My $100 dashcam just saved me $2,400.

A couple years back, I got into a minor accident, a car bumped me from the back, but the cost I've to pay was enough for me as I had no footage, no proof, just a messy back-and-forth over who was at fault. In the end, I had to eat a big chunk of the repair costs myself. Watching that money disappear over something I knew wasn’t fully on me was frustrating in a way that sticks with you.

Around that time, I kept seeing people on Reddit say dashcams are basically the cheapest insurance you can buy for your car. I brushed it off back then, but that idea stayed in the back of my mind.

Fast forward to a few months ago, I finally picked up a $100 dashcam mainly for peace of mind, just in case.

Then one evening I went through a green light at a busy intersection and got hit from the side. When we pulled over, the other driver immediately claimed I ran the red. Confidently too, like they’d done it before.

No independent witnesses, so insurance defaulted to a 50/50 split. I knew what I saw, but it was just my word against theirs and anyone who’s been through that knows how frustrating it is.

Then I pulled the footage.

Solid green on my side, clear red on theirs, all right there on camera. Submitted the clip, and the whole shared-fault conversation ended immediately. Full liability on them, full payout for me. Saved $2,400 and kept my premiums clean.

Honestly, it feels non-negotiable now especially driving in places where traffic is unpredictable and not everyone plays fair.

Funny how it comes full circle. The one time I didn’t have a dashcam, I paid for it. The next time, I had one and suddenly the truth wasn’t up for debate anymore.

If you’ve been putting it off like I was, just get one. It’s one of the few things that actually helps you win against the kind of people who will lie straight to your face and hope you’ve got nothing to prove otherwise.