Dash cams offer a reliable witness when you’re out on the road, but does this mean your car insurance provider will cut you a better deal?
Dash cams offer peace of mind when you’re behind the wheel, knowing that the footage can offer reliable supporting evidence in the event of an accident. Your home insurance provider might offer a discount if you’ve got deadlocks, so how do dash cams impact your car insurance?
Unfortunately, insurers don’t tend to allow for dash cams when calculating your premiums, because they don’t actually reduce your likelihood of getting into an accident.
That said, a dash cam could certainly save you money when it comes to making an insurance claim and proving who is at fault.
Can my dash cam record even when my car is parked?
Yes, many dash cams offer Parking Mode, which automatically records video whenever the car feels a bump.
Parking Mode makes it easier to track down the culprit if someone sideswipes your car, scratches it or tries to break in when you’re not around.
Can I use my dash cam footage to prove I’m not at fault?
Yes, car insurance providers are generally quite happy to review your dash cam footage to see what really happened. You might be able to email them the video file, upload it to a website or post it to them on a disc or USB stick.
Along with proving your case and settling your claim more quickly, dash cam footage proving that an incident wasn’t your fault can also help protect your no-claim bonus.
Keep in mind, the quality of the footage is important, along with a reliable timestamp and GPS location.
In the event of a serious incident, police may seize dash cam footage as evidence. Depending on where you are in Australia, it may not be admissible as evidence in court if it captures private activities or conversations, rather than what took place in a public space.
Can someone else’s dash cam footage be used as evidence against me?
Yes, if there’s an incident the other driver can supply their dash cam footage to their insurance company as evidence against you.
Other drivers who witnessed the incident may also offer up their footage as evidence of exactly what happened.
Can my dash cam footage be used as evidence against me?
Drivers can choose whether or not to submit dash cam footage as part of a claim, says Australian insurance giant IAG. It’s unlikely other car insurance providers would demand you hand over your footage. \
Likewise, another driver’s insurance company is unlikely to demand to see your dash cam footage if you don’t want to share it. Remember, if it’s a serious incident, police might have the power to seize your footage as evidence and perhaps use it against you.
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