Dash cams have become a common occurrence on the roads of Britain, with many drivers now using one every day. But can you use its footage in an insurance claim?
The reason why these devices have become more popular in recent years is because they are now more affordable for the average driver and are a fantastic way to provide evidence when an incident on the road occurs.
What is a dash cam?
A dash cam is a camera that is fixed to either your vehicle’s dashboard or windscreen. They automatically turn on once your engine is started and record footage on a micro SD card from your car’s point of view.
Usually, a dash cam will overwrite the previous footage once the card is full, so it’s important to remember to either change the SD card if you have any issues when driving and need the footage to help with a claim.
The footage is timestamped and is a great way to capture anything, should you have any bumps.
If you opt for a higher-end specification model, then the camera can be operational once you have parked your car. You can also purchase a rear dash cam that will record the back of your vehicle too.
Luckily, we have put together a guide on the best dash cam features to look out for.
Are dash cams legal in the UK?
Dash cams are perfectly legal to use in the UK. Where a lot of road users fall down is not having them fitted correctly.
They are not designed to act as a blind spot (in your vehicle, there can already be enough of these if you don’t position your seat correctly); instead, they are there to act as a ‘witness’ should anything happen. It will need to be securely fastened and in a safe place without obscuring your view of the road.
You can use dash cam footage to help prove who is at fault in the case of an accident, especially if there are no other witnesses and it’s your word against theirs.
When doing this, you will need to submit the footage to your car insurer when you first make your claim. They will tell you how to send them the footage in a step-by-step process.
The footage itself can help provide clearer details such as the weather conditions on the day, the exact location of the incident, speed, whether there are other potential witnesses and the make, colour and registration plate of the other vehicle.
When it comes to a dash cam’s effectiveness, it’s all about the quality of the footage. You’ll need clear footage if you want to use it as part of a claim, so it’s useful to make sure it’s clear enough to make out number plates and other important details.
In some cases, dash cam footage can make the difference between a successful and unsuccessful claim.
Once you have submitted your footage, your insurer will check the validity and quality of the images to see if they match up with what you have claimed and whether you are in the right or wrong. If you are not at fault, they will use the footage to help back up your claim against the other vehicle.
If you have footage of a traffic accident or incident and are submitting it as part of a police investigation, you can submit it via the National Dash Cam Safety Portal.
The portal makes it easy for you to submit footage of dangerous drivers to your local police forces. Simply log on, select the local force on the map and follow the instructions.
Does a dash cam lower insurance?
A dash cam will not lower your insurance necessarily, but it does reflect well on you that you’re a safe driver. If you can tell your insurer that you own one of these devices it will reflect well on you, and you can get a discount of up to 15% when mentioning you have a dash cam when getting a quote with us.
For the full insurance benefits of having a dash cam, read our handy guide.
Adrian Flux – experts in providing car insurance
Talk to one of our experts today to find out how you can save money on your car insurance.
We’ve formed relationships with insurers over decades to ensure you get the best value deal for your individual needs, including dash cam insurance.
We offer a discount of up to 15% for drivers using in-car cameras, potentially saving you hundreds of pounds each year.
Call us on 0800 369 8590 or book a callback at a time that suits you.
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