A third of drivers could save on car insurance by installing dash cams

A third of drivers in the UK could save money on their car insurance by installing a dash cam, research suggests.

A once rare object spotted on the occasional dashboard, dash cams have become increasingly popular with drivers in the UK, with about three million people now owning a dash cam or helmet cam, according to research conducted by Money Expert.

And, while the main reason for installing a dash cam — for 70% of people — is to catch road traffic collisions on film — something that has resulted in over 5,000 cases of police action in the last 20 months — one in five Brits have also done so in the hope of saving money on their car insurance.

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In the survey of over 2,000 drivers, two thirds of those with dash cams said they have used footage as part of their claim. What’s more, a third of these said the footage helped them successfully prove they were not at fault.

This isn’t the only way installing a dash cam can help Brits save on car insurance. Some insurers actually offer discounts of up to 20% for those who install dash cams, Which? found earlier this year.

These figures could jump in the coming years, as over half (54%) of UK drivers agree it should be a legal requirement to have a dash cam. Nearly as many (44%) expect it actually will be made a legal requirement in the next few years.

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Dash cams aim to catch collisions, vandals, and road rage incidents. Although road rage normally presents itself in the form of a few choice words and hand gestures, it can be a more serious matter.

In 2018, the Department of Transport reported that over the previous three years, more than 5,280 people were either seriously injured or killed because of angry driving and road rage.

However, one in five people with dash cams believe it has made them a better driver because it made them feel more alert (48%), or gave them more confidence (44%) — either because there’s now a digital witness to any mistakes or road rage outbursts, or because it saves them money.