When car accidents occur it can not only be a scary and shocking event, it can also be a frustrating experience as well, especially in the aftermath when it comes down to your word against someone else's. Without proper witnesses available, the truth will suddenly become a matter of he said, she said, and all of that finger-pointing and back-and-forth can make it difficult for insurance companies to make a fair and accurate determination. But what if you could guarantee that there was always an eye-witness at the scene of any incidents you were involved in, one that could provide an unbiased account and produce hard evidence of exactly what occurred? Thanks to modern technology this is now something you can easily accomplish, and with the right dash cam system installed inside your vehicle, you can feel more confident and protected every time you get behind the wheel. 

With the ability to record both while you’re driving and while you’re parked and stationary, dash cams have become a popular tool in recent years, and for good reason. Eliminating all of the uncertainty that usually accompanies accidents, incidents, and even road rage outbursts, these devices allow you to go back and watch footage of what occurred, and those videos can be sent to the police, insurance providers, or anyone else who needs a clear and unbiased account of the events that unfolded. Offering crisp, clear images, and with the ability to record in low-light conditions without compromising the video quality, dash cams are an indispensable asset for any driver and they are an easy and affordable solution that can save you a lot of time, stress, and money long-term. But purchasing a dash cam system can be a bit tricky, especially if you’re not the most tech-savvy individual on the planet, which is why this buying guide is here to assist with an in-depth breakdown of everything you need to know before you select the ideal model for your vehicle. 

How Many Cameras Do You Need?

One of the first things you will notice as you browse available dash cam systems is that there is a lot of variety when it comes to what is included, and you will have the option of purchasing kits that include 1, 2, or even 3+ cameras for your vehicle. While these multi-camera kits may seem excessive initially, there is a reason why these larger set-ups exist, and depending on what it is you’re trying to capture and protect against, you may actually find that the multi-camera solutions are better suited to your personal needs. With single dash cam set-ups, for example, you will be limited to only capturing and recording incidents that occur in front of your car, which could include things such as someone turning into you, an aggressive driver cutting you off, or even someone jaywalking. Although these all may be common occurrences, they aren’t the only types of events you might face on the road, and a single, front-facing camera won’t capture footage if you’re rear-ended or sideswiped.

Offering more robust and encompassing coverage, dual-camera set-ups can be a lot more effective overall, and these systems combine both a front-facing and rear-facing camera together so that you can capture a wider array of incidents. Now, if you happen to be rear-ended, or someone reversed into your bumper in a parking lot, your back camera will be able to record exactly what happened, and you can have hard evidence that can be presented directly to the police and to your insurance provider. In general, dual-camera systems tend to be the most popular options on the market, and they can ensure nothing is missed as you drive around or while you are parked. 

Taking that a step further, you will also have the option to purchase packages that include a 3rd camera as well, and these are able to record inside your vehicle to capture break-ins, thefts, or vandalism. In some cases, these cabin cameras may be built-in to your front-facing set-up, or they can be a separate device that can be placed anywhere in your vehicle that you prefer. Although they aren’t necessary, they do add an extra layer of security that may otherwise be missed with a single or dual set-up, and they are intended to capture clear and crisp facial images which may be extremely beneficial in a criminal investigation. With that said, the more cameras there are, the more expensive the package will be, so you’ll need to balance your needs against your overall budget in order to ultimately settle on the right set-up for you. 

Camera Quality & Low-Light

Once you know how many cameras you are looking to have installed in your vehicle, the next thing you want to focus on is the quality of those cameras and how well they are going to do at providing you with clear videos and crisp images. A dash cam isn’t worth much if it’s only able to capture blurry recordings that lack details, and if you opt for the wrong model then it may not be able to show you license plate numbers, faces, or even an accurate account of what occurred. To avoid this, the main thing you’re going to want to look at is the camera’s resolution, and this will be broken down based on the number of pixels the dash cam can capture, with a higher resolution equating to a more detailed and clearer image overall. In general, most dash cams will range from 720P up to 4K, and it’s recommended that you look for models that are 1080P at the minimum. In some packages, you may notice that not all of the included cameras will record at the same resolution, so it's very important that you pay attention to the specifications of each camera within the system that you’re considering purchasing.

