Kentucky
Kentucky Dashcam Laws: Legality, Mounting Rules, and Evidence Use
Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited November 1, 2026). · Reviewed by the RecordingLaw editorial team. · Law checked current as of November 1, 2026. · 10 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content
Dashcams are legal in Kentucky, and the state has no statute specifically restricting their use in personal vehicles. Recording audio of conversations you take part in inside your vehicle is permitted under KRS 526.020, Kentucky's one-party consent law. Mount your dashcam so it does not obstruct your view of the road.
Dashcams are legal to own and use in Kentucky. The state has no statute that specifically addresses dashboard cameras, which means their use is governed by general traffic safety principles, the eavesdropping laws in KRS Chapter 526 (for audio recording), and rules of evidence for court admissibility.
This guide covers the legality of dashcams in Kentucky, proper mounting and placement, audio recording considerations, how dashcam footage works as evidence, and practical recommendations for Kentucky drivers.
Dashcam Legality in Kentucky
No Specific Dashcam Law
Kentucky has no statute that specifically permits or prohibits the use of dashboard cameras. This means:
- You can install and use a dashcam in any personal vehicle
- No registration or permit is required
- No notification to passengers is legally required (for video-only recording)
- Both front-facing and rear-facing cameras are permitted
- Multi-camera systems (front, rear, and cabin) are legal
Windshield Mounting Rules
Kentucky's windshield-obstruction statute, KRS 189.110, bars driving with "any sign, sunscreening material, product, or covering attached to, or located in or upon the windshield," with exceptions only for legally required documents and compliant sunscreening, and separately regulates window tinting. It has no exception for cameras or for mounts placed out of the driver's sightline. No Kentucky court has addressed dashcams under it, so a dashboard mount is the lowest-risk choice. If you mount on the glass, these principles also apply:
- Your dashcam should not obstruct your view of the road
- Keep the camera small and tucked behind the rearview mirror, out of your line of sight
- Ensure the camera does not block your view of traffic signals, signs, or other vehicles
- The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet enforces general vehicle safety standards that require clear visibility
Recommended Mounting Positions
| Position | Advantages | Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Behind rearview mirror | Minimal view obstruction, captures full road ahead | May partially block upward visibility; any glass mount is a product attached to the windshield under KRS 189.110 |
| Upper right corner of windshield | Out of primary line of sight | May capture more sky than road; any glass mount is a product attached to the windshield under KRS 189.110 |
| Dashboard mount | Nothing attached to the windshield, the lowest-risk option under KRS 189.110 | May capture less overhead area, dashboard reflections |
| Lower center windshield | Captures road-level view | Can obstruct view of road directly ahead; any glass mount is a product attached to the windshield under KRS 189.110 |
Audio Recording With Dashcams
One-Party Consent in Your Vehicle
When your dashcam records audio inside the vehicle, Kentucky's one-party consent law under KRS 526.020 applies. When you take part in a conversation in your car, you are a party to it and may record it. Being in the car is not the same as being part of every conversation in it: if passengers talk among themselves and you are not part of it, that exchange is a communication "of others" under KRS 526.010. This means:
- You can legally record conversations you take part in without informing passengers
- If passengers talk among themselves without you, tell them the camera records audio or turn the microphone off
- Audio captured during traffic stops with police is legal (you are a participant)
- Conversations with rideshare or taxi passengers can be recorded
- Phone calls on speakerphone in your vehicle can be recorded
When Audio Recording Raises Concerns
Some dashcam scenarios involving audio deserve extra thought:
- Lending your vehicle: If someone else drives your car with the dashcam recording audio, and you are not present, the audio recording of conversations you are not part of may be problematic under KRS 526.020
- Rideshare and taxi drivers: While drivers can record conversations they participate in, a dashcam that passively records passenger conversations when the driver is not actively engaged could raise eavesdropping questions
- Employer-installed dashcams: If your employer installs a dashcam that records audio, the recording is lawful under KRS 526.020 when at least one person in the conversation, such as you, knows about and consents to it, for example through a written vehicle policy, though no Kentucky court has decided whether agreeing to such a policy counts as consent. Recording conversations when no participant has consented, such as an employee who was never told about the microphone, can be eavesdropping. Kentucky has no business-use exception (KRS 526.070)
Disabling Audio
If you want to avoid audio recording issues entirely, most dashcams allow you to disable the microphone through the settings menu. Video-only dashcam recording has no eavesdropping implications under Kentucky law.
