A Dash Cam stands for a Dashboard Camera that is mounted inside the vehicle, usually on the windshield. Dashcams are useful tools that provide you with a silent witness of what is happening in and around your vehicle. They give you the peace of mind that your vehicle is protected. With the proliferation of dashcams, it’s obvious why people are investing in smarter driving. The benefits that drivers, onlookers, and other commuters have observed when using dashcams may convince you, too, that a dashcam is worth the financial investment.
By recording your surroundings, you can protect yourself if someone tries to sue you. It is also important to document your reports to both the police and the insurance company so that you can more easily make a claim. A dashcam can provide far more than just footage of a driver’s journey. Dashcams give drivers an advantage in terms of alertness and safety, and when combined with radar, they are the ideal warning system for drivers. Dashcams can be a great addition if you want to keep an eye on a parked car, monitor your teen’s driving, or prove you’re not at fault in an accident.
Dash Cam Variations
There are three main categories of dashcams you can purchase for your car: Basic, Advanced and Dual Camera.
Basic Dash Cams
They record the road in front of your vehicle and are both the cheapest and easiest dashcam to set up. They tend to be limited in overall scope with a simple loop recording setup, and usually don’t have as much storage capacity as more advanced options.
Advanced Dash Cams
Advanced dash cams cost more than the basic models, but also offer more. These dash cams have more options than the base models, such as GPS capabilities, the ability to record audio, accelerometers to detect sudden stops or bumps, and speed sensors.
They are capable of providing more protection (or at least better data for future purposes) than their cheaper siblings. Some even offer uninterruptible power supplies that continue recording even if the car is turned off or the power goes out for some other reason.
Dual-camera Dash Cams
They are also called interior/exterior dash cams, they generally build on the features of advanced cams, but have the added benefit of using two cameras instead of one. This has the advantage of one camera covering the road and another covering the inside of the vehicle.
Having an extra camera angle can be useful in the event of an accident, but it can also help in the event of theft. In addition, some dashcams with two cameras offer driver monitoring, which can assess the driver’s condition and issue warnings if they appear to be falling asleep or otherwise having problems.
Benefits of Dash Cam Ownership
The first thing you’ll learn when buying a dashcam is that they can come with a variety of features that offer a wide range of benefits. You’ve probably seen viral videos of crazy moments on the road captured by dash cams.
One unintended benefit of owning a dash cam is becoming a star in a viral video, but there are some really practical benefits too! Most dash cams can do more than just capture video footage of your driving.
Parking Benefits
Park and exit your vehicle with less worry. Dashcams these days have built-in G-sensors that record themselves when they detect an impact. With the right installation method, a dashcam can turn on and start recording when your vehicle is damaged.
So if you’re out shopping and your vehicle is hit in the parking lot, the dashcam has recorded the accident. Likewise, many cameras will start recording if someone tries to break into your vehicle. Depending on which model you choose, you can record the inside or the outside of your vehicle.
Speed Tracking
Many dash cams can record the speed at which you are driving. Again, this can be helpful if you are trying to contest a speeding ticket, but also if you are lending the vehicle to a family member … You will know if it was driven recklessly.
Accidents
It goes without saying that most dash cam users are interested in the safety of capturing footage of an accident for insurance or legal purposes. A video that captures the moment of the collision is helpful evidence and can expedite or support an insurance claim.
Red Light Camera Detection
Nowadays, there are many dash cams with red light camera detection. However, the use of these types of dash cams is prohibited in much of Canada because they are treated in the same class as radar detectors.
As of April 2021, radar detectors are only legal in 3 provinces in Canada (BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan); be sure to choose a dashcam that will keep you out of trouble.
Important Dash Cam features to Consider
Camera size
They say size isn’t everything, but it is an important factor when choosing your dashcam. Most people opt for a small, unobtrusive camera because they believe it’s less likely to be spotted by potential thieves and also less likely to interfere with the driver’s view.
Both are very valid arguments, but small car cameras are also likely to have fewer features or require external devices to enable options like GPS or WiFi. That’s because there simply isn’t enough room inside for the necessary components. Larger cameras also often have screens that make it easier to view footage and adjust menu settings.
Built-In Display
While some dashcams connect to your phone to access camera settings, others have a built-in display. Through this display, you can view the footage, adjust the settings, and more. In general, larger displays make it easier to see details in footage and scroll through menus, but don’t expect your dashcam display to be smartphone quality.
Dash cam displays are usually between two and three inches in size. So if you want a larger display, look for a model around the three-inch mark. The LCDs are usually bright enough to read during the day, which is helpful if you need to change a setting.
Field of View
The field of view of a camera indicates how far the camera can see, which can vary greatly. Cameras with a wide field of view allow the user to see much more at any given moment. Of course, there are trade-offs to this. If a camera’s field of view is too wide, it can affect image quality because the pixels are a bit farther apart.
Unfortunately, dash cam manufacturers aren’t exactly the best when it comes to providing field of view details. Furthermore, there is no standard measurement. For example, some manufacturers specify a horizontal measurement, while others inflate their numbers by specifying a diagonal measurement.
Continuous loop Recording
This means that the camera records until the memory is full and then returns to the oldest files and overwrites them. This way you always have a record of the last few hours. An impact detection feature usually saves and protects recordings made during an accident, so they can’t be accidentally deleted. You should expect this feature to be standard on your dashcam.
GPS
A dashcam GPS does not navigate you to a destination like a normal GPS device. It automatically records your location and speed and matches it with the video recording. Some models come with software that lets you view the recorded data, while others stamp that information onto the video.
