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Dash cam laws in the European Union vary significantly by country, and there is no unified regulation governing their use. Understanding these regulations is crucial for legal and compliant use across different EU member states. Each EU country has its own rules regarding dash cam usage, data recording, and privacy. Some countries have strict prohibitions, while others allow usage with certain conditions.
Below, we provide detailed information on the dash cam laws in all EU countries to help you stay informed and compliant.
Austria
Usage Allowed: Yes, with strict conditions.
Notes: Only document specific incidents; continuous surveillance is prohibited. Public sharing without consent is not allowed. Violations can result in significant fines.
Belgium
Usage Allowed: Yes, with restrictions.
Notes: Recreational use is allowed if kept private. Public sharing requires consent. Taxi use requires notifying the data protection authority.
Bulgaria
Usage Allowed: Yes.
Notes: Recordings can be used as court evidence. Public sharing must comply with privacy laws.
Croatia
Usage Allowed: Yes.
Notes: Dash cam footage is accepted as evidence in traffic incidents. Public sharing requires blurring faces and license plates to comply with privacy laws.
Cyprus
Usage Allowed: Legal status is unclear; neither explicitly legal nor illegal.
Notes: Recording public spaces without consent is prohibited under privacy laws. Compliance with data protection laws is mandatory.
Czech Republic
Usage Allowed: Yes.
Notes: Dash cams can be used for documenting traffic incidents and resolving insurance claims. Public sharing of footage requires blurring identifiable information to comply with privacy laws.
Denmark
Usage Allowed: Yes.
Notes: Dash cams are legal for recording traffic as long as they don’t act as surveillance cameras. Public sharing requires blurring identifiable individuals and license plates.
Estonia
Usage Allowed: Yes, for private use only.
Notes: Blur faces and registration numbers before sharing. Dash cam footage can be used as legal evidence if compliant.
Finland
Usage Allowed: Yes.
Notes: Published footage must have faces and registration numbers blurred to protect privacy. Footage should be used for personal documentation and can be used in disputes with police or insurance companies. Public sharing requires compliance with privacy laws.
France
Usage Allowed: Yes.
Notes: Dash cam footage can be used as evidence in legal cases and insurance claims if handled properly. Public sharing requires blurring faces and license plates to comply with strict privacy laws.
Germany
Usage Allowed: Yes, with restrictions.
Notes: Dash cams must only record short, event-triggered footage, not continuous recording. Public sharing without consent is prohibited. Footage can be used as evidence in court if the interest in evidence outweighs privacy concerns. Non-compliance with data protection laws can result in significant fines.
Greece
Usage Allowed: Yes, for private use.
Notes: Recording public spaces without consent is prohibited under privacy laws. Footage can be used as evidence in court, but sharing it publicly requires blurring identifiable information. Compliance with data protection laws is essential.
Hungary
Usage Allowed: Yes, for personal use only.
Notes: Footage must be low-resolution and low frame rate. Erase footage after five working days. Ensure no misuse of footage and hide personal identification.
Ireland
Usage Allowed: Yes.
Notes: Users must comply with GDPR, including displaying a visible sign indicating recording and providing a policy sheet with data collection details upon request. Recorded individuals have the right to access their data within one month. Footage should be routinely deleted when no longer necessary. Public sharing requires redacting identifiable information. An Garda Síochána may request footage for investigations, with proper documentation.
Italy
Usage Allowed: Yes, for private purposes.
Notes: Dash cam footage can be used as evidence in case of accidents and insurance claims. Public sharing requires blurring faces and license plates to comply with privacy laws. The footage is admissible in court if the other party does not contest its authenticity. Proper installation is necessary to ensure safety and compliance with legal requirements.
Latvia
Usage Allowed: Yes, for personal use.
Notes: Privacy considerations require paying a “surveillance tax” if using footage in court or with police. Identifiable information must be blurred before sharing publicly. Dash cam footage can aid in insurance claims and may be accepted by police if privacy laws are respected. Users should handle recorded footage properly to comply with privacy regulations.
