Dashcams have evolved from car accessories to driver necessities—and become a never-ending source of YouTube car-crash videos. In fact, a recent staged-accident video has gone viral—it reveals a trending insurance scam, but one that can be documented if you have a dashcam.
The scenario involves when Vehicle One unexpectedly crosses over from their lane directly in front of Vehicle Two, which then causes the driver of Vehicle Two to slam on their brakes. In response, and to set up the scheme, Vehicle One then puts their car in reverse and backs into Vehicle Two. The driver (and passengers) in Vehicle One ask for insurance papers and then speed away leaving Vehicle Two looking like the driver at fault.
Automobile accidents happen every day, and according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), the consequences are even greater for you as an innocent motorist when you become an unwitting participant in a fraud scheme.
No matter if you are a weekend cruiser, daily commuter, or a commercial driver with a ridesharing side hustle, if you have a dashcam, it can help to resolve a fraudulent claim or who’s at fault in an accident. Fender bender incidents are typically settled via video evidence. In addition, a dashcam can watch over your ride inside and out when you’re away, and it can even warn you of speed traps ahead, or road hazards, which may help to prevent an accident.
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The Best Dashcams
The Expert: I’ve been reviewing and writing about aftermarket car electronics for more than three decades. I’ve tested dozens of dashcams over the years and have watched the devices gain better optics and video processing, more memory and features, and become smaller but more capable. I have dashcams in my 2007 Honda Element and in my 2014 motorhome, both of which I drive in the U.S. and Mexico.
I regularly speak with other auto enthusiasts about aftermarket electronic devices such as dashcams, and take every opportunity to ask rideshare, taxi, and bus drivers about the dashcams they use, what they like about them, and what they don’t. I also scoured online reviews and forums to find out what real-world users think about the dashcams they use in their cars.
What to Consider in a Dashcam
Dashcams not only provide video evidence of an accident, which can be vital in establishing who’s at fault, but can also capture what’s going on inside a vehicle and keep tabs on it while it’s parked. Dashcams mount to a vehicle’s windshield to act as a 24/7 lookout and are automatically triggered by events such as a collision, hard braking, impact, or manually by the driver.
These devices store video, images, and other information such as the time and date on built-in memory, an SD Card, or in the cloud. Dashcams come with a wide variety of features and are available at a broad range of prices. With a higher price typically comes better optics, more memory, and extra features. Here’s what to look for when shopping for a dashcam.
How We Evaluated Dashcams
With so many dashcams available, I selected ones best suited for a particular task, including those delivering high-quality video, providing useful features, offering a low price relative to capability, or fitting a small space so as not to obstruct a driver’s view. After establishing that criteria, I chose dashcams I’ve personally tested and brands that I know to be reputable.
Additionally, I made recommendations based on dashcams that have been highly regarded by colleagues in the auto industry, professional drivers, and by researching feedback in online reviews. I also relied on prior research by writer Dan Bracaglia.
Our Full Dash Cam Reviews
The Nextbase 622GW offers a range of features that matter most, including capturing detailed footage in 4K in both bright and low-light conditions, and with an impressive night vision mode for clarity after dark. Its 3-inch touch screen has an intuitive interface, and the magnetic mount is easy to use and easily my favorite.
The kit comes with a 128GB SD card and is upgradable by adding additional cameras to guard the interior or the rear of a vehicle, although an accessory hardwire kit is required. An SOS mode will automatically call and send GPS coordinates to emergency personnel after an accident even if the driver is unresponsive, and a built-in battery powers the camera if the car’s battery dies. In terms of size, if that is a factor in your vehicle, the 622GW is one of the larger options included here.