Dashcam Footage as Evidence
Admissibility in Kentucky Courts
Dashcam footage is regularly admitted as evidence in Kentucky courts. Under the Kentucky Rules of Evidence (KRE 901), the footage must be authenticated. This typically requires:
- Testimony about the type of dashcam and its proper functioning
- Identification of the date, time, and location shown in the footage
- Confirmation that the footage has not been edited or altered
- Chain of custody documentation if the footage passed through multiple hands
Traffic Accident Cases
Dashcam footage is most commonly used in Kentucky traffic accident cases. It can establish:
- Fault determination: Which vehicle ran a red light, failed to yield, or crossed the center line
- Speed estimates: The relative speed of vehicles involved
- Road conditions: Weather, visibility, road surface conditions at the time of the accident
- Traffic signals: Whether a light was green, yellow, or red
- Driver behavior: Distracted driving, aggressive driving, or impaired operation
Insurance Claims
Kentucky auto insurance companies readily accept dashcam footage to support claims. Benefits include:
- Faster claim resolution when footage clearly shows what happened
- Stronger negotiating position when liability is disputed
- Protection against fraudulent claims (staged accidents, exaggerated injuries)
- Documentation of hit-and-run vehicles (license plates, vehicle descriptions)
Kentucky is a choice no-fault state under KRS 304.39-060, meaning drivers can choose between no-fault coverage and the traditional tort system. Dashcam footage is valuable under both systems for establishing the facts of an accident.
Criminal Cases
Dashcam footage can serve as evidence in Kentucky criminal proceedings, including:
- DUI arrests and checkpoints
- Hit-and-run identification
- Reckless driving charges
- Road rage incidents
- Drug trafficking stops
- Amber Alert and missing person situations
Police Use of Dashcam Footage
If you provide dashcam footage to Kentucky police, be aware that:
- The footage becomes part of the police investigation file
- It may be used as evidence in criminal proceedings
- You may be called to testify about the footage
- The footage may be disclosed through the Open Records Act with applicable exemptions
Commercial Vehicle Dashcams
Trucking and Fleet Vehicles
Commercial vehicles operating in Kentucky increasingly use dashcam systems. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) does not mandate dashcams for commercial vehicles, but many carriers install them for:
- Accident documentation and liability protection
- Driver behavior monitoring (hard braking, speeding, distracted driving)
- Compliance documentation for hours of service and route verification
- Insurance premium reductions (many insurers offer discounts for dash-cam-equipped fleets)
- Training and coaching based on real driving scenarios
Rideshare Drivers
Kentucky rideshare drivers (Uber, Lyft) can use dashcams to record their trips. Both companies permit dashcam use but may have specific policies about:
- Notifying passengers about recording (not required by Kentucky law but may be required by company policy)
- Interior cabin cameras (permitted but policies vary)
- Audio recording (legal under one-party consent for conversations the driver takes part in)
- Sharing footage on social media (company policies may restrict this)
Bus and Public Transportation Cameras
Kentucky public transit systems, including TARC (Transit Authority of River City) in Louisville and Lextran in Lexington, use onboard camera systems for safety and security. These systems are operated by government entities and are subject to public records laws.
