To save dashcam footage after an accident, first make sure everyone is safe. Then follow your camera’s instructions to protect the recording, copy the relevant files to another device and check that they play. Ask your insurer how to submit a copy, and keep the original files.

You do not need to work out who was at fault before preserving the footage. Save what is available so an insurer or adviser can review it alongside the other evidence.

This is general information only, not legal advice. Camera controls and insurer submission requirements vary, so check the instructions for your device and claim.

Deal With Safety Before the Camera

Check for injuries, assist where you can and call emergency services when needed. Exchange details and meet the reporting duties that apply to the accident. Do not stand in traffic, reach into an unsafe vehicle or handle the camera while driving to retrieve a recording.

If you are unsure whether the car can be driven, arrange appropriate assistance. Acorn’s guide to checking your car’s safety after an accident explains warning signs to take seriously.

Once you are somewhere safe, note which camera and storage method you use. The footage may be on a memory card, available through an app, or stored through a connected service.

Protect the Recording From Being Overwritten

Some dashcams record over older footage as storage fills. Find your model’s instructions for saving or protecting a recording. An automatic incident feature may have saved a file, but check rather than assuming it captured everything you need.

The Garmin Dash Cam Live manual, for example, describes manual and automatic saving and recommends transferring saved video because storage is limited. Other models have different controls and settings.

Look for the lead-up to the collision and what happened afterwards, including neighbouring recording segments. Save rear-camera footage too, if available. There is no single clip length that suits every accident.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions before switching off the camera or removing its card. If you cannot find the recording, avoid formatting the card or deleting files while you work out the next step.

Copy the Files and Check That They Play

Use the camera’s supported app export or transfer method to copy the footage to your phone or computer. Make sure you have saved the video itself, rather than only a screenshot or a preview inside the app.

BlackVue Australia’s practical guidance recommends backing up footage promptly and keeping the original, unedited files. Keep a separate backup somewhere you can find it later.

Before sending anything, check the exported copy:

• Open it and confirm it plays beyond the first frame.
• Check that it shows the relevant journey or parked-car incident.
• Review the start and end for missing neighbouring segments.
• Check front and rear recordings separately if your camera has both.

Leave the originals unchanged. If the camera clock was wrong, explain the difference in a separate note instead of changing the timestamp. If a recipient asks for a shorter or smaller version, make another copy and keep the original available.

Send a Copy Through the Requested Channel

Contact your insurer or claims adviser before sending a large file. Ask which upload method, file format and size they accept, and how to connect the footage to your claim. Youi’s dashcam guidance discusses submission through a claims adviser; your insurer may use a different process.

Include the accident date, location and claim reference if you have one. Briefly identify what the files show and mention any known clock error. Keep your account factual, including anything the recording does not capture.

If email rejects the attachment, ask for an approved upload or file-sharing option. Check the recipient’s address and any access settings before sending. Avoid making a link public merely to get around an upload problem.

Ask the recipient to confirm that they received the files and can open them. Keep the submission confirmation with your backup. If police request footage, follow their instructions for that request.

Keep the Other Accident Evidence Too

A camera may miss a vehicle, signal or part of the road. Its angle and recording quality affect what can be seen. Footage may show either driver’s conduct, so avoid treating one clip as a guaranteed answer about fault.

Legal Aid NSW’s evidence guide explains how video can help show the accident and aftermath alongside photographs and other records. Keep witness contacts, scene photos, your written account and any police report reference.

Footage can also accompany your record if the other driver refuses to provide details. Do not put yourself at risk trying to obtain a better recording or confront them.

Dashcam Footage FAQs

What if I cannot find the accident recording?

Check the model’s instructions for ordinary recordings, protected events and separate front or rear folders. Ask the manufacturer for help if needed. Recovery of missing or overwritten files is not guaranteed. Tell your insurer what happened and provide the other evidence you have.

Will my camera have recorded someone hitting my parked car?

That depends on the camera’s parking features, settings, power and storage at the time. Check the available files rather than assuming parking mode was active. Acorn’s parked-car accident guide covers the other practical steps.

Providing Evidence for a Replacement Vehicle Application

Dashcam footage is one item Acorn may consider when assessing an application. You can read how Acorn’s process works and ask how to supply your supporting files.

Acorn assists eligible not-at-fault drivers in Melbourne and Sydney where the other driver is identified and insured. If you need transport while your car is repaired or assessed, check your eligibility for an accident replacement vehicle. Assessment, approval and terms apply. Footage does not guarantee approval, and Acorn does not decide legal liability.