What Is a Dispute Export in Hawk Dashcam?
A dispute export in Hawk is a one-tap ZIP file containing your dashcam footage, GPS overlay data, and cryptographic integrity hashes, ready to send to your insurance company, police, or small-claims court as evidence.
Definition and Purpose
Dispute export is a feature in Hawk: Dashcam & Drive Recorder that bundles your driving evidence into a single, court-ready file. When you tap the export button, Hawk compresses selected video clips, GPS metadata, timestamps, and a SHA-256 manifest into one ZIP folder. This manifest proves every clip has not been tampered with since recording, which makes it admissible in legal disputes, insurance claims, and police reports. The export is designed to be sent directly to third parties without needing additional explanation or file conversion.
What Gets Included in the Export
Each dispute export contains your video clips in their original format, GPS speed and location data overlaid on the footage, precise timestamps for every second of recording, and a SHA-256 integrity hash for each clip. The manifest file lists all hashes and metadata so insurance adjusters or legal representatives can verify the footage has not been altered. If you have enabled the GPS overlay in your Hawk settings, the export will include speed, direction, and location coordinates. All this information is packaged into a single ZIP file that any recipient can open and review on any device.
Why Integrity Hashes Matter
Hawk writes a unique SHA-256 hash to every clip the moment it is recorded. This cryptographic fingerprint acts as proof that the video is exactly as it was captured; if even one frame is modified, the hash changes and the tampering becomes obvious. Courts, insurers, and police increasingly expect evidence-grade documentation like this, especially in contested claims. By exporting with the full manifest, you are providing a technical chain of custody that strengthens your credibility and reduces the chance of your evidence being challenged.
How to Create and Send a Dispute Export
In Hawk, open your Evidence Locker (the biometric-locked storage for important clips), select the footage you want to export, and tap the one-tap dispute export button. Hawk will create the ZIP file and give you options to email it, share via messaging, upload to cloud storage, or save it locally. You can then send the file directly to your insurance adjuster, police department, or legal representative. The entire process takes seconds, and the recipient receives a complete, verifiable record of the incident without needing any additional software.
Who Uses Dispute Exports
Daily commuters use dispute exports to resolve minor road accidents and insurance claims quickly. Rideshare drivers, such as Uber and Lyft drivers, rely on them to document passenger incidents or traffic collisions with evidence that protects both driver and passenger. New drivers use Hawk to build a library of safe driving patterns and to respond immediately if an incident occurs. Anyone facing a contested insurance claim, traffic violation, or small-claims dispute can use the export to submit professional, tamper-proof evidence without hiring a lawyer or waiting weeks for a dashcam company's support team.
Hawk vs. Traditional Dashcams
A traditional dashcam is a dedicated hardware device mounted on your windscreen, often costing £100 to £500 and requiring cable installation. Hawk turns your existing iPhone or Android into a court-ready dashcam using your phone's camera, GPS, and processing power. You do not need to buy, install, or maintain separate hardware. The dispute export feature is built in, meaning you can generate legal-grade evidence from your pocket. Hawk works without a subscription to start (Free tier includes 10 clips per month), and Hawk Pro adds iCloud backup, longer retention, and advanced features like cabin camera and shift mode for rideshare work.
Start recording evidence-grade dashcam footage with Hawk in one tap.
Frequently asked questions
Is a dispute export from Hawk admissible in court?
Yes. The SHA-256 integrity hash and manifest provide technical proof that footage has not been tampered with, which courts and legal representatives recognise as evidence-grade documentation. However, admissibility also depends on your local laws and the specific case. Always consult a solicitor if you are pursuing a formal legal claim.
Can I edit clips before exporting them?
Hawk does not allow editing or trimming of clips before export, which preserves the integrity of the evidence. You can select which clips to include in the export, but the footage itself remains unaltered.
How large is a typical dispute export file?
A dispute export containing one to five minutes of video footage typically ranges from 50MB to 300MB, depending on video quality and GPS data. Most email and cloud services accept files this size without issue.
Do I need Hawk Pro to export disputes?
No. The one-tap dispute export feature is available on Hawk Free. Local Pro and Rideshare Pro add additional features like iCloud sync, longer retention, and cabin camera recording, but basic export functionality is included at no cost.
What does the SHA-256 manifest do?
The manifest is a text file listing the unique hash of every clip in your export. It proves that no frames have been added, removed, or modified since recording. Recipients can verify the hashes independently to confirm the footage is authentic.
Can I export old clips from months ago?
Hawk retains clips for seven days on the Free tier and longer on Pro (with iCloud sync). Clips older than your retention window are automatically deleted and cannot be recovered or exported. Store important footage in your Evidence Locker to extend retention.