According to research published in 2019 by Grand View Research, an estimated 36.1 million dash cams found new homes in that 12-month period, while the global industry was worth some $2.8billion. Due to the fact that dash cams don’t come fitted as standard to most modern passenger cars and commercial vehicles, those figures are set to rise over the coming years.
So why is the dash cam so popular? Put simply, the video footage captured by these diminutive devices can play a vital role in reconciling insurance claims, where attributing blame or proving liability can sometimes be complex.
Due to this, a handful of insurance companies now offer discounts to motorists that can prove they have a dash cam installed, with the likes of Axa offering 10% off a policy for Nextbase owners, while Adrian Flux offers up to 15% if you’re recording journeys, because it says footage speeds up the claims process and therefore helps it make savings.
On top of this, today’s dash cams offer more than just high-resolution video recordings, as the technology companies behind them continue to add extra features to entice customers. Lane departure warnings, speed limit sign recognition and even the ability to automatically call the emergency services in the event of an incident are just a few notable advances.
But like many things in the consumer technology world, customers get what they pay for when it comes to the quality of said camera, and the bells and whistles it comes fitted with. Hence why we’ve collated a list of some of the best devices currently on sale, ranging from the very basic and affordable, to the more expensive and positively fizzing with cutting-edge tech.
Nextbase 622GW
Best for: Being one of the most advanced dash cams money can buy
Price: £249
Pros: High-res video and a bucket-load of high-tech features
Cons: The smartphone app is a little clunky
Video quality: 4K @ 30fps
Viewing angle: 140 degrees
Memory: MiscroSD and Cloud
Rear screen: Yes
The flagship camera from Nextbase is packed with features that ensure the video footage is crisp, stable and clear in all lighting conditions, but it also offers advanced safety systems that aim to speed up the recovery process in the event of an accident of breakdown. That’s because Nextbase has teamed up with geolocation service what3words, a tech company that has carved up much of the earth into three-metre grids, assigning each grid with a unique three-word code. Even without a data connection, emergency services can pinpoint a stricken vehicle with unrivalled accuracy thanks to the 622GW’s software, adding further peace of mind for users. When paired to a smartphone (to access a data network), the dash cam offers an entire suite of Emergency SOS features, as well as the ability to transfer footage quickly and back it up to a cloud data storage service (be aware there’s a small monthly cost). Alternatively, users can interact with the camera and review footage via a three-inch rear touchscreen, which is crisp, clear and very easy to use. The rear screen also makes initial positioning and set-up that bit simpler. The footage itself is excellent, with a built-in polarising filter mounted to the lens that can be rotated to reduce glare from windscreens, while digital image stabilisation is another first for the dash cam market and helps smooth out those bumps and shakes caused by potholes and poor road surfaces. When recording at 4K resolution, it uses a fair amount of space on the MicroSD (not included), but the system will automatically override older footage, unless saved by the user, so it continually records on a loop. Don’t fret if you forget to save said footage, because built-in sensors mean it can detect a crash and will automatically commit any footage leading up to the incident to the memory card.
Garmin Dash Cam66W
Best for: Large features stuffed inside a diminutive package
Price: £200
Pros: Wide viewing angle and small overall footprint
Cons: Voice control is patchy
Video quality: 1440p
Viewing angle: 180 degrees
Memory: MiscroSD
Rear screen: Yes
A huge wide-angle field of vision ensures this tiny camera captures more of the action out of the windscreen, and the fact it records in a 1440p high-definition resolution with an excellent colour profile and good low-light performance makes it well worth consideration. Despite standing no taller than most house keys, the tiny unit features a small screen on the back, which is controlled via equally minuscule buttons on the side. These can prove a little fiddly to use, but once the camera is set-up, it shouldn’t require much interaction anyway, because like most dash cams, it fires up with the car’s ignition and then automatically records footage on a loop, only saving important clips. There’s built-in GPS, to pinpoint exactly where a road traffic incident occurs, as well as bunch of other safety features that drivers will either love or loathe. These include a lane departure warning, forward collision warning and alerts for red light and speed cameras. The latter is likely the only option you’ll want to leave on, as the audible bleeps from the others get a little irritating. The same can be said for the voice control system, which upon the third repetition of 'OK, Garmin, save video’, many will opt to quickly depress a button and be done with it.
