Dash cams have become one of the most useful accessories you can add to a vehicle.
Whether you want additional reassurance on your daily commute, a record of what happens on the road or extra coverage while your car is parked, choosing the right setup can make a big difference.
But what is the best dash cam setup for your car?
For most drivers, a professionally installed front and rear dash cam offers the best all-round coverage. However, the right setup ultimately depends on your vehicle, how often you drive, where you park and the level of protection you want.
At Motor Mods, we professionally install dash cams into a wide range of cars, vans and other vehicles. Here are some of the main options to consider.
Is a Front Dash Cam Enough?
A front-facing dash cam is the simplest setup and can be a good choice if you mainly want to record what happens on the road ahead. Mounted discreetly near the top of the windscreen, the camera continuously records your journey and can provide useful footage if you’re involved in an incident.
A front dash cam may be suitable if you:
- Want a simple and cost-effective setup
- Mainly want coverage of the road ahead
- Don’t regularly carry passengers or valuable equipment
- Want additional reassurance during everyday journeys
While a front camera provides useful coverage, it won’t capture incidents that happen behind your vehicle.
Is a Front and Rear Dash Cam Worth It?
For many drivers, a front and rear dash cam is the best overall setup. As the name suggests, this combines a camera at the front of the vehicle with another covering the rear. This gives you a much wider record of what’s happening around your car.
Rear footage could be particularly valuable in situations such as a rear-end collision, where having a clear recording of the vehicle behind you may help establish what happened. For drivers who spend a lot of time on the road, commute regularly or simply want more comprehensive coverage, a front and rear system is often worth considering.
What Is Parking Mode on a Dash Cam?
Some dash cams include a parking mode designed to provide additional protection when you’re away from your vehicle. Depending on the dash cam and installation, parking mode can allow the camera to detect events such as movement or an impact and save relevant footage.
This can be useful if you regularly leave your car in public car parks, on the road or anywhere you’re concerned about accidental damage while you’re away. Parking mode requirements vary between dash cam models, so it’s important to choose a compatible system and have it installed correctly.
Should I Hardwire My Dash Cam?
If you want a neat, permanent dash cam installation, hardwiring is usually the better option. Rather than having cables hanging from the windscreen and plugging into a 12V socket, a professionally hardwired dash cam can have its wiring hidden neatly behind the vehicle’s interior trim.
This doesn’t just make the installation look cleaner. Depending on the camera and vehicle, hardwiring may also be required to make use of features such as parking mode. Professional installation also means you don’t have to worry about routing cables around the vehicle yourself.
Where Should a Dash Cam Be Positioned?
A dash cam needs a clear view of the road without unnecessarily obstructing the driver’s view.
The exact position will depend on the vehicle and camera, but front dash cams are commonly positioned towards the top of the windscreen, often close to the rear-view mirror. A professional installer can find an appropriate position while keeping the camera and wiring as discreet as possible.
What Dash Cam Features Should I Look For?
There’s a huge range of dash cams available, and the most expensive option isn’t necessarily the right one for every driver. When comparing dash cams, useful features to consider include:
- Front and rear recording
- Video resolution and image quality
- Night-time recording performance
- Parking mode
- GPS
- Wi-Fi or app connectivity
- Impact detection
- Storage capacity
- Ease of accessing and saving footage
Think about how you actually use your car rather than simply choosing the camera with the longest list of features.
What Is the Best Dash Cam Setup for Everyday Driving?
For the average driver, we’d generally recommend considering a professionally hardwired front and rear dash cam. It provides coverage of both directions, creates a clean installation without loose cables and, with a suitable system, can provide additional functionality such as parking mode.
However, there isn’t one dash cam setup that’s right for every vehicle.
Someone using their car occasionally may be perfectly happy with a straightforward front-facing camera. A driver covering thousands of motorway miles each year may prefer front and rear coverage, while somebody regularly parking their vehicle in busy public areas may place more importance on parking mode.
Can You Install a Dash Cam in Any Car?
Dash cams can be installed in most modern vehicles, but the best installation method can vary depending on the make, model and electrical system. This is particularly worth considering with newer vehicles, hybrids and electric cars, where professional installation can help ensure the system is fitted appropriately.
At Motor Mods, we can advise on the most suitable dash cam and installation approach for your particular vehicle.
Professional Dash Cam Installation in Gloucestershire
A good dash cam should be there when you need it without getting in the way when you don’t. That’s why professional installation can be just as important as choosing the camera itself.
Motor Mods provides professional dash cam installation from our workshop near Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire. We can help you choose a setup to suit your vehicle and requirements before installing it neatly, with wiring hidden wherever possible.
Whether you’re looking for a straightforward front camera or a comprehensive front and rear dash cam setup with parking mode, speak to the Motor Mods team and we’ll help you find the right option for your car.