In addition to the resolution of the cameras, you will also want to spend some time reading about their low-light performance, since not all driving takes place in daylight hours. In reality, studies have shown that accidents are 3x more likely to occur between dusk and dawn, and unless your camera is able to see in low-light, then it won’t be of much use to you when you’re involved in a nighttime incident. To help you prevent this, you’ll want to look for cameras that have features such as WDR (Wide Dynamic Range), as this can help balance the exposure, regardless of what the environmental light is like. This will ensure that your videos are just as easy to see at night as they are during the day, and that the clarity won’t be impacted or your protection compromised.   

GPS & App

Nowadays, most people rely on their smartphone in order to accomplish most of their day-to-day activities, and being able to connect your dash cam to your mobile device is an important feature that shouldn’t be overlooked. In most cases, many of the available models now include a free app alongside your purchase, and this will be where you can review footage, manage your settings, and even share your recordings with ease. Incredibly convenient and easy to access, the included app is one of the most popular features that buyers tend to look for, and it will make watching videos significantly simpler, especially when compared to the tiny built-in screens that are hard to see and difficult to navigate. 

If the dash cam kit that you purchase does include a free app, then that means that it has WiFi capabilities, and this will not only allow you to view and manage videos remotely, it also means that it should have GPS integrated into its system. Although the GPS provided won’t give you directions to your nearest McDonalds or audibly navigate your road trip for you, it will enrich your recordings with essential information, and it can be worth having if you want to better document your drives. With built-in GPS, each video will now include details such as how fast you were driving, exactly where the incident occurred, and the precise time, which can be incredibly vital information especially if there is a criminal investigation. Not all dash cam models offer WiFi capabilities or are GPS enabled, however, so before you settle on a device this is absolutely something you will want to double-check for. 

Parking Mode & Loop Recording

All dash cams are designed so that they can record continuously as you drive, with some requiring you to manually turn them on once you get into the vehicle, and others automatically turning on as soon as the car starts. But not all dash cams are set-up in a way that allows them to record while your car is parked and turned off, and this means they may not be able to capture occurrences such as break-ins, vandalism, or accidents that happen while you’re not inside the vehicle. From dings and dents that take place in parking lots, to smashed windows and theft attempts that take place when your car is unattended, having the ability to capture these events on video can not only protect you with your insurance, but could also aid the police during an investigation. Thankfully, certain models may be able to provide you with this advanced feature, and if you’re hoping for around-the-clock protection, then parking mode and loop recording are both worth having. 

Continuously capturing video even when the car is shut off, parking mode is an invaluable addition to your dash cam's capabilities, but it also requires a lot of space on your memory card, especially if you don’t drive your vehicle each and every day. To help prevent the camera from eventually running out of space, some models also come equipped with a loop recording option that allows it to automatically overwrite old footage as soon as you reach the capacity of your memory card. With loop recording, you will always have access to the freshest, most recent set of events, and if there is old footage you’d like to keep then you will have the ability to download and save it before it is overwritten by the newer recordings. Incredibly beneficial if you park in public lots on a regular basis, or if you live in an apartment and share a parking area, both parking mode and loop recording can be lifesavers when certain types of incidents occur and can provide you with full peace of mind, even when your vehicle is left unattended.

Bottom Line

Every day in the USA there are nearly 20,000 car accidents that occur, and for the vast majority of people these can be incredibly stressful events that require a lot of time, energy, and effort to resolve. Forcing you to track down witnesses, give statements, and hope your insurance company comes to the correct determination, each accident can be a scary gamble, and you could find yourself without much recourse should you be unable to prove what actually happened. This is why equipping your vehicle with cameras is such an essential part of keeping yourself protected on the road, and with the right dash cam installed, you can go from being vulnerable and helpless, to always having a reliable and objective witness at your disposal. Cost-effective, easy to install, and readily available, dash cams are a popular and trusted device that no driver should be without, and if you're concerned about what might occur when you get behind the wheel, then it’s a worthwhile purchase you won’t regret making.