If a picture counts for a thousand words, then the crisp recordings from the best dash cam you can get your hands on must be worth a million. Did you know that the UK is the third most surveilled country on Earth? You may find that statistic either alarming or reassuring, depending on the legitimacy of your lifestyle. Yes, it could be perceived as a rather intrusive contravention of one’s rights to privacy, but on the other hand, it does mean that when a crime is committed, we usually have some conclusive evidence – especially if we’re talking dash cams.
The dash cam business takes this spirit of swift and fair justice to the road. For decades, guilty parties of traffic accidents have made off with impunity as there were no witnesses to put them away. However, now we’ve entered the dash camera of automotive monitoring; everything’s changed. A good dash cam needn’t cost the Earth either – there are plenty of budget-friendly dash cams we’d quite happily recommend.
The best dash cams shortlist:
Editor’s Choice: Thinkware U1000 – Buy now on Amazon UK
The best mini dash cam: Garmin Mini 2 – Buy now on Amazon UK
The best dual dash cam: BlackVue DR750X-2CH – Buy now from BlackVue
The best simple dash cam: Nexar Pro Dual – Buy now on Amazon UK
We’ve done a lot of dash cam testing here at Parkers, fitting all manner of products to our own cars and using them every time we drive. We’ve been judging these dash cams based on several factors, namely price, performance, ease of installation and useful features. So, no matter if you want a fancy mirror dash cam or a bog-standard unit, here is our pick of the best UK dash cameras for cars.
The best dash cams in detail
Editor's Choice
Rrp: £299.00
Rrp: £299.00
The bells and whistles don't stop there, either. The Thinkware app stores video files and other data for review. It even has a motion sensor to detect moments of violent driving, like sharp braking. Downsides? It's chunky on your front window.
Read our full review of the Thinkware U1000 here.
Pros
- Fantastic video quality
- Intelligent app
Cons
- Large unit
| Resolution | 4K at 30FPS or 2K at 60FPS |
| Field of view | 150 Degrees |
| Memory card size | Up to 128GB |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
| GPS | Yes |
| Screen size | No screen |
| Weight: | 149g |
| Phone connectivity | Yes |
The best mini dash cam
Read our full review of the Garmin Mini 2 here.
Pros
- Tiny footprint won't obstruct any of your view
- Great app
Cons
- Basic features for the price
| Resolution/frame rate | 1080p/30fps |
| Field of view | 140° |
| Dimensions | 3.13 x 5.33 x 2.91cm |
| Weight | 32.1g |
| Screen size | no screen |
| Max memory card size | 512GB |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
| GPS | No |
The best dual dash cam
It's hardwired to your car's power and is awash with features to improve security and safety, including Wi-Fi for connection to a smartphone via the BlackVue app for Apple and Android, the built-in GPS will add location and speed data to recordings, Intelligent Parking Mode protects your vehicle even while you're not around, while Loop Recording and Event File Overwrite Protection ensure you always capture and keep critical clips.
Pros
- Front and back cover so you don't miss any action
- Great quality cameras
Cons
- Installation can be tricky
| Resolution/frame rate | 1440p, /30fps front; 1080p/30fps rear |
| Field of view | 140-degree |
| Dimensions | 16.6 x 16.5 x 16.4 cm |
| Screen size | N/A |
| Max memory card size | 32 GB |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
| GPS | Yes |
The best simple dash cam
Pros
- Affordable
- Additional cabin camera
Cons
- Other dash cams have more advanced capabilities
| Resolution/frame rate | 1080p/30fps |
| Field of view | 135° |
| Dimensions | 15.9 x 9.5 x 8.41 cm; 410 Grams |
| Screen size | N/A |
| Max memory card size | 256GB |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
| GPS | Yes |
The best rear view mirror dash cam
It's packed with a host of different features, including GPS, loop recording, g sensor and parking assist. This camera would best suit a car deficient of modern rear-view features or visibility.
