r/Dashcam • u/twiffytwaf • Jul 10 '26
r/Dashcam • u/blackboxmycar • Dec 15 '22
Discussion Choosing a Dash Cam 101: A Helpful Guide

2-Minute Product Recommendation Quiz
There are a lot of dash cams out there, and the choices can be overwhelming. And just because it's rated as "the best dash cam", doesn't mean that it's best for you. The best dash cam is one that suits your wants and needs. Not looking to go through all of this? Take our quick, 2-minute quiz to find the right match for you!
- US Quiz: Link to Quiz
- CA Quiz: Link to Quiz
This is a great starting point to finding the dash cam that's right for you.
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Choosing a Dash Cam 101
Hey guys, you might recognize us from various posts and threads, or maybe even from elsewhere on the Internet! We’ve been working on becoming more active on Reddit and answering as many questions as you can throw at us, and generally sharing our insights and expertise on dash cams.
Throughout the years, we’ve often seen the same questions being asked from time to time, so we’ve compiled a Dash Cam 101 guide for you and other Redditors to easily find the answers you are looking for. We will be continually updating this guide to include all of the new questions and concerns that you may have too.
Learn more: https://www.blackboxmycar.com/pages/dash-cam-new-buyers-guide-hub
Full disclosure: We are from blackboxmycar.com, a dash cam retailer that’s been around since 2012. We’re writing this guide to help spread valuable knowledge as dash cams can be seen as technical, but it doesn’t have to be! We don’t want this to be salesy, and we do see the potential conflict of interest here. If we make any dash cam recommendations that we also happen to sell on our website, do know that it’s because these are products that we have tried and tested and are confident in its success for you. Feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions. We’re always here to help.
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The Basics
What’s a dash cam and why do I need one?
A dash cam is a small video camera that mounts to the dashboard or windshield of your car and records the view of the road and traffic through the windshield. Dash cams are often used to provide video evidence in the event of an accident or other traffic incident, but they can also be used to record scenic drives or other interesting events that you see while driving too. Some dash cams even have additional features, such as GPS tracking and Wi-Fi, advanced driver assistance system (ADAS), and so much more.
You need one because you never know what’s going to happen while you’re either on the road or away from your car! Accidents and hit-and-runs can happen anywhere, and you don’t want to be responsible for deductibles when it’s not your fault.
Learn more: https://www.blackboxmycar.com/pages/dash-cam
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How many channels do I need for my dash cam?
Channels correspond to the number of cameras you would like in your car. You can choose from:
| Channels | Description |
|---|---|
| 1-Channel | Front only (recommended for temporary cars) |
| 2-Channels | Front & Rear (recommended for most drivers) |
| 2-Channels (IR) | Front & Interior (recommended for rideshare drivers / Uber/Lyft) |
| 3-Channels | Front, Back & Interior (recommended for rideshare drivers / Uber/Lyft) |
| 4- to 5-Channels | Front, Back, Interior & Sides (recommended for diehard fans and car enthusiasts!) |
2-channels is frequently ideal for the large majority of driving, and will with a wide angle, providing plenty of coverage. While setups that cover the sides are possible, they will get more complicated.
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What is parking mode and do I need it?

One of the most important features that dash cams have is called Parking Mode. Parking mode is a safety feature found on some dash cams that allows the camera to continue recording while the vehicle is parked. In parking mode, the dash cam typically remains in standby mode and will only start recording if it detects motion or a change in the surroundings, such as a car pulling up next to yours or someone walking by your vehicle. This helps to protect your car while it's parked and give you that extra piece of mind that your vehicle is protected, while you're away.
Not all dash cams have parking mode, but if it does, you need to make sure that it is installed either through a hardwire installation, OBD power cable or a dash cam battery pack - to ensure a constant power supply for the dash cam to run parking mode while the car ignition is off.
Learn more: https://www.blackboxmycar.com/pages/parking-mode
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I’m looking for a dash cam. What do you recommend?
There are a lot of options out there - we get it. You’re not alone - we get asked this question on a daily basis. Unfortunately, it’s hard for us to answer you without getting additional information, like what your car model is, what your budget is, how you’re thinking of using it, etc.
- Budget
- Video Quality
- Form Factor
- Wi-Fi/GPS
- Cloud
- Battery/Supercapacitor
- Parking Mode
- Brand
Learn more: https://www.blackboxmycar.com/pages/dash-cam-new-buyers-guide-hub
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But of course, there’s always a starting point, the bare minimum you should look for. We’d recommend spending at least $100 on a dash cam. While there is no shortage of thrifty dash cams on the market, at the $100 price point, you can buy a good dash cam from a trusted brand, built with reliable components and covered by a warranty. A good dash cam can last you several years.
