Benefits of Dashcam Footage for a Car Insurance Claim

That’s where a dashboard camera, often shortened to dashcam, can come in handy. The benefits of a dashcam can be especially helpful when you need to report damage, explain what happened or support an insurance claim. And because many models are relatively affordable, a dashcam can be a practical tool for everyday driving.

Quick takeaway: A dashcam may not automatically make car insurance cheaper, but it can help document an accident, support your claim and provide an additional record of what happened – and sometimes get you an insurance discount.

How do dashcams work?

A dashcam is a small device that continuously records video when you drive. Some models record only the road ahead, while others also capture activity behind or alongside your vehicle.

Common dashcam features may include:

• Forward-facing or rear-facing cameras
• Motion detection or parked mode recording
• GPS tracking or speed monitoring
• Audio recording
• Loop recording that replaces older footage automatically

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.

Dashcams 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.

Dashcams and auto insurance claims

Does a dashcam help insurance? In many cases, yes. Dashcam footage may help clarify what happened after an accident, support your version of events and provide useful evidence if fault is disputed.

Here are some common ways dashcam footage may support an insurance claim:

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 dashcam, the situation can become much clearer. If you need to provide information for police reports or to insurance adjusters, being able to consult dashcam 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 dashcam, 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 dashcam 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 dashcam 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.

To record when the car is parked, you’ll need a dashcam with a parking mode feature, which not all models have.

Monitoring a teen driver

If you have an inexperienced driver in your household, a dashcam 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 dashcam 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. For related savings opportunities, you can also review available auto 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 dashcam: Best practices

If you decide to invest in a dashcam, 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 dashcams to record video, some states have laws prohibiting users from recording audio without consent. If your dashcam picks up sound, such as conversations between passengers, you could be in violation of state laws.

2. Have a plan for storage: Dashcams 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 dashcam models will do this automatically).

3. Be proactive with your insurance provider: While dashcams are becoming more popular, not everyone has one. If you have a dashcam 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.

If you need help after an accident, it can also help to review “How to File an Auto Insurance Claim: A Step-by-Step Guide” and “What to Do After a Car Accident”.

Are there dashcam insurance discounts?

Discounts vary by insurer and state, so a dashcam by itself may not result in lower rates. If lowering your premium is a goal, you may also want to explore programs like StreetSmart by Amica, which uses telematics to evaluate driving behavior. You can learn more in “What Is Telematics, and How Does It Affect Car Insurance?”