Pros
- High-quality images
- Lots of features
Cons
- Tricky to set up
| Resolution/frame rate | 1440p, 1080p, 720p/30fps front; 1080p/30fps rear |
| Field of view | 148° front, 140° rear |
| Dimensions | 30 x 7.6 x 3.8cm |
| Screen size | 11.8 inches |
| Max memory card size | 512GB |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Wi-Fi | No |
| GPS | Yes |
The best HQ video dual dash cam
Rrp: £199.99
Rrp: £199.99
Pros
- Wide angle lens
- Real-time GPS
Cons
- Needs a larger SD card for best performance
The best value dual dash cam
Pros
- Great value
- Easy to set up and use
Cons
- Rear camera quality could be better
How to buy the best UK dash cam: FAQs
What is a dash cam?
A dash cam is a small in-car camera used to monitor driving techniques and record footage in the event of an incident. They are often installed so that, in the event of an accident, motorists will have some evidence to fall back on should the other party take legal action.
How to fit a dash cam
Each car dash cam will come with its own set of instructions on how it should be installed. Depending on where you intend to place your dash cam, you’ll want to ensure the installation site is clean and dry first, as this will benefit the adhesive performance of the included stickers. It’s important to install your dash cam outside your line of sight so that it won’t impede your vision while on the road. Once you have your dash cam in place, ensure the cables are neatly tucked around the perimeter of the windscreen and then fasten them in position. Some may even offer a prying tool to hide the cables behind the panel gaps of the cabin.
Which dash cam is right for me?
There are hundreds of different models on the UK dash cam market, each with its own benefits and drawbacks. Before considering which model would best suit your car, however, it’s important to think about your budget. The cheapest dash cams start from around £30, but for this, you can expect a bottom-of-the-market product in terms of capabilities and footage quality.
Dash cam jargon buster:
A mini dash cam is a scaled-down model that’s perfect for the price-conscious. They’re hugely popular as they are inconspicuous enough not to obstruct your view while on the road but can still shoot high-quality footage covering the full extent of the windscreen.
A dual dash cam can shoot both front and rear video by virtue of two cameras. While the primary camera is fastened to the windscreen, a smaller camera films out the back window, offering better cover both front and rear. Dual dash cams are usually a bit more expensive, but given the extra level of cover and protection that they offer, it’s usually a premium worth paying for. That being said, there are some affordable examples on the market.
Why should I have a dash cam?
There are myriad reasons why you should have a dash cam installed in your car, and not all of them revolve around fair play.
Justice – If only all drivers were as careful and considerate as our readers, the world would be a far more congruous place. Alas, they aren’t, so we have to take precautions. In the event of an accident, leaving yourself or your car damaged, a dash cam will allow the authorities to ascertain who was truly at fault by reviewing the footage. On that unfortunate day, you’ll want the evidence to fall back on.
Insurance disputes – People really hate admitting blame when they know it’s going to hit their pockets. Insurance disputes over road traffic accidents occur all the time and can lead to no payout at all. Dash cam footage will conclusively settle such a dispute with the evidence to back your claim.
Monitor your driving – You may feel uneasy on the road at times, and that’s okay. A dash cam will allow you to review your driving technique, providing the necessary guide on where to change your style for the safety of yourself and other cars around you. Having one could also bring your insurance premium down, too.
Need an SD card? We’ve put together a short guide on SD cards to help you out.
The best dash cam features to consider:
Camera quality – most dash cams record decent video footage these days, offering 1080P in 30FPS as standard with some stretching up to 4K. Resolution is important, but the frame rate is equally so, as a low frame rate (some dip to 25FPS in 4K) will impede the smooth flow of video and could lead to crucial information being missed.
Size – Again, most modern dash cams excel in this department, too. Having an inconspicuous dash cam is important as you don’t want it to obstruct your view while driving. Some are bigger than others, so if maintaining a clean windscreen is high up on your agenda, make sure to go for the smallest footprint possible.
Field of view – A good field of view is important as you won’t want to miss anything that may have occurred on the periphery of your camera’s range. We would recommend at least 120 degrees to cover the majority of your windscreen.
Voice recognition – Using your hands to operate anything other than the controls of a car while driving is almost always frowned upon in the eyes of the law. A voice-activated unit will save you the commotion of finding elusive power buttons so you can keep your eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.
Seth Walton is an Autos Product Writer for Parkers and CAR, specialising in car cleaning and motorsport. He also contributes to What’s The Best with interests in audio equipment and technology.
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