Why Dashcams Matter More For Claims Than Premiums

A dash cam (short for dashboard camera) is a small video camera fitted inside a vehicle. The purpose is to record the road ahead continuously, and sometimes the rear or cabin, when driving. At this stage, dashcam footage in cars is not widely or formally linked to premium pricing in India in the way telematics or usage-based insurance models work globally. Most insurers are currently using dashcams more as a claims-support and fraud-deterrence tool rather than a direct pricing input.

Clarity In Disputed Claims

“However, we may begin seeing selective, program-based benefits—for example, faster claim processing, reduced dispute timelines, or a small premium consideration—especially for customers who opt for safer behavior frameworks, verified driving patterns, or structured submissions,” says Narendra Bharindwal, president, Insurance Brokers Association of India (IBAI). Any move toward premium linkage will also depend on the standardization of data capture, consent frameworks, and regulatory comfort.

Dashcam footage can be highly useful and increasingly persuasive, especially in resolving ⁠disputed liability (who hit whom / lane violations/signal jumping) and staged accidents and fraudulent claims. It can also be useful in hit-and-run scenarios and exaggerated third-party injury narratives.

Helpful Evidence, Not Proof

That said, it is supporting evidence, not absolute proof, in every case. Reliability depends on factors like continuity of footage (before/after the incident), ⁠visibility (night, rain, glare, angle limitations), ⁠time/date stamp accuracy, tamper concerns or edited clips, and whether the footage captures the full context (speed, right of way, blind spots).

“So, while dashcams can significantly reduce subjectivity, insurers will still triangulate it with surveyor findings, vehicle damage patterns, location evidence, police documents, and witness accounts wherever required,” says Bharindwal.

In the medium term, yes, the potential is strong, but it will likely evolve gradually. Dashcams can support a future where insurance becomes more aligned to actual driving behavior, ⁠accident frequency and severity trends, ⁠risk profiling by usage patterns, and fraud propensity detection.

Pricing Impact Remains Limited

However, personalized pricing will only scale when we address key concerns such as customer consent and privacy safeguards, ownership and access rights to footage/data, standardization of devices and formats, data integrity, and admissibility in disputes. Also, one needs to avoid mispricing due to partial or incomplete driving data.

A balanced way forward could be an opt-in ecosystem, where customers choosing to share verified driving/incident evidence may get service advantages first (faster settlements, reduced disputes) and later potentially measurable pricing benefits as the model matures.

“Overall, dashcams are likely to first transform claims efficiency and fraud control and then progressively influence pricing sophistication as India moves toward more technology-led motor insurance frameworks,” says Bharindwal.