Honestly, checking dashcams every drive sounds like overkill. Mine's behind the mirror too—out of sight, out of mind. Plus, if something serious goes down, I'm betting someone else's cam caught it anyway...
"Plus, if something serious goes down, I'm betting someone else's cam caught it anyway..."
Fair enough, but relying on someone else's dashcam footage feels a bit risky to me. I've had a couple close calls where my own cam saved me from headaches with insurance claims—especially driving a pricier car, people sometimes assume you're automatically at fault. But yeah, checking footage every single drive is definitely overkill... maybe just glance at it once in a while to make sure it's still recording properly?
Curious though, has anyone here actually had to use dashcam footage in a no-fault state?
I get the logic behind counting on someone else's dashcam footage, but honestly that's rolling the dice a bit too much for me. You never know if their angle actually caught what you need clearly, or if they'll even bother sharing it. I had a buddy who rear-ended someone lightly at a stoplight—nothing major—but the other driver claimed all sorts of damages afterward. Luckily, his own dashcam footage showed how minor it really was, saved him from a huge insurance headache.
And even in a no-fault state, proving you're not at fault can still matter when it comes to premiums and claims history. Insurance companies aren't exactly known for being generous or understanding... Personally, I'd rather have my own evidence handy than trust a stranger's footage that might not exist or might mysteriously disappear when you need it most.
Yeah, relying on someone else's dashcam footage is like counting on your neighbor to water your plants while you're on vacation—might work out fine, but just as likely you'll come home to crispy ferns. Better to handle it yourself.
If anyone's thinking about dashcams but worried about the cost, here's how I did it on the cheap:
1. Skip the fancy 4K models unless you're planning to film a Netflix documentary. A decent 1080p dashcam is plenty clear enough to show who's at fault.
2. Check online sales or refurbished units. Got mine refurbished, saved about half the price, and it's been going strong for two years now.
3. Install it yourself. Seriously, it's not rocket science. Just tuck the cable along the headliner and down the door trim—YouTube tutorials are your friend here.
4. Don't bother with cloud storage or subscription services if you're budget-conscious. A decent-sized microSD card (64GB or 128GB) loops footage automatically, and you can always pull clips off manually if something happens.
5. Make sure you adjust the angle properly—sounds obvious, but you'd be surprised how many people record mostly sky or dashboard.
And to your point about insurance companies—yeah, they're definitely not charities. Even in no-fault states, proving you're not at fault can save you from premium hikes and headaches down the road. My cousin had a similar experience: minor fender-bender, other driver claimed whiplash and all kinds of nonsense. Cousin had no dashcam, insurance sided with the other party, and his premium shot up for years.
So yeah, dashcams are worth it, and you don't have to break the bank. Think of it as cheap insurance against insurance companies...
"A decent-sized microSD card (64GB or 128GB) loops footage automatically, and you can always pull clips off manually if something happens."
Good points overall, but quick question—have you ever had issues with the looping overwriting important footage before you could save it? I'm new to dashcams myself, and I do a lot of long-distance road trips. Just wondering if there's a recommended timeframe to check footage regularly or if you've found a sweet spot for SD card size.
Also agree about skipping the 4K models. Had a friend who splurged on one, and honestly, unless you're planning to film scenic road trip montages for social media, it's kind of overkill. Though... now that I think about it, capturing some epic landscapes in 4K does sound tempting. But yeah, for insurance purposes, basic HD is plenty clear enough.
Anyway, appreciate the tips—might finally grab one before my next cross-country drive.
