3 Reasons Why You Should Install a Dashcam in Your Car

You may have seen the dashboard camera footage of a vehicle stopping short of a pedestrian, only for the pedestrian to throw themselves on the hood with the flair of a professional soccer player. Or a driver who witnesses a terrifying near-collision from the driver's seat.

However, car dashcams aren't just for capturing interesting moments. They're also supposed to provide evidence.

A dashcam can record dangerous driving and help you defend yourself in court, or it can record video of someone attempting to steal your car.

1. A car dashcam can defend you against improper tickets and liability claims

Despite the best efforts of law enforcement, incorrectly issued tickets do occur. According to a Chicago Tribune investigation, thousands of Illinois drivers were issued tickets in error between 2007 and 2014. The tickets were issued by robotic cameras that either malfunctioned or were manipulated, resulting in an increase in citations that city officials could not explain.

If you are wrongfully ticketed and have a dashcam in your car, you may be able to prove your innocence. This would not only keep you from having to pay the fine associated with your ticket, but it would also keep you from accumulating points on your driving record, which can raise your auto insurance premiums.

In the event of a collision, having video evidence can also help — if another driver hits you but blames you for the accident, having video evidence that they are at fault will help you resolve the liability claim quickly in your favor.

2. Dashcams thwart vandalism and car break-ins

The most basic dashcams only start recording when you turn them on. Some, on the other hand, include a motion sensor that activates the camera even when you're not in your vehicle. While more expensive, these devices can send video feeds to your computer or mobile device, letting you know if someone is attempting to steal your car or steal something from it. If your neighborhood or workplace has a high rate of vandalism or car break-ins, this type of camera could aid in catching the perpetrator or even deterring them from committing the crime in the first place.

3. Car dashcams reduce the fraud tax that's built into auto premiums

The advantages of dashcams begin with the possibility of reducing insurance fraud by capturing events that trigger claims.

According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), property and casualty insurance companies lose an average of $34 billion to fraud each year. The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) reports that auto insurance fraud accounts for the majority of that loss.

Insurers in no-fault states like Florida and New Jersey, where the majority of auto insurance fraud occurs, could save billions of dollars by promoting the use of dashboard cameras.

Drivers can help expose staged accidents by installing dashcams in their vehicles. Not only does this reduce the overall financial burden of fraud, but it also demonstrates that you were not responsible for the individual accident. This can save you up to 33% on interest rates.

Dashcam insurance discount

Ideally, the cost of a dashcam would be offset by other incentives, such as lower insurance premiums, especially since many of the benefits help insurers save money over time. However, no major insurance companies in the United States currently offer a premium discount for installing a dashcam in your vehicle.

Branch Insurance, on the other hand, recently partnered with Nextbase Dash Cams to provide policyholders with discounts from both companies.

Drivers with Branch insurance can save 10% on the purchase of a new Nextbase camera, and once installed, they can receive an 8% discount on their car insurance policy.

Branch is a newer company that operates in 24 states.

In addition, a Senate committee bill would require New York insurers to provide a 5% discount to drivers who have a dashcam in their vehicle. If the bill is passed, it may serve as a model for other states to follow.

How dashcams work

Car dashcams aren't as common in the United States as they are in other countries, which explains the flood of dashcam videos from Europe's narrow roads. However, there are few reasons why drivers in the United States should not consider installing one of these devices.

Adequate dashcams range in price from $60 to $150, and installation varies from simple to complicated depending on the model. Basic models are battery-powered or plug into the cigarette lighter in your vehicle. You simply strap the camera to your dashboard or windshield with these models.

Other models are hardwired into your vehicle's battery system and require more technical knowledge to install. The model you choose will be based on your personal preferences, but make sure it has HD resolution and can capture faces and license plate numbers in the event of an accident.