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Wild things can happen while driving a vehicle. Accidents, natural phenomenons, animal sightings or collisions, and a range of entertaining moments. Capturing those seconds on video with a dash cam, aka dashboard camera, provides evidence during unplanned events. Alternatively, footage can lead to creative clips that go viral on the internet.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that more than 5 million car accidents occur nationwide each year, which is more than 13,000 accidents every day. Whether you drive a car, truck, camper, or van, a digital record can come in handy following a fender bender.
The footage helps you document lifelong memories or recount specific details whether you’re off-roading, hunting, guiding, or camping. No matter the reason, adding a dashboard camera to your vehicle is an easy upgrade that can pay off.
A wide variety of dash cams are available today. In this guide, we cover different camera resolutions and devices with and without screens. We also examine various perspectives, including front, inside, and rear cameras. Other key details we examine include the ability to record at night, monitor parked cars, and track GPS locations.
We dug through the depths of the internet to find the best dash cams available. Then we put those setups to the test on our rigs and along the high alpine roads of Southwest Colorado. To learn more about the features of dashboard cameras be sure to check out our comprehensive buying guide. You can read a more in-depth analysis of how these devices can vary in the FAQ and comparison chart below.
Otherwise, scroll through to see all of our recommended buys for 2024.
If you’re looking for the ultimate protection for your rig, look no further than the NextBase 622GW ($400). This top-of-the-line dash cam is jam-packed with qualities, including a top-tier 4K camera. The kit lands as a top choice in our book.
The standout details of the 622GW lie in the camera technology. This design boasts a 4K and 30fps recording power. Even more, this lens offers enhanced color range and contrast, built-in image stabilization, and a lens polarizer.
The camera can also shoot in two other stellar settings: 60fps in 2x slow-motion at 1440p. Or, it can shoot at 120fps in 5x slow motion at 1080p standard HD. The relatively large 3-inch HD touchscreen plays back the footage in real-time. That way, you can scope exactly what your camera sees.
Compared to competitors, the NextBase has a few standout characteristics. There’s full-time GPS tracking, which has an automatic SOS response if there’s an accident. There’s also built-in voice control via Amazon Alexa. The tracker’s app lets you easily access and download videos.
The camera also came ready to go with a 64GB SIM card. Accessory rear-view and interior-view cameras are available as add-ons, so you can also record behind your vehicle and inside.
With a whole lot to love about this camera, what are the downsides? The high price tag is nearly double the rest of the field. Additionally, the camera has only a 140-degree field-of-view compared to many other cameras at 180 degrees. We noticed that in high-contrast environments, the camera frequently blew out the highlights, which was surprising given the manufacturer’s claims.
Ultimately, the NextBase 622GW is for drivers who want the best camera with the most garnish, and don’t mind paying top dollar. Throughout our adventures, this was the dashboard camera we kept circling back to.
With a sigh of relief, the Scosche NEXS10032-ET ($50) provides solid protection without the tough price. Easy installation, parking mode, GPS, night vision, and Wi-Fi connectivity help this dash cam punch above its weight.
Behind the lens is a 1080p HD camera powered with a Sony Starvis sensor. For standard HD footage, it’s surprisingly good, even at night. Installation was a breeze. This Scosche provided an installation kit, which is unique. The bundle was complete with windshield cleaning wipes, zip ties, corresponding sticky mounts, a trim tool, and wire ties.
There’s also a windshield mount that doubles as a cable router. The mount only offers vertical pivoting (up and down). So make sure the position is correct along the horizontal plane before you plant the camera.
The Nexar app doesn’t dish up the most technicalities but functions pretty well. You can use the app to view and play footage. You can check out a live map of where your vehicle is parked. The recordings also auto sync to the cloud. Regardless, the menu isn’t fully loaded compared to other choices.
Additionally, the 1080p camera isn’t the sharpest for reading license plates from far away. The small letters captured on a car 100 feet up ahead would be difficult to decipher.
If you don’t mind lower-quality footage and fewer operations in the app, the Scosche NEXS10032-ET is a great budget option. You’ll be happy with this copilot.
Any outdoor lover would enjoy the small size and rugged construction of the Garmin 67W ($260). Not only does this compact camera shoot 1440p HDR video, it also captures 1440p time lapses. And the design performs with seamless voice commands.
