An in car camera or dash cam is becoming an increasingly popular safety accessory for drivers across the UK. The main purpose of a dash cam is to keep track of every detail from your journey, from start to finish, including both video and sound.These devices record footage out of the front windscreen of your car and save it to an internal hard drive or mobile device.
Dash cam technology has been widely used by the police and other public bodies private companies for many years to capture evidence of crimes or keep track of vehicle usage. These days, regular drivers are increasingly finding them a useful way to save money on insurance claims, court cases and even insurance premiums.
Whether you are the sole driver of your vehicle or you share it with others, here are five ways that an in car camera could save you money.
1. Back-up Your Insurance Claims
When making insurance claims, evidence of what happened is vital, but often difficult to come by. If you are involved in a road traffic incident that was caused by another person’s negligent or dangerous driving, the first (and biggest) challenge is proving to your insurance company that they were in the wrong. Otherwise, the claim may impact on your policy or the company could even refuse to payout.
The trouble is, in most cases, the insurance company only has your word to go on, and the other person involved may not be telling the whole truth. In cases like these, a dash cam can not only save your claim, but save you the time and hassle of arguing with other parties and negotiating with the insurer. If you can provide video evidence of the incident that proves the other party was in the wrong, backing up your insurance claims becomes easier than ever.
2. Cut Your Insurance Costs
Because of this, it’s no surprise that insurance companies are big fans of dash cams. Being able to prove wrongdoing with video evidence not only makes it easier for you to claim on insurance, it makes their jobs easier. Plus, drivers with dash cams are generally more cautious on the roads, making accidents less likely.
That’s why some insurers are now actually offering discounts on premiums for drivers who install and use in car cameras. Which? consumer magazine points out that Axa Axa offers new and renewing customers a 10% discount if they use a Nextbase in car camera, and Swiftcover Swiftcover offers a 12.5% discount for drivers with Nextbase dash cams.
3. Avoid Insurance Fraud
Insurance fraud is a huge issue for drivers everywhere. In a nutshell, insurance fraudsters intentionally cause car accidents in order to implicate drivers and extort money from them. This illegal practise often starts and ends before law enforcement are even involved. Fraudsters exaggerate the incident and threaten to take the driver to court for thousands of pounds worth of damages unless they pay a lump sum directly. The fraudsters can even fake injuries to guilt trip drivers into paying up, worried that the court fees will exceed the amount the fraudster is asking for. Drivers of high-end cars are a particular target of insurance fraud, but this illegal activity can affect anyone.
Investing in a dash cam can help deter insurance fraudsters and fight their exaggerated claims. Having a video recording of the incident will give you the evidence you need to prove they willingly endangered themselves and battle their claims in court. Don’t let insurance fraudsters take advantage of you!
4. Capture Evidence for Courts
The last thing any driver wants is to take a traffic incident to court. Unfortunately, in some cases, a successful trial hearing could save you thousands of pounds of damages. Thankfully, dash cam footage can provide you with a much-needed lifeline in difficult legal situations.
If you have been involved in a road traffic incident and have captured the event on your dash cam, you can submit your footage directly to the National Dash Cam Safety Portal. Working in partnership with constabularies across the country, this portal is your first step to contacting local police to defend your claim, deter fraudsters and protect your hard-earned money. Police forces will then be in touch with you on what steps can be taken, and whether the incident will go to court. Having quality video evidence on your side is a valuable first step in securing a court decision in your favour.
5. Keep Track of Your Car Usage
Sometimes your car has been involved in an incident when you weren’t in the driver’s seat. If you share your car with other drivers, such as friends or family members, or you’re a professional driver with rental or ride-share vehicles, your insurance might depend on how careful other people are with your vehicle.
If you are concerned about the safety of other drivers, or believe other people may be using your car without your permission, installing a dash cam is a great way to give you some peace of mind. Many dash cams have the technology to record the entire duration of a journey, from the moment the ignition is turned on to the moment it’s turned off. Simply review the dash cam footage to see if anyone has been using the car in your absence, or to see how careful those drivers have been. And, if someone else gets into an accident in your car, you’ll have the evidence to show insurance companies and the police.
Takeaway: Give yourself peace of mind with a dash cam
Whether you’re concerned about drivers in other vehicles or those in your own car, investing in a quality, automatic dash cam can help you save money in a variety of ways. Give yourself the peace of mind that video evidence is on your side should anything go wrong.
