Dash Cameras

Choosing the Ideal Dash Cam

A dash cam serves as a video account of events while driving, acting as a witness when incidents occur. It helps to ensure posterity and accuracy when providing your account to insurance agencies or to police. There are many types of vehicle dashboard cameras available, as well as additional car accessories to increase functionality and make installation easier.

Reasons to Use a Dash Cam

Driving has inherent risks, and sometimes accidents happen so quickly that it's hard to know exactly what took place. A dash cam records events for later viewing, aiding investigators and supporting your recollection of events. This is a benefit to commuters and professional drivers, such as truck drivers, delivery personnel, and taxi drivers, and more.

The Best Place to Mount a Dash Cam

The best place to install a dashboard camera often depends on the type and model. Some attach directly to the rearview mirror while others sit on the dash itself. You want to make sure that it has a direct and clear view down the center of the road. This helps ensure that vehicles are identifiable and that their license plates are legible. Some models also fit over the license plate to provide a view of the road behind.

Choosing the Right Car Dashboard Camera

There are many important dash cam features to consider when buying a dash cam. If you do a lot of driving at night, look for one with night vision capability. You'll likely also need to store recorded footage, so make sure your choice accommodates an SD memory card large enough to meet your needs. Dash cams with GPS offer location logging, noting not only the time stamps of recordings but also your current location at any given time, so that you can verify your whereabouts. If you want a quick and easy installation, a wireless dash cam might be what you're looking for. There are even those with magnetic mounts that require no drilling or other modifications.

Important Accessories

Vehicle dash cams do require batteries or an adapter that plugs into your vehicle's 12-volt socket. Many models automatically begin recording when you start the car and begin driving, but modules are available that provide power to the camera while you're parked, so it keeps recording even when the car is stationary. There are also many mounts to consider, such as suction cup or adhesive mounts that stick in place, or friction mounts held down by inertia.