With voice command, you can activate steps like saving video, taking a picture, recording audio, or stopping audio. You can also start a travelapse (Garmin’s term for a time-lapse). You simply T-up the action by saying, “Okay Garmin.” As a result, you can keep both hands on the wheel.
The camera also boasts an extra-wide 180-degree field-of-view, which helps capture peripherals on the far sides of the vehicle. The ability to record at 60fps means you can shoot 2x slow motion. Imagine if a car accident occurs on a 40-mph highway. Slow motion allows you to capture more frames per second, see more details, and inspect the cause.
67W has a built-in GPS time and location stamp that reflects in the metadata when you playback footage. There’s also a parking guard function, which records the surroundings and alerts your phone if an incident is detected. Maybe a passerby bumps your car or strolls past, another vehicle backs into yours, or there’s a break-in.
Parking guard records regardless of a Wi-Fi connection. Parking guard can only send notifications with an established Wi-Fi connection. That might be when your vehicle is parked at home or work.
Additionally, this recording device has advanced driver alerts that display on the 2-inch screen plus audio. Alerts can be issued for a range of happenings like forward collision warnings (the detection of slower-moving or stationary vehicles). Lane departure warnings. Go alerts for stopped traffic that’s resumed moving. Or even alerts for select red light cameras and speed-enforcement cameras.
Although this setup doesn’t shoot in 4K, the 1440p video is still very crisp for a compact camera. The design only has one lens, so the camera can only film in front of the vehicle. A two-lens camera can dually film inside of the vehicle. While the phone app is nicely illustrated, we experienced several connection issues.
Overall, the Garmin 67W is a great dash cam for the price. This box is packed with details, and has the best hands-free voice-activation system among the devices in our test pool.
Given the small-scale size, the Garmin Mini 2 ($130) easily fits on your windshield without taking up excess space. This tiny camera packs a punch with a full HD 1080p camera delivering a 140-degree field-of-view. Plus, the equipment is designed to handle strong elements like direct sunlight and hot temps. You can set it and forget it, literally.
Measuring in at around 1 x 1 x 2 inches, this Garmin is truly miniature. The petiteness is partially due to the absence of a screen, and the device only has two buttons. The recorder is mostly controlled via smartphone with the Garmin Drive app. But the Mini 2 also utilizes the same Garmin voice control system we loved in its big brother, the 67W.
Through the app, you can use live-view monitoring to see your dashcam’s perspective in real-time, even remotely. You can look back at footage. It’s also possible to upload the data automatically to Garmin’s cloud storage via a paid subscription. With a constant power cable (sold separately) this little unit can even serve as a parking guard. But lacking a GPS function, the Mini 2 would need a Wi-Fi connection to deliver alerts to your phone.
During test rounds, we had trouble maintaining a connection between our phone and the corresponding Garmin Drive app. Meaning, the app would fall out of sync with the dash camera and require a complex pairing process again after each use. Despite this annoyance, we found the voice control worked great. While evading wildlife that jumped in front of our test vehicle, the G-force sensor automatically triggered the video file to be saved the second that hard braking was applied.
While not particularly feature-rich, the Garmin Mini 2 really shined in a few ways. The accessory didn’t obstruct windshield space, leading to undistracted driving, which was also thanks to the voice controls and lack of a screen distraction.
Want a dash cam with all three perspectives covered? The Vantrue N4 ($260) gives your car the ultimate protection with that trifecta: front, rear, and interior. The kits includes a front-facing 4K camera with a 155-degree field-of-view. There’s a secondary interior HD camera with a 165-degree scope. The third optional camera is HD, rear-mounted, and offers a 160-degree view. The system can record all three points of view into a single video clip at 30fps.
Furthermore, these cameras are powered by a Sony Starvis night sensor, offering exceptional night shots inside and outside the vehicle. The camera is suited up with Wide Dynamic Range technology, too, which automatically improves the image quality if high-contrast lighting is present.
If you’re solely using the front-facing mode and not the rear camera, the device records up to 4K at 30fps. When all three cameras are recording the front camera drops to 1440p. The interior-pointed cabin camera features four infrared LED lights, which work in low-light conditions.
At night, they record clear black-and-white images even without any lights on inside the cabin. Other components include a parking monitor mode, an external GPS mounting system, and the ability to shoot time-lapses, which all make this system pretty enticing.
