Dashcams and Reversing Cameras in Canberra

This guide is for Canberra and Queanbeyan drivers thinking about a dashcam, a reversing camera, or both. It covers what the ACT rules say about screens and your view of the road, the audio recording question, how ACT Policing uses dashcam footage, and how to wire a camera so it doesn't flatten your battery.

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Why dashcams are popular in Canberra

Canberra drivers have a good reason to run a dashcam. In May 2024 ACT Policing opened an online portal where the public can upload footage of dangerous or illegal driving. In July 2026 it reported that the portal's second year of submissions had led to 1,934 traffic infringement notices worth more than $850,000. You can find the portal on the ACT Policing report dangerous driving page.

If you plan to report an incident, save the clip as soon as you can. Most dashcams record in a loop and overwrite older files, so footage can be lost within hours of normal driving. Copy it to your phone or computer, keep the original file unedited, and note the date, time and location.

Footage also helps with insurance claims after a crash, and with disputes over who hit whom in a busy car park. A camera won't stop a crash, but it can save a lot of arguing afterwards.

What the ACT rules say about screens and your view

The ACT applies the national road rules through the Road Transport (Road Rules) Regulation 2017. In broad terms, the rules say you must have a proper view of the road and traffic, and you must not drive with a screen showing images that are visible to you unless it's a driver's aid. Driver's aids include things like a GPS navigation screen and a rear-view or reversing camera screen. Phones and other devices used for navigation should be securely mounted.

In practice, for a dashcam that means:

• Mount it where it doesn't block your view through the windscreen. Behind the rear-view mirror is the usual spot, kept out of the wiper-swept area in front of you.
• If the dashcam has a screen, set it to switch off or go blank while driving. Don't watch footage while moving.
• Don't fiddle with the camera while driving. Set it up before you leave.
• Keep cables tucked into the headliner and pillar trims, not dangling across the glass or near airbag covers.

Recording audio inside the car

Most dashcams record sound by default. That's a different issue from the road rules. The ACT's Listening Devices Act 1992 restricts recording private conversations, with exceptions that include the consent of the people talking. Other rules apply in NSW, so the position in Queanbeyan may differ.

If you carry passengers, especially for work or rideshare, the simplest approach is to tell them the camera records sound, or switch audio recording off. This isn't legal advice. If audio recording matters for your situation, check the current legislation or get advice.

Reversing cameras: new rules for new vehicles

Reversing cameras are no longer just an optional extra. Under the national standard ADR 108/00 Reversing Technologies, new vehicle models had to meet the standard from 1 November 2025, and all new vehicles made from existing models must comply by 1 November 2027. It covers light, medium and heavy vehicles. It doesn't require you to retrofit an older vehicle, but many owners choose to.

Retrofit options include:

• A camera feeding an aftermarket head unit, often the neatest result.
• A mirror-mounted monitor that replaces or clips over the rear-view mirror.
• A separate dash or windscreen monitor, mounted clear of your forward view.
• Wireless kits, which are easier to fit on caravans and trailers but can drop out with interference.

Wiring it properly

Most reversing cameras power up from the reversing light circuit, so the camera comes on when you select reverse. On many newer cars the reversing lights are controlled by a body computer, and the circuit can be sensitive to extra load or may pulse. A relay, or the adaptor the camera maker recommends, solves most issues. Our guide to wiring a 12V relay shows the basics.

Hardwiring a dashcam lets it run a parking mode, recording bumps and movement while the car is locked. That's handy in shopping centre car parks, but it's also a common cause of flat batteries. Use a hardwire kit with an adjustable low-voltage cut-off, set it conservatively, and fuse the feed properly. See our guide on where to put the fuse when wiring an accessory.

Be careful tapping into fuse boxes on modern vehicles. Add-a-circuit fuse taps are fine when used correctly, but avoid circuits for airbags and other safety systems. If your car has curtain airbags in the pillars, route cables so they can't get in the way when the airbag deploys. Airbag systems themselves should only be worked on by qualified professionals.

Utes, vans and trailers

Work vehicles around Canberra's industrial areas often benefit most from cameras. A ute with a canopy or a van with no rear window has very limited rear vision, and a camera removes a lot of guesswork when backing into loading docks in Fyshwick or Hume. For a caravan or trailer, a camera on the rear of the van, powered through the trailer plug or the van's own battery, gives you a view the car's camera can't. A spare circuit in a 12-pin plug is often used for this.

Choosing and fitting

Pick a dashcam with good night performance, as much of the commute in winter happens in the dark. A front and rear camera pair covers rear-end crashes too. High-endurance memory cards last longer than standard ones under constant recording.

If you're not confident removing trims and working around airbags, an auto electrician can fit a camera in an hour or two. Installers work right across the city, including Belconnen and Woden and Weston Creek. Rules can change, so check the current ACT legislation, or NSW rules if you live in Queanbeyan, before you fit anything.

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Questions Canberra drivers ask

Is it legal to have a dashcam in the ACT?

Yes, dashcams are legal in the ACT, but you must mount them so they don't block your view of the road, and any screen showing images shouldn't be visible to you while driving unless it counts as a driver's aid. Don't handle the camera while driving. Audio recording raises separate privacy issues. Check the current ACT road rules before fitting one.

Can I send dashcam footage to ACT Policing?

Yes. ACT Policing has an online portal for reporting dangerous or illegal driving, and footage submitted through it has led to thousands of fines. Keep the original file, note the date, time and location, and submit it soon after the incident. Check the portal for the current requirements before you upload.

Do I have to fit a reversing camera to my older car?

No. ADR 108/00 applies to new vehicles, with deadlines in November 2025 for new models and November 2027 for all new vehicles. It doesn't require cars already on the road to be retrofitted. Many owners fit one anyway, especially to utes, vans and four-wheel drives with limited rear vision.

Why does my battery go flat since I hardwired my dashcam?

Parking mode keeps the camera running while the car is off. If the low-voltage cut-off is set too low, or the camera is wired to a permanent feed without a cut-off at all, it can drain the battery. Raise the cut-off voltage, shorten the parking recording time, or wire it to an ignition feed instead.

Need an auto electrician in Canberra?

Find local auto electricians and mobile services in the Canberra directory, or start with your area: South Canberra and Fyshwick, Belconnen, Woden and Weston Creek, North Canberra, Queanbeyan.

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