Dash Cam – If you’re particularly concerned about your safety, a dash cam might be an excellent method to protect yourself and get some piece of mind.
A decent dashboard camera may not only make you feel safer, but it can also help you avoid further bother after an accident, boost your confidence in a traffic stop, and simply make driving more enjoyable.
That last item may seem counterintuitive at first.
But when you consider being able to film road trips or picturesque drives, the possibility of documenting your experiences is enticing.
Of course, it may also record all of the events that can aid you in filing insurance claims, like as break-ins or collisions.
Dashboard camera systems are becoming much more than simply cameras, just as phones are becoming much more than just phones.
After everything is said and done, there are several innovative uses for a dash-camera and no real disadvantages to having this device in your car – other than the initial cost.
If you’re looking for the finest dash-camera for your purposes, you’ll quickly realise that there are several alternatives available at various pricing points.
What is worth the cost? The top dash cams on the market record stunning video, can connect to your phone, utilise AI to detect key moments, and even communicate your medical information to emergency services in the case of an accident.
Night vision technology, parking mode, loop recording, 4K dash cam video recording, driver tutoring with AI video, blind-spot viewing, GPS tracking, lane-departure warning, and saving the video data to a microSD card are all common features of the finest dash cams.
Here are some general considerations to bear in mind when shopping, followed by our four recommendations for the best dash cam 2022.
Basic Dash Cam Tips
Get a large SD card for your dash cam.
Some dash-cameras include a memory card for storage, but you should still plan on purchasing your own.
The better dash-cameras will offer more storage.
That means a longer “loop” of video before the camera needs to start recording over the oldest clip, giving you more time to browse back and discover the footage you want.
To handle and save all of the greatest dash cam footage, make sure the memory card is the largest the camera can use.
Dress the cable.
A power wire is used by every dash cam, and nothing looks worse than having it dangle down in an untidy manner.
As it makes its way down to a 12-volt outlet in your automobile, tuck the cable into nooks and gaps in your inside trim.
Think about Audio.
When looking for the finest dash cameras, consider not just if they have high-quality audio recording, but also whether you intend to use them.
Some jurisdictions have two-party consent regulations that might land you in trouble if you use your interior camera to record the voices of unknowing carpoolers, Uber and Lyft clients, or even friends and family in your car.
Know that dash cams cut both ways.
A dual dash cam features one front-facing camera and one rear-facing camera.
A visible dash-camera indicates that you have evidence of a collision with another driver.
The other person’s insurance company may inquire about it, and their attorneys may want a copy of what you captured on your camera.
If you were in the wrong, this may end poorly, but don’t get into the practise of erasing recording proof of driving behaviour.
Cams are relying on phones more.
Car dash cams are increasingly using phone apps as their full interface, which can make it difficult to change a simple setting or quickly review footage.
We are all aware that wireless connections are not always reliable or straightforward. Still, phone-paired dash cameras may frequently upload their recordings to the cloud via your phone, which is a useful function as long as you keep track of how much of your data plan it consumes.
The finest dash cam for you will be one that is easy to use, so be sure it is compatible with your phone.
Even the best dash cameras with the latest and greatest features are relatively affordable given the crucial job they perform, and they’re possibly the best present you can offer to anyone who drives.
Related Articles: BEST DASH CAM 2022: THE BEST CAR CAMERA FOR PROTECTION
Best Dash Cameras
Here are four of the best dash cameras, each with important features to consider.
Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2
A high-quality cam that won’t clog your windshield.
Above all, this Garmin tiny dash cam records in HD while also allowing for voice activation and cloud storage via your phone.
Garmin’s dash-cam doesn’t record in 4K, which is becoming standard for dash-cams, and any operation beyond the fundamentals requires the use of an app.
However, due to its modest size, superb HD video quality, and trusted brand name, this little dash-cam is an ideal alternative for drivers looking for a simple, attractive drive recorder.
Nexar Beam
Nexar Beam is small yet clever, featuring driver alert algorithms.
The Nexar Beam dash-cam is similarly “simply” an HD camera, but it includes GPS position data in its recordings thanks to a GPS receiver incorporated into its windshield attachment.
It employs image processing techniques to alert you to road dangers and can notify others if you’re running late through the official Nexar app.
Before purchasing a Beam, make sure your phone is supported:
As of this writing, a number of popular phones are not, limiting the amount of sophisticated functions the Beam may provide.
This dash cam features a 32GB SD card and a rear-facing camera that records sharp 135-degree-wide dash cam footage in 1080p.
The Beam, like the Garmin Mini 2, uses your paired phone for its entire interface, but it also leverages that pairing to provide free limitless clip backups.
