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Best Car Camera 2023: Why You Need One and The Best Options Available

Car cameras are very popular among driving app drivers for their added safety and proof of any accidents. Here are the best options to choose.

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Car cameras are very popular among driving app drivers for their added safety and proof of any accidents.

They are becoming increasingly popular among everyday drivers as well.

If properly mounted, they take clear videos while not obstructing the driver’s vision.

They bring many benefits that make them a worthy purchase for many drivers.

This article will answer all questions regarding dash cameras and outline the best one that fits your needs.

What is a Car Camera?

A dashcam is a small, mounted-in, camera that records the inside of the vehicle.

They can also record the road as the driver is driving.

It is powered from the cigarette lighter cable or it can be wired from the fuse box.

The recordings are placed onto a micro SD card where they can be viewed on a computer.

The dash came will record continuous loops and overwrite the oldest recording.

A recording can be viewed whenever the driver wants to see a recording time.

Why Should You Have a Car Camera?

Here are the main reasons why you should consider purchasing a car camera.

Safety

A car camera is great for new drivers to be coached on how they can improve their driving.

Their driving coach can watch the footage and give them feedback on their driving.

This helps them drive safer and avoid collisions.

There are also live stream video options.

The driver can have a virtual coach watching them drive live.

They can let them know any mistakes they are making and how they can improve their driving.

Evidence

Accidents are already stressful enough.

It’s even worse when you can’t decide who’s at fault.

Maybe you were hit but you end up being at fault when insurance decides the claim.

A dash camera ends this struggle.

A dash camera will record the accident so that the insurance company can see exactly what happened.

This removes any guessing and makes the process a lot smoother.

As long as you are a safe driver, dash cames will only benefit you.

Furthermore, if someone tries to break in or does damage to your vehicle, the camera will capture video footage.

If you have a license plate or a face on video, it’s a lot easier to incriminate whoever did it.

Insurance Proof

Send your insurance company video to prove what happened in any car accident or any time your vehicle is damaged.

Car cameras are also great for fighting against insurance fraud.

Criminals will purposely cause accidents and blame the other driver so that they can extort money from their victim.

Having a dash camera makes you resistant to insurance fraud.

Record Your Surroundings

If you frequently visit beautiful destinations and want to keep videos of the view, a dash camera will do so.

You can save the video of the landscapes and watch them later.

You can even edit and post your videos online for the potential to earn views, subscribers, and money.

Recording your surroundings brings many safety benefits.

Walking out of your car from the grocery store to find a scratch or dent in your door is frustrating.

The person has already driven off and you have no idea what happened.

A car camera will capture the vehicle make the color, and possibly license plate.

You have proof of the damage they did to your vehicle and get compensated.

Parking your vehicle in your driveway or front of your home can also help protect it.

If someone does damage to your home or tries to break in, you will have video proof.

This is a cost-efficient way to save on buying a security system for your house.

There is also the potential to capture something crazy such as a shooting star or an animal crossing the road.

The possibilities are endless.

You don’t know what cool things you can capture until you start recording.

Record What’s Going on Inside the Car

Recording the inside of the vehicle also has its perks.

If you are an Uber driver or taxi driver, this is very beneficial.

Unfortunately, it is common for people to be rude or even violent towards taxi drivers.

Without a dash camera, there is no way for the driver to prove what happened.

Is a Car Camera Worth It?

Here are the pros and cons of having a dash camera in your vehicle.

Pros of Car Cameras

  • Evidence
  • Insurance costs
  • Encourage safe driving

If you are involved in or witness an accident, you have proof with your car camera.

This will save on insurance costs if you were involved.

It can also help someone else prove that they were innocent if you captured their accident.

Many insurance companies offer premiums if you have a dash camera.

Since you will be able to show clear evidence of accidents, they reward you.

Knowing that a camera is watching you encourages safe driving practices.

You will inadvertently drive safer since you know something is always recording you.

This reduces the chance of accidents and stops you from driving illegally and possibly getting fined.

Cons of Car Cameras

  • Distracted driving
  • Theft
  • Privacy

Using the camera while driving can cause distracted driving and lead to an accident.

