What is One-Tap Evidence Export in Hawk Dashcam?
One-tap evidence export in Hawk is a single button that bundles your dashcam footage, GPS data, and a SHA-256 integrity manifest into a court-ready ZIP file you can send to your insurer, police, or solicitor.
How One-Tap Evidence Export Works
Hawk's evidence export feature compresses all the clips from a dispute, along with their GPS overlays, timestamps, and cryptographic integrity hashes, into one downloadable ZIP. You select the clips in your Evidence Locker, tap export, and get a single file ready to email or hand over. The manifest inside proves the video has not been tampered with since Hawk recorded it. No logins required, no cloud upload of raw footage, no waiting. It works offline and stores everything on your phone until you decide to share.
Why Evidence Export Matters for Drivers
Insurance claims and police reports often hinge on clear, unaltered video evidence. A dashcam recording alone isn't always enough; you need proof that the footage is authentic and has not been edited. Hawk writes a SHA-256 cryptographic hash to every clip as it records, and bundles those hashes into the export manifest. That manifest is what shows an insurer or court that your video is the original, unmodified recording from the moment of the incident. For rideshare drivers, commuters, and new drivers especially, this file becomes your first line of defense in a dispute.
What's Inside the Export ZIP
The ZIP file contains the video clips you selected, GPS coordinates and speed overlays (if enabled in your GDPR privacy settings), a timestamp for each clip, and a manifest listing the SHA-256 hash of every file inside. You can open the videos on any device, and anyone reviewing them can verify the manifest. The structure is simple enough for a police officer or insurance claims handler to understand, but cryptographically sound enough to hold up in court. No proprietary software needed to open it.
Free vs. Pro Export Limits
Hawk's free tier lets you keep up to 10 clips with 7-day retention. You can still export, but once the 7 days pass, those clips delete. Local Pro (£3.99/mo or £39.99/yr) extends retention to 30 days and increases your clip limit. Rideshare Pro (£8.99/mo or £69.99/yr) adds cabin camera recording, shift mode for multi-trip sessions, and iCloud sync so your locked Pro clips persist beyond your phone. All tiers support one-tap export; the difference is how long Hawk keeps your footage and how many clips you can store at once.
Evidence Export and Legal Use
Hawk's export is designed for personal use in insurance claims, small-claims court, and police reports. On iOS, you can also submit evidence directly to police via NDSP (National Data Smart Platform) integration, streamlining the reporting process. The ZIP with manifest is admissible because the integrity hash proves the clip was never altered after recording. It is not a legal guarantee in every jurisdiction, so always check local rules or advise with a solicitor. Hawk provides the tool; how it's used in court depends on the judge and the laws in your area.
Getting Started with Hawk's Evidence Features
Download Hawk from the App Store, mount your phone on your dashboard, and press record. Hawk runs in the background continuously, looping old footage as new footage arrives. When an incident happens, tap the Evidence Locker button to lock that clip so it is not overwritten. From there, one tap exports it to a ZIP ready to send. You do not need a subscription to export; the free tier includes the feature. If you drive every day and want longer retention or cabin camera, upgrade to Pro or Rideshare Pro. Everything syncs locally to your phone first; iCloud backup is optional and available in Pro tiers.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I export evidence without paying for Hawk Pro?
Yes. One-tap export is available on the free tier. You can export up to 10 clips with 7-day retention. If you need longer retention or more clips, upgrade to Local Pro or Rideshare Pro.
Will my evidence export be accepted in court?
The export is admissible in principle because Hawk's SHA-256 manifest proves the footage has not been tampered with since recording. However, admissibility depends on local law and the judge. Always consult a solicitor before submitting evidence to court.
Does Hawk upload my video to the cloud when I export?
No. One-tap export creates a ZIP on your phone. You choose how to share it (email, message, cloud drive, etc.). Pro tiers offer optional iCloud sync for backup, but export itself is local-only.
What happens if I delete the Hawk app?
Free clips are deleted immediately. Pro clips synced to iCloud can be restored if you reinstall Hawk and sign back into the same iCloud account. Always back up critical evidence before uninstalling.
Can I export multiple incidents in one ZIP?
Yes. You can select multiple locked clips from your Evidence Locker and export them together in a single ZIP file with a combined manifest.
Does the GPS data in the export reveal my home address?
The export includes GPS coordinates and speed overlays only if you enable them in your GDPR privacy settings. You can disable GPS overlay to keep location private, or export without sharing those details.