It’s the least noticeable choice on the list, aside from the Garmin Mini 2, albeit it’s still significantly larger than the Mini 2.
Vantrue N4
Record three views at once in HD or better resolution.
The Vantrue N4 is a three-channel powerhouse capable of recording out the windshield, inside, and behind the car all at once in HD or higher quality, or recording two views simultaneously in 4K and HD.
Two of the views are acquired by sensors embedded into the primary front-facing device, while the third is captured by a remote rear camera with a lengthy cable that can reach the back window on most automobiles.
Unlike many modern dash cameras, the N4 does not require a phone for setup or clip review: It boasts a small but brilliant back screen and plenty of specialised functionality and settings buttons. If you don’t want to deal with a second device, this is an excellent camera.
The N4 incorporates motion detection as well as impact detection, so it may wake up and record activities around the car even when it is parked.
It also employs a strong supercapacitor to power those operations when the car is turned off, as opposed to a traditional battery, which may struggle in the severe conditions of an automobile.
Nextbase 622GW
A stylish, high-end alternative with nearly as many smart functions as a phone.
The Nexbase 622GW is the most visually appealing dash cam on this list, with better picture stabilisation than its 422GW and 522GW forerunners.
With a rotating polarizer on the front of the lens, image stabilisation, and built-in processing to prevent fog occlusion in recordings, this 4K camera enhances capture quality.
There are three back camera modules available to record the interior or rear window view.
Two of the three rear camera choices simply slot into the main body of the 622GW, while the third is positioned remotely on a lengthy cable for the finest back road vision.
Alexa is embedded inside the gadget for voice control, and if a serious collision is detected, the 622GW may transfer your blood type, allergies, and other important medical data to an emergency contact centre if you opted in during setup.
The 622GW also supports What3words, a nice alternative GPS labelling platform that few people appear to utilise.
The 622GW is controlled via its back screen or a phone app.
It’s one of the bigger cameras on the market, thanks in part to its conspicuous lens, but the quality of workmanship and functionality make it a welcome addition to your windshield.
How do I Install a Dash Cam?
The greatest dash cameras are simple to set up.
In fact, finding a suitable location on your vehicle’s windshield or dashboard, attaching the camera with the suction cup or adhesive mount that usually comes with the camera.
And connecting the camera to 12-volt power – commonly known as the cigarette lighter socket on older vehicles – is often all that is required.
Take care when fastening and routing the power cord to keep it out of the way when driving.
If a microSD card is required and is not preloaded, you may need to insert one into the camera.
More complicated multicamera systems may necessitate the installation of a second rear-facing camera.
It is sometimes as simple as mounting a second camera on the back window and running a wire.
Other kits may require you to mount the second camera to the licence plate and route the cable through the trunk and into the cabin.
Other multicamera systems can be considerably more complicated.
If you feel out of your element, get a professional installation. If you want a dash cam that can monitor and record when your car is parked, or if you want a cleaner installation that doesn’t block your 12-volt outlet, try hardwiring the device to your car’s battery.
In most cases, an adequate fused connection may be found in the fuse box of your car.
A professional installer should be able to assist you if you are unfamiliar with automotive electronics installation.
How we Test Dash Cams
There are several dash cameras on the market now, and some of them are extremely inexpensive.
The greatest dash cameras, on the other hand, go farther, with greater quality, better connection, more driving aids, and more safety features.
Every dash cam on our list has been thoroughly vetted. That is, we have installed and tested them in real-world driving conditions.
Our conclusions can be found in the posts above, but here’s a rundown of what to look for:
- Viewing angle: Dash cameras often have wide-angle lenses.
The broader the angle of vision, the more probable it is to take in what’s going on at intersections and side roads, but things ahead will be smaller.
- Resolution: 4K capture is fantastic, and high resolution means crisper, sharper photos with more information, but it also means larger files and more storage space.
- Battery powered dash cams: Some dash cams contain batteries and can be readily placed without wires, but the batteries don’t last long – generally 30 minutes.
- Some dash cameras may be plugged into a USB port or a 12V power supply and run endlessly, albeit the cords may be unsightly.
- Professional installation: Another option is to have your dash cam professionally fitted with concealed wiring.
It is more expensive, and the camera cannot be moved from one car to another, but it looks nicer.
- Protection when parked: The advantage of a wired in dash cam is that it can record suspicious behaviour, attempted theft, or parking bumps while your car is parked.
- Front and rear dash cams: Because hazards can sometimes come from behind, a rear-facing dash cam can be quite beneficial.
We provide purchase guides for the finest front and rear dash cameras.