There is also the chance of the camera creating a blindspot on the windshield and reducing visibility.

Luckily, the cameras do not need to be touched while driving if mounted correctly.

They are also meant to be mounted in a way that won’t decrease visibility.

If mounted correctly, they don’t cause any issues.

If a criminal notices a dash camera mounted on the windshield, they are more likely to break in to steal them as they are expensive.

There is also the potential to invade others’ privacy whenever you are recording.

People may complain and get angry if they know you are recording them.

Conclusion: Are Car Cameras Worth It?

If you have the money for one, the benefits far outweigh the cons.

The cons can be avoided by making smart choices and using your camera properly.

As long as you use it the way it is meant to be used, it will benefit you.

How to Pick the Best Car Camera

With so many different options, here are the main things to consider when choosing a car camera.  

vector graphic showing an illustration of dash cams with cloud storage

  

Focus on Reason for Getting One

Your intended use for a car camera will decide what type you should get.

The size of your vehicle and how much space is available will be deciding factors.

You don’t want a camera that is too large that will obstruct your driving view.

Look for Image Quality

Image and recording quality are important factors to take into account.

You want the videos to be clear, especially if you are using them for insurance or court purposes.

The video should be clear enough to identify faces or license plates.

Many cameras today feature 1080p as their default recording quality.

There are also higher-end cameras with 1440p quality.

It is also important to consider the camera’s frame rate.

Since the camera is recording videos in motion, low fps won’t be able to capture moving vehicles properly.

At least 30 fps is the best.

Look for Ease of Use

Ensure that the dash camera does not have a complicated setup process.

Most do not need to be touched once they are installed.

The camera should do all of the work.

The driver should be able to just remove the SD card when they wish to access recordings.

Look for Memory

Different cameras have various methods of storing footage.

Ensure that you are aware of how your camera stores footage and what happens when it runs out.

Some cameras will stop recording when full and require action from the driver.

Other cameras will automatically overwrite the oldest footage.

An hour of 1080p recording uses up about 6GB of storage.

Look for Field of View

The wider the field of view of the front-facing  camera, the more area you’ll be able to get a video of.

The more area you can cover, the better chance you have of catching an entire accident.

Best Car Cameras

Here are the best-ranked car cameras we suggest you check out.

vector graphic showing a handful of the best car cameras side by side next to one another in a line

1. VanTrue N2 Pro

VanTrue N2 Pro
  • 【Dual Lens 1080P Car Camera】Best dual dash cam for uber, rideshare, lyft drivers, picked by Wirecutter, CNET, Businessinsider, BGR etc. The front and inside camera simultaneously capture the road front (170°) and inside passenger cabin (140°) in crystal details at dual 1920x1080P 30fps, which is a great option for rideshare drivers that will need photographic evidence in the event some rowdy passengers do damage to their car.
  • 【Single Front 2.5K 1440P Dash Cam】When recording in front-only mode, footage is captured at at 2.5K 2560x1440P@30fps, which enables clear license plates, road signs. Or you can switch to 1920x1080P@60fps mode with smoother videos for high speed traffic.
  • 【Infrared Night Vision】The interior facing camera utilizes 4 IR LED lights and f/2.0 aperture, which can handle low light conditions and ensures flawless video footage even when the passenger cabin is dark. F/1.8 6-glass lens front facing cam and unique HDR video system automatically balance the light and dark areas of the video.
  • 【24 Hours Parking Mode & Auto LCD OFF】24 Hours Motion activated parking mode makes the dual car camera to automatically record when it detects motion. Auto start and record when the ignition sparks up. Auto LCD OFF timer ensure you won't be disturbed by another glowing rectangle on your windshield. Ideal for most climates: -4° to 158°F (-20° to 70°C). Excellent audio recording with built in microphone. Time lapse function automatically takes photos at specified intervals.
  • 【Looping Recording & G-Sensor & Optional GPS】Seamless Loop Recording overwrites the oldest footage with the newest upon filling a card to capacity. Variable sensitivity G-sensor auto detects sudden shake/collision and emergency locks the footage to "Event File" to prevent that video from an overwrite. Supports up to 256GB microSD cards, recommend Vantrue microSD card. Optional GPS to track the driving route, location and speed(To use GPS function, please buy an extra gps mount).
  • 【Total Peace of Mind w/18m Warranty】Full 18m Warranty, email replies within 24H, and 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Pay less auto insurance, your witness for accidents and insurance claims. Perfect dual lens dash cam for uber, taxis, rideshare, lyft drivers, commuters, and families. Works with 12V and 24V vehicles.

