

On the downside, a suction mount would make for easier transfer between vehicles and be preferable to the adhesive-and-magnet system used here.
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Plus it stamps that video with a time and location. To test the latter, we slammed on the brakes (simulating a panic stop), and it captured the footage. The tiny candy bar-size Tandem is unobtrusive and also has both GPS and g-force sensing.

And it has night vision for the interior of the car, so you can see if your kids are flicking fries at each other on the way home from the drive-through. The “Tandem” name doesn’t mean that this unit includes a backup camera it has a forward-facing one, as well as one that monitors the cabin. Instead, we used super easy voice commands-“Okay, Garmin,” and then a prompt like “Save Video” to preserve footage, for instance. And there’s no pressing of buttons necessary. We paired our phone via the app (ideally, you’d also purchase a phone mount so you don’t have to look down to see the video) and immediately saw footage on our phone screen. What we love most about this Garmin is that it’s stupid simple to set up and use.
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Since the bulk of newer cars already have backup cameras (and that’s now a federal requirement), we focused on dash cams that also connect to either interior-facing or rear-facing cameras that let you see the entirety of the road behind your car.įor any promising dash cams that we haven’t tested yet (the Rove R2), we relied on our own previous experience and researched expert opinions from trusted publications including Wirecutter, CNET, PC World, and others, as well as thousands of customer reviews from online retailers like Amazon and Best Buy. As we went, we judged them on aspects like ease of use, available features (like night vision and g-force sensors), whether or not they could pair to phones, and how simple it was to access the footage. To evaluate these dash cams, we called in a range of models and drove around with them. Dash-cam manufacturer Nextbase has this comprehensive guide to regulations in the U.S. Many of those regulations concern the placement and use of the dash cam rather than the specs of the device itself, but you’ll want to check any possible restrictions in your area before putting one in your car. While dash cams are becoming more commonplace, there can be some legal issues with using them that vary from state to state (and country to country). The 2021 PopMech Automotive Excellence Awards.The Best Tools to Keep in Your Car’s Emergency Kit.That will make sure your dash cam always has power even when you’re not driving, so it can still record footage if your vehicle is hit or broken into while parked. And if you’re looking to go all out in terms of security, you may also want to look for a model that you can hardwire to your car (as opposed to simply plugging it into a spare USB port or powering it by its own battery). Smart features, like voice control and smartphone connectivity, are becoming increasingly common. Some also have a small built-in screen to let you quickly review footage and set up the camera itself.īeyond the basics, many dash cams also have included GPS to let you track your route and record data speed and location along with your video.
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Most dash cams in that price range will also log quality video (usually 1080p or 1440p resolution), with decent low-light performance, so you’ll be able to see anything that occurred while you were driving at night.

That will get you a camera that continuously records video and automatically saves it in the event of an accident, potentially giving you some much-needed evidence if there’s a dispute over who’s at fault. Best Portability: Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2įor most people, a dash cam on the lower or middle range of the price spectrum will be more than enough, and there’s no shortage of solid options to choose from between $100 and $250 or so.Best Dash Cam-Radar Combo: Cobra Road Scout.Best for Non-Techies: Garmin Dash Cam Tandem.So we rounded up the best to help guide your decision. For starters, they can vary considerably in price-from under $50 to over $500-and they run the gamut in terms of features and functionality, with some offering only the most basic recording capabilities while others are full-fledged smart devices in their own right. But picking the right one to add to your car still isn’t as straightforward a process as you’d probably like it to be. Dash cams may not be quite the curiosities they once were, becoming more commonplace in vehicles.
