We wouldn’t recommend buying a card smaller than 32GB because you could end up running out of space. Today’s high-resolution dash cams can use anywhere between 100MB and 500MB per minute, depending on their resolution, so even a 32GB card might only give you up to four hours of recording before it starts overwriting the existing files. The following wholly owned group subsidiary companies are all Appointed Representatives of both Group 1 Automotive UK Limited and Barons Autostar Limited in regard to the specified activities in the regulatory disclosure above: Always on. As long as your engine is running, your dash cam is working. There's no more loss of recording capabilities when the cable is pulled out by accident or swapped for a phone charger. There’s inevitably a slight fishbowl effect, and you don’t quite get the detail you see in footage from the Nextbase 622GW or Thinkware Q800 Pro, but you can expect super-smooth motion, crisp image quality and well-balanced colour, even in overcast conditions. Our only real grumble is that, at night, the image can be a little fuzzy, while headlights and streetlights get a strong vertical flare. We’re seeing more dash cams these days with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or even 4G connectivity, enabling you to sync videos wirelessly, review your footage, or get a live view on your smartphone. Some companion apps enable you to sync multiple dash cams wirelessly; you can have one at the front and one at the rear, without a cable connecting the two (although both will have to be powered). Many allow you to use voice commands for control.

There are several things to consider when buying a dash cam, but the most important factor is image quality. These devices are absolutely pointless if, when it comes to reviewing the footage of an accident, it looks like the lens has been smeared with Vaseline, and you have difficulty telling whether you were cut up by a grey Vauxhall Corsa or a baby elephant. You can’t fit a dash cam centrally: With no sideways adjustment, the E1 needs to be mounted to the middle of your windshield, otherwise footage won’t be level. Yes, you'll still be able to unplug the cable and detach your dash cam to store it safely in the glove box when you're not driving. However, if your dash cam has Parking Mode then it's better to leave it attached and running to record any bumps or collisions.We were happily surprised by the video quality. The cameras can record Full HD footage in both directions, capturing video that’s smooth, sharp and clear, matched by decent audio. The interior camera occasionally struggles in bright sunlight, but that’s a small criticism of otherwise impressive performance. The front camera can also go solo to shoot in even more detailed 1440p. You’ll have to miss out on the odd feature here and there – there’s no onboard GPS or speed recording – but you still get voice commands, a parking guard feature and the same vault features as the Dash Cam 47. What’s more, there’s little between the two dash cams when it comes to video quality. In brightly sunlit or dull conditions it’s excellent, and pretty clear and blur-free at night, although the Dash Cam 47 seems slightly better at dealing with windscreen reflections and glare. Naturally, we cannot crash a vehicle to see how well the dash cam detects collisions. Instead, firmly tapping the dash cam can simulate a collision, allowing us to see what happens when footage is saved. It is also possible to trigger a recording by powering the camera with a portable battery and tapping it against our desk. It may seem rudimentary, but it works and keeps our insurance company happy. If you’re buying a 1440p or 4K dash cam, think about a 64GB or 128GB card, and look for one with a longer warranty or one that’s designed for endurance in continual use. Cheap microSD cards can work well in some devices, but dash cams need something that’s built to last. Is there anything else worth looking out for? Fraud prevention – Insurance fraud is on the rise. Dash cams can protect you against false insurance claims and help to reduce your insurance premiums.

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. Can a dash cam drain your car battery? Aimed at those who spend extended periods behind the wheel, the Nexar Pro is a dual-cam solution that can record video both inside and outside a vehicle. Comprised of two separate camera units connected by a cable, we found the setup to be pretty neat, even if it took up a fair bit of screen real estate. The HD video quality is good, and the night mode (now on its second generation) is very impressive (it's surprisingly sharp, and there's next to no noise). There's built-in Wi-Fi so you can connect to your smartphone, although we did experience some connection issues, and it looks very dated. The video footage is great as well. Recording in 1440p with an ultra-wide 180-degree field of view. The video quality might not be as good at the Nextbase 522GW, but it's good enough. The mount is excellently designed, with a small 3M magnet mount making removal and placement of the dash cam incredibly easy. The downside is the slightly fiddly menu system, which is controlled by four buttons on the side, and the inconsistent voice control. The captured footage is impressive. In terms of clarity and detail, it’s a cut above anything we’ve seen, although it’s a toss-up whether the extra resolution of 4K or the faster frame rate of 1440p is more worthwhile. And you still get access to all of Nextbase’s advanced features, including Alexa connectivity and a Hyper-Sync Wi-Fi connection to the MyNextbase smartphone app.You’re on a tight budget: Its multiple talents mean the DriveCam 76 demands a fairly high price. If you won’t use all of its features, you’ll find better value in standalone cameras. You expect a polarizing filter as standard: Some dash cams include a polarizing lens to reduce reflections from the hood, but it’s an optional extra for the E1. Thankfully the 3-inch rear touchscreen is crisp, clear and very easy to use, while the inclusion of What3Words is clever, as it can alert the emergency and breakdown services of an exact location, even when there is no Wi-Fi or mobile data available. Time Lapse Mode, which records your parked car for 48 hours. That's great if you're worried about the vehicle being vandalised while left at night.

Cheaper models may do away with extras such as a live-view screen. These are useful when you’re setting up the camera, but not essential once that’s done. What’s more, many dash cams are now designed to work in concert with a smartphone app, communicating via Bluetooth and/or Wi-Fi. With these, you use your smartphone to position and adjust the camera, and you can even use the app to review and protect footage or even upload it to the cloud. Is a dual-camera dash cam worth it? Video resolution is a key consideration when choosing a dash cam, as explained below. Most dash cams in 2023 can record footage in Full HD, which is generally enough to identify large details in a video clip. Sharper 4K dash cams tend to cost more, but capture video at a higher resolution. This makes it easier to pull out crucial details such as number plates, which mean 4K dash cams generally offer more reassurance from a safety perspective. You want a wide view of the road: Both cameras have a 140-degree field of view, which is narrower than that of many rivals and which only covers the windshield. Neat and relatively compact, the Vantrue E1 is an attractive dash cam that’s capable of recording 2.5K video at 30fps. It can also record Full HD footage at a smoother 60fps, for enhanced detail while you drive. Results in our review proved sharp night and day, with accurate colors and acceptable noise in low light. Our testing also revealed that the optional polarising filter usefully reduces dashboard reflections.

The best dash cams you can buy in 2023

Must be placed carefully to avoid breaking the law – Installing a dashcam on your dashboard might seem like the most logical thing to do. However, it can interfere with the view and make for unsafe driving. Just under the rear-view mirror is one area that can give the dash cam an unobstructed view of the road without infringing on your viewing area. All companies include a charger that plugs into your car's cigarette lighter, while some offer kits which allow you to hardwire the dash cam into your car's fusebox. How we test the best dash cams You have a small windshield: Because it’s larger than many dash cams, the DashCam 76 can feel like an obstruction in vehicles with shallow windshields. The 522GW is a massively impressive dash cam, which not only nails the basics (such as recording outstanding image quality), but also offers features never before seen in a dash cam. Relatively compact for a dual-lens dash cam, the Vantrue N2 Pro records a detailed view of the road ahead and your vehicle’s interior. Designed with taxi drivers in mind, it forgoes many of the extras which your car is already likely to have, including speed camera alerts and collision warnings.