How hardwiring a dashcam invalidate your car insurance
Wed, 09 Jul 2025
Motorists are being warned they could invalidate their car insurance if they hardwire in a dash cam.
Hardwiring a dashcam could be considered a modification by car insurers and failing to notify your insurance company could lead to a policy being invalidated – leaving drivers unprotected when making a claim.
Tiger.co.uk, a comparison site, explains that modifications broadly include any alternations to a car that leaves it feeling, driving or looking different to the manufacturer’s standard.
Common modifications include tinted windows, alloy wheels, upgraded exhausts and engine tuning.
However, hardwiring a dashcam involves directly connecting it to a car’s electrical system – which alters the manufacturer’s original specification and is therefore considered a modification that must be disclosed to car insurers.
Motorists often hardwire a dashcam because it means the device can be ‘always on’ when driving and means no trailing wires or 12V sockets.
Regular USB plug-in dashcams are less likely to be considered a modification.
The warning comes as a survey shows more than 6 in 10 drivers say they now own a dashcam. Many now consider them essential tools in protecting against ‘crash for cash’ staged accident scams.
City of London police estimates that such scams accounted for around £70m in fraudulent accident claims in a three-year period.
"Dash cams also help insurers see who is at fault, providing vital evidence in the event of an accident," says Tiger.co.uk MD Ian Wilson.
"However, if the dashcam isn’t declared to your insurer, it could actually invalidate the insurance, so it’s always best to keep your provider in the loop – especially if it’s hardwired to the car battery."
When quizzed, 76% of drivers said they were unaware hardwiring the device to their vehicle is considered a modification.
Wilson added that, once fully informed, some car insurers see a dashcam as an additional safety feature that can help down premium prices. "It acts as a deterrent to thieves and protects drivers from fake claims."
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