Dashcam Storage and Data Management
Storage Options
Most modern dashcams use one or more storage methods:
| Storage Type | Capacity | Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| MicroSD card (local) | 32GB to 512GB | Most common; loop recording overwrites oldest footage |
| Cloud storage | Unlimited (subscription) | Requires cellular connection; accessible remotely |
| Dual storage | Both local and cloud | Best protection against data loss |
| Hardwired parking mode | Draws from car battery | Records when parked; protects against hit-and-runs |
Preserving Important Footage
If your dashcam captures an accident or incident:
- Immediately lock the clip using the dashcam's emergency save button (most cameras have one)
- Transfer the footage to a computer or cloud storage as soon as possible
- Do not edit or alter the footage in any way
- Note the file name, date, time, and your location
- Make backup copies and store them in separate locations
- Do not post to social media before consulting with your insurance company or attorney
Data Retention for Legal Purposes
If you are involved in an accident or incident, Kentucky law does not specify how long you must retain dashcam footage. However, the statute of limitations for relevant claims should guide your retention:
- Car-accident injury claims: generally 2 years from the injury, or from the last no-fault (PIP) payment if later (KRS 304.39-230(6))
- Other personal injury claims: 1 year (KRS 413.140)
- Property damage claims: 2 years (KRS 413.125)
- Insurance claims: Varies by policy terms
Retain footage for at least the duration of any applicable statute of limitations, plus additional time for safety.
Parking Mode and Unattended Recording
How Parking Mode Works
Many dashcams offer parking mode, which continues recording when the vehicle is parked and the engine is off. Parking mode typically uses:
- Motion detection (starts recording when movement is detected near the vehicle)
- Impact detection (starts recording when a bump or collision is detected)
- Time-lapse recording (captures frames at intervals to conserve storage)
Legal Considerations for Parking Mode
Parking mode video recording in Kentucky is generally legal. The camera captures activity visible from a public or private parking space.
Audio is different. If the camera picks up conversations between people passing by, none of whom has consented, KRS 526.020 applies whether or not you are present, and Kentucky's statute does not exempt a conversation just because it happened in public. The safer setting is to record video only while the car is parked.
More Kentucky Recording Laws
Audio Recording | Video Recording | Voyeurism and Hidden Cameras | Workplace Recording | Recording Police | Phone Call Recording | Security Cameras | Recording in Public | Landlord-Tenant Recording | Dashcam Laws | School Recording | Medical Recording
Back to Kentucky Recording Laws
More Kentucky Recording Topics
More Kentucky Laws
Frequently Asked Questions
Are dashcams legal in Kentucky?
Yes. Kentucky has no law prohibiting dashcams. You can install and use a dashboard camera in any personal or commercial vehicle without a permit or registration. Both front-facing and rear-facing cameras are permitted.
Where should I mount a dashcam in Kentucky?
Kentucky's windshield statute (KRS 189.110(2)) bars driving with any sign, product, or covering attached to the windshield, other than required documents and compliant tint, and it has no exception for cameras. No Kentucky court has addressed dashcams under it, so a dashboard mount is the lowest-risk choice. If you mount on the glass, keep the camera small and behind the rearview mirror, out of your line of sight.
Can my dashcam record audio in Kentucky?
Yes, for conversations you take part in. Under Kentucky one-party consent law (KRS 526.020), you can record a conversation you are part of without telling the others. Passengers talking among themselves, or passersby recorded while the car is parked, are not your conversation, so tell passengers the camera records audio or disable the microphone in those situations.
Can dashcam footage be used as evidence in Kentucky?
Yes. Dashcam footage is regularly admitted as evidence in Kentucky courts for traffic accidents, insurance claims, criminal cases, and more. The footage must be authenticated as genuine and unaltered to be admissible.
Does having a dashcam lower my insurance in Kentucky?
Some Kentucky auto insurance companies offer discounts or preferential treatment for vehicles equipped with dashcams. Dashcam footage can also speed up claim resolution and strengthen your position in disputed liability cases. Check with your specific insurer about available discounts.
Updates
We added the KRS 189.110 windshield caveat to two mounting rows, replaced 'fully legal' with 'legal to own and use', and noted that no Kentucky court has decided whether a written vehicle policy supplies consent.
