You’ve seen those videos floating around social media of crazy car accidents and drivers acting recklessly while on the road. Some of them are so extreme that you wouldn’t believe them if you hadn’t actually witnessed the behavior, but thanks to dash cams, that’s possible. Dash cams are becoming more popular, and buying one might seem like a good investment. But does a dash cam lower insurance?
Insurance companies don’t currently offer drivers discounts for having a dash cam in their vehicle. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that buying a dash cam isn’t worth the cost.
Dash cams continuously record video footage through your front windshield, and depending on the camera you buy, it might record footage through your back window and inside your vehicle. Some models also record your speed and surrounding sound, and there are also cameras that will turn on and start recording if they detect movement – such as a break-in or collision – while your vehicle is parked and off.
Dash cam video footage can be its own type of insurance against events that you might be found financially liable for.
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A dash cam gives you a video record of lots of what happens while you’re driving, and potentially while your car is parked. There are several benefits to having access to this footage.
If you’re involved in a car accident but the other driver is at fault, it can take a while for the insurance company to work through the claims process. And, in some cases, you might be found at fault if there isn’t clear evidence that the other driver caused the accident.
With dash cam footage, you can show the responding police officer and your car insurance company just what happened. The footage provides extra information about the accident and might help speed up the investigation and claims process. It could help ensure that the other driver is found at fault, but if you made any errors, the footage could prove that you’re liable.
If you have comprehensive coverage on your vehicle, then your insurance company should cover repair costs after you hit a wild animal. If you have dashcam evidence of the accident, you can provide this to your car insurance company, and it might help speed up your claim.
If your vehicle is damaged while parked, such as if it’s stolen or vandalized, it can be difficult to find the culprits. Dash cam footage may help the police identify the vandals or thieves and get your property back.
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While a dash cam won’t reduce your insurance, it might speed up and clarify the claims process. You can save money on your car insurance in other ways, such as by shopping for quotes at least once a year. You can get free car insurance quotes online today to start exploring available policies.
Paige Cerulli Paige Cerulli is a freelance content writer and journalist who specializes in personal finance topics. She graduated from Westfield State University and brings more than a decade of professional writing experience to the ConsumerCoverage team. Paige’s work has appeared in outlets including USA Today, Business Insider, and more.
