Dash Cams & Vehicle DVR

A dash cam can record your driving exploits on a twisty road or gnarly trail, and it can also create footage of interesting scenery encountered on a road trip. But as the many dash cam videos found on the internet show, a dash cam is most valuable for recording an accident so you have visual proof of what occurred and that you were not at fault. Dash cams can also record evidence of a hit-and-run or vandalism to your vehicle when it’s parked. We have a huge selection of dash cams with different features in a wide range of prices so you can get the one that best fits your needs and wallet.

Anyone who has been in an accident without a dash cam will never want to drive again without one. The other driver involved invariably has an entirely different recollection of events than yours and without witnesses the conflicting reports may make it difficult for the insurance company and/or court to decide in your favor. A dash cam can provide the irrefutable proof you need to establish your innocence, obtain a favorable insurance settlement and avoid legal penalties. In fact, some insurance companies now offer incentives for drivers to purchase and drive with a dash cam.

Dash cams are available in models that clip onto the rear view mirror or attach to the windshield using an adhesive tape or suction cup mount. They’re available in many shapes and sizes. If you want to leave the camera installed so it can record in parking mode, but you’re concerned about theft, choose a small model in black so it can be easily obscured. All dash cams come with a power cord that plugs into the 12V accessory port, however, there is usually no power to this port when the key is off. If you want a less conspicuous look without a dangling power cord and want to record when the car is parked, select a cam that can be hardwired. In parking mode, when the cam detects shock or motion - if your car is hit or vandalized - the camera records the event.

Our dash cams come in a range of resolutions and viewing angles and with various SD card memory capacities. A higher resolution camera will be able to provide video with greater detail, which can be advantageous for recording fast motion and detecting valuable information like license plate numbers. A wider angle lens will provide a larger field of view and greater peripheral detail, which can be beneficial for recording accidents that occur involving vehicles coming in from the side of your car or truck. A narrower angle lens may only record what is right in front of your vehicle. Video recorded by the dash cam is stored on an SD card. We have cams that come with SD cards with 32GB capacity. With 1080 resolution that translates to approximately 3 to 4 hours recording time.

Most dash cams will record over existing footage once the memory is full. However, if the internal G-force sensor detects shock like that which would occur in a collision, that footage is stored automatically and prevented from being overwritten. Sensor sensitivity is usually adjustable to prevent minor shocks like bumps from turning into recorded events. Most cams come with a rear LCD screen for video playback and cam setup, but many smaller models do not and video can only be viewed on a PC via SD card reader or USB cable. The software for viewing and cam setup may be included or can be downloaded. Many cams include an internal GPS so vehicle speed, location, date and time data can be recorded along with the video. This data can provide additional support in the event of an accident.

Most dash cams contain a microphone, which can add sound to augment and contextualize the recorded video. Some dash cams also contain batteries, allowing them to be used for a short period while disconnected from the vehicle, which could be helpful for shooting footage outside the car after an accident. Dual lens dash cams have two video lenses, one facing front and one facing the rear so it can also record what is going on inside the vehicle. This type of camera may be useful for business owners, taxi drivers, or for parents who want to keep an eye on teenage drivers. A few dash cams are Wi-Fi enabled so you can transfer videos to a smartphone. Others have driver assistance features such as alarms that sound if you drift outside your lane or get too close to another vehicle in front.