Corrected the audio rules (a driver is not a party to passengers' own conversations, and parked-car audio of passersby is not exempt because it happened in public), the windshield statute (KRS 189.110 bars any product attached to the windshield), the employer-dashcam consent rule, and the filing deadline for car-accident injury claims (generally 2 years under KRS 304.39-230(6)).
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources; governing law re-checked for recent changes
Corrected an inaccurate claim that Kentucky has no windshield-obstruction statute (KRS 189.110 exists and is now cited) and repointed three misrouted Kentucky statute citation links (KRS 304.39-060, KRS 413.140, KRS 413.125) to their correct pages.
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources
Governing law re-checked for recent changes
Governing law re-checked for recent changes
Reviewed and approved by an editor
The Law Behind This Article
This article rests on the statutory provisions below, held in our own legal record and retrieved from the official source. Tap a section to read the operative text.
Kentucky Revised Statutes, Chapter 526: EAVESDROPPING AND RELATED OFFENSES
§ 526.020EavesdroppingIn forcecited in 20 of our articles
(1) A person is guilty of eavesdropping when he intentionally uses any device to eavesdrop, whether or not he is present at the time. (2) Eavesdropping is a Class D felony.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-09-23 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at apps.legislature.ky.gov
Cited in 8 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2023
In the courts (editorial summary, independently checked):Basham v. Commonwealth (1984) held wiretap evidence obtained under a valid federal order is admissible in Kentucky, though it noted no state law authorizes electronic surveillance by Kentucky police. Brock v. Commonwealth (1997) held the exclusionary rule reaches only constitutional violations, so a private recording was not suppressed.
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Springer v. Commonwealth (Kentucky Supreme Court 1999, 998 S.W.2d 439)✓A neighbor used a police scanner to tape cordless calls from the victim's home, and detectives played it to induce Eades to confess; the court held the federal wiretap act and Kentucky's eavesdropping statutes did not bar using it against someone who was not a party to the calls.
- Stringer v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (Kentucky Supreme Court 2004, 151 S.W.3d 781)✓Wal-Mart secretly ran about forty hours of audio and video surveillance of employees in a store claims area; the court did not decide whether that violated KRS 526.020, holding instead that the employees' statutory claim failed for lack of damages caused by the recording itself.
- Brock v. Commonwealth (Kentucky Supreme Court 1997, 947 S.W.2d 24)✓Brock, claiming self-defense, was kept from using a private tape of the victim's mother saying her son had gone to kill him; the court held that even assuming the tape violated KRS 526.020, the exclusionary rule reaches only state action, so suppression was not required.
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Kentucky Smart Glasses Recording Laws 2026, Kentucky Recording Laws (2026): One-Party Consent Rules, Kentucky Audio Recording Laws: One-Party Consent Rules and Penalties
Kentucky Revised Statutes, Chapter 189: TRAFFIC REGULATIONS -- VEHICLE EQUIPMENT AND STORAGE
§ 189.110Unobstructed windshields -- Display of American flag -- Windshield wipersIn forcecited in 3 of our articles
(1) A windshield in a fixed and upright position, that is equipped with safety glazing as required by federal safety-glazing material standards, is required on every motor vehicle which is operated on the public highways, roads, and streets, except on a motorcycle or implement of husbandry. (2) A person shall not operate a motor vehicle on a public highway, road, or street with any sign, sunscreening material, product, or covering attached to, or located in or upon the windshield, except the following: (a) A certificate or other paper required to be displayed by law; (b) Sunscreening material along a strip at the top of the windshield, if the material is transparent and does not encroach upon the driver's direct forward viewing area as defined in Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards No. 205 as the AS/1 portion of the windshield; or (c) Sunscreening material or other product or material applied to the windshield, when used in conjunction with the safety glazing materials of the windshield, if it has a light transmittance of not less than seventy percent (70%) and is not red or yellow in color.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-09-07 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at apps.legislature.ky.gov
Cited in 6 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2023
In the courts (editorial summary, independently checked):Garcia v. Commonwealth (2006) held that KRS 189.110 governs sunscreening, tinting, safety glazing and wipers, and that a cracked windshield is not a violation of it, so it could not justify the stop. Fultz v. Commonwealth (2018) held the $100 fine for excessive window tinting under the statute was not subject to indigency waiver.
