Canadian Dash Cam Laws 2026: What Fleet Managers Need to Know

Dash cams are becoming a legal requirement for commercial fleets in Canada, not just a nice-to-have.

British Columbia is set to become the first province to make outward-facing dash cameras mandatory for commercial trucks, and other provinces are watching closely. For fleet managers, that raises real questions: what will the rules require, what do you need to do about privacy, and does this apply outside B.C.?

Here's what's changing and what to know now.

Mandatory Dash Cam Laws in British Columbia

B.C. Conservative MLA Ward Stamer introduced the bill after a string of deadly collisions on Highway 5, which runs through his riding of Kamloops-North Thompson. British Columbia is the first Canadian jurisdiction to require commercial dash cameras.

The reasoning behind the bill is straightforward: cameras help keep drivers accountable, and they make sure evidence exists if a crash happens, rather than relying on disputed accounts or a lengthy investigation.

Dave Earle of the B.C. Trucking Association has welcomed the bill, noting that around 75% of the association's members already use dash cams. He's also been clear that the industry would prefer a national standard rather than different rules in each province, to avoid friction for fleets operating across jurisdictions.

B.C. Dashboard Camera Requirements Explained

The bill, known as the Dashboard Cameras in Commercial Vehicles Act, applies to commercial vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating over 11,793 kg. Under the Act, a "dashboard camera" must:

• Continuously record the view of the road ahead through the front windshield whenever the vehicle is operating

• Retain at least 72 hours of recording

• Record in a minimum of high-definition video at 1080p resolution

• Have night vision capability

• Record at the manufacturer's default settings on the device's local storage

Vehicle owners are responsible for installing and maintaining the camera. If the vehicle is leased, that responsibility falls to the lessee instead. Operators must make sure the camera is recording whenever the vehicle is on the road, and that it isn't obstructed or otherwise prevented from recording.

The Act only covers outward-facing cameras. In-cab cameras aren't included, which addresses privacy concerns raised during committee review.

The law comes into force six months after receiving Royal Assent.

Dash Cam Footage and Privacy Law in Canada

The Act is clear that dash cam footage still has to be handled properly. Any recording must be collected, used, disclosed, retained, and destroyed in line with applicable privacy and security law, including B.C.'s Personal Information Protection Act.

In practice, that means fleets need many of the same habits already common with dash cam use elsewhere:

• Store footage securely and limit who can access it

• Only keep footage as long as necessary

• Have a clear reason for collecting it, and be able to explain that reason if asked

Audio Recording Rules Under the Criminal Code

The B.C. Act covers video only, and that's a deliberate line to draw. Recording audio in a vehicle raises separate legal issues under federal law.

Section 184 of the Criminal Code makes it an offence to knowingly intercept a private communication using an electronic, acoustic, or mechanical device, unless an exception applies, such as consent from the person being recorded. If a dash cam in a cab is capturing conversations without the knowledge or consent of the people involved, that's a meaningful legal risk on top of any provincial privacy rules. Fleets should stick to outward-facing, video-only recording unless there's clear legal advice and consent in place to do otherwise.

Dash Cam Laws in Other Canadian Provinces

Right now, this is a B.C.-specific law. But the direction of travel is worth watching:

• The issue has been raised at the Council of First Ministers of Transportation table, which suggests appetite for a national approach

• Industry bodies like the B.C. Trucking Association are actively pushing for consistency across provinces

• The majority of commercial fleets in B.C. already use dash cams voluntarily, ahead of the law taking effect

Fleet managers operating outside B.C. don't have a legal obligation yet, but a national requirement is a realistic possibility. Getting ahead of it now, with the right cameras and data handling practices in place, avoids a scramble later.

Making Dash Cam Compliance Part of Fleet Management

Whether or not a mandate applies in your province yet, dash cams are quickly becoming standard practice for commercial fleets across Canada. Connected dash cam systems that combine outward-facing footage with secure storage and controlled access make it easier to meet upcoming requirements and protect drivers and the business if an incident happens.

If you're reviewing your fleet's dash cam setup, it's worth checking whether your current system meets the specification likely to become the norm, rather than waiting for a mandate to force the change.

Get in touch for a free quote and see how the right dash cam setup can keep your fleet ready and protected.

FAQs

Are dash cams mandatory for commercial trucks in Canada?

Not nationally. British Columbia is the first province to require them, under the Dashboard Cameras in Commercial Vehicles Act, which applies to commercial vehicles over 11,793 kg gross vehicle weight rating.

What does B.C.'s dash cam law require?

An outward-facing camera that records continuously while the vehicle operates, retains at least 72 hours of footage, records in a minimum of 1080p, and has night vision capability.

Do B.C.'s dash cam rules cover in-cab cameras?

No. The law covers outward-facing cameras only. In-cab cameras were excluded to address privacy concerns raised during the bill's committee review.

Is it legal to record audio with a dash cam in Canada?

It carries real legal risk. Under Section 184 of the Criminal Code, intercepting a private communication without consent is a criminal offence. Fleets should stick to video-only, outward-facing recording unless consent and legal advice are clearly in place.

Will other Canadian provinces require dash cams too?

Not yet, but it's under discussion at a national level, and most commercial fleets in B.C. already use dash cams voluntarily. Fleet managers elsewhere in Canada may want to prepare ahead of any future requirement.