Dash Cams And Insurance : Should You Get One?

A dashboard camera is a device used as a digital video recorder in your vehicle. A dash cam system is mounted on the dash of a vehicle. It is generally in the front and sometimes the rear and side. As the vehicle moves, it continuously records footage. Since roads and highways are public property, it is legal to film. Always check your local laws to make sure it is legal to have a dash cam.

Car insurance companies in Canada do not offer a specific discount if you install a dash cam. If you are in an accident and have a dash cam, they can help you save money in a few ways. They can also prevent your premium from increasing. Here is how :

• Determining responsibility : An at-fault accident can increase your premium. If you have dash came footage that proves you are not responsible for the accident, it can help protect your premiums from increasing.
• Help fight tickets : Some dash cams have the option to record footage while the car is parked and in motion. This can help you dispute a traffic ticket that could otherwise increase your premium.
• Catch fraud incidents : Insurance fraud can include staged accidents by other drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. Dash cams can protect you against being a victim of fraud.
• Improve your driving : Dash cams can help improve your driving skills. If you have a new driver learning how to drive, they can benefit from seeing their driving footage. They can learn what they can improve.

Depending on what province you live in and how the dash cam is installed, it can be covered under your policy. In Ontario, a permanently installed dash cam can be covered under your policy limit for electronic equipment that was not factory installed. Check with your insurer to see if they will include a dash cam in your car.

There are no car insurance savings with a dash cam. However, it can protect you from being deemed responsible for an accident that was not your fault. If you are ever involved with a case of insurance fraud, such as someone faking an accident, a dash cam can prove you are not at fault. It can also help identify and catch fraudsters in action.

Here are the benefits of having a dash can be installed in your vehicle.

Dash Cams Provide Added Security

Dash cams are synced to your car ignition which turns on and off with your car. Some cameras are equipped to run at all times. You can program dash cams to record while parked or if it senses motion, known as parking mode. These settings can benefit your case if there is car theft, vandalism or a hit and run.

Claims Can Be Easier With A Dash Cam

If both drivers debate who caused the accident, a dash cam can determine what happened at the scene of an accident.

Dash Cams Have Safety Features For Your Vehicle

Some dash cams come with automatic motion detection, wide-angle lenses, GPS systems, lane change and collision notifications.

There are a few cons to having a dash cam in your vehicle. Here is what you need to consider if you are planning on adding a dash cam.

Dash Cams Can Be Distracting

Distracted driving attributes to 1 in 5 road fatalities. Changing dash cam settings while driving is dangerous and illegal. You can avoid this by installing the dash cam behind your rear view mirror or on top of your dash.

Risk Of Theft Increases

Technology in cars such as GPS’s, smartphones and cameras are all prone to theft. Consider dash cam options that can record when the vehicle is off or avoid leaving the dash cam in your unattended vehicle.

Dash Cams Only Have Frontal View

Not all dash cams don’t offer a 360-degree view around your vehicle. There may be situations where a dash cam does not get clear footage. There are options for front and rear recording you can look for when buying a dash cam.

Dash Cams Will Not Lower Insurance In Canada

There is no insurance discount for having a dash cam installed. Having a dash cam installed will provide to be valuable if you are in an incident and there are no witnesses, or neither driver will claim responsibility.

In Canada, dash cams are legal, but depending where you live it could be illegal or have restrictions. Roads are considered public space; therefore, drivers can record footage. Another legal consideration is that dash cams should not obstruct your view, and a driver cannot block their windshield.