I want a dual dash camera setup - will my insurer consider it a modification to my vehicle?

I have a BMW X5 and am considering having dealer fitted front and rear cameras fitted. The rear-facing camera is fairly unobtrusive but the front one is pretty conspicuous. I have some concerns about this. Firstly, if fitted is this an alteration that must be notified to my insurer thus incurring a notification fee? The front camera is also pretty visible, is it likely to attract thieves wanting to steal it?

Asked on 22 October 2019 by John

Answered by Georgia Petrie
We advise checking with your insurers and your warranty provider as some companies take different stances on whether dash cams are a modification to a vehicle - especially if they're hardwired. A dual dash camera setup is a great idea, unfortunately, dash cams can attract unwanted attention. It depends on a lot of factors though - i.e., where you live, whether you park on-street or on a driveway etc. Each of our cars at the HJ office has a dash cam fitted and none have ever been broken into, but that's just personal experience. You could opt for something small, like the Garmin Mini, but this isn't compatible with a dual dash cam setup. Or you could opt for a camera that has a quick detachment, i.e. the new Nextbase cameras are charged via the magnetic mount so the dash cam can be removed quickly and put in a glove box while the mount stays attached to the windshield. Then there's no fuss reattaching the mount or wires when you're back in the vehicle.

Garmin Mini review: kit.honestjohn.co.uk/reviews/review-garmin-mini/

Nextbase 422 (and rear cam) review: kit.honestjohn.co.uk/reviews/review-nextbase-422gw/
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