Some front-facing dash cameras have a rear camera upgrade as an option.
- Interior cameras: Some drivers, especially those who make a livelihood transporting passengers, will desire a dashcam that also records the interior of the vehicle.
The finest choices for this are recommended in our best Uber dashcam (opens in new tab) article.
- High dynamic range: This may seem like a function reserved for high-end digital cameras, but HDR recording can be useful in very bright, high-contrast situations.
- Night vision: We don’t only drive throughout the day.
A dash cam with night vision may also provide safety and security at night.
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi dash cameras may interact with a smartphone app to change settings or view footage.
- Cloud subscription: An optional extra with certain dash cams that might be handy for fleet owners tracking several vehicles or for those who wish to view what’s going on (or what happened) remotely.
- Driver assistance safety features: Some dash cameras can tell you if you cross lane markers or if a car ahead of you has stopped in traffic.
- Voice control: Because you must keep your hands on the wheel when driving, voice control is a safety feature as well as a convenience.
- GPS tracking and emergency services: It’s the final thing on our list, but it could be the most crucial.
If you are in an accident, you may not be able to request assistance, and some of the top dash cams can detect a collision and immediately inform emergency services.
If they have GPS, they can also convey your precise position to emergency responders.
Are Dash Cams Illegal?
The answer, like other gadgets or changes you make to your automobile, is dependent on the rules in your location at the time.
There are no states that explicitly prohibit installing a camera in your vehicle. So, in general, the answer is no, dash cameras are not unlawful.
However, there are several aspects to consider while selecting the finest dash cam for your specific needs and ambitions.
Many states, for example, prohibit putting devices or other impediments on the windshield.
In certain areas, you may want to consider a dashboard-mounted camera, a camera that replaces or fits over the rearview mirror, or another low-profile installation option.
Other states place restrictions on where you can attach devices on your windshield.
To avoid a penalty in these states, you may need to place your camera in a corner of the windshield rather than in the middle.
Because some states’ distracted driving laws prohibit dash cams with always-on screens, look for one that has the option to disable the display while driving or none at all.
Even if you’re not worried of cops here, not having another device shining in your peripheral vision while driving, especially at night, is a smart idea.
Finally, take into account your state’s privacy and surveillance regulations. They usually don’t apply to recording what’s going on around your car while you’re driving.
But drivers for ride-hailing services who pick up passengers, owners who share their vehicles with other drivers, or those who install a camera that continues to record while they’re not in the car should check their local laws to make sure they don’t break the law.
As previously stated, this is especially critical for cameras that capture audio, as they may violate two-party consent regulations regarding audio eavesdropping.
FAQs
How much does it cost to install a dash cam for car?
The installation of a dash cam should cost between $35 and $50.
Many types, however, are “plug-and-play,” which means they can be connected into a car outlet – such as a cigarette lighter or a truck’s OBD-II port – and should be free to install.
What is the best Dash Cam front and rear UK?
Nextbase offers three types of rear dash cams that function as an add-on module to your primary dash cam.
Rear Window Cam – This module attaches to the rear window and provides a 360-degree view of what’s behind you.
Back View Camera – This camera connects directly to your primary Dash Cam and provides a view from the front of your car via the rear window.
Cabin View Camera – This device connects to your primary Dash Cam and records the interior of your car.
What does dash cam 4K mean?
A picture obtained with a 4K dash cam has 8 million pixels, but a photo produced with a Full HD dash cam has just 2 million pixels. In other words, the 4K dash cam fits four pixels in the area of one in Full HD.
How do wireless dash cam work?
This functionality functions similarly to Bluetooth on any other device; the only difference is that the dashcam uses wi-fi signals rather than Bluetooth.
When you connect your smartphone to the dashcam through Wi-Fi, you may download all of the recorded files directly to your phone using the ROVE app.
Is Yi dash cam xiaomi?
The YI CAR CAM provides a FULL HD resolution of 1920 1080p 60fps and a maximum resolution of 2304 1296p 30fps, resulting in a high-quality 1080p 30fps video.
How do I watch BlackVue dash cam footage?
Connect to your BlackVue first via your phone’s Wi-Fi Network menu.
Once connected, go to the BlackVue app’s BlackVue Wi-Fi menu to see all of the footage on your dashcam’s microSD card, check Live View to alter your camera’s angle if necessary, and modify your BlackVue settings.
Conclusion
If you have a dash cam in your car, you will have supporting evidence at your disposal if you are involved in or witness a car accident.
Because the sensors are conveniently located to watch the entire road ahead, every accident that you witness or are engaged in will be recorded.
