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Is a Dashcam Legal in the US?

Conditional

A dashcam is legal in the US, but where you can mount it on the windshield depends on your state. Several states restrict objects on the windshield and allow a mount only within a small defined area, while others are more relaxed.

Why?

Using a dashcam is legal; the catch is windshield-obstruction law, which is set state by state. Some states prohibit anything mounted on the windshield that could block the driver's view, and a number allow a device only within a specific small zone (for example a set area in a lower corner or behind the mirror).

Other states have no specific windshield-mount rule and simply require that the device not obstruct the driver's view. In all of them, the camera must be securely mounted and must not distract the driver.

So a dashcam is road-legal everywhere; the practical question is placement. Mounting it behind the rear-view mirror or in a permitted corner keeps it out of your sightline and within most states' rules.

What decides if it's legal

  • Windshield-obstruction rules are set by each state.
  • Some states allow windshield mounts only in a small defined area.
  • The camera must not block the driver’s view.
  • It must be securely mounted and not a distraction.

Does it depend on your state?

Yes. Windshield-mounting rules vary by state, from a defined permitted zone to a general no-obstruction rule. The device is legal everywhere; placement is the state-specific part.

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Sources

This page is general guidance, not legal advice, on the rules in the US for dashcam. The detail varies by exact vehicle and changes over time - confirm with your insurer and the EPA, NHTSA and your state DMV before modifying.