Dash cams have become increasingly popular among drivers, offering a reliable way to record what goes on around your vehicle.
This guide explores how dash cams can impact your car insurance, potentially lowering premiums and simplifying claims. We’ll cover the benefits of having a dash cam, how much they cost and all your burning questions.
A dash cam is a small camera you attach to your car’s windscreen. It records the road and can provide proof you weren’t at fault in an accident, which can help protect your no-claims discount.
There are two types of dash cams:
Every dash cam has a memory card that saves the footage. You can transfer this footage to a computer and share it with the police if there’s an incident.
Having a dash cam has many benefits:
The price of a dash cam varies widely, ranging from as low as £15 to as high as £250 (and sometimes more). It depends on various factors, including the brand and the features the product offers. On average, you can expect to spend between £40 and £70.
If the police stop you and think you broke the law, like speeding, they can ask to see your dash cam footage and use it as evidence. This also applies if you’re in an accident. Remember, it’s illegal to delete dash cam footage if it’s needed for a legal case.
Most dash cams need the car’s power to work, so they stop recording when the car is off. However, some dash cams can record all the time, even when the car is off, providing 24/7 protection.
A dash cam can technically drain your car battery, but it’s not very likely. They usually use less than 5 watts when recording and even less in parking mode. It would take several days for the dash cam to be on without starting your car for the battery to drain. Plus, some dash cams are designed to cut off power if the car battery’s voltage gets too low.
In the UK, you can report drivers using dash cam footage through the National Dash Cam Safety Portal (NDSP). Simply visit the NDSP website to report an incident and upload your video footage. The police force you submit it to will then be able to review the footage.
Courts can use dash cam footage to prosecute driving offences like speeding or reckless driving. For the footage to be valid, it must:
To see if your dash cam is recording:
Many dash cams can record sound, so they can pick up conversations and other noises. Some models let you turn off the audio recording if you prefer.
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