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According to government data, there are over 15,000 car accidents everyday in the United States. Many of them result in traffic citations or even lawsuits. Sometimes, the facts pertaining to the event may be obscured either by mistake or intentionally. Don’t leave yourself open to legal or financial consequences by trusting your fate to a police officers judgement. Use a dash cam to record all of your drives and protect yourself with court admissible evidence.
So long as you pick the right model and set it up properly, a dash cam can save you thousands of dollars, and we’ve done the research for you. Spending the as little as the price of a tank of gas, could save you from a lawsuit or even just an increase in insurance premiums.
Summary List
- Best Overall: Thinkware U1000 Dual Dash Cam 4K
- Best Value: iiwey Three-Channel 1080P Dash Cam
- Honorable Mention: Nexar Beam Full HD 1080p Dash Cam
- Best Dual Cam: Kingslim D4 4K Dual Dash Cam
- Best Mini: Garmin Dash Cam 56
- Best Mirror Cam: Wolfbox 12-Inch Mirror Dash Cam Backup Camera
Our Methodology
We’re fortunate enough to have gotten our hands on a couple dash cams for testing this time around. The Nexar Beam Full HD 1080p Dash Cam, and Garmin Dash Cam 56 were purchased by The Drive and put to use by members of the team. Still, two isn’t enough to take a comprehensive look at what’s on the market. So, we stuck to our tried and true routine of researching the segment through sites and channels dedicated to the craft. Some of which, such as therideshareguy.com, are dedicated to a specific niche. Their takes provided us with some useful insight into what different consumers deem important. Of course, we also factored in our own personal preferences as we do drive cars from time to time. The result is a list of dash cams we think have something to offer to drivers of all shapes and sizes.
Best Dash Cams Reviews & Recommendations
Best Overall Dash Cam
Thinkware U1000 Dual Dash Cam 4K
Pros
- High-quality 4K footage is crisp and detailed and allows zooming-in
- Wide 150-degree angle lens captures a huge field of view
- Easy to control and make adjustments through the app
- Includes ADAS features like front impact and lane departure warnings
Cons
- Includes an inadequate quick start guide and no manual
- The price is higher than many competitors that offer 80% of the performance
Most testers of the Thinkware U1000 dual dash cam feel it is the single best dash cam on the market. The top-notch manufacturing, performance, and image quality put it in a league of its own. This model can record in 4K but can switch to 2K to help when you want to save memory space or battery life. The high-resolution paired with the 150-degree viewing angle makes it hard to beat when superior image quality is of utmost importance. This model also features two recording angles for maximum protection and anti-file corrupting technology to ensure you’re always covered.
What really sets this dash cam apart is the features that make it more than just a dash cam. The U1000 also brings ADAS Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, to any car it’s installed in. It will give an audible warning for forward collisions or lane departures. It also informs drivers who may not be paying total attention that the driver in front has driven off, and they’re still sitting still. There are stand-alone products on the market that offer ADAS retrofitting, but most of these systems cost at least as much as this dash cam, which makes the U1000 a bit of a bargain.
Best Dash Cam Value
iiwey Three-Channel 1080P Dash Cam
Pros
- Front, rear, and interior cameras for nearly full coverage
- Easy to setup and aim cameras using the included screen
- The price is great for all the features and 3 cameras
Cons
- Suction cup mounts are known to fall off of windshield
- Everything is stored to SD card with no cloud storage option
Not everyone has a several hundred dollars to spend on a dash cam. We get that. But who’s to say beggars can’t be choosers? Take this dash cam bundle from iiwey for example. It sits at an affordable price for most people but offers total coverage of the vehicle with three channels to work with. You can count on this package to record the front and rear ends as well as the interior. We should point out that the main dash cam sits on a swivel, making it easy to adjust as well. That kind of protection is exactly what you need when things go wrong. On top of that, loop recording and the camera’s automatically turning on when the G-sensors detect an impact means you’ll always have video evidence.
It’s not a budget option if there’s no compromise. As a battery-dependent model, you do need to make sure it’s charged before you get moving, and a short battery life plagues this model. Not only that, but there are complaints surrounding poor fit of the included charger in a vehicle’s 12-volt ports.
Honorable Mention
Nexar Beam Full HD 1080p Dash Cam
Pros
- Takes less than 15 minutes to setup and install
- Provides smooth video even over rough surfaces
- The app is easy to sue for storing, deleting, and managing videos
Cons
- It’s tough to make the power wire installation look clean
- Aiming the camera can take some trial and error fiddling
Here we have a solid option from Nexar for those who want a little more quality for their money. The Beam certainly isn’t revolutionary, but it’s a great way to get a dependable dash cam in your car without spending a small fortune. Our testing of this unit shows that it’s quite capable for something of its size and price range. The 1080p video quality is far better than what you see from many cheaper options, and vibrations pose no threat to its stability. It’s also extremely easy to set up and install in your vehicle, as it took us no more than 15 minutes to get up and running. Also, we’ll tip our hats to the app’s easy-to-use nature that allows you to quickly review and manage video files.
Is it ideal? No, as the clumsy power line running to the 12-volt port of our vehicle is rather unsightly. Also, the lack of a screen makes it hard to angle just right and leaves you second-guessing whether it’s recording.
