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Telematics insurance has a bit of a reputation problem.

Mention it to most drivers, and they picture a "Big Brother" tracker watching their every move, waiting to punish them for driving at the "wrong" time or making one tiny mistake.

In reality, telematics is about driving behaviour, not spying. It’s designed to understand risk on the road so insurers can price policies more fairly.

, we’ve taken that concept and made it app-based. That means no clunky black boxes and a scoring system designed to be clear, useful, and transparent. If you’re being measured, you deserve to know exactly 

Myth 1: “Telematics tracks me everywhere I go”

The Reality: It assesses trips, not your lifestyle.

People often imagine a live GPS dot on a map 24/7. But telematics isn’t interested in where you go for lunch; it’s interested in how you drive on the way there.

To understand the basics, it helps to look at how 

 actually works to assess risk. The technology focuses on trip data acceleration, braking, and cornering because that’s what correlates with safety. When you aren't driving, there is nothing meaningful to score.

Myth 2: “I’ll be penalised for driving at night”

The Reality: It’s not "anti-night," it’s just risk-aware.

It is true that night driving can be statistically riskier due to visibility and fatigue. However, modern telematics is sophisticated enough to look at 

 you drive during those hours, not just the clock.

 for shift workers or night owls. The answer usually lies in your behaviour: if you drive smoothly and safely, the system generally won't mark you down just because the sun has set.

Myth 3: “If I go 1mph over the limit, I’m doomed”

The Reality: Telematics isn't a speed camera.

This is a huge misconception. Drivers often worry that a single moment of overtaking or creeping over the limit will ruin their policy.

Telematics scoring looks for patterns and consistency. When weighing up if telematics is the right choice for you, remember that consistency matters more than one-off events. It distinguishes between a single moment of flow-with-traffic speed and a habitual "heavy foot."

Myth 4: “Harsh braking always equals a bad score”

The Reality: Sometimes, braking hard is the safe choice.

If a child runs into the road, you brake hard. That is good driving, not bad driving.

Telematics algorithms are looking for repeated, avoidable patterns—like tailgating (following too closely) which forces you to slam on the brakes constantly. Building these consistent habits is exactly 

 over time, rather than worrying about a single emergency stop.

Myth 5: “It’s basically a black box bolted to my car”

The Reality: "Black box" is just one type of telematics.

"Black box insurance" is the old mental model: a physical device fitted by an engineer. It helps to understand the difference between 

, as modern policies are often entirely app-based.

These newer systems use the sensors already inside your smartphone to measure driving smoothness, removing the need for hardware installation entirely.

Myth 6: “Telematics is only for new drivers”

Telematics became famous with young drivers because it was the only way to get affordable cover. But the logic applies to anyone experienced or new who wants their premium to be based on their actual driving, not just their postcode or age.

The real question isn't your age, but is telematics cheaper for the type of driver you are? If you are a safe driver, standard insurance might be overcharging you to subsidise unsafe drivers. Telematics helps fix that imbalance.

Myth 7: “It’ll ruin my score if I’m a passenger”

The Reality: App-based tech is smart, but it needs your help.

This is a valid question for app-users. If you are on a bus or in a friend's car, you don't want that data counting towards your score.

With Zego Sense, the app is built to detect probable car trips, but learning how to manage your trips involves knowing how to flag these non-driving moments. Keeping your data clean is easy, and it ensures your score is 100% 

Myth 8: “It’s just a way for insurers to catch me out”

The Reality: It’s actually a way to prove you’re safe.

Traditional insurance prices you based on "proxies" (who you are, where you live). Telematics prices you based on "truth" (how you drive).

For the vast majority of safe drivers, this is a massive advantage. It allows you to prove you are a lower risk than your demographic profile might suggest, answering the question of affordability with a definitive "yes" for those who drive with care.

Zego Sense is our telematics insurance product

 . We built it to move away from the "black box" stigma and towards something that actually helps you.

Instead of installing hardware, you simply download the Zego Sense app. It runs in the background, automatically detecting when you are driving.

It looks at key variables like braking, cornering, and acceleration to build a Driver Score.

 Your renewal price is influenced by your score. Drive well, and you could pay less.

 The app gives you insights into your driving style, helping you spot habits you might not have noticed (like late braking).

 You can see your score in the app, so you never have to guess how you’re doing.

Zego Sense is optimised to run efficiently in the background. While any app using GPS uses some power, we’ve designed it to minimise battery drain so it doesn't interrupt your day.

