When you think of a dashcam, you probably immediately picture clear video footage of the traffic. But anyone buying a dashcam will soon come across the term GPS. Is it just useful for seeing where you’ve been driving, or does a built-in GPS receiver do more than that?

In this article, we clearly explain how GPS works on a dashcam and why it can make all the difference in the event of an incident.

What Does GPS Do in a Dashcam?

The GPS module (built-in or via a separate cable) continuously connects to satellites orbiting the Earth. Whilst the camera lens records what is happening, the GPS receiver adds crucial layers of data:

Exact driving speed: The dashcam calculates your speed based on changes in your position and displays this at the bottom of the video screen (for example, 52 km/h).

Precise GPS coordinates: Your location is recorded to within a few metres using longitude and latitude.

Automatic time and date synchronisation: No hassle with manually checking the clock or dealing with daylight saving time; the GPS network’s atomic clocks keep the time accurate to the second.

How does it work in practice?

Signal acquisition: As soon as you start the car, the dashcam establishes contact with at least four GPS satellites to determine your exact position.

Saving metadata: Whilst the camera is recording the video, it immediately embeds the location and speed data directly into the video files (metadata).

Viewing via an app or software: When you review the footage via the dashcam’s app or on a PC, you’ll often see a split screen: the video on one side, and a live map (such as Google Maps) on the other, showing your car following the route exactly.

Why is this useful?

1. Irrefutable Evidence for Insurance

Imagine: you’re hit by someone who claims you were driving far too fast. Without GPS, it’s your word against theirs. A video with a verified speed stamp immediately shows that you were well within the speed limit.

2. Exact Location in the Event of Accidents

Does something happen on an unfamiliar road or whilst abroad? With the exact coordinates on screen, you’ll know straight away what to tell the emergency services or the breakdown service. You can also prove afterwards the exact location where a collision or incident took place.

3. Parking Mode & Theft

Some advanced dashcams, combined with a GPS and 4G module, can send a notification to your smartphone if the car moves whilst it is parked, including its live location.

Privacy tip: Would you rather not have your speed displayed on screen at all times? With most dashcams, you can disable the speed overlay on the video feed, whilst the GPS data is still stored in the background in case you do need it.