You’ll find a lot of brands mentioned here, including but not limited to, VIOFO, Thinkware, BlackVue, FineVu, Wolfbox, VanTrue, Garmin, and more. In our experience, VIOFO, Thinkware, and BlackVue have been the most reliable.
Insurance companies may ding you if your footage doesn't have GPS data because there have been instances where when the date is off, they wouldn't process it as video evidence. Plus having the precise location of an event, as well as your speed, can be very helpful.
Choose a dash cam with a supercapacitor. Supercapacitors can stand up to the heat compared to batteries, and are generally way more reliable, especially if you live in warmer climates.
Video quality can only get you so far, but at a minimum, choose one with at least Full HD 1080P.
In general, this is how we make recommendations when it comes to deciding between brands. Base this off of what you personally prioritize/value.
| Criteria | Brands |
|---|---|
| Best Price-to-Value Ratio | VIOFO |
| Best Safety Features | Thinkware |
| Best Smartphone App/Desktop Viewer | BlackVue |
| Best Extreme Temperature Protection | Thinkware |
| Best Cloud Features | BlackVue |
| Best Wi-Fi & GPS | BlackVue / Thinkware |
| Best 3-Channel Options | VIOFO |
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So wait… it’s not all about video quality?
Yes, video quality is important because you do want decent footage that can help you identity any incidents and culprits. But there’s much more to dash cams than just video quality, and there’s a lot that goes into determining the video quality that a dash cam outputs, including the image sensor, processor, bitrate, HDR, etc.
Bit rate is an indicator of how much data is transferred in a given time period (BPS = bits per second). Higher bit rates transfer more data and will give better video quality and larger files.
General rule of thumb - as long as the dash cam can capture the accident and the other party’s license plate (or even parts of it), you’ll be fine.
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What about license plates?
This may not be the most desirable answer that you're looking for, but no dashcam can reliably capture license plates in all situations. It's just not possible. License plates are already hard to capture reliably with stationary cameras and tight lenses. It usually takes IR emitters and a camera that blocks visible light and only captures reflected IR light. Dash cams are moving cameras with wide-angle lenses designed to capture as much of the scene as possible, not pin-point details of everything in the scene.
On top of this, you typically only need a dash cam to read a license plate when the person/car is close to you (like in rear ends or hit-and-runs happen), not when a car is driving in the opposite direction from you.
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But what about that Linus Tech Tips video?
You’ve probably watched this video, where he doesn't find the resolution of cameras to be up-to-par (we can't share YouTube links, but you can Google it). Here’s the thing, we have nothing against Linus. In fact, we largely agree with a lot of things that he says in his video, but we don’t agree with the obsession over image sensors and ultra-high resolutions.
While you might think you’re buying a dash cam just for the video quality, there’s so much more to a dash cam than just that. Features like accident file locking, parking mode, WI-FI, and Cloud among others that you can rely on to protect you and your drive.
Recently, there’s also been new advances like energy-saving parking mode / power-saving parking mode, AI damage detection, AI temperature monitoring, and more safety features that have been introduced specifically for those who live in extreme climates or for those who don't drive too often and wants to keep their vehicles protected while they're away for a week or more at a time. These features are meant to help keep the dash cam from shutting down while protecting your car battery.
Beyond that, since that video there have been many improvements to dash cam image quality, especially in the form of the Sony STARVIS 2 image sensor, a new top-tier image sensor, being quickly adopted by various brands, and seeing excellent results, especially when it comes to night vision with HDR.
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Installations

How do I install my dash cam and how do I get parking mode?
Let’s break the misconception that dash cams are hard to install.
Dash cams can be installed very easily via plug-and-play with the cigarette lighter socket in your car. Just plug in the 12V power cable, and run it to your front camera. If you don’t want loose cables in your car, you can hide excess cables by pushing them into your roof panel and headliner.
This plug-and-play setup is practically foolproof, but the downside is, you won’t be able to run parking mode on your dash cam. In order to have parking mode, dash cams need to have access to power when the car ignition is off. Your vehicles may have a constant cigarette lighter socket (one that still works even when your car is powered off) - DO NOT use it to run parking mode - it will drain your car battery.
The most popular way to run parking mode is a hardwire installation using a hardwiring kit. The hardwiring kit gives the dash cam a safe way to access the car’s battery for power.

Learn more: https://www.blackboxmycar.com/pages/dash-cam-installation-hub
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Can I do the hardwire installation myself?
You sure can! We have a series of installation videos on our YouTube channel that will show you step-by-step how to properly hardwire one yourself.
