Rear cameraĪ number of dashcams come with an optional rear camera that can be secured to the rear windscreen of a vehicle to record what’s happening behind the car. However, it usually requires the dashcam to be hard-wired rather than powered by the 12v power outlet. This ensures the dashcam records footage even when the engine is off (when parked, for example), so if someone breaks into your car or crashes into it when you’re not around, there will still be footage. Powerĭashcams are powered using the 12v power outlet (also known as the cigarette lighter) in your car, but many can also be hard-wired into your car’s electrics. However, like a sat nav, it’s illegal to use the screen to adjust settings or view footage when driving, and when caught will result in a penalty. The screen is used to view a live stream from the dashcam (rather than removing the microSD card and inserting it into a PC every time) or adjust settings. Some dashcams have a display that's anywhere from two to four inches (measured diagonally). The larger the field of view number, the larger the area that’s covered by the camera, such as the front and sides of the vehicle. The field of view on a dashcam can range from anywhere between 140 degrees to 180 degrees. The better the quality of the video recording, the more likely you’ll be able to zoom into the recorded clips and pick up crucial details such as vehicle number plates and street names. The dashcam is well-built and sturdy, and comes with a spare adhesive strip if you need to move it to another car in the future.ĭashcams record video in SD, HD and 4K. You use a (frustratingly short) Micro-USB cable to transfer videos to your computer and while there’s no touchscreen or voice control, the buttons feel fine and the layout is easy to understand. The 2-inch display may be small, but the colours look good and it’s enough to see what is happening around you. This model also has GPS that accurately shows your location on the phone app in real-time. We like that the Cobra includes a 16GB MicroSD card inside the dashcam as standard (you can add up to 256GB) to store footage. It took under 10 minutes to download the app, wire it up and stick it on our windshield. This cylindrical camera is also incredibly easy to set up and install, making it a good choice for beginners or anyone who doesn’t want to spend ages on installation. It shoots in crisp Full HD from both lenses, and the quality is impressive in dark conditions – giving you a solid 140-degree field of view that captures lots of detail. Make sure any obstruction from the driver’s seat is no more than four centimetres and you’ll be good to go.We know you’ll want your dashcam to record what’s happening in front of your car, but the Cobra SC 201 doubles the peace of mind by also taking video of the interior, too. Nothing should obscure a driver’s view out of the windscreen, which is why many dash cams are compact enough to discretely place behind the rear-view mirror. It’s not so much that the presence of a dash cam will fail the MOT, but the placement of the dash cam might. There are dash cams for all kinds of drivers. If you ferry people about in your motor, you might want an internal rear-facing camera. After all, you want to be able to make out the registration plates of the cars captured. If you want to protect yourself in the event of an incident, you might be keen to opt for front- and rear-facing cameras with great recording quality and respectable night vision. If you want to record each journey, you’re more likely to prioritise picture quality. Picking the right dash cam is all about deciding what you want it for. FIVE OF THE INTERNET’S MOST PERTINENT QUESTIONS ABOUT BUDGET DASH CAMS What is the best dash cam on a budget? Plenty of dash cam makers integrate smartphone companion apps to be able to download, store and share the recordings. There's a plethora of dashcam names to pick from, including Road Angel, Vantrue, Kenwood and Nexar just some of the manufacturers with award-winning or nominated designs. Unlike the Nextbase 222 which can be hardwired into the car, the Ring dashcam uses the 12V port for power. That means if an incident happens, the device automatically logs the location, timestamped, to make insurance claims easier. While the cameras only have a 140-degree field-of-vision, the Ring RSDC4000 has GPS in-built. The front camera records at a very sharp 1440p high-definition, where the rear camera records at a standard 1080p. There’s a front and rear camera and an SD card for storage included for the package price of £120. This Ring dashcam bundle isn’t the cheapest option on this list, but may offer drivers more value.
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