Dash cams are legal for personal use across the US and Canada. What varies is where you can stick one on the windshield and whether you can record sound.
Short answer: yes, a dash cam is legal for personal use in every US state and in Canada. Two things vary: where you may mount it so it does not block your view, and whether you may record the sound of conversations in the car.
Where to mount it
The safe spot almost everywhere is behind the rear-view mirror, out of your line of sight. Some states write sizes into the law:
• California: Vehicle Code 26708 allows a qualifying video event recorder in a 7-inch square in the lower corner farthest from the driver, a 5-inch square in the lower corner nearest the driver outside the airbag zone, or a 5-inch square at the top center.
• Minnesota, Arizona, Wisconsin: allow monitoring devices mounted behind, slightly above or slightly below the mirror.
• Illinois, New York and many others: ban objects that obstruct the driver's view, without giving a size.
In Canada, Ontario's Highway Traffic Act section 73, Québec's Highway Safety Code section 442 and BC's Motor Vehicle Act Regulations section 7.05 all prohibit objects that block the driver's view. None bans dash cams. A small camera behind the mirror meets all three.
Recording sound
Filming the road is not a privacy issue. Recording conversations can be. Eleven states, including California, Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Washington, generally require everyone in a private conversation to agree. In Canada, the Criminal Code allows you to record a conversation you take part in. If you carry passengers for pay, post a notice or turn the microphone off.
Using the footage
Footage helps insurers and police establish what happened. Keep the original file, do not edit it, and avoid posting other people's faces or plates online for no reason.
Our cameras are compact enough to sit behind the mirror. See them side by side on our dash cam comparison page.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Laws change; check your state or province before you install.
Frequently asked questions
Can police take my dash cam footage?
Rules on seizing evidence vary. Many drivers share a copy voluntarily after a crash; keep the original file.
Is a cabin camera legal?
Video of your own car is generally legal. The audio rules above apply to conversations.
Can I get a ticket for a dash cam?
Only if it blocks your view or breaks a specific mounting rule. Mount it behind the mirror.
Sources
• California Vehicle Code 26708
• Minnesota Statutes 169.71
• Ontario Highway Traffic Act, s. 73
• Québec Highway Safety Code (C-24.2)
• BC Motor Vehicle Act Regulations, s. 7.05
• Criminal Code of Canada, s. 184