For the policy to work (and for you to get the benefits of the pricing), the app needs to be active. However, you can always edit trips in the app if it incorrectly recorded you as a driver when you were actually a passenger.

Your driving data is used to calculate your driver score and insurance premium. We do not sell your personal movement data to third parties.

Is it legal to use a telematics app while driving?

Yes, provided you do not touch the phone to operate the app while the engine is running. You should set the app up before you start your journey and secure your phone in a cradle or a safe place. You can check the official rules on 

using a mobile phone or sat nav when driving

 to ensure you stay on the right side of the law.

Why does braking affect my score so much?

It comes down to safety and reaction time. The faster you travel, the more distance you need to stop safely. If you look at 

typical stopping distances in The Highway Code

, you will see that leaving a gap—and braking smoothly rather than suddenly drastically reduces the chance of a collision.

All good — here they are without separators, rewritten cleanly with H3-style, rich headings so they’re ready to drop straight into CMS or be picked up properly by search and AI systems.

Telematics uses location data only to understand driving behaviour during a trip, not to monitor where you are at all times. It isn’t interested in your destination, routine, or lifestyle, just how the vehicle is driven on the road. When you’re not driving, there’s nothing meaningful to score.

Telematics can identify patterns of speeding, but it doesn’t act like a speed camera. A brief moment over the limit won’t automatically damage your score. What matters is consistency over time, for example, habitual speeding versus generally smooth, compliant driving.

Does telematics mean black box insurance?

No. A black box is just one form of telematics. Traditional black box insurance relies on a physical device installed in the car, whereas modern telematics policies can be entirely app-based. These use your phone’s built-in sensors, meaning no hardware, no installation, and no engineer visit.

Does telematics record voice or conversations?

No. Telematics does not record audio, conversations, or anything picked up by your phone’s microphone. It only analyses driving-related movement data such as braking, acceleration, and cornering.

Telematics can see when a trip happens and how it’s driven, but mileage alone isn’t usually a key scoring factor. Driving style matters far more than distance  a short aggressive journey is riskier than a longer, smooth one.

Telematics apps are designed to measure vehicle movement, not phone activity. They don’t monitor messages, calls, apps, or browsing. However, unsafe driving behaviour, such as erratic movement that could suggest distraction, may negatively affect your score regardless of the cause.

There is evidence to suggest telematics may help reduce accidents, especially by encouraging smoother driving and greater awareness. Drivers who receive feedback on braking, cornering, and acceleration often adjust their habits

Telematics insurance isn’t about spying. We debunk 8 common telematics myths and explain what insurers actually track, and what they don’t.

8 Telematics insurance myths — What it tracks and what it doesn't 

"Yes, if you are seventeen and can't afford anything else." However telematics has moved on, and is now considered a really option for most age ranges. But is it worth it?

Telematics can lead to cost savings over time, as long as you stay with the policy through to renewal and demonstrate consistently safe driving.

But the technology and the economy has moved on. Today, the question isn't just about age; it’s also about fairness.

If you are a safe driver, standard insurance often forces you to subsidise the accidents of reckless drivers who happen to share your age or postcode. Telematics is currently the only way to decouple your price from their bad habits.

Whether you are a new driver, a courier, or simply an experienced motorist with a clean record, here is the breakdown of 

why telematics based insurance is increasingly becoming more worthwhile 

The Core Value: Pricing Based on You, Not "Them"

Traditional insurance relies on "proxies" to guess your risk. They look at your job, where you park your car, and your age, and then they assume how you drive.

 removes the guesswork. By using an app (like Zego Sense) or a device to measure your actual acceleration, braking, and cornering, insurers can build a profile of 

, this is a game changer. It means your premium can reflect your actual behaviour on the road. To understand the technical side without the jargon, read our full guide to telematics to see exactly what is being tracked.

Who Actually Benefits? (It’s Not Just New Drivers)

 is that this technology is only for teenagers. While it helps them, the "worth" applies to anyone who drives safely.

You might be a 40-year-old with 20 years of No Claims Bonus, but if you live in a city postcode with high accident rates, your standard premium will still be high. Telematics allows you to prove that 

 specific driving is low-risk, regardless of your postcode.

If you drive for work—delivering food or parcels—you are on the road more than average. Standard insurers see this as "high risk." However, if you are a professional who anticipates traffic and drives smoothly, telematics can help ensure that your higher mileage doesn't automatically result in a punishing price.

