Install a dashcam to get 10% off premium, says car insurer

A CAR insurance company is offering drivers a 10% discount on their premium if they install a dash cam.

The use of dash-cam footage of accidents has become common when establishing who was at fault in a crash, and footage of road incidents is often used by gardaí investigating what happened.

AXA Insurance is offering a 10% discount on its premiums if a driver installs a Nextbase dash cam in their car. A typical premium is around €600, so a 10% discount would be worth €60 – enough to buy a basic camera.

AXA director Antoinette McDonald said: ‘Unfortunately, motor collisions are a regular occurrence on Irish roads and it is often the case when settling these claims that witness accounts may not exist or may vary, or it can take time to obtain Garda evidence.

‘Dash cams offer a great way for drivers to get extra peace of mind when they are on the road.’

Nextbase director Richard Browning said dash cams make drivers ‘feel more secure when driving, be it for a quick trip to the shops, picking up the kids after school or a big road trip’.

‘This partnership with AXA is the first of its kind in Ireland and will establish these devices as essential for careful and responsible drivers,’ he said.

‘It offers the opportunity for drivers to save money on their insurance and protect themselves in the event of an incident.’

Nextbase will also match the offer with its own 10% discount on its cameras.

FBD Insurance is also offering a €50 discount on premiums if a driver has a dash cam fitted.

Dash cams are legal, and the evidence recorded can be used in court, provided the owner will testify that the recording is theirs.

The AA recommends using them as a way of settling claims and establishing an incident’s cause.

Insurance expert Jonathan Hehir said: ‘If there are fraudulent claims, a dash cam or CCTV evidence will certainly help, if you can play footage in front of a judge and say, “I hit X at whatever kph and there it is there”.

‘It also can help a judge to decide if the injuries aren’t real. We often come across cases where somebody might say a person just braked in front of them, just hit the brakes for no reason. They say, “No, I didn’t, you just ran into back of me”. If you have a dash cam it can certainly help mitigate things and show who is at fault.’

A Garda spokesman said: ‘It’s like CCTV: if someone has footage of an incident, it’s welcomed.’

A recent study in Britain revealed a quarter of motorists believe having a dash cam improves their driving. It also found 69% of those involved in an accident believe a dash cam would have been useful in settling any insurance claim.

christian.mccashin@dailymail.ie

Footage can be used in court