Best Dual Dash Cam
Kingslim D4 4K Dual Dash Cam
Pros
- A great value for a 4K and rear camera setup
- Image quality and view angle provides good coverage and detail
- Easy to control via touch screen interface
Cons
- Seems a shame to include a 4K front camera but only 1080 for the rear
- Some owners report compatibility issues with certain brands of SD cards
We think this Kingslim D4 4K dash cam is a really tough option to beat if you need a high-resolution dash cam that can record the front and rear of the vehicle. Its advertised 4K resolution paired with the wide 170-degree viewing angle puts it far beyond most in its price range. Speaking of which, this happens to be one of the more affordable options out there. Another killer set of details that work in this model’s favor are the touch screen and compatible app and those factors combined make it extremely easy to set up properly and manage video recordings.
Unfortunately, marketing does mislead you a tad here, as some reviewers point out that it’s not actually a 4K model. It’s 4K for the front camera, but only 1080 for the rear. Even if it is able to record clearly, that’s a detail to be aware of. Also, it does seem that SD formatting issues are somewhat common.
Best Mini Dash Cam
Garmin Dash Cam 56
Pros
- Compact size makes it easy to install anywhere and minimizes blindspot
- Offers voice control as a unique standout in the market
- Will alert driver of forward collision
- Motion activated security mode while parked
Cons
- Some owners state camera overheats and shuts down
- A lot of great features but camera quality seem slow for price
This is one of the dashcams subjected to hands-on testing, and afters several days of testing, we opted to give the Garmin 56 the best mini dash cam award. There may be smaller options out there, but by much. Also, this model still manages to incorporate an LCD display and 140-degree lens angle into the mix, despite being so small. The video quality is also of high resolution regardless of the time or conditions we subjected this model to. You can get better in larger form factor cameras, but we still found it adequate. We were also impressed that a unit this small offers GPS and ADAS features. Of course, the swiveling mount is also a nice touch worth mentioning as it helps keep setting up as simple as possible.
While it’s a heavy-hitter, it’s not perfect, as a short battery life keeps you tapped into the 12-volt port with wires dangling in front of the windshield. Also, it is small enough that it can be hard to operate with large hands.
Best Mirror Dash Cam
Wolfbox 12-Inch Mirror Dash Cam Backup Camera
Pros
- Discreet appearance most people will never see it on your rearview mirror
- Relatively cheap and simple way to add a backup camera on older cars
- Offers parking security monitoring with reduced frame rate to save power
Cons
- May not work as well as a rear view mirror as the factory unit
- Some users found it difficult to install on newer cars with thicker mirror housings
- Requires included GPS antenna to be mounted without obstructing satellite signal
The Wolfbox 12-inch mirror dash cam is designed to replace your rearview mirror and act as a dash cam. In other words, you never have to worry about it serving as a distraction or ruining the vibes of a clean interior. That’s not all, though. It also records GPS data for speed and location while driving. When parked it still records but at a lesser frame rate to save power. Make no mistake — this thing does way more than you might expect it to.
Of course, seeing as this replaces the existing rearview mirror, installation is slightly more complicated than usual. In newer cars with larger rear view mirror housings, it may be tough to get it slipped over the front. Also, ADAS sensors on some cars may block the camera’s view. These things, paired with the not-so-user-friendly setup mean that you should probably do some investigating before making your purchasing decision.
Our Verdict on The Best Dash Cams
We stand behind the Thinkware U1000 Dual Dash Cam 4K as our top pick. It’s a solid performer, and the price is reasonable for most consumers. Though there’s no arguing that the iiwey Three-Channel 1080P Dash Cam is a good route to take if saving money while still getting a decent range of functions is on the agenda. Don’t agree with us? Tell us about it. Be sure to reach out and fill us in on what you think the best dash cams are!
Features to Consider When Buying The Best Dash Cams
The lens is one of the most important details of any dash cam. It determines your viewing angle and effects image quality. The wider the view angle and the higher the resolution, the more information it provides. Obviously, these factors play a big role in the price you pay, and it’s worth saying you don’t need state-of-the-art technology to get a good review of an incident. Still, you don’t want to go too cheap as lower performance does obscure the evidence.
Virtually any dash cam is set to record continuously as you’re driving. Saving all of that footage would burn through SD cards and make it a pain to pinpoint any incident it records along the way. Make sure you select a dash cam that automatically loops recordings. It also helps to pick a model that automatically begins recording when the G-sensors detect an impact when you’re away from the vehicle.
It doesn’t matter how state-of-the-art or affordable a dash cam is if it won’t fit nicely in your vehicle. You need to select a model that doesn’t obstruct your view as that can pose legal issues in your jurisdiction. You want to make sure whatever you pick is small enough not to serve as a distraction or that you can hide behind the rearview mirror.
FAQs
You’ve got questions. The Drive has answers.
Q. Can dash cams prevent an accident from happening?
A: No, a dash cam cannot prevent an accident. It’s just in place to provide an accurate record of what took place during an accident, and that can save you thousands of dollars after a collision.
Q. How are dash cams powered?
A: The power source depends on the model you use. Some are hardwired to the vehicle, while others tap into 12-volt ports, there are even those that run on battery power. Each type has a unique list of pros and cons, so which is best ultimately comes down to user preference.
Q. Does a dash cam record all the time?
A: Dash cam cameras typically begin recording once you turn your vehicle on, with some room for exception for battery-powered models. There may be manual settings you can use as needed, but this feature usually works well for most motorists.
Q. Are dash cams legal?
A: Yes, dash cams are legal. There are no laws restricting their use throughout the US. There are, however, laws that restrict you from mounting the dash cam in certain places, and you need to familiarize yourself with the guidelines in your local area.
