Dashcam mounted on dashboard- legal in UK?

ARainyDay

Evening all- new driver here, and just bought my first car. I have read articles about the legal placement in the UK for dashcams- the ones that reference a windscreen wiper's surface, like this article here https://www.incartelematics.com/faq-items/legal-placement-of-dash-cam-uk/- but they all seem to refer to dashcams mounted from the top of the car, by the rear view mirror.

However, I cannot find any guidance or articles about whether it is legal to mount your dashcam on the dashboard, which is where I have currently mounted mine (it's mounted as close to the edge of the dash as possible- just right above where the radio is, so a good distance away from the windscreen). I copied a friend's dashcam positioning without much thought, but now I'm having doubts whether this is legal or whether I could get fined/penalty points etc. My friend is unsure as well, which is why I have taken to the forum for advice. My thinking was that lots of people have those bobbly head toys stuck on their dash, which I would consider more of an obstacle than my dash cam.

Any advice or guidance would be greatly appreciated. In addition, if anyone has any advice on where is best to stick a phone mount for purposes of using Google maps on my phone for navigation that would be brilliant. Thank you!

Herzlos

As long as it doesn't obstruct the view it'll be fine. People normally mount them at the top edge of the windscreen to get a better view of the road ahead, though.

35har1old

ARainyDay said:

Evening all- new driver here, and just bought my first car. I have read articles about the legal placement in the UK for dashcams- the ones that reference a windscreen wiper's surface, like this article here https://www.incartelematics.com/faq-items/legal-placement-of-dash-cam-uk/- but they all seem to refer to dashcams mounted from the top of the car, by the rear view mirror.

However, I cannot find any guidance or articles about whether it is legal to mount your dashcam on the dashboard, which is where I have currently mounted mine (it's mounted as close to the edge of the dash as possible- just right above where the radio is, so a good distance away from the windscreen). I copied a friend's dashcam positioning without much thought, but now I'm having doubts whether this is legal or whether I could get fined/penalty points etc. My friend is unsure as well, which is why I have taken to the forum for advice. My thinking was that lots of people have those bobbly head toys stuck on their dash, which I would consider more of an obstacle than my dash cam.

Any advice or guidance would be greatly appreciated. In addition, if anyone has any advice on where is best to stick a phone mount for purposes of using Google maps on my phone for navigation that would be brilliant. Thank you!

Is it hardwired?

Bigphil1474

OP, I use my phone as a front facing dash cam, mounted on a holder above the entertainment unit in the middle above the dash. From what I can remember when I read the rules, it basically said that the camera needs to be mounted outside the drivers view of the wiper sweep (maybe 1 inch inside max allowed?). All i did was make sure that when I'm sat in the drivers seat the phone is outside that wiper sweep. Works fine for me, and it is called a dash cam for a reason.

Fortunately my car has android auto so don't need it for google maps, but you want it to be mounted somewhere you can glance without having to look away from the road. Most I have seen are mounted on the mid air vents to the left of the steering wheel. 

MattMattMattUK

The best place to mount is to the left of the rear view mirror, as high as possible. It gives the camera the best unobstructed view of the road and does not obstruct the driver's view in any way either. 

ARainyDay

Thank you all for your responses. No it's not hard wired. Thank you also for the recommendation about the left of the rear view mirror- I may well end up looking into doing it that way and getting the wires hidden behind the trim- where it is currently positioned does give a clear view, including licence plates of vehicles up front, but it might be best in the long run to place it there

born_again

Camera needs to be placed in wiper sweep area, or pictures can be useless due to rain & dirt.

Indout96

Mine is on left hand (Passenger) side just above dashboard, it is just in wiper area and gets a perfect view of full road & pavement. Wire then just runs behind dashboard and under waterfall to power socket