Android Continuous Video Recording with Hawk Dashcam
Hawk is a dashcam app for Android that records driving video continuously to your phone with SHA-256 integrity hashes, GPS overlay, and evidence-grade export for insurance claims or police reports.
What is Hawk?
Hawk is a dashcam and drive recorder app that turns your Android phone into court-ready driving evidence. Unlike dedicated hardware dashcams, Hawk uses your existing device to capture continuous video loops while driving, writes tamper-proof integrity data to each clip, and lets you export footage with full metadata for disputes or accident reports. It's designed for daily commuters, new drivers, and rideshare drivers (Uber, Lyft, Bolt) who need driving evidence without buying separate equipment. As of 2026, Hawk is available on both Android and iOS, with the same core continuous recording and evidence features across both platforms.
How Continuous Recording Works
Hawk records video continuously in loops as long as your phone remains mounted and the app is running. The app captures driving footage with cinematic optical-flow stabilisation to keep shaky footage steady, overlays GPS speed and timestamp data onto clips (configurable via privacy settings), and logs the trip route via MapKit. Each video clip is written with a SHA-256 integrity hash, which proves the footage hasn't been altered. The Free tier stores up to 10 clips with 7-day retention; Pro and Rideshare Pro tiers remove clip limits and extend storage with iCloud sync for locked evidence files. Recording stops when you close the app or remove your phone from the mount.
Evidence Export and Dispute Support
The core value of Hawk is its one-tap dispute export. When an accident or incident occurs, you can select the relevant clips and export them as a ZIP file containing all video footage, a SHA-256 manifest proving integrity, GPS overlays, and metadata. This ZIP is ready to send to your insurance company, police, or small-claims court. Hawk doesn't auto-upload your footage to MRVL servers; Pro tier clips sync only to your own iCloud account under your control, keeping your driving data private. On iOS, Hawk also integrates with police-report submission tools via NDSP.
Features for Different Drivers
The Free tier is enough for daily commuters: it records continuously, stores clips locally, and lets you export evidence when needed. Local Pro (£3.99 per month, £39.99 per year, or £49.99 lifetime) removes clip limits, adds iCloud sync for Pro clips, enables Siri Shortcuts and voice-save commands, and gives lifetime access to new features. Rideshare Pro (£8.99 per month or £69.99 per year) adds cabin camera recording for multi-passenger trips, shift mode to run multiple recording sessions without stopping, and passenger recording notices to comply with rideshare driver regulations.
Why Phone Dashcams Instead of Hardware?
A phone dashcam like Hawk costs nothing to start (Free tier), requires no additional device to buy or install, and syncs with your existing phone's GPS and connectivity. You already carry your phone; mounting it in your car turns it into evidence-grade recording equipment. Hardware dashcams often require subscriptions, cloud auto-upload, or separate wiring. Hawk gives you continuous recording with integrity hashes and the option to keep all footage local and private. If you later want cabin recording or multi-trip shift mode, Rideshare Pro adds those features without needing new hardware.
Getting Started with Hawk on Android
Download Hawk from the Google Play Store, grant permissions for camera and location (if you want GPS overlays), and mount your phone on your dashboard with a standard phone holder. Launch the app, press record, and driving footage captures continuously in the background. When you reach your destination, close the app to stop recording. Clips are stored locally on your phone. If an accident happens, open Hawk, select the relevant clips, and tap 'Export for Dispute' to create a ZIP file with all evidence data. Share the ZIP directly via email, messaging, or upload to your insurance portal.
Start recording driving evidence on your Android phone in seconds with Hawk.
Frequently asked questions
Does Hawk work on Android?
Yes. Hawk is available on both Android and iOS with the same continuous recording, GPS overlay, and evidence export features. Download from Google Play on Android.
Is continuous recording draining my battery?
Continuous recording does use battery. To extend playback time, lower screen brightness, close background apps, and use a dashboard mount with a charging cable plugged into your car's USB port or 12V adapter.
Can Hawk auto-upload my footage to the cloud?
No. Hawk stores clips locally on your phone and syncs only locked Pro clips to your own iCloud account. It does not auto-upload all footage to MRVL servers, keeping your driving data private.
What if I need cabin recording for rideshare?
Upgrade to Rideshare Pro (£8.99 per month or £69.99 per year) to unlock cabin camera recording, shift mode for multi-trip sessions, and passenger recording notices.
Can I export clips for insurance or police?
Yes. Select the relevant clips, tap 'Export for Dispute', and Hawk creates a ZIP file with video, GPS metadata, timestamps, and a SHA-256 manifest proving the footage hasn't been altered. Send the ZIP directly to your insurer or police.
Do I need a paid plan to start recording?
No. The Free tier records continuously and stores up to 10 clips with 7-day retention. Local Pro removes clip limits, adds iCloud sync, and costs £3.99 per month or £39.99 per year.