Whether you want to protect yourself against the ever-increasing risk of scammers who profit from whiplash injuries or simply wish to document your journeys, a dash cam is an excellent investment for any car. Sitting on your windscreen, a dash cam records footage of the road and, in some cases, even logs speed and location data. It can help dispute traffic tickets, prove that an accident occurred and be invaluable as evidence in any insurance claims or legal proceedings. New models are continually coming to market, ranging from basic forward-camera-only units to those with touchscreens and voice integration.
How much you spend depends on what features you want: pricier options include a rear camera, 4K recording and an internal GPS. Some require you to hardwire the dash cam into your vehicle’s electric system (see below in “Power connections”) and some have a built-in display so you can easily review, adjust controls and more.
While most people focus on video quality, it’s also worth looking for a dash cam with good audio quality as it can pick up conversations, sounds of other cars and even sirens in the distance. This can be especially useful in situations where the other driver denies being at fault.
The best dash cams offer a wide field of view to ensure that the camera captures as much footage as possible in all driving conditions, including when you’re turning and changing lanes. A wider field of view also allows for better readability of vehicle licence plates. Some cameras come with a built-in night vision mode that turns the camera’s lens towards the road to illuminate the area and record more detail in the dark.
Some of the most advanced dash cams feature a front and rear camera that can switch between both to record your car’s surroundings in all directions. It can be a useful feature to have when parking your vehicle and is particularly useful in reducing the chances of vandalism or burglary. The rear-facing camera also gives you the ability to monitor your parked car for any movement or impact when your car is unattended, and some dash cams can be set to automatically record in case of an incident or vibration.
Some of the more expensive dash cams have a physical privacy shutter that you can flip up to prevent the interior camera from recording you. It’s not a great idea to use it in this position, though, as you should always be prepared for the other driver to mention the device to their insurer or attorney — and it also cuts both ways, potentially embarrassing you. There are apps you can download to your smartphone that allow you to remotely access and playback your recordings, but the most user-friendly dash cams are those that have a dedicated display that lets you review footage, adjust settings and more. In our tests, we looked for cameras with simple, intuitive interfaces that work when you’re in a hurry and under pressure.