Lithuania
Usage Allowed: Yes, for personal use.
Notes: Privacy considerations require paying a “surveillance tax” if using footage in court or with police. Identifiable information must be blurred before sharing publicly. Dash cam footage can aid in insurance claims and may be accepted by police if privacy laws are respected. Users should handle recorded footage properly to comply with privacy regulations.
Luxembourg
Usage Allowed: No, due to strict data protection laws.
Notes: Dash cams are generally considered illegal because they capture identifiable images of people and vehicle license plates, which violates privacy regulations under GDPR. Using dash cams to record public spaces without consent is prohibited. Although owning a dash cam is permissible, recording public areas is not allowed. Compliance with privacy laws is mandatory to avoid legal issues.
Malta
Usage Allowed: Yes.
Notes: Users must blur faces and registration numbers before publishing footage to comply with privacy laws. These regulations align with general European practices, permitting dash cams for personal use while respecting privacy and visibility guidelines.
Netherlands
Usage Allowed: Yes.
Notes: Dash cams are legal for filming on public roads under free information gathering, but footage must remain private. Public sharing requires blurring faces and license plates due to privacy laws. Footage can be used as evidence in accidents, and some insurers may accept dash cam footage for claims. Dash cams should not be used for continuous surveillance without proper permissions.
Poland
Usage Allowed: Yes, fully legal.
Notes: Footage must comply with GDPR, which means it must be recorded in public places and should not infringe on personal privacy. Dash cam footage can be used as evidence in legal proceedings and by the police for issuing fines. However, footage taken in private areas without consent is prohibited. Compliance with data protection laws is essential to avoid legal issues.
Portugal
Usage Allowed: Contentious; not explicitly illegal but fraught with privacy concerns.
Notes: Dash cams are generally considered illegal due to privacy laws. Recording individuals or private property without consent can result in fines. Despite this, some users report using dash cam without issues, provided they do not share identifiable footage. Admissibility in court is at the judge’s discretion. Users should exercise caution and be mindful of data protection laws when using and sharing footage.
Romania
Usage Allowed: Yes.
Notes: As of October 27, 2024, dash cam footage can be used by police to sanction aggressive driving, provided the recording is made incidentally. Recordings must comply with privacy laws and cannot be used for continuous surveillance. Public sharing requires ensuring no privacy violations. Compliance with data protection regulations is essential. Recordings must be clear and contain necessary details to be considered valid evidence.
Slovakia
Usage Allowed: Yes, with restrictions.
Notes: Dash cams must comply with data protection laws. Recordings of public spaces are permissible but must respect privacy laws. Public sharing of footage requires consent from identifiable individuals. Footage can be used as evidence in accidents if it respects privacy regulations. Continuous recording is not permitted, and footage should not be used for surveillance purposes.
Slovenia
Usage Allowed: Yes.
Notes: Footage shared publicly must ensure that individuals and license plates are not identifiable to comply with privacy laws. Dash cams are beneficial for documenting events on the road, but users should adhere to these guidelines to avoid legal issues.
Spain
Usage Allowed: Yes.
Notes: Continuous recording is not allowed; footage should be limited to specific events. Public sharing requires blurring faces and license plates to comply with privacy laws. Footage can be used as evidence in legal cases, but its admissibility depends on the judge’s discretion. Operating the dash cam while driving is prohibited, with penalties up to 200 euros and loss of three license points.
Sweden
Usage Allowed: Yes, with specific restrictions.
Notes: Dash cams must comply with GDPR. Continuous recording is not permitted; the camera should only record when the driver is present. Public sharing requires blurring faces and license plates to protect privacy. Recordings are permissible for personal use and as evidence in accidents, provided they do not violate privacy regulations.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only. Dash cam laws vary by country and may change over time. Always check local regulations or seek legal advice to ensure compliance. This content does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such.
