Dash cam buyer's guide
Thinking about buying a dash cam but not sure where to start? This dash cam buyer’s guide explains what dash cams are, how they work, where footage is stored and which features to consider. We’ll also cover dash cam types, power options, brands and professional fitting to help you choose the right dash cam for your car.
What Is a dash cam?
A dash cam, or dashboard camera, is a compact in-car camera that records video footage while you drive. Most dash cams record the road ahead, while front & rear dash cams use additional cameras to capture footage behind your vehicle too.
Dash cams can provide useful video evidence if you’re involved in a road incident, helping you document what happened. Depending on the circumstances, footage may be useful when dealing with insurers, the police or other parties.
Common situations where dash cam footage can be useful include:
- Road traffic collisions
- Insurance disputes
- Hit-and-run incidents
- Vehicle damage while parked via Parking Mode
How do dash cams work?
Dash cams are mounted inside your vehicle, typically on the windscreen, and begin recording automatically when they receive power. Depending on the model, recordings are saved to a microSD card and managed using features such as loop recording and impact detection.
Key dash cam features include:
- Loop recording: Old or unimportant footage is automatically overwritten.
- G-Sensor detection: Sudden impacts trigger automatic clip saving.
- Locked files: Important footage is protected from deletion.
All dash cams sold by Halfords include built-in G-Sensors for collision detection.
Benefits of having a dash cam
Dash cams record footage of the road, offering better vehicle security and protection, alongside additional safety and financial benefits such as:
- Providing time-stamped evidence in accident claims.
- Protection against fraudulent claims.
- Parents can monitor young or new drivers’ behaviour to encourage safer habits.
- Parking Mode to detect motion, including theft, vandalism or bumps, even when the vehicle is parked.
- Capture scenic routes and memorable moments of the road ahead.
Dash cam footage can help establish what happened during an incident and may support insurance claims or disputes.
Dash cam power options: plug-in vs hard-wired dash cams
12V plug-in dash cams
Most dash cams connect via your car’s 12V power outlet using the supplied power cable. This is a straightforward option for drivers who want to install their dash cam without connecting it to the vehicle’s fuse box.
Some models may also include a small internal battery or supercapacitor to help save footage when power is interrupted.
Hard-wired dash cams
Hard wiring connects the dash camera directly to your vehicle’s electrical system, usually through the fuse box. Professional installation can neatly hide the cables behind the vehicle’s trim for a cleaner finish.
Benefits of hardwiring a dash cam can include:
- Automatic power that switches on and off with the vehicle’s ignition.
- Advanced Parking Mode for continuous power, even when your vehicle’s parked.
- Neater installation with cables routed behind the dashboard.
- Freeing the 12V socket for other devices.
Halfords offers professional dash cam fitting, including hardwired front and front & rear installations.
Wireless dash cams
If you’re looking for a wireless dashcam, it’s important to understand what ‘wireless’ means.
Can you get a wireless dash cam? While completely cable-free dash cams aren’t currently a practical option for continuous recording, you can explore dash cams with wireless connectivity.
A wireless dash cam usually refers to a camera with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth that allows you to connect the model to a smartphone. This can make it easier to view, download and share recorded footage without removing the memory card.
Wireless connectivity doesn’t necessarily mean that the dash cam is completely wire-free. Most models still require connection to your vehicle through a 12V socket, USB connection or hardwired installation.
Where is dash cam footage stored?
Most dash cam recordings are stored on a microSD memory card. The camera saves video to the card, while loop recording automatically replaces older files when the available storage is full.
Depending on the dash cam, you can review footage by:
- Removing the microSD card and connecting to a PC or Mac using a compatible card reader.
- Viewing via dash cam apps on a smartphone (Wi-Fi models).
- Transferring clips to a smartphone, tablet or computer for sharing or long-term storage.
Some dash cams include a microSD card; others require one to be purchased separately. Always use a compatible, high-quality card to ensure reliable recording.
What is a rear-facing dash cam?
A rear dash cam records the road behind your vehicle, providing extra coverage and security when combined with a front dash cam.
Rear camera options include:
- Add-on rear cameras to connect to compatible front dash cam models.
- Standalone rear dash cams dedicated for recording behind.
- Dual-channel, front & rear dash cam systems.
A wireless dash cam front and rear can provide wider vehicle coverage, while Wi-Fi connectivity makes it much easier to view and share footage from your smartphone.
Key dash cam features to consider
Different dash camera models come with varied features, so it’s important to consider which matter the most to you, depending on intended use.
Video quality
High resolution dash cams typically provide enhanced details and clearer evidence, such as road signs, faces and number plates.
- HD (1080p): Standard clear footage for everyday driving.
- UHD/1440p: Sharper detail than 1080p.
- 4K dash cams: Highest resolution, which can provide greater detail when reviewing footage.
Although resolution is important in determining footage quality, factors including night performance, sensor quality and image processing can also impact the final quality.
Viewing angle
The field of view determines road coverage and how much of the surrounding area the camera can record. A wider viewing angle can capture side impacts and junction incidents more effectively, but an extremely wide angle may introduce more distortion at the edges of the image.
- Entry level: ~120°
- Wide angle: up to 180°
Night recording & night vision
All dash cams record at night, but premium models include enhanced night vision for clearer footage on unlit or low-light roads.
GPS tracking
GPS data can help show where and when footage was recorded and may provide additional context for insurance claims or incident verification. A dash cam with GPS can help log:
- Location
- Speed
- Further route data
Wi-Fi connectivity
Wi-Fi dash cams allow you to:
- View clips on your phone
- Download footage instantly
- Share videos without removing the SD card
Parking mode
Parking mode records incidents while your car is stationary.
It can detect:
- Impacts
- Motion near the vehicle
- Break-in attempts
Hard-wiring is often required for full parking mode functionality.
Still image capture
Some dash cams allow manual photo capture - useful for documenting incidents or witness situations.
Voice control
Voice activation lets you:
- Save clips
- Take photos
- Control recording
This improves safety by keeping your hands on the wheel.
Best dash cam brands
Halfords stocks leading dash cam brands to suit all budgets and requirements.
Nextbase
Nextbase is a popular choice for drivers looking for a wide range of dash cams, from everyday Full HD models to higher resolution 4K systems. This trusted and best-selling dash cam brand is known for:
- HD & 4K recording
- Wi-Fi connectivity
- Advanced safety sensors
- Alexa voice integration (selected models)
- Enhanced night vision (selected models)
Garmin
Another good option brand is Garmin, ideal for drivers who want dash cams with additional driver-assistance and connectivity features, such as:
- Driver safety alerts
- Lane departure warnings
- Speed camera notifications
- Traffic signal alerts
BlackVue
BlackVue is a premium dash cam brand, great for drivers who’re looking for high-resolution recording, cloud connectivity and advanced vehicle monitoring features, including:
- 4K ultra-high-definition recording
- LTE compatibility (selected models)
- Sony STARVIS low-light sensors
This makes BlackVue dash cams particularly ideal for high-end vehicle protection and remote monitoring.
Professional dash cam installation
Halfords provides expert dash cam fitting services , including:
- Hard-wiring installation
- Cable management
- System setup
- Camera positioning
Appointments can be booked online or in-store at selected locations.
Shop dash cams & accessories
Explore a wide range of dash cams and dash cam accessories at Halfords, including:
- Front dash cams
- Rear dash cams
- Dual dash cam systems
- MicroSD cards
- Hard-wire fitting kits
In-store experts are also available to demonstrate models and recommend the best dash cam for your needs.
02/26