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Garcia v. Commonwealth (Court of Appeals of Kentucky 2006, 185 S.W.3d 658)✓A trooper cited a driver for a cracked windshield under the statute; the court held the statute covers tinting, safety glazing and wipers but says nothing about cracks, so a cracked windshield cannot violate it, and the marijuana had to be suppressed.
- Greer v. Commonwealth (Court of Appeals of Kentucky 2017, 514 S.W.3d 566)✓An officer stopped a car whose windows were dark enough that he could not make out the driver, citing the tint provision; though a grand jury refused to indict on it and the installer testified the tint complied, the court held his trained visual estimate supported the stop.
- Fultz v. Commonwealth (Court of Appeals of Kentucky 2018, 554 S.W.3d 385)“…case, the offense of excessive window tinting is defined by KRS 189.110. At the time of the offense, KRS 189.99…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Kentucky Window Tint Laws (2026): Legal VLT Limits, Kentucky Windshield Mounting Laws (2026 Guide)
Kentucky Revised Statutes, Chapter 304: INSURANCE CODE
§ 304.39-060Acceptance or rejection of partial abolition of tort liability -- ExceptionsIn forcecited in 4 of our articles
(1) Any person who registers, operates, maintains or uses a motor vehicle on the public roadways of this Commonwealth shall, as a condition of such registration, operation, maintenance or use of such motor vehicle and use of the public roadways, be deemed to have accepted the provisions of this subtitle, and in particular those provisions which are contained in this section. (2) (a) Tort liability with respect to accidents occurring in this Commonwealth and arising from the ownership, maintenance, or use of a motor vehicle is "abolished" for damages because of bodily injury, sickness or disease to the extent the basic reparation benefits provided in this subtitle are payable therefor, or that would be payable but for any deductible authorized by this subtitle, under any insurance policy or other method of security complying with the requirements of this subtitle, except to the extent noneconomic detriment qualifies under paragraph (b) of this subsection.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-09-08 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at apps.legislature.ky.gov
Cited in 137 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2026
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Bailey v. Reeves (Kentucky Supreme Court 1984, 662 S.W.2d 832)“…lows: “An action for tort liability not abolished by KRS 304.39-060 may be commenced not later than two (2)…”
- Fann v. McGuffey (Court of Appeals of Kentucky (pre-1976) 1975, 534 S.W.2d 770)“…of any limitation imposed by the no-fault law. [16] Though KRS 304.39-060(2)(a) speaks in terms of "abolishing" t…”
- Troxell v. Trammell (Kentucky Supreme Court 1987, 730 S.W.2d 525)“…tinent part: "An action for tort liability not abolished by KRS 304.39-060 may be commenced not later than two (2)…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Kentucky Car Accident Laws: Fault, Insurance, and Your Claim, Motorcycle Accident Laws in Kentucky (2026): Deadlines & Helmets, Truck Accident Laws in Kentucky (2026): Deadlines & Liability
Kentucky Revised Statutes, Chapter 413: LIMITATION OF ACTIONS
§ 413.125Actions relating to personal property to be brought within two yearsIn forcecited in 3 of our articles
An action for the taking, detaining or injuring of personal property, including an action for specific recovery shall be commenced within two (2) years from the time the cause of action accrued.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at apps.legislature.ky.gov
Cited in 25 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2025
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- American Premier Insurance Co. v. McBride (Court of Appeals of Kentucky 2004, 159 S.W.3d 342)“…345 the two-year statute of limitations found in KRS 413.125. The circuit court granted McBride’s mo…”
