How a camera on your windscreen can protect you from crash scams

... and a little black box inside your car can slash your insurance bills

DRiVeRS facing expensive car insurance premiums may not realise the latest piece of hightech kit could help them save money in the long run.

The latest AA index shows the average monthly car insurance premium is now a hefty £648, and young drivers pay an eye-watering £1,586 for the average comprehensive policy.

Those aged between 60 and 69 pay the lowest premiums at an average £400 a year, while those aged 70 and older will see the cost of their car insurance rise again to an average of £559.

Here, we explain how to use technology to your advantage — and slash driving costs.

DASH CAMS

FIVE years ago, 1 pc of drivers used a dash cam, but today that’s leapt to 20 pc, according to the AA. People typically use them as a way of recording evidence in case they end up in an accident and to protect themselves against socalled ‘cash for crash’ scams.

This is where a vehicle brakes sharply in order to make the car behind crash into them so they can make a whiplash claim. Having footage of such an incident can provide valuable evidence to prevent a claim being made on your insurance and pushing up your premiums.

Fear of ‘cash for crash’ scams is the reason a quarter of dash cam users bought their device, an AA survey found. A further 60 pc say they use one in case they have to provide evidence after an accident.

Janet Connor, director of insurance at the AA, says: ‘ Dash cam footage provides proper, reliable evidence that can establish fault.

‘What’s more, it can lead to the prosecution of dangerous drivers, and several insurance fraudsters have been brought to book, thanks to camera evidence.’

But having a dash cam has another benefit, too. Motorists typically drive more carefully when they know they are being recorded.

Dash cams film as you drive, normally breaking your journey into three-minute segments.

These are saved on a memory card, which, when full, records over the oldest footage — though you can save clips so they are not wiped. They are also able to take still photographs.

Footage and photos can be downloaded to a computer or your mobile phone.

Some cameras have sensors which can detect any impact and automatically save footage. Others can record your location and speed to provide more evidence if needed, while some have a parking mode that records even when you’re not in the car. Very few insurers will give you a discount just for having a dash cam, but a dash cam can still be incredibly helpful if you need to make a claim — potentially saving you a fortune when your premium comes up for renewal.

According to insurer Aviva, a third of dash cam users involved in an accident used footage to help prove they were not at fault.

One third of drivers who have used dash cam footage as part of an insurance claim say they found the process easy, compared to just 24 pc of those going through the claims process without footage to back them up.

Some 36 pc of dash cam users told the insurer having the device made them feel safer.

Dan Hutson, head of motor insurance at Compare The Market, says: ‘Dash cams currently have very little impact on the cost of car insurance, but some providers like them because they give clarity at the point a claim is made.

‘ We’re not yet seeing dash cam-related questions being asked when insurers are calculating the cost of a policy but, given their increasing popularity, this may well change.’

BLACK BOX INSURANCE

TELEMATICS, or black box insurance, is increasing in popularity, particularly among younger drivers who can save significantly by opting for this type of policy. The way it works is simple. A device is stuck to the car battery or plugged into the diagnostics port under the steering wheel. The size of a mobile phone it measures your speed, how well you take corners and how sharply you brake and accelerate.

The better you score on these factors, the more you stand to save on your insurance premiums.

Data from analysts Consumer intelligence found the average insurquoted ance prices quoted to drivers aged between 17 and 20 are about 30 pc

lower when they choose a telematics policy over a standard one.

The average telematics policy was priced at £2,406 in July compared to £3,241 for drivers who didn’t opt for this technology.

When black box insurance was first introduced, many people worried about how the data collected about their driving would be used.

Some feared their insurer would tell the police if they had been speeding.

But insurers promise they will not share the data — unless necessary.

Admiral says the number of drivers opting for its Little-Box telematics policy shot up by 25 pc last year, with more than 200,000 now using it.

For those who don’t like the idea of a device fitted to their car, Aviva offers a more basic type of telematics with its Aviva Drive app.

This uses your mobile phone to monitor your driving and can save you up to £170 on your premium if you are deemed a safe driver.

Mr Hutson says: ‘Our data shows that when comparing car insurance, telematics policies were the cheapest available. It’s no surprise they are popular, particularly with young drivers.’

Be sure to check all terms and conditions before opting for black box insurance as each provider has different rules.

Some will charge for the installation of the device, others might impose curfews, restrict the number of miles you can cover or how many passengers you can carry.

PAY AS YOU DRIVE

WITH car insurance so pricey, there’s no point shelling out for a policy unnecessarily. Low-mileage drivers might consider a pay- as- you- go insurance policy. Some firms offer policies which charge you for the number of miles you actually drive rather than a set annual premium. By Miles, for example, charges an annual fee to cover your car while it’s parked, then issues a monthly bill based on the number of miles you drive. A matchbox-size device fits under the dashboard to measure mileage that’s sent to the insurer. You can check how far you’ve driven using an app or online account connected to the device. While the average car is driven about 7,000 miles a year — or 140 miles a week — it is thought that about half the cars on the road drive far less than this. City dwellers who travel to work on public transport or only use their car for their big weekly shop are unlikely to rack up the average mileage. James Blackham, co-founder of By Miles, says: ‘We didn’t think it was fair for drivers to pay full price for insurance when they weren’t using their cars. We know every extra mile you drive adds to the risk of an accident.’ Charges start at £150 a year, then drivers are charged from 3p a mile — so 4,000 miles a year could cost almost £300, fully comprehensive.