Published Thursday, February 22nd, 2024

There’s a pop culture phrase that says “pics or it didn’t happen” which is an appropriate way to start the conversation of why you need a dashboard camera (dash cam.) Road trips and every day driving can be stalled with a collision and while often you can identify the cause of an incident, sometimes it’s one driver’s word against the other. If insurance claims are involved, it gets even more complicated.

“They cut me off!”
“They hit me, not the other way around!”“They hit the brakes for no reason; that’s why I rear ended them. It’s their fault.”
“I didn’t think they would run a red light.”
“I thought it was safe to pass.”

And the list goes on.

Investing in a dash cam is a proactive way to have an enjoyable road trip that offers an extra set of digital eyes as you roam the roads.
Here are four reasons why you need a dash cam:

It serves as a witness in a collision when there’s no human

Whether you see a collision or are involved in one, a dash cam can provide an accurate account of what happened. If someone rear ended you and claimed you reversed into them, a dash cam (specifically a rear-facing one) can help illustrate what actually happened.

It can also help in cases of attempted insurance fraud, similar to the instance above.

Pedestrians have flung themselves against a stationary vehicle and claimed the vehicle hit them. Drivers run red lights/stop signs causing collisions. Drivers make illegal turns, speed, and drive while distracted or impaired.

Having a dash cam provides an extra set of eyes that can provide irrefutable proof of an event.

You can capture beautiful driving footage in scenic areas

If you’re driving in and around the mountains, along the sea or other scenic areas, your dash cam can capture those moments. You can keep them as memories of your road trip or perhaps use them for social media/video creation if that’s something you’re into.

It can help protect your vehicle when its parked

Whether you’re on a road trip or in your own city, your car will be parked in a parking lot, street or driveway. Having a dash cam can help if someone bumps into your car while it’s parked by capturing video of any such unfortunate event. Some people still leave notes on the windshield explaining what happened and a phone number but regrettably, some do not. Your dash cam comes in handy here by possibly getting the other person's license plate.

Dash cam apps can provide updates in real time

If the above happens re: parked car damage, you don’t always have to wait until returning to your car to find out. Some dash cams have apps with motion detectors/sensors/alerts in real time.

Also, if someone is attempting to steal your vehicle, you can get an alert to your smartphone and call the police.

Here are some answers to common dash cam questions:

Do I only need one dash cam?

The majority of dash cams are forward-facing but also consider investing in a rear-facing camera. It can provide plenty of value if your vehicle is hit from behind and can possibly help with insurance claims in a collision. While it’s not guaranteed to be accepted by an insurance company, it’s better to have it than not.

Better yet, invest in a third one that monitors the inside of your vehicle. If someone tries to steal your vehicle, some dash cams can capture facial details. If someone comes up to your window in an unfriendly manner, the exchange can be documented.

Are there insurance premium discounts for having a dash cam in Canada?

The auto insurance industry in Canada currently offers no discounts however with the rise in auto thefts and collisions, perhaps that will change in the coming months/years.

What are the most important things to look for in a dash cam?

Image quality, image quality, image quality.

Take two approaches here with the first being “if it’s too good to be true, it probably isn’t.” If you see a dash cam wildly underpriced and promising every new piece of technology, dig deeper and do extra research to validate it.

The second approach is “you get what you pay for.” There’s a premium applied for additional technology so perhaps you’re investing an extra, for example, $100 for a higher model. Consider what benefits come with that, especially a higher image quality and higher resolution.

Also, make sure you have the right SD card, especially if you’re running three cameras at once (front facing, rear facing and interior.) The wrong card might not be able to write all the information to that card and if something were to happen, you may not have the video footage you thought you had.

I have a Nextbase 622GW and thankfully, I haven’t had to pull footage from it for any reason. It suits my needs but please, please, please, examine and determine what your needs are.

With proactive and defensive driving, hopefully you won’t have to ever pull footage for yourself.

What else should I consider when looking for a dash cam?

With all things camera-based, there’s more than the end result of a high quality video/image.

Consider one that’s easy to install, how much storage it has vs what you need, one that’s easy to use for you, one that has voice controls, if it has an app associated with it and how strongly it secures to your windshield/dashboard/rear window.

There are dozens of YouTube channels that show how handy dash cams are via dash cam users uploading clips of collisions and close calls to illustrate how many instances in which a dash cam is a smart investment.

Drive safe and keep your eyes, real and digital, on the road.

Four Reasons Why You Need a Dash Cam