• Ideally pick a 4K model

• Half speed 60fps frame rates can pick out details better than 30fps

• GPS records speed and location date, which could be crucial evidence

The best dash cams can have anything from one to four cameras. Single camera dash cams record the outside view from your windscreen, while dual dash cams typically add a rear facing camera, An additional cabin camera is especially useful for ride-share drivers like taxis and carpool karaoke divas. Professional drivers clocking up the miles, particularly trucks, can add an additional viewpoint from the outside of the vehicle.

Video resolution

Video resolution is a key consideration when choosing a dash cam, as explained below. Most of the best dash cams in 2025 record footage in 4K, which cheaper models could top out at just 1080p. We recommend 4K models which should easily pull out crucial details such as number plates, even if those files sure are bigger.

Video frame rates

Video frame rates are also important. Most dash cams can record at 30fps, which is fine for reviewing footage at full speed, but the best models can capture action at a smoother 60fps, more often than not in reduced 1080p resolution.

60fps gives you the option to slow down footage after the fact, making it easier to pick up details at half-speed. We’re now starting to see 4K 60fps recording in select premium models, such as the Viofo A329. Other models, such as the Nextbase 622GW, also feature digital image stabilization, which helps to smooth out footage on bumpy roads.

We’ve done the tests – check out this in-depth article: Is frame rate important for dash cam footage? I compared 30fps and 60fps clips from a 4K camera to find out.

Features

There are also a wealth of features to consider, including a touchscreen display, a companion app, GPS, parking surveillance, voice control, sat nav and what3words to name but a few.

If you drive an older car without an infotainment system, then it’s worth getting a dash cam with sat nav, but there’s little point if your car already has sat nav. GPS location data is handy when recording incidents, while some even include what3words geolocation data which offers the most precise way of pinpointing your vehicle and super handy should you become stricken.

• Position the dash cam so it doesn’t block your view of the road

• Check for automated safety features that keep footage safe, such as G-sensor

• Hardwiring is necessary for always-on features like parking mode

The overall experience installing, getting started and ease of use on the go varies wildly from dash cam to dash cam. For the most part, dash cams mount somewhere along a car’s front windscreen. Of course, wherever you place your dash cam must not block your view of the road.

The advent of rear-facing cameras (or complete kits that contain both front and rear) require a little extra installation, as these often involve cables that run from front to back. Expect some fiddly work involving the car’s headliner to get these fitted correctly.

Dash cams record usually record until the card is full, at which point loop recording kicks in, continually recording over the oldest clips. Some record shorter clips in order to prevent the card from filling.

•After years of testing, I know where to install a dash cam – follow my 5 tips for your perfect placement

While older models typically required the user to manually save or tag the appropriate clip in the event of an accident, new G-Sensor-based incident detection technology has taken over, and now takes care of this automatically.

There are also dash cams that boast additional features that, just like any other technology, translate to a higher asking price. In addition to better video quality like 4K, night vision and built-in Wi-Fi or Bluetooth for easy file transfer may also be included.

A rise in popularity of voice control has also made its way over to the humble dash cam, so expect Alexa integration and other such voice-activated technology at the very pinnacle of the range.

Numerous parking modes are also possibilities. These use a time-lapse feature as a surveillance function to capture details of those irksome car park prangs when you’re off running errands.

• A dash cam can prove innocence in collision and false speeding fines

• Some dash cams can alert emergency services, with location data

• Those with a parking mode can also monitor your unmanned vehicle

Yes, absolutely. Some drivers might not like the idea of a camera constantly monitoring their vehicle, but some models of dash cam (like the Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3) are compact and subtle enough to almost disappear behind the central rear view mirror. In other words, once they are up and running you soon forget about them; they just sit there, quietly keeping an eye out, ready to save footage if you’re caught in an accident.

If the worst were to happen, and you need to prove your innocence, the dash cam’s footage could do exactly that. This footage can also be set to include your speed, along with the time and date to help reinforce the validity of your evidence if blame is disputed by the other party. As well as monitoring the road ahead, dash cams can be used to record out of the rear windscreen too, recording footage if you are unfortunate enough to be rear-ended by another motorist.

Even if you’re not directly involved in a collision, dash cams can still be useful. Many have a button for quickly saving the last few seconds of video. That way, if you see something ahead that you think needs recording, like an accident between two other vehicles, an example of bad driving, or something else noteworthy, you can provide that evidence to whoever might need it. Another useful feature of some dash cams is how they will call the emergency services if a crash is detected and you don’t respond; they can then share your location and ensure help is on its way.

Furthermore, many dash cams come with additional driver assistance features. These include alerts to let you know about nearby speed cameras and red light cameras, plus a prompt to tell you the vehicle in front has set off – just in case you weren’t paying attention while sat in traffic.

Lastly, some dash cams can be permanently installed in your vehicle and hard-wired, giving them a constant power supply. When paired with a special parking mode, this enables the camera to sense impacts and record footage while the car is parked, potentially gathering useful evidence of your neighbor’s poor parking.