Ultimately, the question comes down to the bottom line. The most common question we get is simply: 

 than a standard policy? The data consistently shows that for focused drivers, the personalized rate beats the "group rate."

The Hidden Financial Benefit: Fuel & Maintenance

Is telematics worth it beyond the insurance premium? Yes, because the habits it rewards are the same habits that save you money at the pump.

Telematics apps punish "harsh acceleration" and "late braking." By fixing these habits to satisfy the app, you are inadvertently adopting "Eco-Driving" techniques.

 extends the life of your brake pads and tyres.

 reduces wear and tear on the clutch and gearbox.

 for a better renewal price, you are likely saving hundreds of pounds in petrol and maintenance costs per year.

 The physics behind telematics scoring is based on real safety data. For example, maintaining a safe gap allows you to brake smoothly rather than harshly. You can check the official 

 to see why reaction time matters so much to your score.

To provide a complete answer, we must address the "cost" of telematics: data.

To get the lower price, you have to share data on your trips. For some, this feels invasive. However, modern app-based systems have moved away from the "clunky box" model. It is important to understand the evolution of traditional 

, because modern solutions like Zego Sense run in the background without requiring physical installation.

Another common worry with app-based insurance is legality. Be assured that as long as your phone is secured in a cradle or set up before you drive, using a telematics app is fully compliant with 

If you are a safe driver, this trade is usually highly favourable: you share data that proves you are safe, and you get a price that reflects it.

Is telematics worth it for older drivers?

Absolutely. While young drivers see the biggest 

 drop, experienced drivers often have higher value vehicles and premiums that are inflated by their location. Telematics helps experienced drivers distinguish themselves from high-risk drivers in their area.

Does it penalise me for driving at night?

Not necessarily. While night driving is a risk factor, modern telematics focuses more on 

 you drive. If you are a shift worker driving carefully at 2 AM, a sophisticated system will recognise your safe behaviour, whereas a standard policy might just penalise you for the "night shift" profile.

, not perfection. One instance of harsh braking (which might be necessary for safety) won't ruin your policy. Insurers are looking for consistent high-risk behaviour over hundreds of miles.

Yes. Van insurance is historically expensive due to the size of the vehicle and the nature of the work. Telematics is one of the most effective tools for van drivers to control their costs by demonstrating professional driving standards.

Can telematics  really bring down the cost of your insurance. We reveal all.

Is telematics insurance worth it? The real cost vs benefit analysis

Telematics still makes a lot of drivers nervous. You hear phrases like “black box”, “driver score” and “tracking”, and it’s easy to imagine a little device quietly watching everything you do and reporting back to your insurer.

One of the most common questions is very simple:

“Does my telematics device really know everything I do?”

The honest answer is no, not even close. Telematics only knows the things that help an insurer understand how risky you are 

. It doesn’t know who you’re with, what you’re talking about, or what you do when you get where you’re going. If you want a bigger-picture explainer of where this all sits, it’s worth reading our guide to 

Under the bonnet, a telematics system is basically GPS and motion sensors turned into a picture of driving behaviour. It looks at how the vehicle moves, and then uses a set of rules to translate that movement into a score or rating.

. The app focuses on trips, not your entire day. When you’re on the sofa, walking round Tesco or sitting at work, there is nothing to measure from a driving point of view – so nothing is recorded. Sense is designed around journeys in a vehicle, and around how you drive during those journeys.

This is the big fear: that the device is always “on”, watching everything. In reality, telematics is only interested in driving. It cares about when the car is moving, how quickly it’s moving, and how smoothly it’s being driven. Outside of that, the data isn’t useful, so it’s not part of the scoring.

App-based products like Zego Sense are explicitly built around detecting when a journey starts and ends. If you’re not travelling in a vehicle, there isn’t a meaningful trip to score, and the system treats it that way.

What Zego Sense looks at when scoring driving

Can it see where you go, and does that matter?

Yes, a telematics system can see your route, but it doesn’t care whether that route leads to the gym, a friend’s house or a late-night drive-thru. The route is there to give context to your driving, not to judge your lifestyle.

What matters is how you behave on that route. Did you brake hard because the traffic ahead stopped suddenly? Did you approach a roundabout smoothly or stamp on the brake at the last second? Do you consistently speed up on long, empty stretches, or do you keep a steady pace? The destination doesn’t change the score; the driving style does.

Telematics isn’t secretly building a profile of your routine. It’s just trying to understand road risk.

