Why Should You Have a Dash Cam When You Drive?

Having a dash cam with you is critical for helping you avoid problems later on, as a recommended dash cam will clearly record what’s happening around you while you drive or are parked and also have excellent night vision options. Plus, with a good dash cam, you can even use it as evidence in court if an accident happens. 

What Are the Benefits of Having a Dash Cam? 

As mentioned above, the most important benefit is that a dash cam can provide video evidence of an incident, making it easier for the police or insurance to determine who is at fault. Some models have built-in GPS and speed information, which helps to prove you were driving at the correct speed or the location of the accident. 

For those who work in the taxi and rideshare industry, it’s sometimes important to be able to record passengers’ actions. Some of the best dash cams come with interior cameras that can record the vehicle's interior, even at night. This is great for when you need to record when your car is parked. 

Know Your State Law of Restrictions for Using a Dash Cam 

Thinking of buying a dash cam? It’s essential to fully understand your location’s laws and regulations surrounding dash cameras. For instance, one of the more common restrictions for dash cams is where they’re mounted. 

Specifically, they shouldn’t be mounted on the windshield in a place that could obstruct the driver's view. However, many dash cams are small and have a small profile, making it easy to find a place that won’t cause an obstruction.

Types of Channels 

There are three main categories for dash cams: one-channel, two-channel, and three-channel. 

One-Channel (Front View Only)

One-channel dash cams are cameras that are used to capture the driver’s angle. Some front-view dash cams even come with the ability to either face the interior or the exterior.

Two Channel (Front + Interior/Rear)

Two-channel dash cams are cameras that can capture the vehicle’s front and interior or rear.

Three Channel (Multi-Channels) 

Three-channel dash cams, also called multi-channel dash cams, consist of a front view, an interior view, and a rearview camera.

Factors that You Should Consider Before You Buy a Dash Cam 

Before you buy your first dash camera, here are a few key features you should consider:

Resolution

The camera should have a good resolution if you want to see details such as license plates correctly. The standard resolution on a budget dash cam would be about 1080p. However, some today have 4K resolution, giving you crystal-clear video footage.

IR vs. Night Vision

There are two methods that are used by dash cams for recording at night: IR (Infrared) and night vision. 

IR (Infrared): IR is used for interior-facing dash cams. These interior cameras can provide clearer videos despite having a dark background.

Night Vision: Some external facing cameras have “night vision”, which increases light to clear images and give you a better recording when driving at night. 

Parking Mode

When a dash cam is in “parking mode”, the camera can record while the car is turned off and stationary. It uses sensors to detect movements and will record any incidents that happen, which means that if you’re worried about your car getting dented or scratched, your dash cam will have you covered. 

Storage Size

Dash cams require using MicroSD cards to store the captured video. These typically come in sizes such as 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB.

Power Output

Some dash cams can be powered in a variety of different ways. However, most dash cams rely on electricity from the vehicle to be powered.

Loop Recording

Some dash cams loop record, meaning that recorded footage will be saved over old files to ensure you don’t run out of space.

Installation

The first step in installing a dash cam is to figure out where to position the camera on the windshield, with the optimal position being under the rearview mirror so that it doesn’t obstruct the driver’s view.

The second step is determining how the dash cam will be powered. There are two main ways to do this: CLA (Cigarette Lighter Adapter) and Hardwiring.

CLA: Some cameras have a power cable connecting to the vehicle’s cigarette lighter. Using the CLA is the quickest way to get your dash cam up and running.

Hardwiring: This involves hardwiring the camera to the vehicle’s fuse box and allows the camera to be powered even when the car is powered off.

AUKEY’s Best Dash Cams and Their Features

Listed below, we have some dash cams that AUKEY carries with some highlights about their features:

• AUKEY DR01 1080P Dash Cam
• Offers clear video capture with a screen resolution of 1080p and a 170-degree field of view. Can record during nighttime and comes with optional in-car audio.
• Emergency Recording captures any incidents and locks these recordings to protect them from being deleted or overwritten.
• Loop Recording overwrites old footage so that the MicroSD doesn’t run out of space.
• AUKEY Mini Dash Cam 1080P DRA5
• This easy-to-use dash cam offers a small design that fits perfectly behind the rearview mirror and is user-friendly.
• 1080p video recording quality and captures HD recordings at night.
• Comes with Emergency and Loop Recording, making sure your vehicle is protected and the MicroSD doesn’t run out of space.
• 24H parking mode is a feature made available through the AUKEY PM-YY hardwiring kit.

• AUKEY Dash Cam 1080P DRA1
• Comes with 1080p screen capture along with an F1.8 aperture and a GC2053 2-megapixel CMOS sensor.
• Contains a supercapacitor that can withstand temperatures between (-30 C - 75 C/22 F - 167F) and lasts longer than a standard battery.
• Comes equipped with a G-sensor, NTK chip, and Loop Recording.
• AUKEY Dash Cam 4K DRS1
• Has a field of view of 170 degrees.
• Wi-Fi function which allows the user to connect the dash camera to their phone to view, backup, and download any video captures.
• Emergency and Loop Recording make sure the vehicle is always protected and the MicroSD doesn’t run out of space.
• AUKEY DR02 1080P Dash Cam
• Emergency and Loop Recording make sure the vehicle is always protected and the MicroSD doesn’t run out of space.
• Comes equipped with a Sony Exmor Sensor, which records in 1080p and has a 170-degree field of view.
• Has a built-in G-sensor for motion detection.

Knowing how to choose a dash cam can be overwhelming with all the options out there. AUKEY hosts a variety of dash cams and other electronics at affordable prices. Check out some other items we offer and start driving safer today!