This approach, also known as telematics car insurance, GPS car insurance, or smartbox insurance, employs a device or mobile app to monitor various driving aspects like speed, braking, and general driving behaviors. This data is then utilized to compute your insurance premium, reflecting your individual driving style.
LV Car Insurance offers three types of telematics technology:
- A mobile app that users can download onto their smartphones.
- A small black box installed inside the car.
- A plug-in box fitted to the car’s On Board Diagnostic port (OBD).
Each of these telematics devices monitors the user’s driving habits. This allows LV to adjust premiums based on the assessed risk or offer incentives for safer driving habits.
Typically, the following factors are monitored through a telematics device:
- Number of miles driven
- Time of day the car is used
- Areas traversed
- Driving technique, including maximum speed
- Braking speed
- Cornering methods
What You Need to Know:
- Feedback and Accessibility: LV has a system that allows drivers to access their driving data, through a mobile app. This transparent approach helps drivers understand their driving patterns and provides insights on how to improve to potentially lower their premiums.
- Installation: LV provides clear instructions for installation, but the specifics should be confirmed with LV directly. You can do so via LV live chat
- LV’s Experience: LV is one of the largest car insurers in the UK with a history dating back over 175 years. This extensive experience in the insurance industry may provide an extra layer of trust and confidence for customers considering their telematics policy.
- Flexibility: LV has provisions allowing for occasional exceptions or personalized adjustments based on specific driving habits. However, the current specifics of such flexibility within LV’s telematics policies should be confirmed directly with LV. Contact their customer service if you have any questions.
So, how does LV calculate the price of car insurance?
LV considers various personal and external factors to determine the cost of insurance. Personal factors include age, driving experience, the type of car driven, and the area of residence. External factors can include changes in legislation, the cost of car parts and labor, and the overall increase in claims.
The premiums are pooled together with those of other policyholders. If a claim is made, it’s paid out of this pool. If a high number of claims occur simultaneously, the money in the pool is spread thinner, potentially leading to higher prices.
Age and driving experience significantly impact insurance cost. Younger drivers are more likely to be involved in accidents and make claims, thereby attracting higher premiums. As drivers mature and gain experience, the likelihood of claims decreases, which is reflected in the cost of the premium.
The type of car being insured also influences the premium. Larger, more powerful cars are usually more expensive to insure due to higher repair or replacement costs. Conversely, low-powered cars, or cars with safety features like autonomous emergency braking (AEB), are often cheaper to insure.
Where the policyholder lives, the number of cars insured on the same policy, and the presence of a no-claim discount also affect the price of the insurance. Changes in legislation, regulations, and taxation imposed by the government, along with the rising costs of parts, labor, and claims, are also factored into the final premium.