Viofo A139 3 Channel
Best for: Front-, rear- and interior cameras combine for greater coverage
Price: £220
Pros: Excellent footage for the price and rear view covered
Cons: There’s some installation work to avoid trailing wires
Video quality: 1440p front, 1080p interior and rear
Viewing angle: 140 degrees front, 140 rear and 170 interior
Memory: MiscroSD
Rear screen: No
This three-camera package offers coverage out of the front windscreen, to the rear of the vehicle and constant monitoring of the cabin. This might predominantly appeal to professional drivers, but it also offers additional peace of mind for when the vehicle is parked, as the unit features what Viofo calls ‘buffered parking mode’. Here, recording starts 15 seconds before a detected event and ends 30 seconds after, to provide full evidence of a break in or even shunts in a car park. A lack of rear screen does make initial set-up slightly more fiddly, while connecting all three cameras requires a number of wires that need to be hidden in vehicle trim. A professional set-up might be wise for those afraid to wrangle tools. That said, the 2.4 GHz and 5GHz dual-band Wi-Fi means users can essentially stream live footage to a smartphone (via a free app) with ease. This also speeds up saving important video clips to the phone should you need to. The captured footage is excellent, with onboard Sony STARVIS sensors providing clear film in poor weather conditions and even in low-light situations. Six infra-red LEDs on the interior camera unit improve night visibility, allowing activity to be recorded inside the vehicle no matter the time of day.
Kenwood DRV-830
Best for: An affordable option that does the job and does it well
Price: £69
Pros: Great footage for the price
Cons: Additional safety features are annoying
Video quality: 1440p
Viewing angle: 144 degrees
Memory: MiscroSD and internal memory
Rear screen: Yes
Yes, Kenwood is probably more famous for its toasters and kettles (or head units if you are a fan of aftermarket ICE), but its line of dash cams is also pretty good. Especially given the sub-£100 price tag. A viewing angle of 144 degrees is enough to capture everything out of the windscreen and the 1440p footage is perfectly good in both day and low-light conditions. It’s not quite as smooth or detailed as some of the more expensive rivals on this list, but it’s still good enough to freeze frame and zoom into, should you need to pick out a number plate, for example. Like the previously mentioned Garmin model, the likes of lane departure and front collision warnings are built into the system, but many will find them a tad annoying. Thankfully, they can be switched off by rummaging through the numerous menus and settings. It’s not the newest trick in the book, but footage is automatically captured via 3-axis G-Force detection hardware and the camera will manage storage by overwriting any older files that haven’t been saved. But perhaps the biggest boon here is the fact the Kenwood unit boasts two SDHC micro card slots, meaning it can store a massive 256GB of footage when the appropriate cards are installed.
BlackVue DR900X-2CH
Best for: Excellent playback clarity but at a high price
Price: £500
Pros: Exceptional footage and packed with innovative features
Cons: It’s very expensive
Video quality: 4K
Viewing angle: 162 degrees
Memory: MicroSD and Cloud
Rear screen: No
The footage captured by BlackVue’s latest dual camera package is among the best money can buy, but then it will set you back circa £500. That money goes towards an 8-megapixel CMOS sensor for ultra-high definition video, while an ultra-wide 162-degree viewing angle captures more action out of the windscreen. Video footage is nothing short of fantastic, both when captured during the day and at night, with the ability to punch in on footage and retain excellent amounts of detail. On top of this, BlackVue offers an Intelligent Parking Mode that continues to monitor the vehicle long after it is locked and safely tucked away at night. For drivers that find themselves collecting reams of footage (dash cam footage is popular on YouTube, after all), there’s the option of an auxiliary 4G connectivity module and data SIM, which means clips can automatically be saved to cloud storage. Plus, owners can receive push notifications on a smartphone and check in on the cameras from anywhere in the world via a Remote Live View app.
Apeman Mini Dash Cam
Best for: A no-frills model for basic incident detection and capture
Price: £30
Pros: The most affordable dash cam around
Cons: Lacks features and the video quality is basic
Video quality: 1080p
Viewing angle: 170 degrees
Memory: MiscroSD
Rear screen: Yes
If basic incident capture is top of the features list – and you don’t want to spend too much money – this Amazon exclusive is worthy of consideration. It records in 1080P full HD and packs a STARVIS sensor for greater image detail, while a wide f1.8 fixed aperture and Wide Dynamic Range software allows for a crisp image at night. It won’t trouble the Nextbase, Garmin or BlackVue models for image quality, but it’s good enough for most day-to-day uses. Perhaps those putting in serious miles or driving for a profession should think about digging a little deeper and opting for something that produces pin-sharp 4K footage. Aside from basic loop recording, it lacks other fancy features, but the unit is an absolute doddle to install. A two-inch screen on the rear assists during this early install process. There’s also the option to buy an auxiliary power kit, so it will continue to monitor and begin recording when it detects vibration within the car, even when it’s parked.