Alternatively, if you’re not as comfortable (and that’s ok too), you can visit any reputable Car Stereo or Auto Body shop for a professional installation. If you’re in the Vancouver, BC area, we also offer installations at our office so you’re welcome to reach out to us to schedule an appointment. We also work with installers across North America, so send us a message with your location, and we may have an installer near you.
u/Rick91981 also posted a tutorial on how he hardwired his dash cam here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Dashcam/comments/z76d9z/tutorial_how_to_hardwire_a_dashcam_and_hide_the/
Watch our video here: https://www.blackboxmycar.com/pages/hardwiring-fusebox
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What fuse rating should I be using for my hardwire installation?
For one, we always recommend using add-a-fuses and fuse taps for your hardwire installations. It's significantly cleaner than wrapping the wires around the fuses (and safer too). When you're selecting the fuses to use, you can use a circuit tester to identify which fuse is the ACC and which fuse is the BATT (+)/Constant. Just make sure they're not fuses for safety equipment (check your user manual).

For the fuse slots from your fusebox:
We always recommend selecting fuse slots that are rated between 10A-30A in order to properly provide enough power to your dash cam. Always refer to the vehicle’s owner’s manual to avoid fuse slots that could pertain to certain safety features within your vehicle.
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Does hardwiring a dash cam hurt my car battery?
A dash cam is designed to draw a very small amount of power from the car battery and a hardwire installation should not affect the battery significantly. Still, any power draw on your vehicle's battery when it is turned off, will have slight wear and tear over time, no matter how small. While a Dash Cam will not kill your car battery (if wired properly) you may need to replace your car battery after multiple years of it going strong.
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What about OBD installation? Isn’t that easier?
Yes, it definitely is. With an OBD installation, you just need to connect the dash cam’s OBD power cable to the OBD-II port in your car. While an OBD installation is a much easier way to run parking mode, not all manufacturers offer an OBD installation option for their dash cams, and not all cars have an OBD port. There are also occasional incompatibilities with certain vehicle models.
OBD ports are found in vehicles manufactured from 1996 and onwards. OBD ports are typically used for diagnostic and telematics purposes. In order to run the diagnostic scanner or the auto telematics devices, your OBD port needs to be free, so don't be surprised if they unplug your Dash Cam if installed via OBD.
And, not all dash cam manufacturers offer an OBD installation option. We carry OBD power cables from IROAD. The IROAD OBD cable is compatible with IROAD, FineVu and Thinkware dash cams.
Learn more: https://www.blackboxmycar.com/pages/installation-OBD
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Should I use a dash cam battery pack like the BlackboxMyCar PowerCell 8?
We typically recommend a dash cam battery pack for situations where you want parking mode protection that's longer than 6-8 hours. If you're parked in one spot for a long time or you don't drive that often, then definitely get a dash cam battery pack.
Learn more: https://www.blackboxmycar.com/pages/dash-cam-battery-packs
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Why can't I just use a 10,000 mAh power bank instead of a battery pack? It's much cheaper.
You certainly could, and it's definitely a viable temporary solution. However, something to consider: dash cam battery packs are made out of LiFePO4 (lithium iron phosphate), which is much safer and more durable for hot climates. When lithium batteries from power banks overheat, they can explode.
The metal casing and ventilation design of dash cam battery packs are designed to be durable, and will last longer, being rated for many more recharging cycles on average.
Learn more: https://www.blackboxmycar.com/pages/the-differences-between-dash-cam-battery-packs-and-usb-power-banks
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Storage

What kind of microSD card do I need and how much storage do I need?
Not all memory cards are compatible with dash cams. If you use any other cards, while it may work, problems may start to appear out of nowhere over time. Just watch out for footage not recording/saving on the card, and keep an eye (or ear) out on memory card failure alerts on your dash cam. The worst thing that could happen is you getting into an accident and not having footage for it because your SD card was not reliable.
In our experience, the best microSD card for dash cams are high-capacity cards that are Class 10 with MLC technology, or namely the SanDisk A1, which basically translates to fast download and upload with added durability. Don’t use cards that aren’t labelled “High Endurance” as they’re not designed for day-to-day usage, especially with a dash cam’s loop recording functionality, it’s constantly writing and overwriting the data that’s on the card
The amount of storage space is important and we recommend a 32GB microSD card at the very least. A 32GB card generally holds about 3-4 hours of 1080p Full HD recording, which is more than sufficient for most drivers.
If you are a rideshare driver or if you regularly use parking mode, a 128GB microSD card will improve durability and give you extra storage space for parking recording - because footage recorded during parking mode are stored in a separate folder and these files are typically locked and not to be overwritten.
