TfL-Approved Dash Cam FAQs: Camera Count, Passenger Requests and What Happens Next

You already know TfL requires an approved system and a professional fit, whether you drive a taxi or hold a PCO private hire licence. What nobody tells you is what happens next: camera count, passenger footage requests, multi-borough licensing.

The mandatory basics are covered in our main guide to TfL dash cam rules. This picks up from there: eight questions operators actually ask once the camera’s fitted.

How many cameras does a TfL-approved system actually need, and where do they go?

There’s no single number TfL applies. Each approved CCTV system is matched to a specific vehicle type, a TX4, a Vito, or a standard PHV, so check the approved systems list for your vehicle rather than assume a universal figure. Where a system uses more than one camera, TfL requires each one positioned for a specific purpose covering driver and passenger safety, not fitted wherever is easiest. As a general market pattern, not a TfL rule, approved kits typically run from one combined unit up to three or four dedicated cameras.

What’s the real difference between a TfL-approved dash cam and a standard consumer dash cam?

A consumer dash cam is missing several things TfL requires by design. An approved system stores footage in an encrypted, device-locked format that won’t play on an ordinary card reader, overwrites itself automatically, bans moving footage onto a memory stick, and goes in through a professional, manufacturer-specified fit, not a suction cup (our fleet dashcam guide covers that standard). It looks different too, with an interior sign naming the data controller and an exterior sign stating recording is taking place. Footage alone doesn’t settle a dispute either, insurers can challenge it, which is why an approved system carries more weight.

Can a passenger request footage of their own journey?

Yes, through a Subject Access Request. The request can be verbal or written, the passenger needs enough to confirm their identity (a photo of themselves counts as proof), and you cannot charge a fee. Because a taxi or PHV camera usually captures more than the person asking, you’ll typically need to redact other identifiable people before handing footage over, per ICO’s CCTV guidance. There’s no separate TfL deadline. The general UK GDPR rule TfL points to is one calendar month, extendable by up to two further months for a genuinely complex request if the passenger is told why within that month.

Is it worth paying more for a system with cloud or 4G connectivity?

Not as a baseline requirement. TfL’s approved CCTV specification doesn’t mandate cloud or 4G connectivity, so a system with it is a genuine upgrade, not a compliance box to tick. The real case for paying more is speed: with connectivity, footage and vehicle status can be pulled remotely within minutes of an incident, rather than waiting until the vehicle is back at base to retrieve the SD card. Running costs tend to be modest, typically 4 to 10GB a month, driven mainly by how often someone checks the camera remotely.

What happens if I’m licensed by TfL and also hold a licence outside London?

This comes up often for PCO drivers who also hold a licence outside London. Holding licences from more than one authority isn’t, by itself, against the rules, each runs its own process, though TfL’s guidance doesn’t spell this out explicitly. Hackney carriage drivers have it settled: government best practice guidance confirms pre-booked fares can be carried anywhere in England and Wales, whichever authority licensed you. Private hire is murkier. Whether a PHV can accept pre-booked work outside its licensed area is a genuinely unsettled question, experienced operators disagree with each other over it, and the underlying law predates how the industry actually works today. Check with each specific licensing authority rather than relying on a general rule.

Do I need to tell my insurer I’ve fitted a dash cam?

There’s no single law forcing you to declare a dash cam, but telling your insurer anyway is the safer habit. At least one major UK motor insurer states plainly it won’t reduce your premium for having one fitted, so don’t assume a discount is automatic. Association of British Insurers guidance points to a more honest picture: footage can help resolve a dispute faster, and some insurers do offer a discount, but outcomes vary insurer by insurer. There’s also a practical reason to call: most policies only cover accessories up to around £150, so tell your insurer what yours cost and ask them to raise that limit.

Does a TfL-approved dash cam record vehicle speed?

Not automatically. Speed recording isn’t a universal part of the TfL-approved specification, it’s a feature some systems include through integrated GPS, not something every approved camera does. Where it is included, speed and route data becomes useful corroboration if a journey’s location or driving standard complaint is ever disputed. Traknova’s own TfL-approved system, the Hikvision G40 covered in our main guide, logs speed and route through its built-in GPS as standard. Check it’s actually included rather than assuming every approved box ticks it.

What should I actually do if my dash cam develops a fault?

Don’t wait for an inspection to find it, get it looked at straight away. TfL’s current Inspection Manual is specific: a defect found during an on-going compliance check, including a non-functioning or non-compliant CCTV system, means a non-compliance notice and the vehicle is prohibited from use as a taxi or PHV until it’s fixed and the notice lifted. That’s tied to a defect being found at a check, not an instant duty to stop the moment you spot a fault yourself. CCTV is still a named checkpoint in that manual, so running with a known fault is a real, avoidable licensing risk worth fixing through a professional installer promptly.

None of this replaces having a properly fitted, TfL-approved system in the first place. See the TfL-approved dashcam Traknova fits for London operators.