Dashboard-mounted cameras, or “dashcams,” are not new technology. For decades now, consumers, businesses, and law enforcement have used these devices to monitor and record what really happens around their vehicles, both on and off the road. They’ve exploded in popularity after YouTube, social media, and high-profile court cases began to show how drivers could successfully use dashcam footage to contest traffic accidents, theft, fraud, and damage caused by unruly passengers. Recently, dashcams have even exposed widespread but well-hidden civil rights abuse by law enforcement – catching bad cops engaging in all manner blatant criminality.

There is rarely sufficient documentation because of the sudden and dramatic nature of vehicular incidents. As a result, they frequently devolve into “he said, she said” situations. Dashcams help to provide a clearer picture of the events, as they actually unfolded, going far in proving your true level of liability. Although the upfront cost is steep – as with all quality cameras – it only needs to be useful once to have paid for itself.

Insurers typically don’t offer any specific discounts for having a dashcam in one’s vehicle. It’s not like a driving tracker application, where insurers give discounts for good behavior based on data pulled from a phone’s accelerometer. But the absence of a direct reward doesn’t mean you should forgo the camera. Take a look in any Uber, Lyft, or taxi: there’s a dashcam, guaranteed. A different set of incentives is at play, as the camera’s presence reminds passengers and other drivers alike: “I have an incontestable record of your behavior, here.”

And in a court of law, the camera is considered a firsthand witness.

When accidents happen, the claims process can become atrociously messy if there’s any doubt about who’s at fault. It’s common for proceedings to devolve into one driver’s word against the other. Judges become frustrated, and more likely to conclude that both parties are at fault. But being found liable – even partially – could bar you from recouping damages from the other party’s insurance. Or worse: require you to pay out of your own insurance for repairs, which means your premiums are absolutely going up.

There’s also the ever-present threat of car insurance fraud. If someone successfully implicates you in a staged accident, the results can be truly disastrous. I’m talking tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees, drastically-increased insurance premiums, a ruined relationship with your insurer, and real damage to your reputation – which money cannot fix. But a video record of the events in question, in combination with a police report, is your best and only defense against insurance fraud.

Generally speaking, a solid dashcam costs between $100 and $300. Higher-end models will include HD video, failsafe backup batteries, built-in GPS, and accelerometer. Some will even automatically alert emergency services in case of an accident. Lower-end models still get the job done, and are 100% better than nothing. But in both cases: they’re widely available and easy to install. My only personal recommendation would be to spring for a camera with motion-detecting capabilities, as this has the added benefit of theft protection. Some models begin recording as soon as they’re disturbed, acting as a security camera. Your footage could serve as a firsthand witness, assisting law enforcement with tracking down local car thieves and even possibly reuniting you with stolen items.

Regardless: if there’s any dispute, any question, any uncertainty after you’ve filed a claim – the footage on your vehicle’s dashcam could be the deciding factor in how you come out of the ordeal. Don’t be caught without one.