• Dash cams need wired power

• So long as your engine is running, it won’t drain battery

• Don’t leave it plugged in too long when the vehicle is not in use

Different dash cams use different power sources, so it’s always worth checking how your new dash cam is powered if you’re concerned about draining your car’s battery.

Some dash cams have internal power, or can easily be charged using external power sources. However, the rest use the cigarette lighter/USB port in your vehicle or need to be hard-wired, meaning they do use your car’s battery.

If you use the cigarette lighter/USB port to power your dash cam, then leaving it plugged in overnight might drain your car battery, depending on if your vehicle supplies constant power to the ports. Hard-wired dash cams can be set up to switch on with the car ignition in some vehicles to save battery, too.

If you were planning on using your new dash cam for security purposes, you might want to consider choosing a dash cam with motion detection and using an external power source to make sure you don’t drain your car battery.

•Does a dash cam drain battery? Here’s what you need to know, according to experts

• Action cameras can have better video quality than dash cams

• You miss out on advanced safety features, such as a G-sensor

• The price difference can be negligible

GoPro cameras are some of the best action cameras you can buy, together with those made by DJI and Insta360. They can be easily mounted to your dashboard and set to record video on a rolling loop. Because action cameras are compact, they shouldn’t obstruct your view of the road ahead, while the latest models are capable of capturing 5.3K videos which is sharper than 4K. Then there’s 360 cameras which can record front and cabin views simultaneously.

However, there are certain factors which make a dedicated dash cam better than a GoPro for recording the road, forgetting that the price difference between a GoPro Hero 13 Black, say, and a premium dash cam such as the Garmin Dash Cam X310 is less than you might think. What you don’t get with an action camera are the more advanced features associated with a high-spec dash cam, such as G-sensor collision detection or parking protection, while many won’t show GPS data such as speed and location. You’ll also need to manually set a GoPro or action camera to record every time you get behind the wheel, even if its power cable is connected to your vehicle.

If you already own a GoPro, pairing it with a dashboard mount or windshield suction cup is an easy way to record video while you’re driving. We even have a dedicated guide on how to use a GoPro as a dash cam for your car. We also ran a month-long experiment with the Insta360 X5 360-degree camera to see if it could replace a dash cam. In both cases are conclusion is clear – if you’re looking for a comprehensive solution to capture in-car video, it’s worth considering a dash cam.

• Make sure the dash cam doesn’t obstruct your view of the road

• It might not be legal to record on private property

• Don’t breach data protection laws by posting identifiable individuals online

Using a dash cam is generally legal in both the UK and the US. In fact, certain bodies in both countries actively encourage the use of dash cams to reduce insurance premiums. That said, there are a few basic rules to follow to ensure your dash cam usage stays on the right side of the law.

A dash cam shouldn’t obstruct your view of the road ahead or distract you while you’re behind the wheel. For this reason, some people prefer to choose a model without a display. In the US, many states have regulations governing where you can mount a dash cam. Several prohibit you from fitting one to your windshield, for example.

Privacy regulations are another factor to consider. As there is no reasonable expectation of privacy on public roads, it’s generally legal to record with a dash cam while driving. However, this changes on private property, such as a person’s driveway. While dash cam recordings can usually be justified on the grounds of safety and security, it’s important to act reasonably and be mindful of where and what you record.

This is particularly the case for professional drivers. If you’re a taxi driver, for example, you should inform passengers that your vehicle is fitted with a dash cam, particularly if it’s recording audio. In the US, several states only permit sound recording with the permission of everyone in the vehicle.

You should also think carefully before sharing any dash cam footage online. Uploading videos that identify individuals without their consent could breach data protection laws. It’s always safer to blur details such as registration plates and faces when publishing any dash cam clips.

It’s worth nothing that a number of European countries restrict the use of dash cams, so be sure to familiarize yourself with regional rules.

• It avoids the card filling up

• When memory is full, the oldest footage is overwritten by newer clips

• G-Sensor tech auto protects key clips such as collisions

Loop recording allows dash cams to continuously record video footage to their built-in storage or memory card. The setting automatically overwrites the oldest clips on your camera with new ones when its storage becomes full. This way, it can keep recording without requiring you to pull over and manually delete unneeded clips. This gives you the reassurance that there will be no gap in your driving log.

•Worried your dash cam is going to delete footage? Here’s how you can preserve crucial clips

By default, dash cams save video clips in sequential order. Loop recording usually works by splitting these clips into preset intervals based on file size or time, such as 2-minute or 5-minute segments. By dividing recordings like this, dash cams can write over small parts of a longer video without erasing the entire thing at once. This can also make it easier to locate clips of specific moments, without having to scan through lengthy recordings.