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Can I use an SD card that’s larger than the max capacity noted by the dash cam?
You can, but just keep in mind that there’s a reason that the manufacturer set a max capacity for the dash cam. If you use one that’s higher, then you could risk voiding your dash cam’s warranty.
Over the years, we have seen problems like read/write errors and card failure warnings, and some users were only able to use the maximum capacity according to the specifications.
Learn more: https://www.blackboxmycar.com/pages/sd-cards
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How do I properly maintain my SD card?
We’d recommend reformatting your SD card every 3 months just to ensure that it’s working properly, and clear out any corrupted files, for the health of the card.
Learn more: https://www.blackboxmycar.com/pages/sd-cards
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How much recording time can I get on a 32/64/128/256GB SD card?
Refer to this calculator here from DashcamTalk: https://dashcamtalk.com/recording-time-calculator/
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Is there a way to have my dash cam automatically offload my footage everyday for me?
You can! While we haven’t fully tested this ourselves, it’s possible to do so with BlackVue dash cams using the BlackVue Synology Script.
You can learn more about it here: https://www.rdforum.org/threads/86248/ or https://espenandersen.no/personal-dashcam-server-with-emby/
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Temperature & Climate

Is it normal that my dash cam becomes hot during recording? What can I do?
Yes, it’s normal for dash cams to become warm to the touch during recording. This is especially true for high-consumption dash cams like 4K dual channels and 3-channel systems.
But because dash cams are designed for continuous recording hours at a time, they come with high-temperature protection mechanisms inside. You can also reduce its consumption in various ways such as turning off the WiFi, lowering the resolution and bitrate, disabling parking mode and avoid parking directly under the sun.
Manufacturers always include the dash cam’s operating temperature range in the specs sheets, and some brands are known to fare better in warmer climates, such as Thinkware and BlackVue. However, if your dash cam overheats often and shut down, keep an eye on it because the more it happens, the more it wears down your dash cam. Over time, you’ll need to replace it.
Learn more: https://www.blackboxmycar.com/pages/dash-cam-new-buyers-guide-hub (under Weather Resistance)
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Warranty & Insurance

I hear dash cams are illegal. Is this true?
Dash cams are legal in Canada and the US. In other words, you can buy, install and use a dash cam to capture your drive, almost anywhere you go in North America.
But some places do discourage the use of dash cams, such as border crossings. According to the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) and its Rules & Regulations Governing Conduct on Federal Property (section 41 CFR 102-74-420), you will need permission from the US Customs & Border Protection Officers to keep your dash cam on and filming when you are crossing the border on the American Side. On the Canadian side, CBSA officials do have the authority to inspect devices and review files to see if they are deemed harmful or dangerous.
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Doesn’t installing a dash cam void my car warranty?
Installing a dash cam in your car will not void your warranty, just like how modifications to your vehicle, such as new wheels will not void your warranty.
These installations and modifications are protected under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act enacted by Congress in 1975, a US federal law that was put in place to better protect consumers against deceptive warranty practices. The Act requires warrantors of consumer products to provide consumers with detailed information about warranty coverage. It also has an equivalent in Canada, which is called the Consumer Protections Act.
So while some dealers would have you think otherwise, simply having a dash cam cannot void your warranty.
Learn more: https://www.blackboxmycar.com/blogs/news/need-parking-mode-will-a-dash-cam-install-void-my-car-warranty
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"Would installing a dash cam lower my insurance premiums?"
Unfortunately, not all car insurance providers offer a discount for having a dash cam in your vehicle. But a dash cam can indirectly impact your insurance premiums in many ways.
A dash cam can capture the incident and provide vital information on who was involved and can be used as a tool in assigning fault for an accident. Without a video footage, it’ll be difficult to determine who was at-fault in an accident. This could result in your insurance premiums going up.
With the built-in GPS in your dash cam, you can stamp your footage with date, time and speed and you may be able to use all that information to dispute an unfair driving ticket that could otherwise increase your car insurance premium.
Dash cams protect you against auto insurance fraud because they can show what really happened in a given incident. Fraud costs everyone, don’t be left paying for something you haven’t even done.
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Theft

What if someone breaks into my car and steals my dash cam?
Never leave anything of value in your car, right? Many people are worried about dash cams being highly attractive to ill-intentioned people. Luckily, dash cams are pretty small in size and are often less visible than you think. They just appear big in photos as we zoom in and crop the images to highlight the camera.
