Show More

Ask an Expert

Can you trick a black box? - Money Expert

A black box quietly observes your driving habits and rewards you with lower insurance premiums if you drive safely. It records your speed, acceleration, how quickly and sharply you take turns, and the time of day you’re driving, among other things.

Some motorists may wonder if they can trick their black box, making it overlook things like habitual speeding or regular late-night driving which may drive up their premiums. Some people suggest tampering with the device or temporarily unplugging it in order to maintain their driving records and discounts.

But there’s no way to “trick” a telematics device that doesn’t invalidate your insurance. It’s also insurance fraud, which is a crime.

If you unplug the black box, it will stop sending data to your insurer, alerting them almost instantly that it’s not working as intended.

Because having a functioning black box is a condition of your insurance, you won’t be covered while the box is deliberately switched off. That means if you get into an accident during that time, your claims could be rejected and you’ll be left to shoulder the costs yourself.

If your insurer discovers you’ve tampered with or unplugged the device, they may also cancel your insurance policy entirely. This will make it more difficult and expensive for you to obtain car insurance in the future.

*51% of consumers could save £518.14 on their Car Insurance. The saving was calculated by comparing the cheapest price found with the average of the next five cheapest prices quoted by insurance providers on Seopa Ltd’s insurance comparison website. This is based on representative cost savings from June 2025 data. The savings you could achieve are dependent on your individual circumstances and how you selected your current insurance supplier.

Related guides

How Long Do Car Batteries Last?

Every car battery has a finite lifespan, but exactly how long do car batteries last? To avoid the inconvenience (and potential safety hazards) of a dead battery, you need to know how old your battery is, the warning signs of a failing battery, and what you can do to extend your car battery’s life. 

What is the Average Monthly Car Payment?

If you’re thinking about financing a car, one of the first questions you’re likely to ask is: “How much will my monthly payment be?”The answer isn’t always straightforward. It depends on a range of factors, including the car you choose, how you finance it, your credit score, and the size of your deposit. While there are typical figures across the UK, your own monthly cost could be higher or lower depending on your personal circumstances.In this article, we’ll explain what goes into calculating a monthly car payment in the UK, explore the pros and cons of different finance types, and help you work out what’s affordable for your budget. 

What To Do If You Lose Your Driving Licence

Make no mistake that a driving licence is an important document, and one of the few valid forms of ID. But we’re all human, and thankfully there is an easy-to-follow process on what to do in the event you’ve lost yours.Why easy-to-follow? Well, because we outline it step-by-step here for you!