On Thursday, April 16, the Parliament of Cyprus passed a law that, for the first time, clearly regulates the use of dashcams in vehicles. Recordings from in-car cameras can now officially be used in court as evidence, provided the established requirements are met. This decision closes a long-standing legal gap: previously, dashcams were widely used by drivers, but their legal status remained unclear, complicating the resolution of disputed road accidents and insurance cases.
Which vehicles are covered by the new law
The adopted regulations cover virtually all types of vehicles in the country. The law applies to private passenger cars, vehicles used for professional purposes including commercial transport, as well as government vehicles and public transport. Thus, Cyprus effectively introduces uniform rules for all categories of road users, aligning with the practice of several European Union countries where dashcams have long been used as supporting evidence in court proceedings.
When dashcam recordings have legal validity
According to the new provisions, dashcam footage may only be used in strictly defined situations. These include road traffic accidents, where a short period before and after the incident is recorded, as well as cases involving criminal offenses or intentional damage to property.
At the same time, access to such data is not unrestricted: recordings may only be used with a court warrant. Oversight of compliance with confidentiality rules and personal data processing is entrusted to the Cyprus Commissioner for Personal Data Protection, ensuring a balance between evidentiary needs and citizens’ right to privacy.
Why Cyprus decided to legalize dashcams now
Although dashcams have long been a common part of driving culture, until 2026 Cyprus lacked a unified legal framework governing their use. This created difficulties in judicial practice, especially in traffic accident cases where testimonies often contradicted each other. The need for regulation increased alongside the growing number of vehicles equipped with cameras and the rise in insurance disputes.
The bill was passed after lively debates in Parliament. It was supported by 19 MPs, while 16 voted against and one abstained. The most critical stance came from the AKEL faction, whose representatives expressed concerns that expanded use of video surveillance on the roads could lead to increased monitoring of citizens and potential intrusion into private life.
Nevertheless, supporters of the law emphasize that it is not about mass surveillance, but about the targeted use of data strictly within the framework of investigating traffic accidents and criminal cases, which should improve the fairness of judicial decisions.
After being signed by the President of the Republic of Cyprus, the law will be published in the Official Gazette and will come into force. From that moment, dashcam recordings will be officially admissible as evidence in court, which could significantly change the handling of road incident cases.
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Photos: pixabay.com, DOM
