Dashcams: are they allowed in Switzerland?
Many motorists use a dashcam. This is because they want to protect themselves from legal disputes after an accident. We explain whether dashcams are allowed in Switzerland – and whether courts accept the recordings as evidence.
08.04.2025
iStock / Nyantanan
1. Are dashcams allowed in Switzerland?
In principle, dashcams are allowed in Switzerland. But there are some important rules to keep in mind:
Just like navigation devices, dashcams may only be mounted in a way that doesn’t impair the driver’s field of vision.
For example, you can install a dashcam at the very bottom of the windscreen or even behind the rear-view mirror.
The dashcam must not distract you. As is the case with mobile phones, anyone found tapping away on a device while driving may face a fine.
Switzerland has strict data protection laws. Recording licence plates and people in public places is considered to be processing personal data. This is not permitted without the consent of the data subject or without good reason.
2. Can dashcam recordings be used as evidence in Switzerland?
Whether or not dashcam videos can be used as evidence in court depends on the severity of the offence.
In 2019, the Federal Supreme Court ruled that the use of dashcams is fundamentally unlawful. This means that the recordings cannot be used in court (court ruling 6B_1188/2018). Use of such recordings can only be considered in the case of serious criminal offences.
3. Do dashcam recordings provide advantages for car insurance?
In Switzerland, there are currently no car insurers offering discounts for installing a dashcam. As long as data protection law prohibits recording in public places, this is unlikely to change.
However, there are some car insurers that offer discounts for installing telematic devices. These record a wide range of data and help to reconstruct accidents.
There’s also the “pay how you drive” model, in which driving quality is constantly analyzed. In particular, young drivers can benefit from these models.
Find the right car insurance for you
Does your car insurance still suit your needs?
4. What should I keep in mind when buying a dashcam?
When buying a dashcam, don’t just look at the price. It’s also important that the camera complies with data protection law. Some older models film everything from the beginning to the end of the drive.
New models usually have functions like acceleration and brake sensors. These only start recording when the dashcam suspects a dangerous situation.
In addition, there are more and more dashcams that encrypt the recordings. This means that they can only be analyzed by law enforcement authorities. Whether or not recordings from these supposedly data protection-compliant dashcams are permitted as evidence has not yet been clarified in any court judgement.
5. How much does a dashcam cost?
The prices of dashcams vary greatly. The cheapest models are available from around 20 francs. At the upper end, there are virtually no limits on how much you can spend. For instance, there are dashcams for over 1,000 francs.
The most popular dashcams cost between 150 and 200 francs.
This might also interest you
Report accident damage: this is how damage reporting works after a car accident
Insurance for borrowed cars: who pays if there's an accident?
Car insurance: Pay As You Drive and Pay How You Drive explained
