Best Car Dash Cams

When you start shopping for a dash cam, don’t be afraid to take it slow. Dash cams have so many features in common that it can be hard to parse out what makes each one unique.

To give you a head start, we’ve researched a number of cameras and chosen six to recommend.

KDLINKS X1 tops our list thanks to features like automatic video recording, a wide field of view, and high-definition video that lets you read a license plate up to 50 feet away.

Bonus Features

• At only a half-inch thick, this camera has a super slim design.
• The camera can rotate a full 360 degrees, so you can turn the camera to record in any direction, which is great if you want to record an interaction with someone outside your vehicle.
• The video playback software includes a map and route information for each video, so the viewer can see exactly where an incident occurred.
• The X1 comes with a high-quality lithium-ion battery designed to withstand extreme temperatures.
• The memory card is included with your purchase.

Drawbacks

The X1’s built-in accelerometer will lock down your video recording if it detects a crash, but its sensitivity means that hitting a pothole may also trigger the lockdown response.

We also wish you didn’t have to manually set the time, because an automatic time stamp seems like a feature that should come standard with a GPS-enabled device.

Summary

The KDLINKS X1 checks a lot of boxes for a great dash camera: it has high-quality video recording that can let you read license plates 50 feet away, superior night vision, comprehensive computer software, and a small, discreet design. There are a few features that you might need to tweak to get it working to your satisfaction, but overall it’s a good buy.

Bonus Features

• Traffic safety warnings will alert you when you get too close to the person in front of you or if you start to drift out of your lane.
• The Travelapse feature lets you condense a long trip into a brief, sped-up video clip that you can share with friends and family.
• Sharing video is easy with this HD dash camera’s built-in Wi-Fi and VIRB app, which lets you stitch together video.
• You can control your Garmin 55 using only your voice: just say “Okay, Garmin,” and then give a command like “Start recording” or “Take a photo.”

Drawbacks

The Garmin 55’s field of vision is narrower than other dash cams, so you might not get a good view of what’s happening on either side of your car. The traffic safety warnings can get annoying, especially in stop-and-go traffic, but you can turn them off if they bother you.

This model has had some issues with overheating, and it doesn’t do well in extreme temperatures.

Summary

When it comes to dash cams, you want something that’s simple to use while you’re driving and makes it easy to share video when you need to, and the Garmin Dash Cam 55 does both very well. It’s pricier than other models, but its built-in Wi-Fi, hands-free controls, and fun Travelapse feature justify the higher price tag.

Bonus Features

• The built-in Wi-Fi and intuitive app let you download video wirelessly from the YI dash cam.
• The camera has excellent night vision and an infrared filter to reduce glare.
• You can set the sensitivity of the collision sensor if you’re getting a lot of false impact detections.
• The YI has lane departure warnings to help you stay safer on the road.

Drawbacks

Despite the 1080p resolution, the YI image quality isn't always great, but you can improve it by rotating the lens and manually refocusing it.

The driver lane assistance is often unreliable and will alert you even if you're driving straight between the lines, so you may want to turn it off.

Summary

The YI Smart dash cam gives you everything you need in a good dash cam, but you won't get a GPS at this price point. It's good for getting a basic record of collision events, and we like the wireless video download feature, which is something usually seen only in higher-end dash cam models. If you'd like to have a basic, inexpensive device just in case you're in a wreck, the YI is a solid choice.

Bonus Features

• The V1 lets you add a watermark stamp to your videos with your license plate number, which is helpful if you ever need to turn the video over to law enforcement or your insurance carrier.
• The camera has a full 30-second delayed shutoff, so it will continue recording for thirty seconds after you turn off your car.
• Rexing offers top-notch customer support and a two-year warranty, and some customers even report being able to return their camera for a replacement after the two years were up.
• The V1 has great sound recording quality, but you can mute it with the touch of a button.

Drawbacks

This model doesn’t come with GPS, but it does have a GPS hookup if you want to add one. Because of the design, you have to carefully mount the camera so your horizon line is correct.

It comes with adhesive tape instead of a suction mount, which doesn’t hold up well over time or with extreme temperatures. Plus, the night vision isn’t as clear as we’d like.

Summary

At just under $100, the Rexing V1 is a solid choice if you’re on a budget, but we recommend investing the extra money to get it hooked up to a GPS. It doesn’t have a lot of fancy features, but its drawbacks are minimal, and its strong customer service should take care of any issues that come up.

Bonus Features

• The Z3 delivers a sharp picture from day to night due to its high-definition image quality.
• Parking Mode and motion sensors will make the camera start recording if motion is detected or if someone bumps your car, even if your car is off.
• The Z3 comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, an 18-month warranty, and lifetime customer support.
• The included USB adapter has an extra port, so you can still use your car’s cigarette lighter to charge your phone while your dash cam is plugged in.

Drawbacks

At this price point ($125), we expect to see an integrated GPS in this dash cam, but the Z3 doesn’t include one. The camera also doesn’t have a touch screen, so you’ll have to spend some time fiddling with the buttons and the onscreen menu.

And the included USB cord is only for power—you’ll have to purchase a different cord to download videos from the camera to your computer.

Summary

The Z-EDGE Z3 gets high marks for picture quality, and we really like the motion- and vibration-sensing feature in Parking Mode. These qualities justify its spot in this price range for dash cams, but we recommend getting an add-on GPS unit to give you total coverage in case of an accident.

Bonus Features

• The Garmin Speak Plus mobile app lets you use voice commands to operate the navigational system, camera, and Alexa features.
• With the Garmin VIRB app, you can wirelessly download photos and video from your dash cam and edit them.
• You can route your Garmin Speak Plus through your car's speakers, so you can use Alexa to stream music, play interactive games, and more.
• The dash cam includes forward collision and lane departure warnings to keep you safer on the road.

Drawbacks

The Garmin Speak Plus has just an 82-degree field of view, which is half the coverage of less expensive dash cams.

You have to use your own phone's data plan if you want to enjoy the Alexa features in the car, and you have to keep the Speak Plus app running in the background on your phone as you drive.

Summary

If you're already an avid Alexa user and you want to enjoy the convenience of a digital assistant in the car, the Garmin Speak Plus is a good dash cam for you. The camera itself isn't the best quality, but its useful Alexa features and the integrated navigational system earned it a spot on our list.

A dash cam can protect your finances, your time, and your personal property in a number of ways.

• Scare off dishonest people who try to take advantage of you.
• Provide evidence that’s far more reliable than eyewitness testimony.
• Accelerate the reporting and processing of an accident.
• Prevent the need to submit an appeal.
• Save you money in damages.
• Help mitigate potential spikes in your insurance rate.

A dash cam can even help you save good memories or increase your YouTube hits. But whatever side benefits you get from a dash cam, the core benefit is that it provides a rock‐solid, nearly indisputable alibi.

You have to buy one first, of course. But if it saves you from even one wrongful citation, a dash cam could essentially pay for itself.

These days it may feel odd, outdated, or even extravagant to buy a camera with a single function. Next to a smartphone, a camera can seem so inefficient.

But dash cams are sophisticated devices doing a job that other cameras, even professional photographers’ cameras, just can’t do. They’re designed to meet the needs that arise while driving a car—to keep your field of vision clear, to protect yourself from loose items, to be able to monitor the road instead of the camera, and so on.

The features below make a dash cam what it is. You’ll find them on most, if not all, dashboard cameras on the market today. Whether you’re looking for the best dash cam for car, truck, or van use, these are the features to watch for.

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