Dash cams: legality, mounting and power

A dash cam records the road for you, and can help in an insurance claim or a dispute. The questions are where to put it, how to power it and what you may do with the footage.

The legal and power points below come from a seller's blog and a retailer's blog, so treat them as general guidance. Nothing here is specific to the Jimny, and no Jimny-specific mounting source was found.

By Gypsy Overlanding Family ®

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Three things to settle before you fit one.

The short answer

Dash cams are generally legal in India, according to a seller's blog, but check the rules where you drive and do not let the camera block your view or controls. Mount it high and centred behind the rear-view mirror with the cable tucked away. For parking mode, use a hardwire kit with a low-voltage cutoff, or a separate battery pack, so it cannot flatten the car battery. Keep the original clips and share them carefully.

Do

  • Mount it where it does not hamper the driver
  • Tuck the cable away
  • Use a low-voltage cutoff for parking mode
  • Keep the original clip and its timestamp
  • Blur faces and plates before posting

Do not

  • Block your view or the airbags
  • Leave a parking-mode cam on a plain 12V feed
  • Overwrite footage you need
  • Name or accuse people in public posts
  • Assume it is legal everywhere without checking

Where to mount it

  • The blog suggests behind the rear-view mirror area, high and centred, with cables tucked safely
  • Keep it out of the driver's view and away from anything that needs a clear windscreen
  • Check that it does not interfere with other windscreen equipment in your car, and confirm in your owner's manual

Power and the battery

A retailer says a typical dash cam draws about 0.25 to 0.45 amps, and that a vehicle battery of 45 amp-hours could run one for a long time in theory, although real-world figures are lower with an ageing battery and other electronics. The safeguard it recommends is a low-voltage cutoff, which shuts the camera down when the battery falls to about 12.0 to 12.5 volts.

  • Hardwire into the fuse box with a cutoff for 24-hour parking mode
  • Or use a separate battery pack that charges while driving, which draws nothing from the car battery when parked, though it runs for a shorter time
  • If your battery is weak, or you run a fridge, see battery care and fridge, dual battery and solar
  • Add wiring carefully and keep it fused, see lights and electrics
Retailer figures. The current draw and cutoff voltages are from a retailer's blog and vary by camera. Use the maker's figures for yours.

Footage, evidence and sharing

  • Keep the original clip, with timestamps and GPS details, and avoid overwriting it
  • Share it privately with the police or your insurer
  • Blur faces and number plates before posting online
  • Avoid naming people or making accusations in public posts

Where these figures come from

Both are commercial blogs, not official sources. Checked October 2026.

Pick your question

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Short answer for Is it legal?

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Common mistakes

  • Blocking the view. Mount it high and centred.
  • Skipping the cutoff. Parking mode can flatten a weak battery.
  • Overwriting the clip. You may need the original.
  • Posting without blurring. Faces and plates are personal data.
  • Assuming the seller blog is the law. Check current rules.
A final word. Legal and electrical points here come from commercial blogs and are not legal or technical advice. Confirm rules with an official source, and the fitting details with the camera maker and your workshop.