The big drawback? Vantrue N4 is not Wi-Fi-compatible, so there’s no way to connect it to a smartphone. The only avenue to control the camera is by using the buttons and LCD screen. You can playback clips on the dash cam or plug the removable SIM card into a computer to access your footage.
Additionally, this camera is rather large and takes up a considerable amount of windshield space. The interior cabin camera needs an open view, which means you can’t conceal that one behind the rearview mirror. If you’re using the optional rearview camera, you’ll also need to run an additional wire from that camera to the dashboard camera.
All considered, the Vantrue N4 is our top choice for those who need a cabin-facing camera or those who want three vantage points covered. Whether you’re using your vehicle for car sharing, want to monitor your kids, own business vehicles, or need to keep track of a pet, this dash cam will cover your bases with all the camera angles.
First and foremost, the Insta360 X3 ($400) is an action camera. So, for those who want an action camera for filming outdoor pursuits, you might not need an entirely different camera to capture your commutes. The X3 has a dash cam mode that records video loops every few minutes and will automatically delete the old video if the save button isn’t pressed.
The first thing we noticed when mounting the X3 to our dash is that the camera and suction cup mount are very bulky. They take up the most amount of windshield space out of the cameras we tested. That said, the extra girth means there’s a generous touchscreen. There’s also a 5.7K 360-degree camera, which is the highest-quality camera we tested.
You can opt to record only front mode (in front of the vehicle) or turn on the 360-degree mode to record everything. The action can be captured no matter what side of the camera it happens on.
While the X3 covers the basic function of a dash cam, this action pod doesn’t offer a range of other features like crash detection or parking monitoring. Video data disappears every 15 minutes, so if you forget to hit the save button, you might lose your recording. The camera is powered up through a rechargeable battery and cable plug, so you can mount this camera without running any cables. But for longer road trips, it’s best to keep the camera plugged into a power outlet.
If the camera quality is the most important variable, or if you don’t want to invest a few hundred dollars in a camera that’s beholden to your vehicle, then consider getting the Insta360 X3. With versatility, you can use the X3 camera for more than the dashboard.
Scroll right to view all of the columns: Price, Image Quality, Frame Rate, Field of View, and GPS Tracker.
A handful of our automotive GearJunkie testers live in a remote corner of the Western United States. That means ample drive time, prolific wildlife, fallen rocks, and other hazards that are constantly present on the road.
We thoroughly tested each dashboard camera by installing the camera and using the device to film everything. These dashboard companions were taken on long road trips, grocery store runs, dirt roads, and through plenty of public parking lots.
Each spec was tested, and we compared camera footage head to head. Our experts studied how easily license plates could be read from a distance. We also checked out usability: how easy it was to save, playback, and export video footage.
Two of our test vehicles were a 2017 Toyota Tacoma and a 2014 Ford F-150 Raptor. Throughout the rounds, we encountered multiple road hazards. These included multiple wildlife encounters and large rocks obstructing the pavement on high-altitude mountain passes. There were also dangerous drivers and a plethora of beautiful mountain views.
Our lead tester, Eric Phillips, has been an outdoor professional for the last 10 years. He’s also a hobby automotive enthusiast. Phillips has spent his photography and videography career using and reviewing cameras of all varieties and editing endless camera footage.
Throughout our field tests and personal experiences, we determined the best dashboard cameras based on a variety of metrics. We considered the frame rate, field of view, size, and ease of use. We also took into account the clarity of footage, durability, installation, mounting ease, and overall quality of the camera.
Beyond our tests, we also considered the most popular, award-worthy, universal, sustainable, and affordable designs. These dashboard cameras serve a range of uses, styles, and budgets.
Dashboard cameras can be designed with various functions, but arguably the most important detail is the camera. Camera quality can make or break interpreting the fine details in a recording, like reading the license plate of a hit-and-run.
As you consider camera quality, there are several tiers in our guide.
In that foundational quality tier, you’ll find cameras with 1080p HD. That number (1080) refers to the number of pixels on the short edge of your camera screen.
Each pixel is a data point that your camera records. The higher the number of pixels, the sharper the image will be, and the more you can zoom in on the details. To be more specific, a camera labeled 1080p HD is shorthand for 1920 x 1080 pixels, which is standard High Definition (HD). This tier holds the lowest-quality cameras in our guide.
