Best Dash Cams: Highway Star

Top 8 Best Dash Cams

They’ve created more car-related YouTube footage than Doug DeMuro and are responsible for finally bringing justice to that jerk who hit your parked car. Dash cams are one example of how high-quality recording technology can be placed in the hands – and on the windshields – of anyone with a few dollars in their pocket.

We’ll leave unmentioned the uncomfortable reality that most people are being filmed wherever they go these days and the relative lack of privacy once one leaves their home. Cameras crop up on traffic signals, cop cars, tow trucks – and that’s just a sampling of vehicle-related locations without getting into security cams and the like.

Some people call dash cams intrusive. Some call them cheap insurance. We’ve assembled eight of them here for your perusal.

In keeping with the TTAC spirit of recommending items we have actually tried instead of simply fawning over sponsored products, an older version of this dash cam currently resides on the dashboard of your author's Challenger R/T. That unit works brilliantly; this one builds upon its good juju by adding 4K clarity and a new parking mode.

This kit actually has three cameras, offering a 155° front camera, 165° inside camera, and 160° rear camera. Note that there is audio capability here, so be aware of current laws in your state about recording in that medium. It increases exposure in dark situations for nighttime usage. With a motion detection parking mode, the dashcam will be on standby and wake up to record once the front or inside camera detects movement. Collision detection can sense an impact while the cam is off, turning itself on to start recording.

Record your journey on the road - and unfortunate interactions with ne'er-do-wells - with this 1440p/30fps HD dash cam. View footage and share it with the gendarmes using free MyNextbase cloud storage. Nextbase cameras are equipped with night vision tech to record at all hours of the day.

A tiny 2.5-inch viewer provides touchscreen functionality which can be handy on the road. The 422GW is a sleek unit with compact proportions that should easily tuck away and out of sight behind your rearview mirror.

Turns out that long-time makers of windshield mounted GPS units are also pretty good at making windshield mounted dash cams. Who'da thunk? Garmin promotes this Mini as sized roughly the size of a car key, though they're speaking of the width and not the length of a car key for mid-'90s hoopty. Think the overall size of a bulky keyfob for a modern car (a stretch for most of you, I know) and you're on the right track.

Sounding for all the world like a cigarette brand from the 1980s, it's actually named as such for its credit card-like profile. However, compared to its predecessor on this list, the new D4 variant adds 4K clarity to its wide-angle front camera, while the rear makes do with 1080p resolution. Since these will be large files, the manufacturer has equipped the D4 to handle a 256 GB card - not included, of course.

This camera bins any and all buttons in favor of touchscreen operation; it's a personal preference whether that's a good or bad thing. Suffice it to say we recommend messing with the settings on any dashcam - buttons or not - only when parked. Reviews of this camera kit are very positive, with nearly 4000 customers aggregating their reviews for a 4.5 out of 5-star rating.

If it's a bargain basement dash cam you seek, examining the "what brand is that again?" section of Amazon will be required. Despite its impenetrable name, this product has a solid 4.6 out of 5-star rating from over 1600 real-world customers.

The LCD screen is decently sized at 3 inches which means, of course, the housing is a bit bulkier than others on this list. That's likely a partial result of being built to a price, rather than a spec. It does have a G sensor and the ability to record at night

If you're pining for the days when you drove around with a radar detector the size of a pack of king size smokes on your dashboard, then this is the dash cam for you. Its odd profile presupposes any sort of readily accessible viewing screen but there's no doubt this thing is easy to hide from prying eyes.

It has a 150-degree field of vision and the alleged ability to record in super night vision mode, which makes us wonder if this cam endows the user with some sort of movie hero powers. There's a year's warranty and cloud storage service as well.

The makers of this particular dash cam aren't trying to fool anyone; they've put the word 'basic' right there in its name. Packing a low price and a very odd shape, this button-rich camera unit has a 2.4-inch LED screen and a 170-degree recording angle. Like others on this list, the manufacturer says the camera should wake itself up and start recording when it senses vibration or impact.

Recording is completed in 1080p high definition at 30 frames per second. This beats those ridiculous grainy security cam footages hands down. According to the bumf, a wide dynamic range permits the camera to perform well in different lighting situations by adjusting its exposure to create balanced images and footage.

Like a couple of others on this list, the cam you see here uses a smartphone app to support - but not replace - its built-in viewing screen. The app can control some features through WiFi and also permits viewing of your driving route via the cam's app. It is also suggested users can share their journey but there are plenty of other apps for that which are more common across different platforms.

In a fit of simply being different, this dashcam isn't technically a 'dash' cam at all. The advertiser suggests mounting it to your rearview mirror via an included kit that apparently relies on some form of rubber bands. Despite your author thinking that's a recipe for unstable video, feedback from customers seems to be positive. Just make sure the thing isn't in your line of sight.

Dash Cam FAQ:

How do I hardwire a dashcam?

Some makers of this product have a couple of options for hardwiring, particularly when it comes to juicing itself from your car's electrical system. Many cameras have a 12V plug included, a staple of power supply that goes back decades. There are plenty of other options on the market, including batteries, your car's OBD port, and a plug-n-play into certain rearview mirrors that use power for features such as auto-dimming.

Where should I mount my dashcam?

Out of your line of sight, ideally. Your author prefers to place a dash cam on the windshield behind his car's rearview mirror, giving it a clear view ahead but staying out of sight. Other slap it right on the dashboard, hence the colloquial name of these things. Be sure to neatly tuck away the camera's wires by running them along the windshield edges or securing them in a tidy route across the dashboard to whatever power supply you are utilizing.

Changes:

Replaced Vantrue T3 with Vantrue N4 at #1

Replaced Kingslim D2 with Kingslim D4 at #4

Replaced Aukey 1080p Cam with Rexing V1 at #7

Replaced Vava Dual Cam with Autowoel 4K at #8

Added FAQ

From time to time, TTAC will highlight automotive products we think may be of interest to our community. Plus, posts like this help to keep the lights on around here. Learn more about how this works.

(Editor’s note: This post is meant to both help you be an informed shopper for automotive products but also to pay for our ‘90s sedan shopping habits operating expenses. Some of you don’t find these posts fun, but they help pay for Junkyard Finds, Rare Rides, Rental Reviews, and whatever else. Thanks for reading.)

[Main Photo Credit: Titikul_B/Shutterstock.com. Product images provided by the manufacturer.]