That’s the finding of new research from the RAC, which also found that one in four motorists (26%) think the UK should take the lead in the fight against so-called “crash for cash” scams by making in-car cameras compulsory.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) estimates bogus claims rose by 34% last year to 59,900 cases and has also dubbed the UK the “whiplash capital of the world”, with the £2bn in claims adding £90 a year on to the average motorist’s premium.

In response to this growing trend, the RAC has this week launched an in-car camera and says its research shows that more motorists are looking to fit cameras themselves, with nearly two in five (39%) drivers considering such a move.

Latest figures suggest that 4% of drivers already have an in-car camera, and the majority (59%) said the main reason they bought one is to have a record of what happens in case of an accident. A fifth (21%) specifically cited protection against “crash for cash” scams as the reason they had a camera.

Fortunately, only a small number (3%) of those surveyed had fallen foul of an insurance scam to date. However, of those that had, 73% were victims of a “crash for cash” incident. 

RAC head of external affairs Pete Williams said: ‘As long as they are used correctly, dashboard cameras are a valuable record of the circumstances that occurred around an accident and as such can help to reduce the cost of personal injury claims which, in turn, should ultimately reduce the cost of insurance. Making in-car cameras compulsory would come at a cost initially, but they could pay for themselves in the long run if they cut the nation’s premiums. When used in conjunction with a telematics “black box” they can also provide accurate information of driver behaviour to help customers and insurers to deal with claims more quickly.’