The next step up in camera quality is 1440p, which is short for 2560 x 1440 pixels. While this might not seem like a large advancement, it’s nearly twice the amount of pixels as the standard HD. This level of quality provides a noticeable difference and sharpness.
Progressively, you can level up with a camera outfitted with 4K, which refers to 3840 x 2160 pixels. That’s quadruple the amount of pixels as standard HD. Shooting in 4K not only drastically increases the sharpness of the video but allows you to crop or zoom into the video 2x and still retain 1080p HD quality.
The highest camera quality on our list is the Insta 360 X3, which records 360-degree video in a whopping 5.7K (5700 x 3206 pixels).
Dashboard cameras are meant to be mounted near the top and center of your windshield. They can be placed close to where the rearview mirror hangs.
Each dash cam design has a slightly different way to mount the camera to your windshield.
Some dashboard cameras — like the Garmin 67W, Garmin Mini 2, Scosche NEXS10032-ET, and NextBase 622GW — have a single-use adhesive mount that the camera attaches to.
The mount of the Garmin units is a ball-and-socket design that attaches to the back of the camera. They are the leanest mounts in terms of size. Not all mounts offer the same adjustability and range of motion.
The mount of the Scosche cam only pivots forward and backward — not left to right. So make sure the camera is properly placed before sticking it to the windshield. That camera’s mount was also the largest though the lengthy base does have sleek housing for cable management.
The corresponding power cable and any additional camera cables should be routed upward to the vehicle’s headliner (the lining that covers the ceiling of the cabin). Modern vehicles with a smart or intelligent rearview mirror usually have a power cable that the dash cam wiring can attach to.
To tuck the wiring in, you’ll run it above the headliner (preferably hidden) to the edge of the windshield on the passenger side. The cable will continue down, along the pillar and door jam to reach beneath the passenger footwell. Then the cable goes up to a power source.
Looking at our table of options, the NextBase 622GW had a cable-powered mount and a magnetic quick-connect. That way, you can easily and efficiently remove or add the camera to the mount.
Another house of mounts uses suction. These systems are usually larger in terms of occupying the windshield space but can easily be removed. So, the windshield can be left clean and clear when the dash cam is not in use. Also, the camera can be installed repeatedly and in different locations. Both the Insta360 and the Vantrue use suction-style mounts.
The Insta 360 X3 is battery-powered and can run as a dash cam without any cable attached. It also has a USB-C port, so the device can charge up while it’s in dash-cam mode. But, the cable hangs down in front of the windshield to reach the power port. Other cameras have an extended power cord that can be hidden along the windscreen and around to the power adapter.
Only the NextBase 622GW and Scosche NEXS10032-ET came with a plastic pry tool for tucking the wire underneath the trim panels. Also, Scosche was the only dash cam to include supplies. The bundle had zip ties, wire wraps, cleaning wipes, and multiple adhesive stickers to route the cable. As the cheapest option on our list, we were impressed with the installation kit.
Most of the dash cameras in our guide use a corresponding app to view the footage. Typically, the app lets you playback previously recorded footage and control the settings of the dash cam.
Usually, the camera’s ability to record doesn’t hinge on the app. But it’s a good idea to download the app and have it synced with your phone while you drive.
In contrast, the Garmin Mini 2 doesn’t have a screen and relies heavily on the app for drivers to set up and manage the dash cam. During testing, we experienced connectivity issues with the Garmin Drive app. The app would unpair with the dash camera, which led to a complex pairing process after each use.
We found that the NextBase app, MyNextbase Connect, was easy to use. The app could playback or download footage and included an SOS button to alert emergency services via GPS even without cell phone service available. For the Scosche NEXS10032-ET, the Nexar app has a live map on the home screen that we loved. But the rest of the app wasn’t our favorite.
Also noteworthy: The Vantrue N4 isn’t Wi-Fi-compatible and, therefore, does not have phone connectivity. Drivers can play back footage and manage the settings directly with the device’s buttons and touchscreen.
A dash cam’s primary camera faces the front of the vehicle toward the hood of the car or truck and the external environment. For most drivers, this angle is enough. Other drivers need to capture additional video and audio from the interior of the vehicle or behind the vehicle.
The inside or interior camera refers to a dash camera body that houses a second lens. That supplementary lens points backward at the driver and passengers and captures the action inside the vehicle.
This additional feature is important for vehicles in the car-sharing workforce, commercial or emergency vehicles, or for drivers with kids. Regardless of who your passengers are, sometimes you want to have them recorded. These cameras also usually record audio from inside the cab.
