For many motorists, a dashcam has become a necessity to be sure you've got adequate coverage in the event of a problem - and the cheaper insurance premiums are a bonus. But if you're planning to take a trip to Europe - for business or pleasure - you need to make sure you're clear about whether or not you're allowed to use one, as the consequences of being caught can outweigh the benefits.
Some European countries do not allow the use of dash cams as they violate various privacy and data protection laws. To make sure you're properly prepared, we've created this simple guide on which countries you can use a dashcam in:
| country | Legal to own? | Legal to use? | Possible penalties | Requirements |
| Austria | No | No | €10,000 fine (€25,000 for repeat offenders | - |
| Belgium | Yes | Yes | - | - Private use only - Can be used as evidence, but the parties must be informed |
| Bosnia Herzegovina | Yes | Yes | - | - |
| Denmark | Yes | Yes | - |
- |
| France | Yes | Yes | - |
- Cannot obstruct driver's vision - For private use only, cannot be uploaded to the web |
| Germany | Yes | Yes | - | - Cannot obstruct driver's vision - Can use footage for insurance purposes - Should not record people's faces, license plates |
| Italy | Yes | Yes | - |
- |
| Luxembourg | Yes | No | - |
- |
| Malta | Yes | Yes | - |
- |
| Netherlands | Yes | Yes | - |
- |
| Norway | Yes | Yes | - |
- Cannot obstruct driver's vision |
| Portugal | No | No | - |
- |
| Serbia | Yes | Yes | - |
- |
| Spain | Yes | Yes | - |
- |
| Sweden | Yes | Yes | - |
- |
| Switzerland | Yes | Yes | - | - Legal to use but strongly discouraged - May violate privacy rights |
| United Kingdom | Yes | Yes | - |
- Cannot obstruct driver's vision - Road recording/view cannot be displayed while driving |
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