Key Specs
| Resolution | 1944p |
|---|---|
| Field of view | 170 degrees |
| Display | 2.4 in. |
| Storage | 128GB built-in |
| GPS | Yes |
| Companion app | Yes |
| Backup power | Battery |
| Extras | Windshield |
| Mount | Driver assists, HDR full-color night vision |
The 70mai M500 dashcam won’t bust your budget and doesn’t skimp on features. It records in 1944p quality (1944 is better resolution than 1080p, but doesn’t take up as much storage as 4K). The “p” stands for progressive scan—a technique of loading pixels onto the screen to minimize flickering. The camera has a 170-degree field of view, but some reviewers and users report a slight fish-eye effect due to the wide-angle lens.
The system also has a 2.4-inch display, a companion app, HDR full-color night vision, and built-in GPS to log real-time speed and location. There are even driver-assist alerts: for lane departure, forward-collision warning, and pedestrian and cyclist detection. The dashcam comes with 128GB of built-in storage, but no memory card slot, which means you won’t be able to upgrade to a larger capacity.
Best for Rideshare Drivers
Vantrue N4 Pro 3
Pros
- Dual cameras
- Infrared LEDs capture occupants at night
- Sony Starvis 2 imaging technology
Key Specs
| Resolution | 4K UHD (main camera), FHD 1080p (rear/interior camera) |
|---|---|
| Field of view | 155 degrees |
| Display | 3-in. with buttons |
| Storage | MicroSD card (not included) |
| GPS | Yes |
| Companion app | Yes |
| Backup power | Capacitor |
| Mount | Adhesive, Magnetic |
| Extras | Sony Starvis 2 imaging technology, Voice control, Parking mode |
With both a forward- and rear-facing camera to monitor the interior of a car, this dashcam is ideal for rideshare drivers or for anyone who wants to keep an eye on their passengers. It records footage in 4K resolution using the latest Sony Starvis 2 imaging technology to flesh out finer details, even in the dark. The rear-facing camera rotates 360 degrees and can be set to record at 1080p to conserve memory. The cabin camera’s four infrared LEDs can capture passengers even in total darkness.
Wi-Fi connectivity transmits video to the companion app or for sharing on social media. Location and speed are logged by built-in GPS, and voice commands coupled with a 3.19-inch display make the N4 Pro simple to use. With an optional hardwire kit, a parking mode can record 10 seconds before and 30 seconds after a trigger.
Key Specs
| Resolution | 4K UHD |
|---|---|
| Field of view | 140 degrees |
| Display | 3 in. button input |
| Storage | MicroSD card (Not included) |
| GPS | Yes |
| Companion app | Yes |
| Backup power | 14°-140°F |
| Extras | Battery |
| Mount | Adhesive |
| Extras | Parking Mode, Driver assist, Rear camera |
The 70mai A800S, the most affordable option here, captures crisp 4K video even in low lighting and features front and rear cameras, built-in GPS, and driver-assist warnings. You can easily review videos and adjust settings using its 3-inch screen and add a parking mode with an optional hardwire kit.
Its low price, however, has downsides. Many reviews cite that the 70mai’s companion app has connectivity and UI issues whether on iOS and Android, and that the camera can become unstable in below-freezing temperatures so this might not be the dashcam for you if you live in an area typically hit hard with winter weather. But the A800S’s ease of use and high-resolution video at a reasonable price make it a solid option if you’re looking for a dashcam and want to spend a minimal amount.
Best 4K Video
Rove R2-4K Pro
Key Specs
| Resolution | 4K UHD |
|---|---|
| Field of view | 150 degrees |
| Display | 2.4 in. |
| Storage | 16GB MicroSD card (not included) |
| GPS | Yes |
| Companion app | Yes |
| Backup power | Capacitor |
| Mount | Suction cup |
| Extras | Social media sharing and messaging, Parking mode |
The Rove R2-4K captures stunning video in UHD 4K at either 30 or 60 fps, and delivers clear, crisp recording in all lighting conditions, even at nighttime. The R2-4K doesn’t come with a MicroSD card, but when connected to a smartphone via Wi-Fi, users can download, view, and share video on social media or via a messaging app using the Rove Dash Cam App.
