pay out.

                insurance will usually pay out

                Discretion of insurer, regardless, even if it is common of the insurer to honour the claim

                • [Deactivated] on 03/01/2019 - 17:29

                  @vinni9284: I don't see a link to any PDS there mate, just a whole lot of stuff you heard from someone but have never bothered to verify.

                  The bottom line is that you stated any ïntentional illegal act will result in a claim being denied but this is a statement you can not provide any documentation to back-up.

                  I have provided a link to the PDS for the largest motor vehicle insurer in WA and that does not support your statement, nor does the other link to a large insurance reseller. Nor does it support your claim that driving at 200km/h will get a claim denied. It might be declared wreckless, it might not there is no specific rule about it.

                  If you wanna stop talking out of your ass and start backing yourself with actual facts please do.

          • singlemalt72 on 03/01/2019 - 14:40

            @[Deactivated]: Speeding excessively can be classed as a reckless act, especially something in the 200km/h range and no insurer will pay out regardless of fault.

            Here are some other things you ought to know before driving re: non payment clauses for insurers.

            https://www.finder.com.au/car-insurance-exclusions

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