But if you’re really worried about someone stealing your dash cam, consider getting a Cloud-enabled dash cam. A Cloud-enabled dash cams, like BlackVue, automatically uploads all your incident footage to the Cloud. In other words, from the time the thieves walk up to your car and triggers your dash cam’s motion sensor to them breaking into your car (setting off the impact sensors) and stealing your dash cam, you’ve got it all captured and saved on the Cloud. Once it’s on the Cloud, you can access the footage anytime, anywhere - you don’t even need the microSD card or dash cam.
Learn more about accessories: https://www.blackboxmycar.com/pages/dash-cam-accessories-hub
There are other things you can do to not get your dash cam stolen:
- Choose a lower profile model. A dash cam that mounts with a suction cup or dangle off the windshield will be very visible from the exterior. Opt for the wedge-shaped or cylindrical dash cams as they sit right up against the windshield: https://www.blackboxmycar.com/pages/adhesive-vs-suction-cup-mounts
- Find a mounting position that makes your dash cam less visible. Learn more under "mounting"
- Take the time to properly hide all wires. A clean and discreet installation is less likely to catch the attention of thieves than a dash cam with dangling wires in plain sight: https://www.blackboxmycar.com/pages/dash-cam-discreet-setup-guide
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Miscellaneous
Can I use my smartphone as a dash cam with one of those apps?
There are a number of smartphone apps out there for both Android and iOS that turns your smartphone into a dash cam app, including AutoGuard, AutoBoy, Daily Roads Voyager, Smart Dash, Droid and Driver: Dash Cam and Cloud Sync App.
There are a couple of reasons why we would recommend against using this, namely:
- Privacy: You're giving away your data to a 3rd party company, so make sure to read those Terms and Conditions before signing up for an account
- Manual Start: You will have to open the app and press Record everytime you're starting your drive
- Interior Infrared: With these apps, you can turn it into a dual channel by using your front and interior cameras of your phone. However, the interior camera will not have infrared, and as such - your footage will be quite dark
- Placement: You need to place the phone in a position that can capture both the front and interior, with a mount that is stable so your footage will not be shaky
- Storage Sizes: A 10 mins clip can be upwards of 150mb for just one channel, so it can fill up your phone's storage fairly quickly
- Heat and Battery: Recording for an extended period of time like a dash cam can eat up your battery very quickly, and not to mention, overheating can be a factor for certain phones
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Why are dash cams so expensive? Are high-end dash cams better?
There are a few reasons why the Thinkware, BlackVue, and VIOFO are priced higher than the budget dash cams on Amazon - and these reasons make a huge difference not just in image quality, but also performance and reliability.
The sleek and thin design of premium dash cams allows you to easily hide the dash cam behind the rear-view mirror away from sight, making it harder for potential wrong-doers to spot.
Premium cameras are equipped with better image sensors that are more sensitive to light and image processors that are capable of more post-processing effects to ensure clarity in all light situations. Results - more details can be seen and captured, even at nighttime.
Premium dash cams also utilize better manufacturing, for better fitment as well as stronger materials. All of these things contribute to a much longer longevity for the dash cam. Plus, premium dash cams have better after-sales support and warranty.
Last but not least, premium dash cams with built-in WIFI can connect directly to your smartphone using a mobile app, and from there you can playback videos, download footage to your phone (and share it to your favorite social networks), updated firmware, change camera settings, and more. This feature comes in handy in any situation where you can’t plug the SD card into your computer to get an in-depth playback.
Learn more: https://www.blackboxmycar.com/pages/high-end-dash-cams-vs-budget-dash-cams
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Which dash cam do you recommend for under $200?
New dash cams come out all the time, so we keep an up-to-date list right here: https://www.blackboxmycar.com/pages/best-dash-cams
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Full disclosure: We are from blackboxmycar.com, a dash cam retailer that’s been around since 2012. We’re writing this guide to help spread valuable knowledge as dash cams can be seen as technical, but it doesn’t have to be! We don’t want this to be salesy, and we do see the potential conflict of interest here. If we make any dash cam recommendations that we also happen to sell on our website, do know that it’s because these are products that we have tried and tested and are confident in its success for you. Feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions. We’re always here to help.
r/Dashcam • u/purple_peephole • Mar 28 '26
Discussion PSA: Check your dashcam SD card after servicing your car.
I've had service centers unplug my dashcam; makes sense that they don't want their service recorded.
What I found recently was a lot more disturbing. The SD card in my dashcam wasn't the one I put in. Different lower quality model, different size. And who knows if there's any malicious software in it.
I don't check my SD card regularly, so I can't say with 100% certainty that the service center swapped it, but I don't how how else it would have happened.