The app is handy for more easily tweaking the dashcam’s settings instead of on the smallish 2.4-inch display, and the app can also download free over-the-air firmware updates for the unit. Built-in GPS records a vehicle’s speed and location and a parking mode that requires hard-wiring records timelapse video and detects motion and collision. If it detects an event, the dashcam records a 1-minute video, saves it, and delivers a voice alert the next time the car is started.
Many new vehicles come with advanced safety features called driver-assists—these alerts warn of possible hazards. The Garmin Dash Cam Live includes forward-collision and lane-departure warning, two of the most popular driver-assists.
This dashcam has a 2.95-inch display, records 1440p video via a 140-degree lens, and records and saves video on an included 16GB microSD card with built-in GPS stamping of location, date, and time. With a subscription ($9.99/month) to Garmin’s Dash Cam Live with an LTE connection (for always-on connectivity), users can get real-time views from a parked vehicle via the Garmin Drive smartphone app and receive location, theft, and incident notifications.
Saved videos are automatically upload online and can be viewed and shared using the Garmin Drive app. Voice control can be used to save videos, start/stop recording, take still pictures, and more.
Best Space-Saving
Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3
Key Specs
| Resolution | Full HD |
|---|---|
| Field of view | 140 degrees |
| Display | No |
| Storage | 16GB MicroSD card (not included), cloud backup (with subscription) |
| GPS | No |
| Companion app | Yes |
| Backup power | Battery |
| Mount | Adhesive |
| Extras | Voice control, Parking mode |
The Garmin Mini 3 measures just 2- by 0.8- by 1.3 inches and weighs only 1.1 ounces. Powered by a slim cable, which can be routed upward or downwards, the dashcam is practically unnoticeable when mounted behind a rearview mirror.
This powerful Mini 3 dashcam has a 140-degree field of view and can record video of incidents in 1080p video, but due to its small size, has no screen. Instead, a live view is transferred to a connected smartphone running the Garmin Drive smartphone app, although this requires a subscription. Video is saved to a MicroSD card and then downloaded to a device via Wi-Fi and automatically saved in the cloud with a subscription. A parking feature sends notification of incidents to the Garmin Drive app on a smartphone, but requires a subscription, a Wi-Fi connection, and constant power.
Best Display Functions
Cobra SC 400D
Cons
- Requires smartphone app
- No built-in battery
Key Specs
| Resolution | 4K (front), 2160p (rear) |
|---|---|
| Field of view | 170 degrees |
| Display | 3 in. |
| Storage | 32GB MicroSD card |
| GPS | Yes |
| Companion app | Yes |
| Temp rating | None |
| Backup power | Adhesive |
| Extras | Connects to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Live feed via app |
The Cobra SC 400D connects with a car’s infotainment system with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto to display info like alerts and controls on a vehicle’s in-dash display. It records in 4K resolution and includes a second rearview camera, and an optional cabin-view camera can be added. Users can send videos from the dashcam along with their policy info and accident details directly to an insurance company and the device will also automatically send an emergency text to a designated contact in the event of an accident.
The SC 400D, with its 3-inch display, also provides live on-screen police alerts like radar and speed camera locations and Cobra’s Drive Smarter app supplies alerts from other drivers. A live feed can be sent to an app when the dashcam is hardwired into the car, but it doesn’t have a built-in battery and must be plugged in to work.
Expert Doug Newcomb on Installation, Insurance, and Extras.
Doug Newcomb splits his time between Hood River, Ore., and Todos Santos, Mexico. He’s been writing about technology and cars for more than 30 years for Wired, Rolling Stone, Road & Track, Automobile, PCMag.com, Playboy and numerous other publications. He cofounded the C3 Group in 2013 to produce automotive industry events in New York, San Francisco, Washington, D.C. and at SXSW in Austin. C3 Group was acquired by Informa in 2018. When he’s not writing, he’s riding a surfboard
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