Dash cams are legal across the United States, but state rules can make a particular installation or use unlawful. The article stresses that drivers planning road trips should check the requirements in every state they enter, as rules cover whether a camera blocks the driver’s view, where it may be mounted, its size and whether it records audio.

Several states explicitly prohibit dash cams from obstructing the windscreen, while Alabama, Delaware and Louisiana do not allow them to be mounted on it at all; Pennsylvania and Minnesota generally prohibit any windscreen-mounted item. California limits placement to specified areas of the windscreen, Illinois requires a passenger-side lower-corner position, and size limits commonly cap devices at five inches, although Hawaii allows up to seven inches and Indiana permits only four square inches. Audio recording is particularly restricted: 13 states require every passenger’s consent before in-car conversations may be recorded.