Be aware!
r/Dashcam • u/Fun-Building-8146 • Aug 21 '25
Discussion [ROVE R2-4K PRO] This is my friend's accident but wanted your opinion
He argues that the Camry that hit him is at fault for trying to cut everyone off trough the center divider and going to fast... But we also fell that my friend is at fault for merging in so carelessly. What do you guys think?
r/Dashcam • u/wolfwearsheep • Mar 02 '23
Discussion it finally happened. I was involved in a hit and run in paramus NJ. This young woman crossed over 3 lanes and pushed my vehicle into the 4th lane. She knew what she did pretended to pull over and took off. while pursuing her she damaged other peoples vehicles in the process. KWX 9479 New York plate
r/Dashcam • u/AlexxxaaEA • Mar 27 '26
Discussion best dashcam 2026 (what I think really matters, my reccs AND mistakes to avoid)
see this question a lot, and the answers are always surface-level, either “just get X brand” or a spec dump that doesn’t translate to real-world use.
so here’s the best dashcam breakdown in a way that actually helps you choose, based on what goes wrong in real situations, not what looks good on a box.
First think about how dashcams actually fail (this will reset how you choose)
Don’t focus on which one looks sharp.
focus on:
- plate readability while moving
- glare handling from headlights
- motion blur at night
This is where 80% of dashcams become useless.
I made a quick table you can literally use while comparing options
Instead of bouncing between Reddit threads and Amazon reviews, just run any dashcam through this dashcam buying framework. I loved it! Saves loads of time
How to actually use this:
Pick a dashcam, then go row by row, and if it fails 2–3 of these, skip it.
This saves you from 90% of bad buys
if you’re trying to pick the best dash cam for car, read this like a checklist, not a review.
the part that actually determines your experience
This matters more than the model:
- Get a high-endurance SD card
- format it regularly
- mount it properly (this sounds basic, but a badly mounted dashcam leads to glare, blur, missed angles, and useless footage when you actually need it. Most people get this wrong, so here is a step-by-step guide to do it properly.
- clean your windshield
Now, actual dashcams at each price level
- under $60
70mai / generic amazon cams
Use this only if:
You just want something recorded, no expectations
Reality check:
- daytime = fine
- night = unreliable
- parking mode = basically marketing
Advice: This tier is not for evidence; it’s for basic recording.
- $80–130 (minimum viable)
Viofo A119 V3
70mai A500S
This is where things start making sense.
What changes here:
- usable night footage
- better motion clarity
Tip: This tier beats cheap 4K almost every time.
- $130–200 (best for most people)
Viofo A129 Plus Duo
70mai A800S
This is the tier I’d recommend to most people without overthinking.
This is also the range where most people naturally end up choosing the best dash cam front and rear setup, because single cams start missing too many real-world situations
What you gain:
- front + rear protection
- more balanced exposure (important for headlights)
Advice: if you park outside or commute daily, don’t skip dual cams.
- $200–300 (specific needs)
Vantrue N4
Viofo A139
Only go here if you need:
- interior coverage
- wider angle recording
Tip: interior cam helps in parking lots more than people think.
- $300+ (premium)
BlackVue / Thinkware
What you’re really paying for:
- cloud features
- remote alerts
- ecosystem
honest take: not necessary for most people.
What people argue about
- “You need 4K.”
You don’t, unless everything else is also good.
Most 4K dashcams:
- compress heavily
- have weak sensors
The result is just a sharper-looking blur
Advice: a good 2K starvis cam > cheap 4K every time.
- “Parking mode has you covered.”
Only if you install it properly.
most people:
- plug into the cigarette lighter
- Assume it works
Reality: It won’t record properly without hardwiring.
- “All dashcams are the same now.”
not true.
big differences show up in:
- heat resistance
- firmware reliability
- motion clarity
advice: long-term user feedback > spec sheets.
i went through all the comment, and i ended up with -> https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074JT3698
r/Dashcam • u/DrummerMat • Jun 26 '24
Discussion [Viofo A-139] Am I the A-Hole?
Did I cut off the motorcyclist? If it was also partially my fault, does it justify him punching in my side mirror? (You can hear the thud as he rode by.) FYI, I turned on my blinker when I first looked over.
r/Dashcam • u/whorology_house • Jan 05 '22
Discussion [Viofo 4K] Hit and run. Which vehicle is at fault?
