How to Get TfL CCTV Footage After an Accident in London (2026)

15 May 2026Easy Car Claims team8 min read

You had an accident. The other driver says it wasn't their fault. Your dashcam was off, or pointing the wrong way. The witnesses you noted down won't answer their phone.

Here's what many drivers don't know: London has a large number of cameras on the road network, on buses, and on private buildings. Many accidents happen within view of at least one. The footage may exist. You just have to know how to ask, and how fast.

Act fast (this is the key point)

CCTV is usually kept for a limited time and then overwritten. Retention periods vary by camera and organisation: some private and bus cameras may only keep footage for days, others for around a month. Once it's overwritten, it's usually gone for good.

So: if you had an accident recently, request the footage today. The request has to be in writing, with the accident date, time and location, to the right organisation. Every day you wait is a day of footage you might lose.

Step 1: work out which camera you need

Different cameras are owned by different organisations. You have to ask the right one:

Where the accident happened	Who owns the cameras	How to ask
Red routes (major roads managed by TfL)	TfL	Subject Access Request to TfL
Borough roads (anything not a red route)	Local council	Subject Access Request to that borough
Bus lane cameras	TfL or the local council, depending on the road	SAR to whichever manages the road
Inside or outside a bus	The bus operator / TfL (onboard camera)	SAR to TfL, mentioning the bus route and time
Petrol station, supermarket car park	Private owner	Letter or email to the business asking them to preserve and release it

Red routes are marked with red lines along the kerb, and TfL's website has a map of the roads it manages. Otherwise the road is usually the borough's.

Step 2: send the Subject Access Request (SAR)

Under UK GDPR (and the Data Protection Act 2018), CCTV footage in which you can be identified is likely to be your personal data, and you can request a copy. The process is called a Subject Access Request.

For TfL, use the subject access request process on TfL's website (search "TfL subject access request" on tfl.gov.uk).

The request needs to include:

Your full name
Your address (to verify identity)
Date and time of the incident (as precise as you can; minutes matter when searching footage)
Exact location (junction name, road name, postcode, GPS if you have it)
Vehicle registration
Reason for the request ("I was involved in a road traffic accident at the above location and time and need a copy of the CCTV footage")
Proof of identity: they'll usually ask for ID such as a passport or driving licence

Under UK GDPR, organisations generally have one month to respond (extendable in some cases), and SARs are usually free. Because that deadline can be longer than the retention period, ask them to preserve the footage straight away. They may blur or withhold images of other people.

For borough councils, use the council's data protection or subject access request page. Same details as above. Mention the specific road and junction.

Step 3: send it fast. Today, if you can.

The clock is brutal. By the time you've:

Had the accident (day 0)
Spoken to your insurer (days 1 to 3)
Sorted out repairs (days 4 to 7)
Found out the other driver disputes what happened (days 10 to 14)
Decided to chase CCTV (days 14 to 20)
Sent the SAR (days 20 to 25)

…the footage may already have been overwritten. Get the request, and a request to preserve the footage, in as early as you can.

If we're providing your repair or hire, we can help you send the request early, with your authority, so the footage has the best chance of being preserved.

Step 4: what the footage actually shows

Don't expect Hollywood quality. Traffic cameras are often wide-angle, with motion blur on fast-moving vehicles. You may see:

Vehicle positions before, during and after the incident
Traffic light states (green, amber, red), if the lights are in view
Lane positions of both vehicles
Whether either driver was overtaking, signalling or moving erratically
Pedestrian or cyclist movements if relevant

What it usually won't show: number plates clearly enough to identify (unless the camera is an ANPR camera), what the driver was doing inside the cabin, or fine detail of the impact itself.

Step 5: keep it with your other evidence

CCTV alone isn't always conclusive. Keep it together with:

TfL or borough CCTV: lane positions, signal states, who was moving
Your own dashcam: your perspective, plus 30 seconds before and after
The other driver's insurance details (always get these at the scene)
Photos of damage and skid marks: the point of impact
Witness contacts: an independent account
Police incident number: if you reported it

Get as many of these as you can in the first 48 hours.

What if TfL says "no footage available"?

Three possibilities:

No camera covered the spot
The camera wasn't working at the time
The footage had already been overwritten

If TfL responds with no footage, ask: "Was there a camera at this junction? Was it working on the date and time of the incident? If so, why is the footage unavailable?"

If you think your request wasn't handled properly, you can complain to the organisation and then to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

Why this matters more for PCO drivers

Clear footage of what happened can help the insurers reach a view on who was at fault sooner, and every week that saves is a week less disruption.

If you'd like our help

If we are providing your repair or hire, we can show you how to send the request. There is no charge for this.

Call us on 0208 090 8872 or get a repair and hire quote and mention "need CCTV".

Questions about your repair or hire?

Call us to talk about getting your vehicle repaired and back on the road.

0208 090 8872