Buying guide for best dash cams
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Did you know that an officer may demand to view the footage from your dash cam to help determine which driver was responsible in the event of an accident? Having a dash cam is a good way to be sure you stay on your best, safest behavior whenever you are behind the wheel. But to be effective, you need a quality dash cam.
A multi-lens camera in the front combined with a remote camera in the back will give you the best coverage. Having an HD camera with great low-light capabilities and a GPS chip inside is highly recommended. For any parking concerns, a motion or impact activated camera is needed.
You can purchase one of the options we've short-listed as the best if you're ready to buy now. However, if you'd like a little more information and some tips on what are the most needed features for your particular situation, keep reading.
Types of dash cams
To find the right type of dash cam for your car, it helps to understand the design options. Different designs work better in different circumstances.
Multiple-lens dash cams
Multiple-lens cameras record in front of the car with one lens and inside the car with another. The lenses record at the same time, giving you two points of view.
Rearview mirror-mounted dash cams
Some small dash cams attach to the rearview mirror. If you live in a state where windshield mounts are illegal, a rearview mirror mount is a great alternative.
Windshield-mounted dash cams
Most dash cams mount to a car’s windshield using a suction cup and bracket. Windshield-mounted cameras can partially block your view of the surrounding area, though.
Single-lens dash cams
A single-lens dash cam works like a traditional camcorder. You mount the single-lens camera to the windshield or mirror, and it records the action in front of the vehicle. If you want a single-lens dash cam, pick one with a wide viewing angle.
Dash cam features
After you’ve selected a type of dash cam, consider the features you want. Popular features like HD video and low-light recording make the difference between crisp, clear video and fuzzy footage.
Battery options
Most dash cams will connect to a 12-volt outlet in the car. However, some dash cam models must be connected to the car battery directly. This ensures the dash cam has the power to run at all times.
GPS
A dash cam with a GPS chip inside marks the video with the time, date, and location of the recording. If you plan to use the video to prove innocence for a traffic ticket or an accident, you will need time and location stamps.
HD video
With dash cam video, you want a high-resolution image that will be sharp. Otherwise, your dash cam may not show the exact details you need to produce evidence after an accident. Look for a dash cam that offers 1080p full HD video-recording capabilities.
Motion or impact detection
If you want to use your dash cam as a security camera inside the car when parked, a motion or impact detector is a great feature. The video camera only starts recording when it detects motion or impact. This means you won’t have hours of uneventful video to watch when reviewing the stored footage later.
Low-light recording
Some dash cams create poor video recordings at night, which is undesirable. You need a dash cam that can film quality video even when it’s dark outside.
Do you need a dash cam?
Because dash cams can record audio inside the vehicle and video inside and outside, they have numerous uses. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why you might want to document your drive.
Accident evidence
In an accident, a dash cam provides evidence as to what exactly happened. Without video evidence, police and insurance companies must rely on eyewitness statements. Such testimony may not be completely accurate or reliable. Dash cam footage can help you prove an accident wasn’t your fault, despite what the other driver says.
Disputing tickets
If you receive a ticket for a driving violation, especially by an automatic traffic camera, you can dispute the ticket with dash cam video. The video from your dash cam may contain evidence that you weren’t speeding, for example.
Fun
A dash cam doesn’t have to be serious all the time. Perhaps you’ll use your dash cam to create a time-lapse video of a road trip to share on social media. We all see funny things while we’re driving, and the dash cam records everything.
Young drivers
New teenage drivers may need to prove themselves before getting more freedom with a car. A dash cam shows a parent how carefully a teenager drives. And simply having a dash cam in the car will encourage a teen to drive more cautiously, even if a parent never looks at it.
Vandalism protection
Mount a dash cam with a 360-degree viewing angle in your vehicle to protect against vandalism. Should someone damage your vehicle, your dash cam footage could help identify the vandal.
Caution
Some states have laws against mounting anything on the dashboard of a vehicle. Know your local laws before selecting a dash cam style.
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Tips
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When seeking a dash cam to protect against vandalism, look for a camera that turns on when it senses motion near the vehicle.
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Dash cams that connect to a car’s battery require professional installation to work correctly. This will cost another $100 to $125.
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If you do a lot of driving at night, make sure the dash cam you select shoots good-quality video in low-light conditions.
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Before purchasing a memory card to use with your dash cam, know which size you need. Some dash cams use SD-sized cards, while others use smaller memory cards.
FAQ
Q. What should I do if I witness someone else’s accident while my dash cam is recording?
A. Law enforcement would appreciate having a copy of your dash cam footage to help with the investigation. This will ensure the driver who was not at fault is cleared of the accident.
Q. Will I get in trouble with the police if I use a dash cam?
A. You may legally record video of public roadways using your dash cam. However, it’s smart to alert a law enforcement officer who stops your vehicle that you have a dash cam running. Additionally, some states have laws regarding how a dash cam can be attached to your car. In some states, you cannot drive with a dash cam mounted to the windshield, for example.
Q. What’s the best way to power my dash cam?
A. The easiest and cheapest way to power a dash cam is with an adapter plugged into a car’s 12-volt outlet. Some dash cams allow you to connect to a USB port. However, these power sources don’t work when the car is turned off. Dash cam models that connect directly to the car battery through a wire run at all times.
