Tesla Dashcam UK: How It Works, Footage Storage & Sentry Mode
How Tesla's built-in dashcam and Sentry Mode work in the UK — where footage is saved, how long it's kept, and how to access it.
Every Tesla comes with a built-in dashcam that uses the car's external cameras to record footage while driving. Combined with Sentry Mode (which monitors the car while parked), you get comprehensive security recording without buying any aftermarket hardware.
Does Tesla save dashcam footage?
Yes — but only if you have a USB drive or SSD plugged in. Tesla does not save dashcam footage to any internal storage or cloud server by default. You need to provide your own storage device, plugged into one of the USB-C ports in the centre console (or the glovebox USB port on some models).
Once a formatted USB drive is inserted and dashcam is enabled in Controls → Safety → Dashcam, the car continuously records from all external cameras while driving.
How long does Tesla save dashcam footage?
Tesla dashcam footage is stored in a rolling loop. The car continuously records and overwrites the oldest footage when the drive is full. How long footage is kept depends entirely on the size of your USB drive:
| Drive size | Approx. recording time |
|---|---|
| 32 GB | ~3–4 hours |
| 64 GB | ~6–8 hours |
| 128 GB | ~12–16 hours |
| 256 GB | ~24–32 hours |
| 1 TB SSD | ~100+ hours |
Saved clips (when you tap the dashcam icon or honk the horn) are stored separately in a "SavedClips" folder and are not overwritten — they remain until you manually delete them or the drive runs out of space.
What is Sentry Mode?
Sentry Mode is Tesla's parking surveillance feature. When enabled, the car uses its cameras to monitor the surroundings while parked. If it detects a significant threat (someone leaning on the car, breaking a window, etc.), it:
- Switches to Alert state — displays a warning on the touchscreen
- Saves a 10-minute clip (1 minute before the event + recording after)
- Sends a push notification to your phone via the Tesla app
- Flashes the headlights and sounds the alarm if the threat continues
Sentry Mode clips are saved to the "SentryClips" folder on your USB drive. Like saved dashcam clips, these are not overwritten automatically.
How to set up the Tesla dashcam
- Get a USB drive or SSD. A 128 GB or larger drive is recommended. An SSD (like the Samsung T7) is more reliable than a USB stick for continuous recording. Tesla sells its own 128 GB USB drive for ~£39.
- Format the drive. Go to Controls → Safety → USB Drive Format on the touchscreen to format it in the correct format (ext4).
- Plug it in. Use the glovebox USB-A port (Model 3/Y) or a centre console USB-C port.
- Enable dashcam. Go to Controls → Safety → Dashcam and set it to Auto (records whenever the car is in Drive).
- Enable Sentry Mode. Go to Controls → Safety → Sentry Mode and toggle it on. You can also exclude locations (e.g. Home, Work) to save battery.
How to view dashcam footage
There are three ways to view your footage:
- On the touchscreen: Tap the dashcam icon → View Clips. You can browse recent and saved clips directly on the car's screen.
- On a computer: Remove the USB drive and plug it into your laptop. Footage is organised into folders by date and time. Each clip includes video from multiple cameras (front, rear, left repeater, right repeater).
- Via the Tesla app: If you have a Premium Connectivity subscription, you can view Sentry Mode live camera feeds and recent clips remotely.
Sentry Mode battery drain
Sentry Mode keeps the cameras and computer active while parked, which uses approximately 250–350 watts continuously. This translates to roughly 1–2% battery drain per hour, or about 12–24 miles of range lost overnight (8 hours).
For this reason, consider disabling Sentry Mode at trusted locations (home, work) using the location-based exclusion in Controls → Safety → Sentry Mode → Exclude locations.
UK legal considerations
Dashcam footage from a Tesla is admissible as evidence in UK courts and insurance claims. Several UK insurers offer dashcam discounts of 5–15% for cars with active dashcam footage. When submitting a claim, you can export the relevant clip from your USB drive.
Under UK GDPR, be aware that continuous recording in public is generally permitted, but if your Sentry Mode cameras capture neighbours' properties on private land, this may raise data protection concerns. Position your car sensibly and be mindful of local sensitivities.
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Order with referral link →Frequently asked questions
Does Tesla dashcam record audio?
No. Tesla's dashcam only records video from the external cameras. There is no interior audio or cabin camera recording included in dashcam footage (the cabin camera is used for driver monitoring, not dashcam).
Can I use a micro SD card for dashcam?
Not directly. Tesla requires a USB drive. However, you can use a micro SD card with a USB adapter. An SSD or quality USB stick is more reliable for the constant read/write cycles of dashcam recording.
Does dashcam work without Premium Connectivity?
Yes. The dashcam and Sentry Mode record to the USB drive without any subscription. Premium Connectivity only adds remote live camera viewing and clip access through the Tesla app.