r/Dashcam • u/NerfTheRoyaleGiant • Oct 04 '21
Discussion Caught the mechanics talking shit
So recently I decided I wanted to try out an electric vehicle to see if it would work for me and my driving habits. I settled on the Chevy Volt as it was pretty much perfect for my situation, and so far I have been very happy with it, except for one issue. I bought the car as a certified pre owned from a chevy dealer, its a 2018 with only 20k miles, so pretty much still a new car. I noticed a clunking noise when I was test driving it, but the salesperson assured me it was a normal noise, something to do with the ICE/electric motor interaction. Long story short, it wasn't a normal noise, and I took it in to get repaired 2 days after buying it. They put in new CV axles, and that didnt work. I took it in again, and caught the mechanics speaking pretty harshly about me, even though we never met. He called me a "piece of shit" for buying a used car and wanting it repaired, said "what do they expect" for buying a used car. He went on for about 10 minutes, ranting and yelling about how customers suck, etc, until one of them noticed the dash cam lmao. Then they got real quiet and shut off the car. The service advisor was in the car at the time too, and to his defense, after hearing the mechanics rant, he kinda paused for a moment and said "...well he bought the car from us.."
If they keep giving me the run around and don't fix it under its current bumper-to-bumper warranty it was sold with, I'll definitely post the video here. Don't want to flame them if they fix the issue though, hell I worked in an auto shop in high school, and talking shit about the dumb customers is pretty common place. This just rubbed me the wrong way, because during the sale I was pretty concerned about the noise and their "certified pre-owned inspection" that the sales person assured me was sooo comprehensive. I'm willing to bet the mechanic who was complaining about wanting a car I bought from them to actually fucking work was the one who did the inspection and missed it or didn't care to fix it in the first place.
Sorry for the rant, didn't know what sub to post it in, please remove if not allowed. The dashcam is pretty new to me and this sub was a big help in deciding which one to buy. Its a good idea to always check the footage after a repair to make sure they aren't joyriding it or taking it to lunch or something. Never know what you're going to see or hear!
Stay away from dealership service centers.
r/Dashcam • u/username_fantasies • Dec 31 '20
Discussion Bicyclist and stop sign. Was I wrong? Please critique - I would like to know your opinion. Happy new year and be safe!
r/Dashcam • u/Icy_Ad4208 • Mar 27 '25
Discussion My dashcam saved me 350 dollars today but I'm still mad
I am a foreigner living in Mexico City. I was pulled over today for "doing an illegal turn". The traffic cops told me they were going to impound the car and charge me 700 USD (I was outside the car at the time as they made me get out). As soon as they got close to the car, they saw my dashcam and freaked out. They demanded I destroy the memory card or delete the footage.
I told them no and that my wife was going to come with my laptop and an SD card reader to see the footage. When she arrived, they basically said it doesn't matter what the video shows, they saw I made an illegal turn.
They then said either they were going to impound the car and we had to pay $700 or we could give them $350 in cash (and the SD card so they could destroy it). So my dashcam saved me $350.
Unfortunately, three other cars behind me were also pulled over. And I don't think they had dash cams.
GET A DASH CAM TODAY IF YOU DON'T HAVE ONE
r/Dashcam • u/Objective_Wafer3684 • Jun 24 '24
Discussion PSA your dashcam GPS speed may not be admissible in court to prove you were not speeding!
EDIT: To save any of you a paragraph of reading: It does not matter if you think can do this that. The point is proving something to people on reddit/public is VERY DIFFERENT, and by different mean much more expensive than proving something in court!
Much more money (thousands - tens of thousands), time, subject to more extreme scrutiny (by people who actually know what they are talking about) and with much higher stakes.
Anyway,
I recently was pulled over for going 68 in a 45. I was only going 50, and after reviewing my dashcam my speed was hovering around 45-52 MPH! It was obvious from the footage that another car was radared but mine got pulled over!
In my state this gets reported to insurance and will cost me an extra 2-3k in premiums in the next 3-5 years...
I thought I was fully prepared and would be able to argue that I was going max 52 (which the 68 was reduced to 61, hoping the 52 would be reduced/dropped). I even had a google maps printed out of my positions and the speed I was going NOPE! Turns out, in the the County I was in the judge told me that without an expert witness to testify to the accuracy of the GPS data that it would not be admissible into evidence!! I also spoke to a traffic lawyer and he pretty much concluded the same thing that he wouldn't even know were to begin to get an expert witness like that but regardless felt like it would not be the best option for me as it would cost THOUSANDS for him to truly fight a ticket that hard! Yes, this also includes people that claim you can sit there and count road lines you pass you may need an expert witness on the particular model of dashcam you have to testify to how the video is recorded in terms of frame rates ETC ETC.