To stop important clips from being overwritten, many of the best dash cams can automatically detect potential incidents and flag the relevant footage to protect it from deletion. Most models with loop recording also allow you to manually tag clips with the same effect, generally by way of a shortcut button on the body of the dash cam.

The price of a dash cam can vary wildly depending on the technology housed within, the features it offers and the quality of the video and audio it captures.

My favorite budget dash cam, the Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3, comes in at around $150 / £150, but it is possible to spend upwards of $500 / £500 for those kits that include rear-facing cameras, or models that also capture footage from inside the cabin.

In reality, it is possible to spend as little as $50 / £50 for a dash cam from a respectable brand, but you’ll likely have to make do with lower-quality 1080p video, basic sound and the bare minimum in terms of sensors that kick-start automatic recording in the case of an accident.

Dash cams are small video cameras that are mounted inside a vehicle to capture the road ahead, continuously recording on a loop (and deleting older footage unless saved) in order to save space on a memory card.

There are cameras that also cover action from the rear window, as well as those that record inside the cabin, while audio capture, night vision and 4K resolution (in some cases) all help deliver the best footage for use as evidence following an incident.

Built-in accelerometers and other sensors can detect an accident and will automatically save the footage down to an SD card or the cloud, depending on what’s offered, while hard-wiring a camera into a vehicle’s power outlet means it can also act as a vigilant pair of eyes when the vehicle is parked.

Installation will depend on the model but in general, the camera unit itself attaches to the windscreen through either a sucker mount or via provided adhesive pads. There are other possible locations and mounting methods, but it’s best to check the manufacturer’s guidelines – or see our full guide to dash cam placement.

Dash cams then draw power from the vehicle’s 12V battery via a typical 12V cigarette lighter-style outlet. Although more modern units can also be powered through a vehicle’s USB or USB-C ports.

The trailing wires will need to be tucked neatly out of the way, which can require removing interior vehicle trim, while “hard-wiring” the camera directly to the vehicle’s battery also unlocks other beneficial features, such as a parking “sentry” mode, but it’s worth seeking professional installation help for these things.

As you can see in our guide above, we recommend the Viofo A329 as the best all-rounder dash cam, based on its excellent video quality, supplementary rear camera and its compatibility with external SSD drives.

That said, the Viofo model is relatively expensive and there are more affordable dash cams out there for those on a tight budget, including the Miofive S1 Ultra and the Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3.

Nextbase, Garmin and Thinkware have been producing dash cams for a very long time and, as a result, have garnered an excellent reputation for quality and longevity.

Most modern dash cams can record audio, though quality and the ability to turn it off vary by model.

The built-in microphone primarily captures internal sounds, though exterior noises such as horns, tire screeching or loud voices can also be recorded. Some high-end dash cams use noise-reduction algorithms to suppress wind and engine noise, helping conversations or warnings come through more clearly.

However, there are privacy and legal considerations. Recording passengers without their knowledge may breach data laws in some regions. To address this, many dash cams include a mute function or allow users to disable the microphone entirely, striking a balance between evidence and privacy.

We’ve got an entire guide to dash cam audio, including input from experts in the field.

If a dash cam is plugged into a vehicle’s 12V outlet, power is typically cut to a device in order to preserve the vehicle’s battery and the dash cam will switch off after a few seconds.

That said, it is best to check this, as some vehicles provide constant power from 12V outlets, which can lead to flat batteries fast. Although you can read our full guide to dash cam power for more info.

An alternate method is to hard-wire a dash cam into a vehicle’s power supply, which will typically involve smart power monitoring tech, so the camera will only draw power if there’s enough remaining in the vehicle’s battery pack.

Most dash cams cover the action out of the front window, as this is where the majority of potential incidents take place. However, a rear-facing camera can add further peace of mind in the case of rear shunts, persistent tail-gaters or other unfortunate events that might occur in the rear-view mirror.

Similarly, some modern dash cam kits include three cameras to give an almost 360-degree view of the environment, including capturing content from inside the vehicle. This sort of footage can prove vital as evidence that the driver wasn’t distracted during an incident, for example.

Unfortunately a dash cam requires a constant power supply to work, so there isn’t anything that’s completely wireless at the moment.

That said, some of the best models out there offer seamless data transfer via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, making it possible to send video and still images directly from the camera to a smartphone, often via an easy-to-use application.

Owning a dash cam doesn’t necessarily guarantee a lower insurance premium – many drivers who ask insurers for discounts often get no direct reduction. Larger or leading insurers tend to treat dash cams as helpful for evidence, not as a primary factor in pricing.

That said, a camera can prove invaluable when making a claim: video can help establish fault, disprove false allegations or speed up processing. We’ve explored the topic extensively in our guide to whether dash cams lower insurance costs.

If you’re shopping around, it’s worth asking the insurer whether they offer discounts for specific dash cam models, or whether certain features are required. Even without premium savings, the protection and peace of mind offered by clear video evidence will almost certainly help speed up claims and investigations.