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Written byJ.J. Starr
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J.J. Starr is an insurance and personal finance expert who has been writing for Compare.com since 2022. Her work has been published across the web, appearing on sites such as Insurify.
Prior to writing for Compare.com, J.J. was a registered banker and life insurance consultant, holding a Series 6, FINRA, and life insurance license. She also earned a master’s degree in writing from New York University.
J.J. has a passion for helping people save money by explaining complex topics like car insurance in a way that is simple and easy to understand.
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Edited byNick Versaw
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Nick Versaw leads Compare.com's editorial department, where he and his team specialize in crafting helpful, easy-to-understand content about car insurance and other related topics. With nearly a decade of experience writing and editing insurance and personal finance articles, his work has helped readers discover substantial savings on necessary expenses, including insurance, transportation, health care, and more. As an award-winning writer, Nick has seen his work published in countless renowned publications, such as the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and U.S. News & World Report. He graduated with Latin honors from Virginia Commonwealth University, where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Digital Journalism.
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Table of contents
Installing a dashcam in your car doesn’t directly affect your car insurance rates, but it can still help you save money.
A dashcam’s recorded evidence protects you during insurance disputes and from fraudulent claims. In turn, this can prevent your premiums from rising unfairly. Knowing you’re on camera can also encourage safer driving, which can earn a good driver discount and lower rates.
Below, we explore the potential benefits dashcam use does and doesn’t offer, plus valuable auto insurance discounts to reduce costs now and in the future.
Do Insurance Companies Offer a Discount for Dashcams?
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While many car insurance companies provide discounts for anti-theft devices, airbags, and other car safety features, no U.S. insurers currently offer discounts for having a dashcam. While some dashcams offer better features than others, “insurance-approved dashcams” don’t exist in the U.S. (but some U.K. companies offer dashcam discounts).
But that doesn’t mean dashcams aren’t powerful tools. They can provide indirect benefits like better driving, robust protection, and lower premiums. We cover all the details in the following section.
Insurance Benefits of Having a Dashcam
While installing a dashcam won’t directly lower your auto insurance rates, it can provide several benefits that can lower premiums over time. Here are the top dashcam benefits.
Helps prove fault
A dashcam provides valuable information if you need to prove someone else caused a car accident. For instance, if another driver runs a red light and hits your car, dashcam footage can show the other driver’s fault. Video footage provides objective, irrefutable evidence, protecting you against false claims and potentially limiting premium increases after an accident.
Gives you a built-in witness
Witness statements bolster support for determining fault, but people often may not be present or willing to make a statement. Disagreements about what happened slow the insurance claims process and may influence an unfair outcome. For example, you’ll have to rely on uninsured motorist protection to cover damages if you’re the victim of a hit-and-run accident.
A dash camera is an unbiased, built-in witness. It records events as they happen and provides solid evidence to prove your case.
Helps fight insurance fraud
Dashcam owners can also use video evidence to protect themselves against car insurance fraud. Sometimes called “staged” accidents, common insurance fraud schemes typically involve a driver intentionally causing a collision to claim damages from the victim.
For example, during a “swoop and squat,” a vehicle suddenly stops in front of you and two other cars block you in, causing a rear-end collision. Another common tactic is the “sideswipe,” in which a fraudster sideswipes a driver who drifted slightly outside their lane, like during a double left turn.
Having a dashcam in your vehicle can ensure you don’t fall victim to these types of scams.
Provides extra security
A dashboard camera offers added security useful in parking lots — a common location for minor incidents and hit-and-runs. Many models can record other vehicles’ license plates if your car is damaged while parked. Authorities can use this footage to identify responsible drivers and support your claim.
Improves your driving
Knowing a camera is watching you encourages safe driving habits by creating an “audience effect.” This occurs when the sense of being observed influences you to make “pro-social” choices, such as driving responsibly, according to a recent study.
For instance, a dashcam that tracks your speed might make you more conscious of the speed limit and cause you to drive slower. Improved driving habits typically result in fewer tickets and accidents, which can offer good driver discounts and lower rates associated with practicing safer driving habits.
