10 Best Dash Cams 2024 in the United States

If you Google “fraudulent accidents caught on dash cam”, you’ll see a whole slew of people who fake an accident. Some change lanes abruptly, hoping that you won’t stop fast enough to avoid hitting them from behind. Or there’ll be the scammer who takes a swan dive onto the hood of your car, pretending that you hit him. You could use your smartphone for this. But it’s better to have a dedicated device for capturing footage when driving. A camera that you install on your dashboard, or “dash cam” for short, is essential for avoiding the tricks of one of these con-men.

But you’ll find a range of capabilities among dash cams. You’ll see that there are rear and front dash cams that can supply footage to your insurance company to demonstrate who was at fault. They’ll have a wide field of vision, which can practically cover a full 360-degree range. Also, some dash cams can be so well-concealed, no one but you will be aware that you’re filming. That way, even if someone borrows your car, you can get an idea of how cautious they drive. The information can be stored on a memory card, or live streamed to your cell phone. Many dash cams store will store important information by overwriting footage that you no longer need--that will ensure that there is always enough space.

We’ve composed this buyer’s guide to help you make the right decision when selecting a dash cam. It'll help you:

• Choose the right type of dash cam,

• See useful tips about that particular type of dash cam,

• Read reviews of different dash cams, and what customers are saying,

• Select the right brand of dash cam, and

• Compare prices and find the best deals.

• Basic Dash Cam--This is a dash cam that just records onto some kind of removable storage material, such as micro-SD cards. They will do an adequate job of providing the police or an insurance company about whether you were at fault in the event of an accident. (Some cheaper dash cam models need a specific type of memory card, which might not be so easy to find.) They can either be powered by a lithium-ion battery, from the cigarette lighter socket, or from the car battery.

• Advanced Features Dash Cam--These are dash cams that also record voice, take note of your speed, and even have GPS logging, which notes the location of your vehicle at every moment. This will provide information about the precise location of where an accident happened. Some also have an uninterruptible power supply--that allows them to record without using the car battery. That way, you can record even when the car is parked. An example is the YI Smart Dash Camera, which analyzes the speed and distance of the cars around you and alerts you if there is the danger of an accident.

• Dual Dash Cam--A dual dash cam consists of two cameras: one surveys the inside of the vehicle and the behavior of the driver, while the other films what's going on outside. This can give parents an idea of how their children drive if they should happen to borrow the car. (They’ll certainly drive more cautiously if they know that their every move is being filmed.) A dual dash cam can also provide important evidence in the event of theft, or in the event of a hit-and-run accident. Also, you can have one camera for front view and one for rear view.

• Improves driver responsibility: It has been shown that a dash cam will not only protect you from insurance fraud and people trying to fake an accident. Knowing that you’re being recorded will make you a more cautious driver as well, meaning that you’ll drive more safely. Some dash cams can also give you alerts, to make sure that you don’t fall asleep when driving.

• Take measures to protect the camera from heat: It can get really hot in your car in the summer. Even though these dash cams are designed to be able to withstand hot temperatures, it’s best to use a sun deflector on the windshield, to make sure it doesn’t get damaged.

• WiFi capability: Some dash cams also have WiFi capability, to send the information to your phone if necessary. It can then serve as extra evidence in case of an accident.

• Almost unnoticeable: There are dash cams that are very inconspicuous, like the YI Mirror Dash Cam. When installed properly, it looks like a regular rear view mirror! It fits over the rear view mirror using two straps.

• Charging your dash cam: Dash cams can usually charge from your cigarette lighter socket, by inserting a USB adapter. Others can run off the car battery, or use an UPS (=uninterruptible power supply).

• Field of view: Prefer a dash cam with a wide field of view. That will allow your camera to catch the action going on in the opposite lanes as well. For example, the Aukey Dashboard Camera Recorder has a 170° angle field of vision. That will catch 4 lanes of traffic, as opposed to a 120° angle field of vision, which will only capture 2 lanes. On the other hand, the Dr. Pro 4.5” LCD Panoramic Dash Cam has a 360-degree lens, when installed properly.

• Emergency recording: You’ll notice some cameras, such as the YI Mirror Dash Cam, have a G-sensor. That means that it will track sudden changes in G-forces, if your car should stop or accelerate abruptly. (The “G” stands for “gravitational force”: when a body accelerates, it will feel a force measured in Gs, or multiples of the force of gravity.) If your car experiences a crash, vibration, or sudden jerk in motion, that will create a G-force. There are dash cams that will sense this sudden G-force, and start recording at that point. If you want, you can turn off motion detection, and choose to record everything, 24/7.

• Installation: Some dash cams install neatly by means of a suction cup, which you affix to your front windshield. You can then insert the wiring neatly along the side of the car.

• Display: There are dash cams with an LCD screen so that you can track what’s going on in back of you.

Aukey--was founded in 2010. They make power supplies, audio equipment, cables and adapters, automobile electronics, computer peripherals, and more. They make 4K and 1080p dash cams, dual dash cams, stealth-dash cams, and more.

Yi Technology--was founded in 2014, and is located in Bellevue, Washington. They make virtual reality cameras, mirrorless cameras, dash cams which also alert you to oncoming dangers, and more.

Zero Edge Technology--are makers of single lens cameras, dash cameras, dual lens cameras, action cameras, and more. Their dash cams come in standard and in stealth design.

Old Shark--are makers of video electronics, including dash cams, Bluetooth headsets, cell phone lenses, and action cameras. Their dash cams are equipped with a gravity sensor that activates the camera in the event of an unexpected bump, as when you experience an accident.