How does a black box insurance score work?

If you have black box car insurance, you can typically see a driving score that shows how you’re doing behind the wheel.

A black box driving score is a measure of your driving behaviour, calculated using data such as speed, braking and driving time collected during your journeys. Insurers use different scoring criteria and systems so what affects your score and how it’s used will depend on your policy.

But what does your telematics score actually mean, how does it impact your car insurance quotes, and what happens if your score drops?

How is your black box driving score calculated?

Black box insurance, also known as telematics insurance, collects information about your driving. Depending on the insurer and the systems they use, this information can help assess your driving behaviour and calculate a score.

Marshmallow Move uses a variety of factors to calculate your driving score, which include:

• Speed: How well you stick to the speed limit
• Braking: How often you brake suddenly or sharply
• Acceleration: How quickly you get to your top speed
• Cornering: How quickly you approach and take corners
• Phone use: How often your phone is used while you’re driving

Your overall score combines these areas into a number between 1 and 100. On the Marshmallow app you can see your score and find tips for areas of improvement.

You can find a more detailed explanation in our guide to Marshmallow Move driving data and scoring.

What is a good black box score?

There’s no universal threshold for a ‘good’ black box score. Different insurers use different scoring systems, so a score that’s considered good with one provider may not be the same with another.

You don’t have to drive perfectly on every journey to achieve a good score. The score reflects patterns in your driving over time. An occasional harsh braking event, for example, won’t necessarily have a significant impact on your overall score.

If you’re looking for practical ways to improve, read our guide on how to improve your driving score.

Can your black box score go up?

Yes. Your black box driving score can change as your driving habits improve and new journeys are added to the calculation.

Marshmallow Move uses a rolling 91-day window which means your driving score is based on data from the past 91 days, rather than every journey you’ve taken since your policy began.

There are a few reasons your score might change:

• Your driving habits change: If you brake more smoothly, stick to speed limits and avoid using your phone while driving, your score can improve over time.
• You build up more driving history: If your policy is new, your score may initially be based on limited driving data. As more journeys are recorded, the score can reflect a broader picture of your driving behaviour.
• Older journeys drop out: As each day passes, journeys from more than 91 days ago are removed from the calculation.
• Your risky events change relative to your distance driven: Your score considers how frequently risky events occur in relation to the distance you drive, so changes in your driving distance can also affect the result.

What happens if your black box score is low?

A low score doesn’t automatically mean you’ve done something wrong, or that your insurance price will immediately be affected.

With Marshmallow Move, your driving score doesn't change the price you've agreed to pay during your current policy.

However, if you have a very low score that doesn’t improve, your policy may be reviewed. If the review isn't resolved, your policy may then be cancelled.

Other insurers will have similar processes so it’s important to familiarise yourself with the terms and conditions before going ahead with a policy.

How can you improve your black box driving score?

Your score can help you identify patterns in your driving and understand where small changes might help. Start with the feedback available in your app, then focus on the habits you can realistically improve.

A few useful starting points are:

• Looking further ahead and anticipating the actions of other drivers
• Leaving enough space to react and brake safely
• Sticking to the speed limits and adjusting to wet, icy or low-visibility weather conditions
• Staying off your phone while driving
• Reviewing your driving score regularly to identify where you can improve.

For more detailed advice, see our guide to how to improve your driving score, alongside our guidance on harsh braking.

Understand your driving score

Your black box driving score can help you understand your driving habits and identify areas where you could make improvements. These improvements can not only help you to stay safer on the roads, but they may help to reduce your renewal prices.

Exact scoring systems and how your insurer uses the result will depend on your policy but generally, you can review your score through an app or online portal, look for patterns in your driving and work towards a high score.