Electrostatic Windscreen Stickers: Why and When to Use One

Open a new dash cam box and there is sometimes a thin, clear film in there that looks like a spare screen protector. That is an electrostatic sticker, also called a static sticker or static cling film. Most people either throw it away or stick the camera straight onto it without knowing why. Here is what it is actually for, and whether you need one.

What is an electrostatic sticker?

It is a thin, clear vinyl or plastic film that holds onto glass with static electricity rather than glue. VIOFO describes it as clinging to smooth surfaces like glass without leaving residue behind.

The idea is simple. The film goes on the windscreen first, then your dash cam's adhesive mount sticks to the film instead of directly to the glass. The glue never touches the windscreen.

Why use an electrostatic sticker?

No glue left on the glass. When you remove or move the camera, the film peels away cleanly instead of leaving adhesive to scrape off.
Easy to reposition. Got the angle wrong, or want the camera further behind the mirror? Lift the film and move it, rather than sacrificing a new adhesive pad.
Handy for leased, company or resale cars. The windscreen goes back to how it was.
Kinder to tinted rear glass. If your rear window has aftermarket tint film on the inside, pulling an adhesive pad straight off it can damage the tint. The sticker keeps the glue off it.

Do you need an electrostatic sticker for a dash cam?

No, it is optional. A dash cam's adhesive mount sticks perfectly well to clean glass on its own. The sticker is about making removal clean later, not about making the camera hold better.

We would use one if you might move the camera, change cars, or hand the car back at the end of a lease. If the camera is going in and staying for the life of the car, you can skip it.

Can I mount a dash cam with only the electrostatic sticker?

No. The sticker has no adhesive on the camera side. It only clings to the glass. Your camera's mount still needs its own adhesive pad, which sticks onto the film. VIOFO's own installation steps follow exactly that order: film onto glass, then mount onto film.

How to fit an electrostatic sticker

Clean the glass. Wipe the inside of the windscreen and dry it with a lint-free cloth. Any dust or finger oil weakens the cling. Isopropyl alcohol works well.
Pick the spot. Hold the camera up first. Aim for high and central, near or behind the rear-view mirror, inside the wiper sweep so rain does not block the view. Check placement rules for your state.
Apply the film. Peel the backing liner and press the sticker onto the glass, smoothing out any bubbles from the centre outwards.
Stick the mount to the film. Peel the mount's adhesive liner and press it onto the sticker, not the glass.
Hold firm pressure. VIOFO recommends pressing for about 30 seconds so the adhesive bonds properly.
Adjust and test. Set the angle, power on and check the view is clear.

Fitting on a mild day helps. Adhesive bonds best when the glass is not baking hot or freezing cold.

When an electrostatic sticker is not the answer

Your mount keeps falling off. A sticker will not fix a failed adhesive pad. Clean the glass properly and fit a fresh pad. Our guide to re-sticking a dash cam that fell off walks through it.
The spot is not smooth glass. Static film needs a smooth, clean surface, so it will not cling properly over the rough black dotted band around the edge of some windscreens.
You are fitting a mirror dash cam. Most mirror cams strap over your existing mirror rather than sticking to the glass. See mirror cam mounting options.
You are choosing between mount types. That is a different question. Read adhesive vs suction cup dash cam mounts.

Which electrostatic stickers can you buy?

Many cameras ship with one or more in the box. VIOFO includes three windscreen static stickers with the A149 Pro Duo, for example. If yours is missing, damaged or you are moving a camera, spares are cheap:

VIOFO Static Windshield Sticker: a four-pack of reusable static stickers for dash cam mounts.
Vantrue Dash Cam Mount Kit: three electrostatic stickers, two adhesion promoters and four adhesive pads you can cut to size. Vantrue markets the stickers as temperature-resistant and residue-free, and the kit as suiting any dash cam.

A sticker is not tied to one brand of camera. It is just film on glass, so any clean sticker works under any adhesive mount.

Common questions

What is an anti-static sticker for a dash cam?

It is the same thing. "Anti-static sticker", "static sticker" and "electrostatic sticker" are all names people use for the clear cling film that goes between the glass and the mount.

Will an electrostatic sticker leave marks on the windscreen?

It should not. It holds by static rather than glue, so it peels away without residue. Clean the glass after removing it if you want it spotless.

Can I reuse an electrostatic sticker?

VIOFO says its static stickers can be reused and repositioned. In practice the camera's adhesive pad stays stuck to the film, so you move the sticker and mount together. If the film gets creased, dusty or loses its cling, replace it.

Does Australian heat affect an electrostatic sticker?

Heat is harder on the adhesive pad than on the film. Vantrue markets its stickers as temperature-resistant. If a mount lets go in summer, the fix is almost always better cleaning and a fresh adhesive pad rather than a different sticker.

Should the sticker go on the rear camera too?

It can, and it is most useful there if your rear glass has tint film or heater lines you would rather not pull adhesive off later.

Last reviewed: 17 September 2026. What an electrostatic sticker is, how it is fitted and whether it can be reused follow VIOFO's own installation guidance. Kit contents are from VIOFO's and Vantrue's own product listings. We sell both sticker products named here. If anything on this page is wrong or has gone out of date, tell us and we will correct it.