A dashcam in Malaysia is legal and common, and as at November 2026 it isn't compulsory for private cars. Police traffic officers floated the idea of making them mandatory in February 2026, with discounts on fines for drivers who report offences, but no rule has been made. Days later the Transport Minister said dashcams were not mandatory yet and that the government was weighing the cost and practicality. So for now, fitting one is your choice.
After a collision without one, it's your word against the other driver's. A clear recording gives the police and both insurers something better than two conflicting accounts.
What drivers here use them for
- Accidents. Who hit whom, at what speed, and whether the lights were red. Footage that is relevant, authentic and unedited can be used as evidence with the police, your insurer or a court.
- Insurance claims. It supports your account when the other side's insurer disputes fault.
- Road rage. A recording of an aggressive driver, with the number plate, is something to hand to the police rather than to argue about on the roadside. Our guide to road rage in Malaysia covers what to do in the moment.
- Hit-and-run and car park knocks. A camera that keeps recording while parked can catch the plate of the car that dented yours, if it's set up for that.
Front only, or front and rear
A front camera records what's ahead of you, which covers most disputes about junctions and lights. It can't see a car that runs into the back of you in a jam. A rear camera covers that. If you're buying one, buy front and rear.
Two settings matter more than resolution:
- GPS and time stamping, so the location, speed and time are embedded in the file, not only shown on the screen.
- Event locking. Dashcams record in a loop and overwrite the oldest footage, sometimes within hours. A G-sensor that locks the file on impact, or a button you press, keeps the clip you need.
After an accident: what to do with the footage
- Lock the clip straight away, with the button if the G-sensor didn't trigger.
- Copy the full, unedited original file to your phone or laptop the same day. A trimmed or re-encoded clip is easier to dispute.
- Make the police report within 24 hours. Footage supports the report; it doesn't replace it or extend the deadline. Our guide to what to do after a car accident covers the full sequence.
- Give your insurer the original file, not a clip from a messaging app.
- Still take your own photos: positions of the cars, damage, number plates, the road.
Think before posting the video online. The police have urged drivers to be careful about sharing dashcam footage on social media, and a viral clip may complicate a claim or a case that's still open.
In a rental car
Whether Grandpride's cars have dashcams fitted is CHECK: which Grandpride rental cars have a dashcam, front or front and rear, and can the renter get the footage after an incident. If you want to bring your own, ask before you stick anything to the windscreen CHECK: may renters fit their own suction or adhesive dashcam in a Grandpride car, and where.
A portable camera on a suction mount, powered from the car's socket, is the least invasive option and comes off cleanly at return. Point it so it doesn't block your view of the road.
A dashcam doesn't replace the pickup checks. Photograph the car all round when you collect it, as our rental car inspection checklist shows, so there's a record of the car before you drive off as well as during. If something does happen, call Grandpride as soon as you're safe, through the contact page or on +6010 322 3223, and find your car's protection level on the booking. The cars themselves are on the fleet list.
