Can I get a discount on car insurance with a dash cam?

What is a dash cam?

A dashboard camera, or dash cam, is a video camera that’s mounted to your front windscreen - and sometimes also to the rear one - to record the road while you’re driving.

Providing evidence of what happens during car journeys, dash cams offer plenty of benefits and have become increasingly popular with motorists.

Insurance companies are also in favour of them, using the footage to quickly help settle a claim. And some insurers consider dash cam users to be safer drivers, so will offer them lower premiums.

Benefits of a dash cam

Having a dash cam in your car means there’s a digital witness to record everything that happens on your journey, the advantages of this are:

• You’ll have evidence when you have a crash or bump. This is particularly useful in crash-for-cash scams and to record the licence plates of hit-and-run drivers
• The footage from your camera can help to speed up insurance claims. It can prove incidents weren’t your fault and help you keep your no-claims discount
• Although most will only record when the engine’s running, some dash cams have motion-detection cameras that can record thefts and vandalism in an empty car
• Dash cams encourage good driving – you know your driving is being recorded and other motorists are more aware of the growing number of cameras on the road

Will I get a discount on car insurance if I get a dash cam?

In 2014, Swiftcover became the first insurer to offer a dash cam discount, and other providers such as AXA, Adrian Flux, Admiral, Diamond and Elephant followed suit. Discounts are usually set at around 10-20%.

Don’t be swayed by discounts alone though. You’ll need to stick to any terms and conditions and the policy still might not be the cheapest or best one for you.

Find out what brand of camera the insurer requires and whether it must be professionally fitted. You might find the initial dash cam investment is more than the discount on offer.

Make sure the camera is always recording when you’re driving. If you can’t supply footage after an accident, you may risk invalidating your policy.

How much do dash cams cost?

Bear in mind that just like any device you buy, the cheaper it is, the less functionality and lower quality output it tends to provide.

So, when it comes to recording what’s on the road, it makes sense to spend your money on a dash cam that records footage clearly and reliably.

They can range in price from as little as £15 for basic models, up to £950 if you choose a high-end combined front and rear dash cam package.

However, most mid-range models will cost around £100 to £300.

Front-facing dash cams tend to be the cheapest, while dual-facing and rear-facing models are more expensive but will provide more information on what’s happening around you.

And if you opt for models at the more advanced end of the scale, you’ll also need to factor in the cost of a monthly software fee.

How are dash cams used for insurance claims?

The police, courts and insurance companies will all consider video evidence from a dash cam as part of their investigations.

This can be particularly helpful if an accident wasn’t your fault as you can avoid cases being settled on a ‘knock-for-knock’ basis – where blame is attributed equally to both parties.

This will also protect your no-claims bonus, so you won’t have to pay an excess and it can help keep your premium down if you renew.

To be of any use as evidence, your dash cam images will need to be reliable and clear.

There are free smartphone apps that can act as a dash cam too. Insurers should accept smartphone footage as evidence after an incident, but they don’t typically accept these apps for dash cam discounts on policies.

Of course, dash cams work both ways - if an accident was your fault, this would also be revealed by the camera footage.

How do I use my dash cam footage to support my insurance claim?

When you have an accident in a car fitted with a dash cam, you should download the footage as soon as you can and make a copy, so it’s not overwritten.

When you contact your insurer, they’ll send you a link where you can upload your footage.

But first, check your insurer’s file size limit - if your file’s too large you may need to edit it or reduce the resolution.

Your insurer will view your files and come back to you with any questions or continue processing your claim.

What if my dash cam didn’t record the accident?

Depending on how your dash cam is fitted, there’s a chance an accident might not be captured in the footage.

For example, this could happen if you’ve only got a front-facing camera and someone went into the back of your car, or if a cyclist came along that was out of the camera’s view.

Sometimes dash cam videos can be lost if the SD file they’re stored on is corrupted. If this happens you could try using video recovery software to help you retrieve them.

Ultimately, if you didn’t record the accident, you’ll only be able to rely on your own statement and any photos you took at the scene, along with statements from any witnesses.

How do you fit a dash cam?

This will depend on the type of dash cam you buy. Simple mirror-mounted cameras or front-facing wired cameras will usually come with easy-to-use installation kits.

Many dash cams will either use a suction cup or sticky back to mount them. But the most important aspect of fitting a dash cam is where you position it.

To comply with the law, the camera needs to be placed behind your rear-view mirror, ideally on the passenger’s side, obstructing as little of your view as possible.

An alternative option is a hardwired dash cam, where you don’t have to deal with wires hanging from the windscreen and they start up automatically with your car’s ignition.

It’s safer to get these models fitted by a professional, and some insurers may insist on this.

Why don’t more insurers offer dash cam discounts?

With dash cams becoming increasingly popular, the number of insurers offering discounts to drivers who use them is growing.

However, the terms and conditions surrounding dash cams can complicate the insurance buying process.

It’s also just one factor insurers use to assess your risk and set your premium. Some may even see the camera itself as a risk, as it could attract thieves.

When you get car insurance quotes with us, we don’t ask whether you have a dash cam. But even if you do use one, it’s a good idea to compare prices and find the best deal for your circumstances.

Find out about telematics car insurance – another way to use technology to prove you’re a safe driver and cut the cost of your insurance.

Are there any disadvantages to using a dash cam?

While dash cams come with many benefits, there are also some drawbacks worth considering:

• They don’t always tell the full story - hazards like cats crossing the road can be out of the camera’s view
• If they’re not fitted correctly the camera could be a distraction or cause a blind spot on your windscreen
• Their cost may not be balanced out by any insurance discount you might get
• Recording someone with a dash cam can be seen as an invasion of privacy
• Your footage could show you’re at fault and could even be used as evidence against you in court
• Dash cams can be appealing to thieves and put your car at risk of being broken into

How to make sure you capture reliable dash cam footage

• Position the camera in the centre of the screen, behind the rear-view mirror
• Make sure your windscreen is kept clean and use your wipers in heavy rain
• Test out the settings to see which resolution works best for you
• Remove anything hanging down from your rear-view mirror
• Choose an SD card with enough memory to avoid it being recorded over too soon
• Turn the G-sensor on so that it will auto-record incidents
• Regularly check your recordings to make sure your dash cam is working properly

How do I get the best car insurance deal if I have a dash cam?

While insurers will sometimes give you a discount for having a dash cam, it doesn’t always mean you’ll get the cheapest car insurance.

To get the best deal, you’ll need to shop around and compare prices. It’s also worth comparing policies with and without a dash cam, to see if there’s any difference in price.