British tourists heading to Portugal are being warned not to bring their dash cams with them — even if the device is switched off.

While dash cams are common and often considered essential by millions of UK drivers, they are completely banned in Portugal, where they are viewed as a serious invasion of privacy. Bringing one into the country — whether it’s mounted on your windscreen, stored in the glovebox, or kept in the boot — could lead to fines of up to £21,000 for repeat offenders.

The warning is especially important for those driving through Europe, as dash cams are legal in neighbouring Spain and other countries along the route from the UK, like France. This creates a potentially confusing situation for motorists crossing borders, particularly near the Spain-Portugal boundary.

Skoda has advised customers not to take dash cams to Portugal at all, noting that local police may penalise drivers simply for having the device in their vehicle, regardless of whether it's in use.

Portugal isn’t alone in its tough stance. Dash cams are also banned in Austria and Luxembourg, where the RAC warns that repeat offences can lead to heavy five-figure penalties.

With dash cams often used to protect drivers from false insurance claims or reckless motorists, their use is widespread in the UK. However, authorities stress that travelers must follow local laws.

The RAC urges all holidaymakers to check the dash cam regulations in each country on their route, saying: “Make sure you obey the law on dash cam use in whichever country you’re in.” Photo by Fernost, Wikimedia commons.