Can you get car insurance without a black box at 17?

Yes, you can get car insurance without a black box at 17, although your choice of insurers and the price you are offered will depend on your individual circumstances. Black box or telematics insurance is one option for young drivers, but it is not a legal requirement. Some insurers and specialist brokers offer traditional car insurance without telematics, subject to their eligibility and underwriting criteria.

Brief answer

A 17-year-old does not have to have a black box to legally drive a car in the UK. You need at least the legally required motor insurance, but the policy does not have to use telematics.

However, young drivers often face higher premiums because insurers consider them to represent a higher claims risk. The Association of British Insurers says drivers aged 17-24 account for 7% of UK licence holders but are involved in 24% of fatal collisions.

A black box can be one way for an insurer to assess driving behaviour alongside other risk factors. It is not the only way to obtain insurance.

The detail

What is black box insurance?

Black box insurance, also known as telematics insurance, uses technology to collect information about how a car is driven.

Depending on the policy, this could include information about:

Speed

Braking

Acceleration

Cornering

Mileage

Time of day

Types of roads used

The information can then be used by the insurer when assessing the driver’s risk.

The ABI explains that telematics policies can use GPS technology and driving data alongside traditional factors such as age and location. Different insurers assess driving behaviour in different ways, so the terms of one black box policy should not automatically be assumed to apply to another.

Why might a 17-year-old choose insurance without a black box?

Some young drivers prefer a conventional policy because they do not want their driving monitored through a telematics device or app.

Other drivers may prefer not to have restrictions or scoring associated with a telematics policy.

However, this does not necessarily mean a policy without a black box will be cheaper. Insurance premiums depend on the individual driver, vehicle and insurer.

Can you get cheaper insurance without a black box?

Potentially, but there is no universal cheapest option for every 17-year-old.

Insurers consider a range of factors when pricing a policy, including the driver’s age, vehicle, location, mileage, driving history and other circumstances.

For some young drivers, a telematics policy may produce a lower quote. For others, a conventional policy may be competitive.

The most useful approach is to compare the actual quotes and policy terms available to you rather than assuming that either black box or non-black-box insurance will always be cheaper.

What alternatives are there to a black box?

Depending on your circumstances, you could investigate:

Standard comprehensive car insurance

Third Party, Fire and Theft cover

Specialist young-driver insurance

Specialist broker or intermediary options

Policies using alternative telematics technology, such as an app

Temporary insurance if you only need cover for a short period and meet the provider’s age and eligibility requirements

MyFirst specialises in insurance for young and new drivers and says it works with a range of insurance providers to help identify suitable options for individual customers.

MyFirst suggests:

MyFirst recommends comparing the whole policy rather than choosing solely on whether a black box is included.

MyFirst’s young-driver guidance explains that insurers use different approaches to pricing young drivers and that telematics can be one option for reducing premiums. It also highlights factors such as annual mileage, voluntary excess, additional drivers and the type of vehicle as factors worth considering when looking for affordable cover.

The important point is that a black box is an insurance option, not a legal requirement for a 17-year-old.