How Your Driving Behaviour Affects Your Insurance Premium

Car insurance in the UK isn’t just about your age or postcode. It’s increasingly shaped by how you drive. From hard braking to smooth acceleration, your driving behaviour tells insurers how much of a risk you are behind the wheel. And that can directly impact what you pay at renewal.

Let’s look at how insurers assess driving habits, what technology tracks it, and how better driving can lead to lower premiums, especially with the help of Motion Shield.

The Shift Toward Behaviour-Based Insurance

Traditional insurance relies on static factors like age, address, vehicle type, and claim history. But with connected cars and telematics data, insurers can now personalise pricing by analysing real-world behaviour.

Telematics boxes, smartphone apps, or even in-car systems record metrics such as speed, braking, cornering, and journey times. The better you drive, the safer you appear and the lower your potential premium.

According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), safe drivers on usage-based or telematics policies can save up to 30% on annual premiums compared to standard pricing (ABI, 2025).

What Driving Behaviours Insurers Look At

Insurers track multiple aspects of your driving to determine your risk profile, including:

• Speed management: Keeping within limits shows awareness and control.

• Smooth braking & acceleration: Predictable movements reduce collision risk.

• Time of driving: Regular late-night trips increase accident probability.

• Journey consistency: Short, careful drives weigh better than erratic high-speed trips.

• Phone distraction: Some telematics apps detect mobile use while driving.

The safer your pattern, the more insurers trust that you won’t make costly claims.

Reference: ABI – Telematics motor insurance (2025)

How Good Driving Saves You Money

Safe driving data helps insurers reward consistency with better renewal rates. If your telematics score improves, you might see lower premiums or special discounts with participating providers.

Even if your insurer doesn’t directly use telematics, maintaining strong driving habits can prevent claims, keeping your no-claims discount intact and your record clean are keys to reducing long-term costs.

💡 How Motion Shield Helps Drivers Improve Their Score

Motion Shield’s Driver Score+ feature gives every user access to transparent, real-time feedback on their driving habits without needing a black box. It highlights where drivers can improve, such as smoother braking or better route timing, and provides monthly progress insights.

Over time, these insights help drivers build safer habits that reduce insurance costs. Combined with DriverPlus membership, users can even book one-to-one sessions with Motion Shield advisors to understand how their data affects premiums and how to negotiate better policy terms.

By understanding and improving your Driver Score+, you’re not just becoming a safer driver, you’re investing in a cheaper, fairer insurance future.

Insurers now care as much about how you drive as where you live. By driving consistently and responsibly, UK motorists can unlock lower insurance prices and keep more money in their pockets.

With Motion Shield, drivers don’t just get another tracking tool. They get the guidance, insights, and expert support needed to turn better driving into real-world savings.