- Ingram Trucking, Inc. v. Allen (Court of Appeals of Kentucky 2012, 372 S.W.3d 870)“…of limitations governing actions for property damage under KRS 413.125. However, he subsequently cancelled the…”
- Government Employees Insurance Co. v. Winsett (Court of Appeals of Kentucky 2004, 153 S.W.3d 862)“…order dismissing GEICO’s intervening complaint, found that KRS 413.125 supplied the correct Statute of Limitat…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Kentucky Hit and Run Laws: Penalties and What to Do, Kentucky Statute of Limitations: Filing Deadlines by Case Type
§ 413.140Actions to be brought within one yearIn forcecited in 15 of our articles
(1) The following actions shall be commenced within one (1) year after the cause of action accrued: (a) An action for an injury to the person of the plaintiff, or of her husband, his wife, child, ward, apprentice, or servant; (b) An action for injuries to persons, cattle, or other livestock by railroads or other corporations, with the exception of hospitals licensed pursuant to KRS Chapter 216; (c) An action for malicious prosecution, conspiracy, arrest, seduction, criminal conversation, or breach of promise of marriage; (d) An action for libel or slander; (e) An action against a physician, surgeon, dentist, or hospital licensed pursuant to KRS Chapter 216, for negligence or malpractice; (f) A civil action, arising out of any act or omission in rendering, or failing to render, professional services for others, whether brought in tort or contract, against a real property appraiser holding a certificate or license issued under KRS Chapter 324A or a real estate broker or sales associate holding a license issued under KRS Chapter 324; (g) An action for the escape of a prisoner, arrested or imprisoned on civil process; (h) An action for the recovery of usury paid for the loan…
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-09-08 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at apps.legislature.ky.gov
Cited in 648 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2026
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Craft v. Rice (Kentucky Supreme Court 1984, 671 S.W.2d 247)“…applies to this situation rather than the one-year limit of KRS 413.140(1)(a) for injury "to the person of the…”
- Rigazio v. Archdiocese of Louisville (Court of Appeals of Kentucky 1993, 853 S.W.2d 295)“…it was time barred under the one-year limitation period of KRS 413.140(l)(a). On December 5, 1990, following a…”
- Emberton v. GMRI, Inc. (Kentucky Supreme Court 2009, 299 S.W.3d 565)“…uit within the one-year statute of limitations, pursuant to KRS 413.140(l)(a). 7 In response, Embe…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Kentucky Dog Bite Laws: Liability and Victim Rights, Kentucky Medical Recording Laws: Patient Rights and Healthcare Privacy, Kentucky Assault Laws: Four Degrees, Felonies and Penalties (2026)
Explore the law
This article also draws on these acts and chapters (opening at their first section): Kentucky Revised Statutes, Chapter 526: EAVESDROPPING AND RELATED OFFENSES § 526.010 (Definition)
Related law for further reading — not part of this article’s citations.
Sources and References
- KRS 526.020 - Eavesdropping(apps.legislature.ky.gov).gov
- KRS Chapter 526 - Eavesdropping and Related Offenses(apps.legislature.ky.gov).gov
- KRS 304.39-060 - Motor Vehicle Reparations Act(apps.legislature.ky.gov).gov
- KRS 413.140 - Personal Injury Statute of Limitations(apps.legislature.ky.gov).gov
- Kentucky Transportation Cabinet(transportation.ky.gov).gov
- FMCSA - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration(fmcsa.dot.gov).gov
- NHTSA - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(nhtsa.gov).gov
- KRS 189.110 - Unobstructed Windshields(apps.legislature.ky.gov).gov
- KRS 413.125 - Personal Property Actions (2-Year Limitation)(apps.legislature.ky.gov).gov
- KRS 304.39-230 (Limitations of actions, motor vehicle reparations)(apps.legislature.ky.gov).gov