Since the interior camera is already integrated into the dash cam, there’s no need to route another camera wire. The Vantrue N4 and the Insta 360 X3 both include interior cameras. However, the Vantrue N4 is the only one that simultaneously collects both views.
The rear-facing camera refers to a third, separate camera that is mounted to the rear glass of a vehicle. The rear camera records footage of what’s going on behind the rig, from the back of the vehicle.
This camera angle is particularly helpful if a rear-end accident happens. The sweat equity? You will need to run a cable along the entire headliner to connect back to the front, primary dash cam on the windshield.
Vantrue N4 is decked out with a rear-facing camera. The NextBase 622GW is compatible with a rear-facing camera, but the camera is an additional cost.
If you have a truck topper, you most likely won’t be able to integrate a back-of-the-rig camera unless you cut holes in the truck and topper to run the cable along the ceiling to the topper’s rear door window.
Accidents or thefts can happen when your vehicle is parked. Parked car monitoring won’t stop bad deals, but you’ll at least know the cause and occurrence.
Parked car monitoring is exactly what it sounds like: a device that monitors your vehicle while it’s parked. If any motion or G-force is detected by the sensor inside the dash cam, the camera starts recording. Then the device will send the video to your phone to alert you of the incident. This can be very handy for theft, hit-and-run incidents, or if your vehicle is left unattended for a lengthy period of time.
Some dash cams, including the models we tested from Garmin, will even alert you if someone else drives your car. The notification is triggered if the primary phone that’s connected to the app isn’t present. The function is only available through the subscription.
Among our collection, the only camera that totally doesn’t have parked car monitoring is the Insta 360 X3.
Having a GPS tracker integrated into a dash cam is a very nice feature to have when monitoring your vehicle. Not only can a GPS show you where your vehicle is at any moment, but it can also capture data about incidents like collision speed, direction, and more. If you’re without cell service, a GPS-powered dash camera can alert emergency services in the event of a crash or other emergencies.
The NextBase 622GW was the only dash cam we tested with a built-in GPS and did not require additional subscriptions. The Garmin 67W does have GPS, but it’s only activated through a subscription. The Vantrue N4 has an optional GPS add-on for $20. The Scosche can sync with a phone via the app for GPS capabilities, but the GPS only works when the phone has cell service.
Looking for a more tailored and dynamic GPS setup? Check out our GPS Trackers for Cars buyer’s guide.
The simple answer is yes, you can! While it may take some practice to hide and route the cable dashboard cameras are meant to be installed at home. Reading the included instructions and watching installation videos on Youtube will help with the process.
There are no monthly fees for the dashboard cameras we’ve highlighted in our guide.
There’s one caveat: The Garmin 67W unlocks more features with a paid LTE subscription.
Regular use of a vehicle that is equipped with a dash cam will not result in a dead battery.
Dashboard cameras do use a small amount of power to record videos. When the vehicle is running, the dash cam is continuously powered and on.
When the vehicle is parked, the dash cam still draws power from the car battery though at a slower pace than during the drive. In that case, leaving a car parked for an extended period of time with a dash cam plugged in may result in a dead battery. But the chances of that happening are slim. You shouldn’t worry about a dash cam draining your vehicle’s battery.
In most states, it’s legal to record and use a dash camera as long as the device is not obstructing the driver’s view.
Select states require the vehicle owner to get consent from all passengers before recording. In a handful of states, like Illinois, it’s illegal to record any police officer, including from a dash camera.
Each state has different laws about the use of dash cameras. Make sure to look up the regulations in your state or where you plan to road trip before using one.
Most insurance agencies don’t offer any discounts for the use of a dash cam in your vehicle, though these recorders can still save you money.
Dashboard cameras provide direct evidence of an accident compared to solely eyewitnesses. In particular situations, a dash cam might prove your innocence in an accident therefore saving you expenses and a potential insurance hike.
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Eric Phillips is a contributor of GearJunkie. He has been writing about snowboarding, splitboarding, and winter apparel for one year and photographing content for many. Phillips has worked on the Western Mountain Rescue Team and as a professional adventure photographer in the outdoor industry. Based in Crested Butte, Colorado, he’s an avid board sports enthusiast, mountain biker, hunter, hiker, camper, and mountaineer.
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