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Does installing a dash cam affect your car insurance?


A vehicle is a big investment, so it makes sense that you’d want to protect it in as many ways as you can. A dash cam can be a great way to monitor what goes on around your vehicle. Installing one could help you prove who is at fault in the event of a collision (leading to an easier insurance claim), and it could even help you become a better driver.
Wondering how installing a dashcam might affect your car insurance? We’ve got the answers to your questions.

Can installing a dashcam lower the cost of your insurance?

While most insurance companies in Canada don’t offer a discount for installing a dashcam, a dash cam can indirectly affect your premium in a few ways. Here’s how a dash cam could help prevent increases to your insurance premium:
  1. Dashcam footage can help you dispute a driving ticket. Getting a ticket can lead to an increase in the amount you pay for car insurance — but if you can dispute the ticket using footage from your dashcam, you may be able to get that ticket off your record and avoid an increase in your premium.
  2. Dashcam footage can help determine who was at fault for a collision. After an accident, dashcam footage can act as an extra witness. It can prove who was involved, and it can also be used to prove who was at fault. Since an at-fault collision could lead to an increase in your car insurance premium (even under a no-fault car insurance system), using dashcam footage to prove that you weren’t at fault could help you avoid a premium increase.
  3. Dashcam footage can help catch fraudsters. Fraudsters are pretty good at making it look like a collision was someone else’s fault, but dashcam footage can help prove them wrong — which can help you avoid adding an at-fault collision to your record. An increase in fraudulent claims can also lead to higher premiums for everyone who has insurance, so anything we can do to limit fraud could help keep those increases at bay.
  4. Dashcam footage can help you become a better driver. If you had a close call and you’re wondering what you could do differently next time you hit the road, reviewing your dashcam footage could help. In a time when car insurance rates are on the rise, keeping a clean driving record is one thing you can do to help
Did you know that dashcam footage can act as an extra witness after an accident? It can prove who was involved, and it can also be used to prove who was at fault.

Does car insurance cover your dashcam if it gets damaged?

If you get into an accident and your dashcam takes a beating, your car insurance might cover it, depending on how your dashcam was installed and what province you live in. Here are a couple of examples:
  • Ontario: A permanently installed dash cam could be covered under your policy’s limit for after-market electronic equipment (this limit is usually $1,500)
  • Quebec: Your car insurance will only cover your dashcam if it is permanently attached to your vehicle or if it can only be used with your car
In other cases, your dashcam might be covered as a personal belonging under your home or tenant insurance policy. When your personal belongings are damaged in a car accident, your insurer will usually look at your home and car insurance coverage and determine what should be covered under each.
Contact your licensed car insurance broker or your insurer if you want to find out whether your own car insurance policy will cover your dashcam in the event of a collision.

Can you use your phone as a dashcam?

Yes — if you want to use your smartphone as a dashcam, you can probably find an app designed to do just that. But remember, you’ll still need to follow the rules of the road. Here are some tips for turning your phone into a dashcam:
  • Secure your phone in a stand that doesn’t block your view while you’re driving
  • Get the camera rolling before you leave your parking spot — you shouldn’t be touching your phone at all while you drive
  • Consider getting a bigger memory card, as your phone might not be able to store as much video as a standalone dashcam
If you’re thinking of installing a dashcam and have more questions about how it might impact your insurance, reach out to your licensed car insurance broker today.

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