Hassle-Free Handbook for Dash Cams

Congratulations! You’ve got your first dash cam! Like any new electronics, it’s time to put your dash cam to work to unlock its full potential.

Questions like ‘Where’s the On/Off button?’ ‘How do I know it’s recording?’ ‘How do I retrieve files?’ and ‘Will it drain my car battery?’ are common concerns for first-time dash cam owners.

I vividly recall the first time Alex, our CEO, handed me a dash cam (job perks are the best!)—all these questions raced through my mind. If you’re feeling the same way, fret not! You’re not alone, and we’re here to help!”

What is a dash cam?

By now, you’re familiar with the term ‘dash cam,’ short for ‘dashboard camera,’ designed to be mounted inside the vehicle, usually on the front windshield. Dash cams commonly come in three configurations: 1-Channel (front), 2-Channels (front and rear), and 2-Channels (front and interior).

The truth is, dash cams are incredibly versatile and prove useful in various situations—from everyday driving to ridesharing with platforms like Uber and Lyft, and even for fleet managers overseeing a commercial vehicle fleet. Whatever your needs, there’s a dash cam out there that’s right for you.

How to buy the right dash cam?

This article assumes that you’ve already identified the best dash cam for your needs. However, if you’re still in search of the perfect dash cam, we have a few buying guides to assist you:

1. The Ultimate Dash Cam Buyer’s Guide
2. High-End Dash Cams vs. Budget Dash Cams

Additionally, you can explore our 2023 Holiday Gift Guides, where we match dash cams to users based on various camera features and user situations.

Where is the ON/OFF button?

Most dash cams are equipped with a capacitor instead of a battery. This shift is due to two primary reasons: heat resistance and durability. Unlike batteries, capacitors are less prone to wear and tear from regular charging and discharging. Moreover, they are more resilient in high-temperature environments, reducing the risk of overheating or exploding—common concerns in areas with hot climates, such as inside a vehicle on a sunny day in Phoenix, Arizona.

Without an internal battery, the dash cam draws power from the vehicle’s battery through a power cable. In other words, pressing the power button won’t activate the dash cam until it’s connected to the vehicle’s battery.

Several methods can be used to connect the dash cam to your car’s battery, including hardwiring, a cigarette lighter adapter (CLA), and an OBD cable, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages.

Hardwiring via fusebox

While hardwiring is one of the most common installation methods, it does require familiarity with your vehicle’s fusebox—an aspect not everyone feels comfortable with. Learn more about hardwiring your dash cam.

Cigarette lighter adapter

This is undoubtedly the easiest way to power your dash cam—simply plug it into the cigarette lighter socket in your car using the cigarette lighter adapter (CLA). However, since most cigarette lighter sockets do not provide constant power, enabling features like parking surveillance or recording while parked requires the addition of an external battery pack to the setup (which also means an additional investment of a few hundred dollars for the battery pack). Learn more about CLA installation and CLA + Battery Pack.

OBD Power Cable

This is an ideal solution for those seeking a straightforward plug-and-play option that enables parking mode recording without the need for costly additional hardware. Simply plug the OBD cable into your vehicle’s OBD port. The beauty of this method lies in the universal plug-and-play fit ofOBD—any vehicle made in 1996 or later is equipped with an OBD port, ensuring compatibility with the OBD power cable. Learn more about the OBD power method.

How do I know it’s recording?

As long as your dash cam has access to power, it will start recording automatically when you power up the vehicle, provided you have inserted a memory card into it. Fortunately, most dash cams provide an audible greeting along with LED indicators to signal the start of recording or alert you to any issues, such as the absence of a memory card.

How long do dash cams record for?

On the default setting, the dash cam records hours of video in a continuous loop. However, this doesn’t mean you get hour-long footage; instead, the dash cam divides the video into multiple segments, usually 1 minute each. Each segment is saved as a separate video file on the memory card. Once the card is full, the dash cam overwrites the oldest files to make room for new recordings.

The number of files you can save before overwriting depends on the memory card’s size. Before opting for the largest card available, check the dash cam’s maximum capacity. Not all dash cams support high-capacity cards—e.g., most Thinkware dash cams cap at 128GB, while BlackVue and VIOFO dash cams can handle up to 256GB.

Uncertain about which memory card suits your dash cam? Explore our ‘What are SD Cards and What Video Storage Do I Need’ article, where you’ll find an SD card recording capacity chart to help determine the video capacity for various brands and models.

Do dash cams record at night?

All dash cams are designed to record in low-light conditions, such as at night or in tunnels and underground parking lots. The recording quality varies among brands and models, but you’ll encounter similar technical terms: WDR, HDR, and Super Night Vision. What do they mean?

Imagine driving on an overcast day with minimal sun and few shadows, resulting in a limited range. On a sunny day, you’ll encounter more extreme sunny spots and distinct shadows.

WDR, or wide dynamic range, ensures the camera automatically adjusts to accommodate the difference between the brightest and darkest areas. This adjustment allows particularly bright and dark areas to be seen clearly at the same time.

HDR, or high dynamic range, involves the camera’s auto-adjustment of images by adding more dynamic illumination rendering. This prevents photos from being overexposed or underexposed, resulting in an image that is neither too bright nor too dark.

Night vision describes the dash cam’s recording capabilities under low-light conditions, made possible by extremely light-sensitive Sony image sensors.

For more in-depth information about night vision, check out our dedicated article!

Will the dash cam record my speed?

Yes, the GPS features in the dash cam display the vehicle’s speed and, for some models, the vehicle’s location with Google Maps integration. Most dash cams come with a built-in GPS module, while others may require an external GPS module (mounted next to the dash cam).

The GPS feature can be easily disabled with the touch of a button or via the smartphone app. If you prefer not to have your footage speed-stamped, you can turn off the GPS feature. However, even if you choose not to use the GPS function regularly, it remains a valuable feature. In the event of an accident or incident, having GPS coordinates along with the time, date, and speed of travel can significantly aid in insurance claims.