Can You Take Pictures Of People's Cars?

Carspotting is fun, and if you bring your nice DSLR or mirrorless camera along, you can get some slick car pics. But what does the law say? Can you take pictures of people’s cars or not?

TLDR; Yes you can. Now, let’s check the fine print including what to do if there is a conflict.

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First, a Quick Disclaimer

We are photographers—not lawyers. Please consult with your local authorities for conclusive statements regarding current federal or state laws and regulations in your jurisdiction.

Better yet, ring a law firm specializing in privacy and intellectual property. And get it in writing, just in case.

Now, with that dry cracker out of the way…

Can You Take Pictures of Other People’s Cars or Not?

Am I allowed to take pictures of other people's cars?

Yes, you can!

That’s it. Problem solved.

But wait, you’d be wise to know the subtle nuances.

When Is It Not OK to Photograph Someone’s Car?

There are some clear-cut situations where you should absolutely not take pictures of cars. Those might be blatantly obvious, but then you can’t say we haven’t warned you.

Never photograph a car crash that you might be driving past. Show some common decency and respect to those involved.

Humans are wired to be biased towards the negative, morbid, and dangerous. Resist the temptation. Avoid congesting the road and let the professionals deal with it instead.

Never take pictures of vehicles at or near power stations, TSA checkpoints, military installations, and similar ‘sensitive’ environments.

Those basic rules of thumb aside, car photography in the wild is pretty fair game. As long as you are on public property, you are usually allowed to photograph anything and everything around you.

There Are Exceptions to Every Rule…

Can I take photos of other people's cars?

Obvious exceptions include certain parks and memorials.

Here, you will often find the specific rules of conduct clearly visible on a sign near the entrance. They’ll mostly mention littering and perhaps not using a tripod.

In a nutshell, avoid hanging out at the kindergarten/school/the local bank with your Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens.

As long as you’re walking around, doing casual, not-creepy, non-intrusive, hand-held photography, you’re in the good.

Then again, it’s smart to do your due diligence and know what to say, just in case there is a confrontation.

In the FAQs section below, you’ll find the answers to some of the most pertinent questions on the topic of car photography.

FAQs

What to Say If the Car Owner Gets Mad?

First of all, this is extremely unlikely to happen. Just imagine, how would you feel if someone clearly showed appreciation for the aesthetic beauty of your daily driver by photographing it?

If the owner is clearly enraged, it’s most likely because they feel threatened. Then, the best thing to do is deescalate the best you can.
Calm, confident posture, soft eye contact, slight smile, non-threatening demeanor, optimistic tone of voice.

Say something like, “Oh, this is
your ride? Love it, bro. I’m also a car lover and a street photographer… (ask a genuinely curious, nerdy car question).”

Is It OK to Upload Car Photos to Instagram?

Now we are getting into grey territory. While it’s usually within the law to photograph anything in a public space, uploading to social media is a different beast.

If you don’t get explicit (preferably written) consent, you should best blur out any license plates. To be 100% on the sure side, avoid posting people’s faces, too.

You can deal with the objection in three ways; before, during, and after. Or, as we say in ~~street~~ car photography; it’s easier to ask for forgiveness rather than for permission.

You better believe it, owners of exotic, vintage, or modern supercars are pretty dang used to them being photographed all the time.

Even if only with a hand gesture, asking for permission conveys respect and class.

Can I Take Photos of License Plates?

So long as the vehicle is in a public area, its license plate is the same. Just avoid uploading it to the web, thus revealing the location of said motor vehicle and its owner, and you should be good.

Occasionally, you might need to photograph a plate (for documentation purposes). In this case, you would obviously avoid posting to socials but instead safely store the photos.

What to Say to the Police When Taking Car Photos?

Most of the time, the police could care less if you photograph other people’s cars, or even patrol vehicles.

Unless it’s conflicting with any of the above — or preventing the officers from doing their work.

During the confrontation, it’s advised to film the whole encounter (on mobile) to protect your civil rights and to document the interaction.

Be calm, friendly, and cooperative. Know your rights, and do not get bullied around.

Can I Sell My Car Photos Online?

It’s entirely ok to sell car photos via online stock photo sites like Adobestock, gettyimages, etc.

Just make sure to get model releases for any identifiable people and brands involved if you wish to sell the work as commercial (non-editorial) photos.

Other Articles In This Series

You might be wondering where else you can take photographs. This series of articles might be of interest: