One in four motorists face higher insurance premiums as they can’t prove their innocence
Over a quarter of innocent drivers (27%) have been unable to exonerate themsleves after an accident****
Despite this, just 15% of motorists have installed a dashcam – which could help them prove their innocence****
Drivers doubting the positive impact on insurance premiums (45%) is the biggest reason for the brakes being put on dashcam take up in the UK****
A saving of less than £90 would be enough for drivers to consider installing a dashcam****, while three quarters (75%) believe it could make the claiming process quicker****
Seven in ten (69%) would share dashcam footage even if they were at fault during an accident****
Uswitch.com** is calling for more UK insurers to offer discounts for motorists willing to have a dashcam fitted in their car****.**
Over one in four drivers (27%) have been involved in an accident that wasn’t their fault, but were unable to prove their innocence because of a lack of evidence, according to new research from Uswitch.com, the price comparison site and switching service.
However, despite the fact that installing a dashboard camera could help exonerate these innocent motorists and that over nine in ten (94%) are aware of the technology, just 15% have installed one.
The main reason for motorists to steer clear of the new technology is that they doubt it would have any impact on the cost of their car insurance premium (45%). But drivers aren’t asking for much of a saving. With premiums already on the rise, and further increases expected in November when the increased Insurance Premium Tax kicks in, most would consider installing a dashcam for a saving of less than £90 a year .
More than nine in ten motorists recognise that a dashcam could prove their innocence in the event of a claim while a further 86% cite protection against fraudulent claims as the biggest benefit of having one. Over a third (35%) believe that having a dashcam fitted in their car would make them a better driver – all of which could help keep their premiums down.
But it isn’t all about the money they could save. Three quarters (75%) believe a dashcam could make the claiming process quicker and easier. Even being caught out as the guilty party in an accident isn’t putting prohibiting take-up as some may expect – seven in ten (69%) would happily share dashcam footage even if they were at fault during an accident.
Unfortunately, the misconception that dashcams are expensive to buy is putting more drivers off. Four in ten (40%) say that the cost is stopping them forking out for a dashcam, even though they are available for as little as £50. A further quarter of motorists (23%) think that having a dashcam would make their car more desirable to thieves.
However, dashcams are growing in popularity and seven in ten (70%) motorists believe that in ten years time all new cars will be fitted with a device. Uswitch.com is now calling for insurers to offer discounts for motorists willing to install a dashcam in their car, in the same way that many do for ‘black box’ or telematics.
Rod Jones, insurance expert at Uswitch.com says: “Unfortunately, it’s not a case of innocent until proven guilty when it comes to car insurance. With so many motorists facing hefty insurance premium increases after making a claim, anything they can do to prove their innocence should get the green light.
“Installing dashcams in cars could save both drivers and insurers time and money. However, not enough insurers will take these devices into account when they quote. The insurance industry needs to follow AXA and Swiftcover’s lead and offer dashcam discounts in the same way that many providers already do for telematics. Any new technology that helps responsible drivers keep the brakes on rising premiums should be embraced.”
For more information visit www.uSwitch.com or call 0800 093 0607
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Katherine Moss
Phone: 020 3021 5893
Email: katherine.moss@uswitch.com
Twitter: @uswitchPR
Notes to editors
All research referred to, unless otherwise stated, was conducted online by Uswitch Consumer Opinion Panel between 29th June and 20th July 2015, among 2,132 UK adults who currently drive.
When asked; ‘Have you ever been involved in an accident when you weren't at fault, but you weren’t able to prove this to your insurer? Eg. no witness, lack of video footage’, 26.8% answered, ‘Yes’.
When asked; ‘Have you heard of dashcams or dashboard cameras?’, 94.1% answered, ‘Yes’. When asked; ‘Do you have a dashcam fitted in your car?’, 15.1% answered, ‘Yes’
When asked; ‘Would any of the following reasons best explain why you wouldn’t want to install a dashcam? Please tick all that apply’, 44.9% answered, ‘It would be a waste of money – I doubt it would have any impact on the cost of my insurance premium’, 40.1% answered ‘The camera would be too expensive to purchase’, 23.4% answered, ‘I think it would make my car more desirable to thieves’
When asked; ‘What is the minimum amount you would need to save on your car insurance premium to consider installing a dashcam?’ The mean amount answered was £87.67
When asked; ‘Do you think that a dashcam would have any of the following effects on you?’, 75.4% answered, ‘In the event of a claim, it could make the process quicker’, 85.9% answered, ‘It could protect me against fraudulent claims’, 34.6% answered, ‘It would make me a better driver, as I’d be more aware of my driving’
When asked; ‘If you were involved in an accident and you were at fault, would you be happy to submit your own dashcam footage to your insurer?’, 69.4% answered, ‘Yes’
When asked, ‘Do you agree with the following statement: “In ten years, new cars should be fitted with dashcams as standard”?’ 38.0% answered, ‘strongly agree’ and 32.3% answered, ‘agree’. 38+32.3 = 70.3%
Research carried out online with the Uswitch.com Consumer Opinion Panel in March 2015 amongst a sample of 1,146 GB adults. When asked ‘Have you heard of telematics/black box car insurance?’ 3.2% answered ‘Yes – and I have it,’
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