I've had mine plugged into the cigarette lighter for months now, and honestly, clutter hasn't been a huge issue for me. But I do get what you're saying about accidentally unplugging it—happened to me once when I was fumbling around charging my phone. Didn't realize until halfway through the drive, which kinda defeats the purpose of having a dashcam in the first place.
I've been thinking about hardwiring lately, mostly because parking mode sounds pretty useful. Had a friend whose parked car got sideswiped in a lot; luckily his cam caught everything clearly. Saved him from a ton of hassle with insurance. Speaking of insurance...since we're on the topic of no-fault states, does anyone know if insurance companies give discounts or incentives if you have a dashcam installed? Seems like they'd appreciate having clear evidence when accidents happen, but I've never actually checked into it myself.
Insurance discounts for dashcams are pretty hit-or-miss from what I've seen. My insurer didn't offer anything when I asked—said they appreciate the footage if something happens, but no actual discount. Still, I'd say it's worth it just for peace of mind. Hardwiring is the way to go, IMO; clutter aside, you want that thing running 24/7, especially if parking mode saved your friend's butt. Wonder if anyone's had luck negotiating a better rate because they had dashcam footage after an accident?
"Wonder if anyone's had luck negotiating a better rate because they had dashcam footage after an accident?"
I've never heard of insurers retroactively lowering rates just because you provided dashcam footage after an incident. Usually, they're pretty rigid about their pricing models. But I did have a buddy whose dashcam footage clearly showed he wasn't at fault, and it sped up the claims process significantly—saved him from weeks of back-and-forth hassle. Makes me wonder though...has anyone seen insurers actually penalize drivers who refuse to share dashcam footage after an accident? Seems like a gray area.
I've never personally heard of insurers penalizing someone for not sharing dashcam footage, but it wouldn't surprise me if they started nudging people in that direction eventually. Insurance companies love clarity, and dashcams definitely help clear things up fast. I had a minor fender-bender last year, and even though it was pretty obvious I wasn't at fault, the other driver tried to spin a different story. Luckily, my dashcam footage shut that down quick—saved me from a lot of headaches.
"Usually, they're pretty rigid about their pricing models."
Yeah, that's been my experience too. They're quick to raise rates after an accident, but lowering them? Not so much. Makes me wonder if insurers might start offering discounts upfront if you agree to always share dashcam footage after incidents...wouldn't put it past them. Has anyone seen something like that offered yet?
Haven't seen insurers offer upfront discounts specifically for dashcam sharing yet, but honestly, I doubt they'd jump on that anytime soon. Insurers tend to be cautious about introducing new discounts because it messes with their carefully balanced pricing models. Plus, there's privacy stuff they'd have to navigate. Still, wouldn't shock me if some smaller, tech-forward companies started experimenting with it first—just to test the waters.