Stamping the GPS data onto the video can be useful in the event of an accident, as police and insurance agencies don’t need to install third-party software to access the data. This also applies to recording speed and impact location, if available.
Mounting and Placement
Most dashcams are attached to the windshield with a suction cup. If you buy a model that mounts to the windshield, check the feet to make sure the camera will stand securely even if the road is uneven. After all, you don’t want your dashcam to fall on you while driving.
You need to make sure that the dashcam placement does not interfere with any other sensors or features of your vehicle. It should not block the view of the adaptive cruise control sensors, and you should not place it on or near the airbags. This is dangerous and could interfere with the normal operation of your vehicle.
Impact Detection
This records when the car was bumped or moved – all dashcams should have this feature. Most mark and isolate the video segment with a date and time stamp that includes the moments before and after the incident.
Some models automatically save this video to a separate file that cannot be deleted. You can also record data about the force and direction of the impact. If available, this information is stored on the video or is accessible via the supplied software.
Wireless Connectivity
We live in the age of smart devices. Therefore, it makes sense to have dashcams that can connect to the Internet or your phone via Bluetooth. The wireless connectivity of your dashcam has many advantages. For example, if your dashcam can connect to your phone via Bluetooth, you can manage your dashcam’s recordings and settings. Then you don’t have to deal with a tiny built-in screen on your dashcam or struggle through poorly designed settings menus.
If you have an Internet connection, you can add a number of other features to your dashcam. For example, you can upload images captured by your dashcam directly to the cloud and transfer them to a phone or computer. Some dashcams also communicate with your phone via Wi-Fi, which provides similar results to a Bluetooth connection. With a Wi-Fi connection, you can download and view the footage from your phone.
Mobile app
This extends the physical controls and dashcam screen to an external smartphone or tablet, making it easier to view live video and recorded footage on a larger screen. In addition, the dashcam controls are now easier to use. But the law still applies, so don’t interact with the mobile app unless the car is parked and the camera is properly mounted.
Internal Battery
This allows the camera to operate without constant power, although the duration varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. You will need a cable (supplied with most models) to power the camera from the vehicle’s 12 V outlet. Some models may also be hardwired to the vehicle’s power supply.
Some dash cams use an internal capacitor instead of an internal battery. This has a small amount of energy that gives the dashcam enough time to store the video and shut down when it is disconnected from the power supply. Unlike models with an internal battery, the camera will not continue to function without a permanent power supply.
Removable Memory Card
This should be easily accessible when the camera is mounted so you can remove it without having to take the camera off. More memory means more hours of video storage, but the number of video hours depends on the resolution and frame rate you choose. 32GB or 64GB is usually enough for several hours of recording at high resolution. Not all models come with a memory card, and all dashcams have limited storage capacity.
Coverage
There are several types of these cameras. The first is a device with a front-facing camera that has a second camera that records the interior of the vehicle. These can be useful for avoiding accusations of cell phone use while driving, but generally do not provide a good view of the rear of the vehicle. The second type of camera has the standard front-facing camera, but also has a rear-mounted camera that is usually attached to the rear window of the vehicle with a cable.
These cameras can be quite expensive, and many people have moved to buying two individual cameras, one mounted in the front and one in the rear, as this can be cheaper depending on the purchase. However, the convenience of only needing a memory card and power cable may be more appealing to some. Installing a dual camera can be more difficult than a front-only camera, and in many cases professional installation is recommended as the video cables can be easily damaged.
Resolution and frame rate
Although high-definition (1080p) is still the standard recording resolution, some models support 4K Ultra High Definition (UHD) video. However, our test results have shown that higher resolution does not necessarily make it easier to detect other vehicles and license plates. Some dash cams can also record at 60 frames per second (FPS). Higher frame rates provide a smoother image and can make things easier when you need to capture a single shot from footage, since more footage is available per second.
However, most cameras can’t record at 60 FPS and the maximum resolution at the same time. For example, you can record in HD at 60 FPS, but the speed drops to 30 FPS when you increase the quality to 4K. The specs specify the maximum frame rate at each resolution (for example, 4K 30 FPS), and it’s up to you whether you prefer a higher frame rate or resolution.
Night Vision
One last feature to consider is night vision, also known as low-light vision, which can be very helpful for some drivers, especially those who drive a lot at night. After all, your camera could be essentially useless if it’s too dark and there’s not enough light for the camera to pick up. This means that night vision devices can make the difference between proving your innocence in an accident or not.
The night vision feature ensures that even in dark situations, your footage will contain enough detail to see what’s going on. The footage may not look as colorful as it does during the day, but that hardly matters if all you want to see is the license plate of the person who caused the accident.
Footage Prioritization
Sometimes you don’t know you need video until it’s too late. Since some dashcams loop over existing footage, by the time you realize you need it, it can be too late.
Fortunately, many of the best dashcams have safety features that prevent needed video from being overwritten. The G-sensor, a sensor that detects a rapid change in motion and instructs the dashcam to save that incident, is the most common safeguard against overwriting recordings.
Budget
Of course, the amount you have to spend is an important factor in any purchase, and as far as dashcams go, there’s a camera for every budget! But how much should you spend? Well, that really depends on what’s important to you.
While all of our cameras record great footage, inexpensive cameras may not have the build quality or sophistication that premium cameras from big brands offer. More expensive cameras also offer advanced features like Wi-Fi and touchscreens, and tend to be more user-friendly – so it’s important to decide what’s most important to you.
Conclusion
The more cars populate our roads, the more important it becomes to have a dashcam in your vehicle. Not only does it protect you, but it can also help other drivers out there. After reading this Dash cam buying guide, you will be able to make a final buying decision.