What about speed, are you marked down for every slip?

Speed is one of the things telematics can see, but not in the “1 mph over and your score is ruined” way people often imagine. What matters is the pattern. If you’re constantly driving well above the limit or combining high speed with harsh braking and sharp cornering, that’s very different to a single, short-lived moment where you crept over during an overtake.

Because telematics can separate those two patterns, 

telematics insurance is generally cheaper if you demonstrate good driving

. The system can see the difference between someone who drives sensibly 99% of the time and someone who pushes their luck on every journey.

Do they know if you’re the driver or just a passenger?

This is a very fair concern with app-based telematics. To your phone’s sensors, being on a moving bus can look a lot like being in a moving car. Good systems are built to filter that out as much as possible and, when they’re not sure, to ask you.

Zego Sense is designed to avoid scoring journeys that clearly aren’t you driving, and to give you a way to correct things that don’t look right. The aim isn’t to catch you out; it’s to build an accurate picture of how 

 drive when you’re actually behind the wheel.

Can telematics listen to you or read your messages?

No. There is no microphone recording your conversations and no “secret” access to your messages or apps. Telematics doesn’t know who you called, what you texted or what playlist you put on. It only sees the movement of the vehicle.

If your driving looks erratic – drifting around the lane, reacting late, braking hard over and over again – the system can recognise that pattern as higher risk, but it doesn’t know whether the cause was your phone, a row with a passenger, tiredness or something else entirely. It only ever sees the outcome on the road.

Does night driving automatically hurt your score?

Some older black-box-style products did take a very hard line on late-night driving, and that reputation has stuck. Modern telematics, especially app-based approaches, tend to be more nuanced.

Night-time is one risk factor among many, not an automatic penalty. What really matters is whether your driving changes at those times. If you’re still smooth, predictable and calm at 11pm, that’s very different to someone who only drives late at night and spends most of it speeding or reacting late.

For shift workers, students and people who simply have unusual schedules, this can actually make telematics fairer than traditional insurance, because you’re judged on 

 you drive at night, not just the fact that you’re out at night at all.

Do they know when you brake or accelerate?

Yes, and this is where telematics really earns its place. By looking at how you accelerate, how you brake and how you handle corners, the system can tell a lot about your level of risk.

Someone who eases up to junctions, brakes progressively and steers smoothly through bends is statistically less likely to be involved in a crash than someone who regularly slams the brakes, floors the accelerator and throws the car into corners. That doesn’t mean an emergency stop will wreck your score. Products like Zego Sense are designed to pay more attention to your long-term habits than to a single moment where a pedestrian stepped out or the car in front braked suddenly.

Do they know how you feel – stressed, angry, tired?

Telematics can’t read your emotions. It can’t see your face, hear your voice or measure stress directly. What it can see is the driving pattern that sometimes comes with those states: erratic speeds, slower reactions, sudden lane corrections.

If that pattern shows up again and again, the system will treat it as higher risk, but it still doesn’t know whether the cause was a bad day at work, a crying baby in the back or something else entirely. It doesn’t need to know the story behind it; it only needs to understand the safety implications.

So what do telematics devices really know about you?

Once you strip out all the myths, it’s surprisingly simple. A telematics setup knows how the car moves when you drive it. It knows whether you generally accelerate gently or aggressively, whether you brake early and smoothly or suddenly and late, whether your speed is usually appropriate for the road, and whether you handle corners with control or throw the car around. Most importantly, it knows how consistent those behaviours are over time.

It doesn’t know who you met, what you talked about, what you bought or what you listened to. It knows driving, not your entire life. And because of that, telematics insurance is generally cheaper if you demonstrate good driving across your journeys, regardless of your age, job title or postcode.

At Zego, we’ve tried to build a telematics experience that feels fair and transparent, rather than mysterious or intrusive. 

 is our way of doing that: a product that focuses on real driving behaviour and gives safer drivers a clearer path to better outcomes over time.

If you’re still trying to work out how the old-school “black box” image compares to modern, app-led approaches, our article on 

 walks through the key differences and helps you decide which model makes more sense for you.

The bottom line is simple: telematics doesn’t know everything you do. It knows how you drive. If that’s one of your strengths, it’s finally something that can start working in your favour.

What do telematics devices really know about us, lets find out.

What do telematics devices really track? 

Growing your good driving know-how means you’re well on your way to earning more rewards. Here are some tips to help you on your way:

Advice to help you make sense of insurance

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