The N2 Pro was the first dash camera with dual 1080p cameras that capture everything in front of the vehicle and the cab.

The N2 Pro also has an automatic parking mode and the video quality is 1080p/30 fps.

Specs

Sensor

Front Cam Sensor: OV4689 Rear Cam Sensor: Sony IMX323

Display

1.5 inch TFT LCD monitor (4:3)

Lens

Front: 170 degrees wide viewing angle, aperture of F2/0 Rear: 140-degree angle, aperture of F2/0

Video

Dual mode: 1920X1080P+1920X1080P; 1280x720P+1280x720P

Image

JPEG; 16M

Audio

Built-in microphone and speaker

Memorizer

Internal memory: 4M External: SDHC

Shutter

Electronic shutter

USB port

USB 2.0, mini

Battery

250mAh 3.7V Polymer Li-ion battery

PC Operation System

Windows XP/Vista/Windows 7/Windows 8/Windows 10/Mac

Price

The price of the VanTrue N2 Pro ranges from $130.00 to $165.99.

2. Garmin Dash Cam Tandem

Garmin Dash Cam Tandem

Best For: EXPLANATION

Top Features:

  • EXPLANATION
  • EXPLANATION
  • EXPLANATION

The Garmin Dash Cam is a low-profile camera that records one-minute clips of footage.

The dual cameras provide a 180-degree field of view.

The external facing camera has 1400 pixel resolution and the cab camera has a resolution of 720 pixels.

It also has NightGlo Tech which assists with recording in low-light and dark situations.

Built-in GPS and G-sensor provide locations and recording after an impact.

The camera uses Wi-Fi technology to save and upload videos to iOS or Android devices via the Garmin Drive app.

Specs

Logging Functions

Accelerometer, Date/Time Stamp, GPS

Recording Modes

Audio, Continuous, Event, Motion Detection, Parking (Optional Hardware Installation Required)

Ports

Micro USB

Memory Card Slot

microSD/SDHC/SDXC

File Formats

JPG, MP4

Wi-Fi

Yes

Built-in Microphone

Yes

Built-in Speaker

No

Voice Control

Yes

Power Source

Car Charger, Built-In Backup Battery

Supercapacitator

Yes

Price

The Garmin Dual Dash Cam is priced at about $299.99.

3. Blue Skysea B2W

Blue Skysea B2W
  • 【Dual Lens Dash Cam Compatible for Uber Taxi, Rideshare, and Lyft Drivers】: B2W dual channel dash cam can shoot both front and inside simultaneously with full HD (1920x1080p) resolution; Dual lens design with a smooth, easy horizontal adjustment (e.g. cabin lens can quickly be pointed towards the driver’s door) recording driver's window interactions.
  • 【Super Night Vision & IR-cut filter】: Invisible infrared cabin illumination utilizing 4 IR LEDs allows the cabin view to see passengers even in darkness, with an automatic switchable IR-cut filter to provide enhanced sensitivity at night time while providing correct color during daylight.
  • 【Supports capacity up to 400GB】: Our dual lens car driving recorder B2W supports 400GB max for approximately 30 hours record time before the memory is full and starts overwriting, but most other cameras are currently restricted to 64Gb-128Gb maximum, which is simply not enough; A 32GB SD Memory Card is included in the package, ready to use. Note: We recommend using a Samsung Pro Endurance, Samsung Evo, or SanDisk Ultra A1 memory card.
  • 【2.0 Inch Large LCD Screen & Wi-Fi dash cam】: 2.0 Inch, large, easy to read LCD monitor with setup menu, video playback, live view, and screen saver function; Wi-Fi and an app for mobile devices (smartphone/tablet) allows for easier viewing of video playback, video clip download, and camera setup via the larger screens of iOS or Android devices.
  • 【24 Hours Parking Monitor】: The B2W Uber dashcam comes with a parking mode function. When the engine is turned off, the B2W will enter the parking mode and stop recording. if an impact is detected by the G-sensor, the camera automatically starts video recording to record the incident. Note: needs an optional hardwire kit, which is sold separately.