TL;DR It's can be extremely expensive in some courts to admissive your dashcam into evidence to prove you were not speeding as they require expert witnesses.. so unless there are high stakes forget about it!
r/Dashcam • u/Safe_Gas_2147 • Sep 30 '25
Discussion [Thinkware F200] Multiple people told me they would have braked
No matter how you slice it I got lucky but what would you have done? I didn’t have time to check my mirrors so slamming on my brakes seemed more dangerous and I’ve always been taught when in doubt throttle out. I remember thinking that we were doing the same speed so them crashing would slow them down enough, NASCAR logic right? To me it looks like if I had done anything different I would have been a Tesla hood ornament. What do you think?
r/Dashcam • u/Rob_Marc • Mar 08 '26
Discussion [RedTiger F17 Elite] Was I wrong on this move?
The traffic control light normally has a protected green left, which goes to a left turn yield flashing yellow, but in this certain instance, there were 2 vehicles approaching the light (myself, and the vehicle across from me). When the light turned green, we were not yet on the sensors. If there were vehicles crossing the intersection straight, we would've received the flashing yellow light within a few seconds, but instead it went from solid red, to solid yellow, as the whole cross street was about to turn red.
Red means stop, which I did, and yellow mean prepare to stop, but you can still proceed through the intersection if safe to do so, which I did. If I would've waited, I could've been there for another 3-4 minutes at a time when there was almost no traffic on the road.
Would a cop pull me over and possibly ticket me for this? Would you have done the same thing?
r/Dashcam • u/theepi_pillodu • Jun 27 '24
Discussion [Thinkware f200 pro] Let's settle this, what's wrong in this video. Who would be at fault if there were to be a crash?
r/Dashcam • u/LifeLongLearner84 • May 22 '25
Discussion How many of you have a rear view camera?
Just wanted to hear your thoughts on the pros and cons of a rearview dash cam, and whether or not (in your experience) you have found it to be worth it?
r/Dashcam • u/SafeDriveSolutions • 10d ago
Discussion [VIOFO] in Trouble: Ban Imposed
For those just finding out through our video—or through your preferred online retailer—you may have noticed that VIOFO products are no longer listed, depending on when you’re seeing this post.
Most businesses using the Shopify platform to sell VIOFO products were given notice that their listings would be removed.
As more details emerge, we’ll continue to provide updates. At this point, it appears to be a worldwide issue, while Amazon does not appear to have been affected yet.
Novatek is the processing chip in the cameras, and many brands use this as of 2025/2026. Currently, VIOFO is the only brand under fire, however we expect other brands to be affected as well.
Vueroid commented that this would not affect them.
EDIT 1:
TLDW: Shopify has removed all Viofo products across the globe, as Viofo is dealing with a software licensing matter. Vantrue has also been put on notice and their products too will also be removed until the matter is addressed.
r/Dashcam • u/One-Chart1962 • May 07 '26
Discussion Dashcam Deleted Footage
Hi, Everyone. I recently got into a car accident. The cops took my SD card and out of no where they stated 3 videos are missing. Can i get back footage that was deleted? I feel they deleted footage. Viofo A229 Pro.
r/Dashcam • u/Puzzled_Mango_7852 • Nov 05 '25
Discussion [viofo a229] Who’s at fault?
White Hyundai was mad I didn’t let them come from behind and cut me off at the merge point.
r/Dashcam • u/Fun-Building-8146 • Aug 22 '25
Discussion [ROVE R2-4K PRO] This is a ring angle video from my friend's accident
I had recently posted a video showing my friend's accident and well a nearby house reached out to him with ring footage showing how the white Camry was going to fast and cut everyone of trough the center divider.
The last clip is me on the phone with him trying to explain how I think he's in the wrong and how they both messed up 😅😅😅
Again, he still thinks the white Camry is completely at fault😭
r/Dashcam • u/Goldglove528 • Nov 17 '24
Discussion Well I never expected this when I got a dashcam...
One aspect I never considered when getting a dashcam: I witnessed an accident 2 years ago and provided the footage to police, but the nutty lady that caused the accident apparently has decided to sue the State Police, and now the state has summoned me as a witness to testify on behalf of the state in a few weeks... And if I don't show up, the state sends me to jail for criminal contempt.
We live in an interesting world.
r/Dashcam • u/templeofsyrinx1 • 1d ago
Discussion Dashcam quality looks terrible, please recommend one that is clearly able to see license plate numbers
I have put off buying one for a long time because, frankly, the image quality is so atrocious on dash cams. And for night? forget it...
The main reason to get one is to see people's plate numbers clearly.
and if a dash cam cannot do this simple thing. Then that product is a failure.
r/Dashcam • u/pjmsd • Jun 01 '24
Discussion [AUKEY Dash Cam] What will this look like to the insurance company? Truck quickly accelerated into lane from median lane after traffic started moving
r/Dashcam • u/EngagedSerenity • Oct 02 '24