Bell specialises in insurance for young people, who typically face sky-high premiums. Find out what its policies include, the pros and cons of cover and how to find the best deal for you.
If you’re a young driver looking to save on your car insurance policy and you don’t mind having your driving monitored, Bell and its black box policy could be a great option for you.
The cover is not as comprehensive as what’s on offer from some other providers, but it’s generally more affordable. Bell’s black box policy comes with less restrictions than most other black box providers and there’s a 24/7 emergency helpline available to all customers.
Get started by visiting Bell’s website and sign up for a policy. If you have read this review and decided that Bell car insurance is not for you, you can also compare other car insurance policies on the market.
Pros
Affordable policies.
Fewer restrictions than many other black box providers.
Audio equipment and European cover included as standard in higher policy levels.
24/7 emergency helpline.
Cons
Only black box policies available, which means your driving will be monitored.
The cover on offer is not as comprehensive as some other providers.
It’s a legal must to have at least third party insurance for your car in the UK, and by agreeing to have your driving monitored by a black box in your car, you could lower your premiums. Bell claims to be able to offer a better deal on this type of insurance. We’ve looked at what the policy includes and whether there are any restrictions.
Who is Bell?
Bell is an insurance company that was launched in 1997. It is a subsidiary of Admiral Group plc. Bell specialises in “black box” telematics insurance for safer drivers.
Who underwrites Bell car insurance?
Bell’s car insurance is underwritten by Admiral.
Black box car insurance is an innovation that is helping safe young drivers avoid being penalised for the risk profile of their age group (who are prone to having expensive accidents). Bell offers 3 levels of cover: third party only, third party, fire and theft and comprehensive insurance. You’ll only have to drive with the black box for the first 6 months of your first policy. Plus, Bell doesn’t impose mileage restrictions or curfews.
Designed to separate out the safe from the speeders, black box car insurance is aimed at less risky young drivers who might otherwise be tarred with the brush of the 17–25 age group. Rather than paying the premium for the higher likelihood of accidents, safe young drivers can install a monitoring device in their car to prove to an insurer that they drive responsibly, resulting in lower premiums.
With Bell, the black box is a simple plug-in device that will monitor your driving for the first 6 months of your policy and your premium may be reduced upon renewal. Bell also promises not to raise the cost of your insurance if you don’t get a great black box score, although your premium will be raised if you go for renewal after the policy completes.
What’s covered under my policy?
Cover
Third party only
Third party, fire and theft
Comprehensive
Black box and installation
✓
✓
✓
Driver feedback
✓
✓
✓
Audio cover
–
Max £1,250
Max £1,250
Windscreen cover
–
–
✓
European cover
✓
✓
✓
Courtesy car
–
–
✓
Personal belongings
–
–
Up to £100
Personal injury
–
–
Up tp £5,000
24-hour emergency helpline
–
–
✓
Optional extras
You can increase your level of cover with Bell’s optional extras, making sure your car is protected to the level you want:
Breakdown cover. Available as Local, National Plus and European Plus, Bell’s breakdown cover includes roadside assistance and a choice between onward travel and return expenditure or overnight stay expenses should your car be unable to carry on with the journey.
Motor legal protection. This means you can claim for the cost of legal expenses that arise from any accident you find yourself in as well as any legal disputes about your car or the cost of claiming back expenses if an accident is not your fault.
What are Bell’s different policies?
There are 3 levels of car insurance with Bell:
This is Bell’s most basic cover and the legal minimum. It only offers cover for claims made by third parties, so if you’re involved in an accident that is your fault your it car won’t be covered.
Aside from covering other road users’ cars if you damage them, and your car if it’s stolen or damaged by fire, Bell’s third party, fire and theft cover includes 90 days’ travel in Europe and audio cover for your sound system.
Comprehensive cover might be for you if you’re looking for a little more than that. With Bell, comprehensive cover also includes as standard: windscreen cover, personal injury, personal belongings and a courtesy car.
What is my excess?
It’s important to read your policy carefully as it will detail how much of any claim you will be expected to pay before your insurer will pay out. This is called the excess, and how much it is depends on your policy and what kind of claim you are making.
How do I make I claim?
If you need to make a claim, you can call Bell’s claims team on 0333 220 2041 at any time. Alternatively, you can claim via Bell’s online claims form, available on its website.
Bell car insurance customer reviews
On customer review platform Trustpilot, Bell has 1.6 out of 5 stars and a rating of “Bad”, based on more than 275 reviews.
On similar platform, Reviews.io, the company has 3.3 out of 5 stars, based on nearly 200 reviews. 58% of customers say they would recommend the service.
Customers like the good service, but some report price hikes and a lack of transparency (updated May 2024).
How to cancel Bell car insurance
To cancel your policy you need to call 0333 220 2008.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. You can call Bell and it will arrange for your policy to start immediately.
Yes. You only need to install the black box when it arrives, and as long as that’s 2 weeks from when your policy began, you won’t run into any trouble.
You can pay in one instalment by Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Visa Debit/Delta, Maestro or Solo and you’ll save 10% by paying in a lump sum. Alternatively, you can set up a direct debit and pay by instalments.
You can travel for no more than 30 consecutive days (up to a total of 90 a year) in mainland Europe at no extra cost. If you want to travel elsewhere, Bell is in some cases able to issue insurance for that, too, but you’ll need to ask.
You can check your expiry date and other policy details online.
The offers compared on this page are chosen from a range of products we can track; we don't cover every product on the market...yet. Unless we've indicated otherwise, products are shown in no particular order or ranking. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations), aren't product ratings, although we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it; this is subject to our terms of use. When making a big financial decision, it's wise to consider getting independent financial advice, and always consider your own financial circumstances when comparing products so you get what's right for you. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables has the source: Moneyfacts Group PLC. In other cases, Finder has sourced data directly from providers.
*Based on data provided by Consumer Intelligence Ltd, www.consumerintelligence.com (Mar ’24). 51% of car insurance customers could save £539.54
Millie Spark was a writer for Finder and covered a range of subjects including how to get the best deal on everyday shopping, and insurance. See full bio
Jason is a freelance writer and editor. He worked as a senior subeditor for Finder for 5 years and in that time became familiar with a wide range of financial products and services. Before that, he worked for Australian Associated Press. He has a BA from Macquarie University in Australia. Jason loves to help other people find new ways to save money. See full bio
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