The Blue Skysea B2W features a pair of 1080p HD cameras with a 2-inch LCD screen.

Both cameras can rotate horizontally at 110 degrees, allowing the user to record in various directions and capture more video.

This camera also offers the ability to record audio.

Specs

Image Sensor

IMX307+IMX307

Lens

F1.8

Video Resolution

1080p

Video Codec

H.264

Video Format

MP4

LCD Display

2.0”

Wi-Fi

Yes

GPS Logger

Optional

Input

5V, 2A

Price

The BlueSkySea B2W is priced at around $140.00.

4. Owlcam Classic

Owlcam Classic

Best For: EXPLANATION

Top Features:

  • EXPLANATION
  • EXPLANATION
  • EXPLANATION

This dashcam is equipped with infrared sensors for increased night vision for great video quality at any time of day.

The anti-theft floodlights work as an event-triggered Cabin Illumination System.

This will automatically turn the cameras on if they sense a break-in.

Specs

Processor

2.2 GHz, Octa-core Processor

Audio

AAC Format

Speaker

Mono Speaker

Microphone

Stereo Microphone

Video Recording

2x Digital Zoom with Full Resolution

Cameras

Exterior Cam 1440p HD 30fps

Interior Cam 720p HD 30fps

Touch Screen

2.4 inch LCD Touch Display

Sensor Resolution

4MP With 2μm pixel size

Wireless

4G LTE Connectivity

Bluetooth

Low Power 4.2

Price

The Owlcam Classic is priced at around $269.99.

5. Byakov Dash Cam

Byakov Dash Cam
  • 1080P High Definition & Superior Night Vision - Equipped with 2022 state-of-the-art processor and wide dynamic range (WDR) technology, every detail of your video looks amazing. The dash cam enables you to capture every vivid moment such as license plates and road signs clearly even at night. Keeps you safe and ensures your pleasant journey.
  • Built-in WiFi & Smart APP Control-The dash camera for cars built-in WiFi, users can easily connect the dash cam to your phone. With “LuckyCam” app in your car,which is simple and easy to operate, you can download the recorded videos and photos directly to your phone and easily share them on social media with your friends and family.
  • 24-Hour Parking Monitoring - Thanks to the high-sensitivity G-sensor, our 1080P dash camera for cars automatically turns on and starts recording if your car gets hit in the parking lot. In addition, 170° ultra wide viewing area helps eliminate the blind spots of your vision. Provides your car with 24 hours protection.
  • Small but Exquisite Design - The unique appearance of the unit displays a perfect fusion of leather-like texture on the sides and soft matte finish on the front and back. The exquisite small car camera can be perfectly hidden behind your rear-view mirror. Set it and forget it, you no longer have to worry about a camera blocking your view while driving.
  • Seamless Loop Recording & Emergency Accident Lock - Continuous loop recording will automatically overwrite the oldest footage, eliminating the trouble of manually deleting the videos. When a shake/collision is detected, the current video will be locked and not overwritten. The locked video can be used as strong evidence for insurance claims.
  • What You Get - 24-hour protection for your beloved car. Quick reply within 24 hours, 2-year product replacement warranty and a lifetime after-sales service. Our professional team offers you 100% satisfaction guarantee. (Please kindly note the SD card not included. Max Support: 64G)

This 1080p HD and Superior Night Vision Dash Camera provides great detailed videos.

With 24-hour Parking Monitoring, the driver captures video even if they are not in their vehicle.

This feature prevents hit-and-runs.

The camera has seamless loop recording and emergy accident lock.

Old videos are deleted, but if an accident is detected that footage will be saved.

