The Advantages of Dash Cam Footage in an Auto Claim

That's where a dashboard camera (often shortened to dash camera or dash cam) can come in handy. 

The advantages of dash cams are numerous, particularly when it comes to submitting an auto insurance claim. And they're relatively affordable, making them useful tools for your car. 

How do dash cams work? 

A dash cam is a small device that continuously records video when you drive. Some models are forward-facing, capturing your view through the windshield as you drive. Others include rear-facing cameras to record drivers behind you and vehicles alongside you, which gives you eyes in the back of your head even when you’re not looking in your rear-view mirror. 

Many cameras have other features like motion detection or parked mode; with these features, dash cams begin to record if they recognize motion around the vehicle, such as a car bumping into yours while you're parked. Some dash cams can capture audio and video. There are also models that can capture other details like your speed and your location. 

The camera records on a loop, deleting older footage to make room for newer video after the device's SD memory card fills up. The length of that loop depends on the storage capacity of that card, which varies widely. If you want to retain the footage, you can transfer the video to your computer or phone. 

Dash cams vary significantly in cost, but you can get a basic model for about $50. More elaborate versions, which may include added features like GPS tracking or night vision, can cost up to $500.

Dash cams and auto insurance claims

Dash cams can be useful with your car insurance claims in the following ways: 

Determining fault with a car accident claim 

When you have an auto insurance claim, the insurance company will ask for details on what happened and determine who was at fault. But because accidents occur so rapidly, it can be hard to remember every detail after an accident, especially considering the amount of stress such an incident can create. 

Determining who is at fault can be challenging, and drivers often have different perspectives. If you have a dash cam, the situation can become much clearer. If you need to provide information for police reports or to insurance adjusters, being able to consult dash cam evidence will give you the peace of mind that you didn’t leave out any important information.

For example, say you’re driving within your lane when another driver crosses over the double yellow line and sideswipes your car. If that driver claims you drifted over the line and caused the accident, it could come down to your word against theirs. But if you have a dash cam, you can pull up the footage to clearly show you stayed in your lane – and that the other driver crossed into oncoming traffic. With video evidence, you can protect yourself from being wrongly found at fault and avoid higher insurance premiums.

Preventing fraudulent claims

False claims and staged accidents can happen. If you have dash cam footage, you may be able to record any suspicious or unusual behavior by the other driver or passengers leading up to or in the aftermath of the accident, helping to support your account of events. Your insurance company can use the video recording to identify potential insurance fraud and act accordingly.

Identifying drivers

Let’s say you return to your car from the grocery store and find the side of your car dented and scratched, with no note or witness in sight. Or your car is damaged in a hit-and-run accident that happened too quickly for you to note the license plate number of the offending vehicle. 

In cases like these, a dash cam provides video footage you can turn over to the police when you report the incident. Law enforcement may then be able to identify and locate the responsible driver based on the color, make, model and license plate of the other car.

Note that to record when the car is parked, you’ll need a dash cam with a “parking mode” recording feature, which not all models have.

Monitoring a teen driver

If you have an inexperienced driver in your household, a dash cam can be an invaluable way to keep an electronic eye on their driving. You can talk to your teen about installing the camera so they know it's there, and you can use your observations from the footage to discuss safe driving habits. 

For instance, you might check the dash cam footage occasionally to ensure your teen is obeying speed limits, avoiding reckless driving and not using their phone while driving. Knowing the camera is there can encourage your teen to practice safe driving habits and avoid accidents or traffic incidents (which can help you qualify for valuable insurance discounts). 

To monitor the driver, you’ll need to buy what’s called a dual-lens or dual-dashcam unit, with a second camera that faces into the car.

Using a dash cam: Best practices

If you decide to invest in a dash cam, use these best practices to make the most of your new device: 

1. Check the laws in your state: While drivers are typically allowed to use dash cams to record video, some states have laws prohibiting users from recording audio without consent. If your dash cam picks up sound, such as conversations between passengers, you could be in violation of state laws. 

2. Have a plan for storage: Dash cams have limited storage. Typically, you need a separate micro storage card, and those cards can get full quickly. Get in the habit of transferring videos to cloud storage or your computer on a weekly basis. If you’re in an accident, save the video immediately so you don’t lose valuable evidence (some dash cam models will do this automatically).

3. Be proactive with your insurance provider: While dash cams are becoming more popular, not everyone has one. If you have a dash cam and are involved in an accident, be sure to tell your insurer that you have the video and ask them how to submit it to them. Typically, you can upload the video clips to the company's online portal, or you can email the clip to the claims department.