Best Dash Cams

Why do you need a dash camera?

Dash cams continuously record footage of your car's surroundings while you're driving. In addition to helping in accident investigations, they can identify the number plates of cars fleeing an incident. They can also offer a simple, hands-free way of recording a road trip or a car's interior.

These handy car companions can similarly be used by taxi or Uber drivers who wish to record interactions with passengers. Some dashcams can capture incidents (like hit and runs or break ins) when the car is parked. Most dash cams are an affordable and effective way to give you peace of mind on the roads.

When the time comes to make a claim or simply to take a closer look, you can download footage saved onto your car cam's SD card, play it back and share it.

Do dash cameras work when the car is off?

Not all dash cams will work when the car is parked and the ignition is turned off. Some higher-end models will have this feature though, marketed as 'parking surveillance mode' or something similar to this. For example, the Blackvue DR900S features a parking mode that acts like a security camera for your car, warding you against hit and runs or other incidents causing damage to your car when you’re away from it. It may be worth it if you have an expensive car.

How many channels should I get?

You can buy a single channel (1-CH) or dual channel (2-CH) dash cam.

1 channel

1-CH, also known as a single lens dash camera, is a front-only camera. Installing a dash cam that’s 1 channel is pretty straightforward, making a D.I.Y job within sights. The dash cam can be hardwired using a power cable that connects to your car’s 12v cigarette lighter. Using the rechargeable battery isn’t recommended, as if your dash cam abruptly runs out of charge, you might lose the footage on it.

Single lens dash cams are the more popular and more affordable choice, compared to 2-channel units.

2 channels

2-CH cams record footage from both the front and rear windshield. This makes them suitable for recording tailgaters and collisions from behind. A front and rear dashcam will also provide a better viewing angle. (To go all the way, you can even add left and right dash cams, and the four units will work together to give you an impressive 360-degree viewing angle).

On the flipside, dual dash cams have a more complicated set-up process, (in order to connect and power both cameras). Professional installation may even be on the cards, to ensure the cables don't get in the way while you drive. 2-channel dash cams are are also more expensive than their front-only counterparts.

Video resolution

Since the primary purpose of having a dash cam is to pinpoint details that are tricky to spot in real time, the video quality of recordings is important.

While there are units available in 720p Full HD, 1080p is widely regarded as the minimum standard to avoid pixelated, blurry images or footage.

Higher frame rates also help reduce motion blur (minimum 24fps, ideally 30fps and above). Higher bitrates, as well as a larger lens apertures, will also increase the clarity of the image.

Included HDR or WDR (Wide Dynamic Range) features may also help with the quality of recording at night, but be discerning when products claim to have a ‘Night Vision’ mode as the addition of this feature doesn’t always make a noticeable difference.

Storage capacity

The size of your Micro SD card will determine how much footage you get, so check the maximum Micro SD Card capacity of your dash cam to make sure it's right for you. Also note that the higher the resolution of your image, the more space the recording will take up. Most models use loop recording, which will record until the memory is full and then rewrite the oldest files to always give you the last few hours.

Charging options

Most dashboard cameras are powered via your car’s 12V cigarette lighter. Some also come equipped with an internal battery to power your dash cam when parked, the duration of this battery depends on the manufacturer. Some models can be hardwired into the car’s power supply.

Price

It’s possible to buy a cheap dash cam under $200, even from more popular and trusted brands such as Garmin and Navman. A dashcam that demonstrates this is the Navman MiVue 745, which retails for $153, and the Garmin Dash Cam Mini, which will set you back $199. However if you’re keen to get creative and save yourself some cash, it’s also possible to turn your smartphone into a makeshift dash cam, using a dash mount and an app like Nexar - AI, compatible with both Apple and Android.

Other features:

• Impact detection and motion detection: These allow your camera to start recording after being hit while parked, as the impact will trigger the built-in G sensor in your dash cam. Pre-buffered parking mode also provides footage a few seconds before the incident, for that little bit of extra accuracy.
• GPS feature: This records the location and speed and attaches it to footage, which may help with insurance and police investigations.
• LCD display: This makes a dash cam more user-friendly, as perhaps surprisingly not all dash cams have a built-in display. if you’d like to play back your footage and use the camera for other purposes (for example, a rear dash cam can sometimes help with reverse parking) having a display can be beneficial. However also keep in mind that some of the best rated dash cams on ProductReview such as the award-winning Blackvue DR750S and the Blackvue DR650GW/DR650S are no screen (camera only) units.