Dash Cam Usage Report: 30% of U.S. Drivers Use Dash Cams, Millions More Plan to Purchase

• 30% of all drivers (69 million Americans) already record their trips with dash cams.
• Urban drivers (40%) are twice as likely as rural drivers (19%) to own a dash cam.
• 36% of those without dash cams (57.8 million Americans) say they will likely buy a device in the next 12 months.
• 40% of dash cam owners have captured a crash or traffic incident, and half used the footage in a claim.
• 70% of all drivers think dash cams should be factory-installed in all new vehicles

Dash-cam videos once existed on niche forums, but today, they fill nightly news tickers and social media feeds. Rising road rage, higher accident litigation, and a booming gig economy explain why nearly one-third of U.S. drivers — or around 69 million people — regularly record their rides. Our June 2025 survey of nearly 1,000 licensed drivers confirms this trend:

Some drivers are more likely to use dash cams than others. Gig workers (53 percent) and urban residents (40 percent)—the people most exposed to accidents and passenger disputes—lead adoption, while low-mileage and rural drivers are least likely to invest in recording devices. Overall, high-mileage motorists driving 5+ hours a week (41 percent) adopt dash cams at more than double the rate of those driving less than an hour a week (19 percent).

Currently, only one U.S. auto insurer, Branch Insurance, offers a discount simply for having a dash cam, but new legislation for commercial fleets could broaden incentives and drive adoption.

Over one-third of all non-owners — an estimated 57.8 million drivers — plan to purchase a dash camera in the next 12 months, suggesting the market is far from saturated. Gen Z sits on the leading edge (45 percent are likely to buy), signaling that younger drivers may regard dash cams as standard gear.

Many other drivers have considered buying a dash cam, yet haven’t fully acted, citing price, installation complexity, or privacy worries. Young adults and men have considered buying cams the most.

Dash-cam skeptics might ask, “Will I ever use the footage?” The answer is yes: our study of 989 licensed drivers revealed that four in 10 dash cam users have already captured at least one crash or traffic event on video, and half of those clips (from nearly one in five owners overall) have been used for insurance claims or other legal matters. This is hard proof that cameras can provide valuable evidence when things go wrong.

According to Ari Gurian, a law firm founder and accident injury attorney, “Video evidence from dashcams can be used to establish fault, document road conditions, and provide context that witness statements might miss.”

Gurian added that while dashcams are valuable tools used to investigate and resolve traffic accidents, their admissibility and influence in court vary depending on the specific circumstances and jurisdiction.

Most users favor single front-facing units, but more than half of owners now add a rear lens, and nearly one-third film the cabin, which is crucial for rideshare safety. The popularity of multi-channel kits underscores how drivers are seeking 360-degree coverage and evidence.

Common Dash Camera Set-Ups

Our study revealed that a supermajority of drivers (70 percent) want automakers to install dash cameras at the factory, with enthusiasm highest among Gen Z, urbanites, and gig drivers. Automakers from Tesla to BMW have noticed consumer interest, adding recorder modes that store dash-cam video directly to the infotainment system.

William Pemberton, a personal injury attorney and law firm founder, highlighted the behavior-shaping benefits of dashcams. “Simply having one won’t directly prevent you from getting into an accident. However, it can make you more aware of your driving, which encourages accountability,” said Pemberton.

“As the prevalence of this tech rises, all drivers could become more focused and be on their best driving behavior since they may assume they’re being recorded,” he added.

A notable share of drivers (17 percent) felt that dash cams shouldn’t be a standard feature for several reasons:

1. Privacy concerns: Many worry dash cams invade privacy, with fears about surveillance, data access, and footage misuse.
2. Personal choice: Many respondents said they want dash cams to be optional, citing individual freedom and consumer rights.
3. Cost burden: Concerns include higher vehicle prices and potential ongoing costs like video storage or subscriptions.
4. Questionable necessity: Some doubt dash cams are essential, arguing that not all drivers need them.
5. Tech fatigue: Some see dash cams as one more tech feature complicating cars and adding failure points.

Three in ten U.S. motorists already rely on dash cams, gig and urban drivers lead the charge, and another third of non-owners say they’ll buy one in the next 12 months, evidence that cameras are shifting from gizmos to baseline safety gear.

Looking ahead, four forces could influence how quickly that shift pays off:

1. Insurance integration is already underway: New laws in Louisiana require insurers to discount liability premiums for commercial vehicle fleets that combine dash-cam video with telematics—a model insurers elsewhere are now watching. On the personal auto side, some insurers are experimenting with telematics programs that reward safe, recorded driving with premium breaks. In the future, it’s possible that these could incorporate dash cam footage. 
2. Automakers are easing installation headaches as more 2025 models leave the factory with cameras baked into their advanced driver assistance systems. Many Tesla, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz vehicles now come equipped with cameras that can record and store video. 
3. New policies are tightening the rules around dash cams: Japan already requires rear-view recorders, and EU regulators are drafting privacy guardrails for commercial dashcams. These trends point to a future where dash-cam footage is as routine and regulated as seat-belt use today.

This report is based on an online survey AutoInsurance.com conducted in June 2025 using Prolific, a research platform. The survey targeted 989 licensed adult drivers aged 18 and older in the United States. Responses deemed unreliable, such as contradictory answers or implausibly fast completion times, were excluded from analysis.

The final sample included an even gender split and broad age distribution:

Most questions were multiple choice, allowing for quantitative assessment. Open-ended questions were included to capture richer insights. These responses were analyzed using large language models (LLMs) to identify key themes and sentiment trends.