How to Choose a Dash Cam for Your Car

This will get a bit nerdy, but video resolution and frame rate are important factors when choosing a dash cam.

Dash cams are typically offered in three different video resolutions: 4K, 2K, and 1080p HD. While resolution alone does not make for good video quality, it is very important when it comes to capturing detail. A 4K dash cam will generally show the most details, such as street signs and license plates. A 2K dash cam may work well for some people, too, while a 1080p (also called Full HD) dash cam is generally less useful.

How does frame rate factor in? Frame rate refers to the number of still images that appear per second to make up a video. This is especially important when there is motion in your video—the higher the frame rate, the smoother your video will appear. You will see frame rate referred to either as "fps" (frames per second) or "Hz" (hertz)—those terms can essentially be used interchangeably. Common frame rates include 30 fps (aka 30 Hz) and 60 fps.

As a general rule, a high frame rate (like 60 fps) is best for highway driving and driving during the daytime. A lower frame rate (like 30 fps) is good for slower city driving and driving at night, when it will provide a brighter image than 60 fps. Unfortunately, none of the dash cams we tested will change frame rates automatically depending on time of day, so you will have to change it manually if you want the best video quality for the lighting conditions you’re encountering.

Most dash cams also make you choose between the highest frame rate and top video resolution. For example, the 4K dash cams we tested maxed out at 1440p or 1080p when you select 60 fps. To record in 4K, you have to choose 30 fps.

A higher frame rate or video resolution will create bigger video files that can eat up storage space, so consider using the highest-capacity microSD card that the camera will accept. 

The field of view (FOV) of a dash cam is an important, but often overlooked, factor to consider. It tells you how broad an area, measured in degrees, the camera can “see.” The wider the field of view, the more the camera will capture along the edges of your car. Manufacturers don’t always clearly note the field of view, instead giving vague specs like “wide-angle.” But you can see the horizontal, vertical, and diagonal field of view specs for every dash cam we test in our dash cam ratings by clicking on each model and scrolling down to the Features & Specs section.

A few features affect how you install a dash cam in your car. You’ll want to keep these in mind as you shop.

Most often, people plug a dashcam into their cigarette lighter for power, and some dashcams can draw power from a car’s USB port. But when you turn off the car, the dashcam stops working. That’s a problem if you want to monitor your car for break-ins or collisions when it’s not in use.

The solution is to install a hardwire kit. These hardwire your dash cam to your car’s fuse block so it can receive power from the car battery and keep recording even when the car is off.

If you want to use your dash cam only while driving, a hardwire kit isn’t necessary.

Keep in mind that hardwiring your dash cam could cause it to kill your car battery. Some dash cams will go into a sleep mode after a certain amount of time to prevent this from happening, and some may shut down completely when the battery voltage gets too low. (You can set a cutoff point in the dash cam settings.) If your car will be parked for many days, you should disconnect the dash cam.

A dash cams is mounted to your car windshield using either adhesive or a suction-cup mount. An adhesive mount provides a stronger grip, but it generally can’t be adjusted after installation unless you use new adhesive strips. Some dash cams use electrostatic stickers instead of traditional adhesive, and these can be repositioned as long as the windshield is very clean. Suction cup mounts allow you to easily adjust the placement of dash cams and move them between cars.

Many dash cams have smartphone apps that allow you to view and download footage, as well as adjust settings. This is especially useful for dash cams without displays. While the apps are useful, many dash cams make their apps optional—if you don’t want to use them, you don’t have to download them.

However, some dash cams require you to use the smartphone app to initially set up the camera. You might not need the app after setup, especially if the dash cam has a display for reviewing footage, but you’ll need to use it at least once. You can see which dash cams in our ratings require you to use the app by clicking on each model and scrolling down to the “Smartphone App Needed for Setup” field under Features & Specs.

Here are six key features and accessories that you’ll want to keep in mind as you choose a dash cam.

Many dash cams feature a parking mode that starts recording video when the camera detects motion or vibration (such as from a collision). This mode works even when the car is off. But most cameras require a hardwire kit for this feature to function. Some cameras use an internal battery for their parking mode, but even these cameras might require a hardwire kit to use all the parking mode features.

All dash cams can be used on their own, but some dash cams let you add additional cameras. They’re usually connected to the main dash cam with wires and allow you to record other angles, such as the rear of the car or the interior. The video captured by these other cameras will appear as separate video files in the camera’s storage. Depending on the model, these additional cameras can be accessories that plug into the main dash cam, or full-fledged dash cams that you connect together.

If you’re not sure whether you want multiple camera angles, consider buying a dash cam that offers additional cameras as accessories. You can then add on these cameras if you feel you need them. We recommend adding a rear camera for road trips, while an interior camera might be helpful if you’re an Uber or Lyft driver, or if you have a teen driver using the vehicle.

Many dash cams come with (or offer as an accessory) a GPS receiver, which can add speed and location data to the camera recordings.

Some dash cams offer a built-in display to review recordings and adjust settings. Some of these have touchscreen displays, while others use physical controls. Keep in mind that some dash cams lack displays and instead rely on a smartphone app to view footage and adjust settings.

Some dash cams offer voice controls, similar to the digital assistant on a smartphone or smart speaker, to start recordings and activate certain features.

These filters improve video quality when recording during the day by reducing glare, but they can make nighttime video look a little dimmer. Many dash cam manufacturers sell polarizing filters as optional accessories.

People ask quite a few legal and insurance questions about dash cams.

No, you don’t need to tell your insurance company. You’re unlikely to get a discount on your premium, but dash cam footage can be helpful when filing claims for accidents, especially if there is debate over who is liable.

While it’s legal to use dash cams in all 50 U.S. states, some states have requirements about the placement of dash cams on a windshield and/or dashboard. The dash cam manufacturer DDPAI has a list of applicable laws by state that breaks down mounting requirements.

If you want to enable audio recording on your dash cam, you’ll need to know whether your state is a one-party consent or two-party consent state. In one-party (also called single-party) consent states, only one person (you) needs to know that a recording is taking place. But in two-party consent states, all parties need to provide consent any time a recording of a conversation takes place.

To see if your state is a one-party or two-party consent state, check the Reporter’s Recording Guide from the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Click on your state in the guide and read the “In-person conversations” section.

According to the American Civil Liberties Union, you have the right to record the actions of law enforcement officers as long as you are not interfering with their work and you are recording “events that are plainly visible in public spaces.” That said, if you live in a two-party consent state, you’re recording audio of the incident, and there happen to be bystanders in the recording who are not members of law enforcement, you would need the bystanders’ consent to record them.

Even though it is your right to record the actions of police officers, they may ask you to stop recording. You can politely remind them that you have a First Amendment right to record the interaction, but you also need to weigh whether you feel safe doing so.

We evaluate dash cams both in our labs and on the road.

First, we use our home security camera lab to evaluate video quality in a controlled environment. In the lab, we judge video quality while simulating lighting conditions for both daytime and nighttime driving. Then we mount the cameras in a car and repeatedly drive a predetermined loop through Yonkers, N.Y. (the location of CR’s headquarters) during broad daylight and at night.

We evaluate video taken while the car progresses at different speeds, as well as when stopped. We also score the dash cams on audio quality, ease of installation, and the versatility of the cameras based on their feature sets.