How dash cams can impact car insurance claims

If you need to make a claim for an accident involving multiple vehicles, a hit and run, or even attempted theft, footage from a dash cam may come in handy. Not only can the recording be more reliable than a human witness, but many dash cam models also collect useful data about your vehicle. This data could be used as additional evidence – if any is required.

And in case of a liability dispute for a not-at-fault accident, a dash cam that cost as little as $50 could end up saving you thousands.

What is a dash cam and how does it work?

A dashboard camera – or dash cam – is a small recording device that records video footage of the road while driving. They also sometimes record while the car is parked. Dash cams are usually equipped with wide-angle lenses to provide a broad view of the surroundings.

Most dash cams start recording when you switch on the car, but some require manual activation. The footage is recorded on a loop, overwriting old recordings when the memory card gets full.

Dash cams can easily be installed either against the front windscreen, just behind the rear-view mirror, or above the rear windscreen. When installing, make sure the dash cam is mounted securely and does not obstruct your view of the road behind or ahead of you.

Should I get a dash cam with GPS?

While they may cost more, dash cams with an inbuilt GPS can offer some handy features:

• They can log your vehicle’s speed in the recording. This can be useful in case of an accident or if you receive an incorrect speeding ticket.
• They can record the location and route taken by your vehicle. This can be handy if there are differing versions being offered about an accident.
• Some dash cams have inbuilt Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) which give you driving alerts – such as lane departure and forward collision warnings.

Some GPS models can also connect to a cloud server, allowing you to get real-time data about your vehicle if someone else is driving it.

Do dash cams affect car insurance premiums?

Dash cams don’t reduce the risk of an incident occurring, so they aren’t a factor when determining policy premiums. However, when it comes to claim time, they can help:

• identify at-fault-parties in case of a hit-and-run, or
• establish your version of events if you’re not at fault in a collision.

With GIO Comprehensive Car Insurance, your dash cam can also be covered for accidental loss or damage along with other personal property owned by you in your car at the time of the incident up to $1,000 (excluding cash or smart cards). Read the PDS for the full details and exclusions.

Get a Comprehensive Car Insurance Quote

How dash cams can be useful at claim time

Helping prove you're not at fault

Let’s say there’s a dispute about who ran a red light and caused a collision, but there are no witnesses. A dash cam could help you prove that your version of events is true.

Another example might be a third-party driver reversing into your vehicle and claiming that you had rear-ended them. A dash cam will help settle such a dispute.

However, it's important to note that if your vehicle caused an accident then the dash cam footage will also confirm this.

Capturing additional evidence

Motor accidents can happen in a flash and sometimes it’s difficult to remember when and how they occurred. Dash cams that use GPS can track where your vehicle was prior to and after a collision and even confirm if your vehicle was under the speed limit – all of which can come in handy.

Parking surveillance

Some premium dash cams also come with a feature called Parking Mode. In this mode, if the front or rear camera detects movement, vibration, or an impact, it’ll switch on and record around 60 seconds of footage. This is especially useful in case you need to claim for a hit-and-run or attempted theft.

And if your dash cam is connected to a cloud server then you could receive a notification about the footage in real-time.

How to add dash cam footage to your claim

There are two simple ways to attach your footage to your claim:

• If the file is small enough, you can email the footage directly to myclaim@gio.com.au and include your claim number in the subject line.
• If you can’t send the file via email, we can set up a OneDrive folder and provide you permission to directly upload your footage to our OneDrive.
  

Make a claim

• 12 must-have accessories for your car
  
• Dealing with a car accident involving a parked car
  
• Why it’s important to have roadside assistance
  

Insurance issued by AAI Limited ABN 48 005 297 807 trading as GIO. Please read the Product Disclosure Statement before buying this insurance. The Target Market Determination is also available.

This advice has been prepared without taking into account your particular objectives, financial situations or needs, so you should consider whether it is appropriate for you before acting on it.