Are Dashcams Worth It?
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Dashcams have a wide price range. Low-end dashcams can cost as little as $25, and higher-end models can cost $600 or more. Many top-rated models fall between $150 and $300. Price primarily depends on features and quality, with basic front-facing models usually costing less than dual front and rear cameras.
For example, the Garmin Dash Cam Live, which offers high-definition and driver-assist features, costs just under $400. The highly rated Rove R2-4K Pro — which costs around $130 — has night vision but lacks driver-assist features.
Although a dashcam doesn’t provide direct insurance policy benefits, it could pay for itself after a dispute, vandalism, or a hit-and-run by identifying the at-fault party and preventing premium hikes.
You can also save on out-of-pocket expenses by avoiding paying deductibles — typically $500 or more, depending on your insurance policy. If you avoid all accidents, peace of mind is your only benefit.
Car Insurance Discounts That Can Save You Money
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While dashcam insurance discounts aren’t standard, you can still access other discounts to lower your premiums. Here are a few:
Safe driver discount: Many insurers reward accident-free drivers with discounts, like 22% for GEICO customers who are five years accident-free.
Defensive driving course discount: Completing an approved defensive driving course can qualify you for a discount — for example, around 5% for Nationwide drivers 55 years and older.
Anti-theft discount: Installing anti-theft devices like alarms or GPS tracking can help you save on your comprehensive car insurance policy (up to 23% at GEICO, for example).
Telematics discount: Participating in a usage-based telematics program often earns a large discount. For example, you can save up to 30% with State Farm’s Drive Safe & Save program.
Car safety features discount: Things like airbags, anti-lock brakes, and daytime running lights can earn you a 31% discount from GEICO, for example.
Additional ways to lower premiums include raising deductibles, bundling insurance products, and comparing quotes.
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Dashcam Car Insurance Discount FAQs
Below are answers to common questions about dashcams and car insurance.
No. Installing a dashcam doesn’t directly lower your insurance premiums. But it can provide concrete evidence in the event of an accident, potentially preventing unjust premium increases.
Yes. Insurers usually want to review dashcam footage during a claims investigation. If you have a recording, give the video evidence to your insurer to support your case and expedite the claims process.
No. GEICO doesn’t offer a specific discount for having a dashcam. But you can access various auto insurance discounts for safe drivers and things like passive restraints.
No. State Farm doesn’t offer a discount for installing a dashcam. But you can get a discount for safety features and anti-theft devices.
Sources:
Insurance Information Institute, “Hit-and-Run Accidents Can Hit Insured Drivers by Surprise,” accessed November 6, 2024.
Insurance Information Institute, “Protect yourself against uninsured motorists,” accessed November 6, 2024.
Insurance Information Institute, “Have You Been the Victim of Auto Insurance Fraud? How to Recognize the Signs of a Staged Accident,” accessed November 6, 2024.
Being watched: Effects of an audience on eye gaze and prosocial behaviour,” accessed November 7, 2024.
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J.J. StarrInsurance Writer
J.J. Starr is an insurance and personal finance expert who has been writing for Compare.com since 2022. Her work has been published across the web, appearing on sites such as Insurify.
Prior to writing for Compare.com, J.J. was a registered banker and life insurance consultant, holding a Series 6, FINRA, and life insurance license. She also earned a master’s degree in writing from New York University.
J.J. has a passion for helping people save money by explaining complex topics like car insurance in a way that is simple and easy to understand.
Nick Versaw leads Compare.com's editorial department, where he and his team specialize in crafting helpful, easy-to-understand content about car insurance and other related topics. With nearly a decade of experience writing and editing insurance and personal finance articles, his work has helped readers discover substantial savings on necessary expenses, including insurance, transportation, health care, and more. As an award-winning writer, Nick has seen his work published in countless renowned publications, such as the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and U.S. News & World Report. He graduated with Latin honors from Virginia Commonwealth University, where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Digital Journalism.
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