Specs

Lens

6G

Aperature

F2.0

Screen

1.5 Inch LCD Display

Video Resolution

1080p

Item Weight

9.1 ounces

Batteries

1 Lithium-ion Battery

Display Features

Wireless

Price

The Byakov Dash Camera is a cheaper option at about $39.99.

6. Nextbase 622GW

Nextbase 622GW
  • 4K Recording: The 622GW records in top of the range 4K quality. When trying to make out finer details or capturing that all important number plate,4K recording quality is as good as it gets in a Dash Cam. While your Dash Cam records at 4K, your Rear Camera Module can record at an impressive 1080p, covering your car from multiple angles and giving you greater peace of mind.
  • Image Stabilisation: The 622GW Dash Cam features a new image stabilisation system which greatly diminishes the effect vibrations from your vehicle and bumps in the road have on your footage quality. This means when you playback 622GW footage it will be very steady and finer details, such as number plates, have never been easier to make out.
  • 5GHz Wi-Fi: The 622GW Dash Cam has Dual 2.4GHz & 5GHz Wi-Fi, the latter of which has never before been featured in a Dash Cam. What does this mean for you? You will have the fastest transfer speeds possible, allowing you to download footage from your 622GW onto your phone quicker than ever.
  • Defogging: Fog is a major cause of road traffic incidents in the UK and the ability to “see through fog” could prove vital in identifying vehicles and number plates where you wouldn’t be able to without this feature. Whether you are involved in or witness an incident in foggy conditions this is the only Dash Cam which will defog the footage.
  • Super Slow Motion: Super Slow Motion is an upgrade on our previous Dash Cams ability to play in slow motion. Now you can view your 622GW footage in Super Slow Motion at 1080p and 120fps. This feature is ideal to help identify what happens in an incident and capture details such as number plates, vital for proving fault.

This dash camera features a built-in polarizing filter, image stabilization, 4K video resolution, and Night Vision Mode.

It is equipped with What3Words which allows you to locate your vehicle wherever it is with GPS.

Specs

HD Resolution

4K at 30fps 1440

Screen

3” HD IPS Touch Screen

Wi-Fi

Quicklink Wi-Fi

Bluetooth

Yes

GPS

10Hz

Viewing Angle

140degrees

Lens

6 Layer fl.3

Compatibility

Rear Window Cam Car Rear

Price

The Nextbase 622GW is priced at about $499.99.

Car Camera FAQs

Here are some answers to frequently asked questions regarding dash cameras.

Are Dash Cams Legal?

There are no federal laws that outlaw dash cameras.

Many states do have laws regarding the placement of dash cameras.

If the camera obstructs your view it can cause a collision.

Many states have regulations about how much of a windshield can be covered by a camera.

Many states have completely prohibited windshield obstructions.

However, they can still be placed on the vehicle’s dashboard.

Certain states consider eavesdropping or listening to conversations not meant for you to be a felony.

If your dash camera records a conversation that was not meant for you, it can be illegal.

For these reasons, it’s best to research the laws of your state on dash cameras and learn how you can install and use yours legally.

Consider displaying a sticker on your vehicle that informs other drivers you are recording.

This prevents having a hidden camera recording them.

Can You Have a Car Camera as a Rideshare Driver?

Yes, it is recommended that any driving service driver uses a dash camera.

Unfortunately, many people treat Rideshare drivers poorly so having a camera is proof if something happens.

It also gives the driver safety and peace of mind.

Do Dash Cams Work When the Car is Off?

Since most dash cams get power from the 12V cigarette lighter, they do not have power when the vehicle battery is turned off.

However, some models will record even when the vehicle is off such as the Byakov Dash Cam.

Do Car Cameras Record Constantly?

Yes, car cameras have a continuous loop recording system.

The camera constantly records and overwrites the oldest video footage.

This helps storage from filling.

When an accident happens, the camera will save and lock that footage so it cannot be deleted.

Wrapping Up

Dash cameras are an efficient way for drivers to drive smarter.

It encourages safe driving while also saving a driver.

Good drivers will always benefit from having a dash camera as they provide proof of their good driving habits.

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