A novel take on dash cams, mirror dash cams clip over an existing rear-view mirror and serve as a forward and rear-facing dash cam to cover both ends of your car. A really discreet way of covering yourself while driving, mirror dash cams also have the benefit of having a visible screen while you drive, doubling as an aftermarket reversing camera.
Rear-end collisions make up 27% of traffic incidents in the UK and account for roughly 400,000 annually. A rear-end collision can cause nasty injuries like whiplash and potentially costly, especially if blame is disputed. This is why covering your car’s rear is so important.
There are plenty of excellent front and rear options for sale. Frankly, these are a better option than a mirror dash cam. But if you are set on a mirror dash cam, we’ve rounded up the best currently available.
The best mirror dash cams at a glance:
Editor’s choice: Wolfbox G840S Mirror Dash Cam – Buy now from Amazon UK
Best easily installed mirror dash cam: Nextbase 222X Front and Rear Dash Cam- Buy now from Amazon UK
Best budget mirror dash cam: ORSKEY Dash Cam Front and Rear – Buy now from Amazon UK
The best mirror dash cams
On sale
Rrp: £169.99
Rrp: £169.99
The upgraded lens reduces reflections during the daytime and captures higher-quality images at night. Time-lapse mode will keep an eye on your car whilst it's unattended, and the external GPS antenna will give you live location info.
Pros
- Great sized touchscreen
- The low-light camera is great at night
Cons
- Footage will be slightly angled on an RHD car
| Recording resolution: | 4K front 1080p rear |
| Recording type: | Loop recording |
| GPS Tracking: | Yes |
| G-Sensor: | Yes |
On sale
Rrp: £159.99
Rrp: £159.99
The dash cam supports three display modes: front, rear, and both front and rear simultaneously in a split screen. You can switch freely between them. Add in reverse assistance, GPS and park mode, and you have yourself a pretty comprehensive system.
Pros
- RHD configuration will ensure you get full video coverage
- Solid build quality
Cons
- Struggles at night with glare issues
| Recording resolution: | 1080p front 720p rear |
| Recording type: | 8GB-64GB Samsung or SanDisk SD Card |
| GPS tracking: | Yes |
| G-Sensor: | Yes |
On sale
Rrp: £119.95
Rrp: £119.95
Both cams offer 1080p recordings and a wide 140-degree viewing angle. The magnetic mount has been designed to allow you to fit and remove your dash cam with ease.
Pros
- Superb build quality
- Great performance
Cons
- Much smaller screen than mirror cams
| Recording resolution: | Upto 4k on the front and up to 1080p on the rear |
| Recording type: | up to 128GB SD Card |
| GPS tracking: | No |
| G-Sensor: | Yes |
Best budget mirror dash cam
Both cams have a resolution of 1080p, Sony sensors for improved night vision and wide-angle lenses. You don't get fancy stuff like GPs or park protection, but for the price, it's a neat piece of kit that does what it's meant to.
Pros
- Great value
- Reasonably good quality
Cons
- Nextbase 222 is a better model
| Recording resolution: | 1080p |
| Recording type: | Loop recording on SD card |
| GPS tracking: | No |
| G-Sensor: | Yes |
Everything you need to know about mirror dash cams
Why choose a mirror dash cam?
Aside from the added bonus of capturing more evidence in the event of an accident, a mirror dash cam is a great option because they can help if you’re bad at parking. Most mirror dash cams double as reversing cameras, and some even have movable guides to make sure you can park properly.
Key things to look for in a good dash cam
Video quality: The higher the quality, the better. 1080p (HD) should be perfectly acceptable.
Lens type: A wider lens (120+ degrees) will give you more coverage
G-Sensor: When triggered by excessive g-force (like in a crash or emergency stop), it will ensure that that footage is saved and will not be written over.
Parking mode: This will start recording if your car is hit when parked up. A great dash cam feature to have if someone drives off after an accident.
How is it powered?
Most dash cams will simply plug into your cigarette lighter; if your engine is on, your dash cam will receive power. This is great for recording while driving but rubbish if anything happens to your car when it’s parked up. Your best bet is to look at buying a hardwire kit to ensure that your dash cam can run at all times. Just buy one that has special features to avoid draining the battery.
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Myles Warwood is an Autos Products Writer for both Parkers and CAR, specialising in child seats and e-bikes. In his spare time, he’s a freelance cycling journalist and dog owner.
