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Best dash cam 2017: The UK's best dash cams from £30

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Wilfred Collins
5 hours 38 min ago

Dash cams, who needs them? Well, in 2017, quite a lot of us. Britain's roads can be a dangerous place, and with the ever-increasing cost of car insurance, video evidence of any scrapes and shunts can help put your mind and wallet at ease. Some dash cams will even see your insurance cut by over 10%, so it’s well worth shelling out if you want to guard your no-claims premium.

Some countries – Russia, for one – have seen millions of drivers adopt dash cams in an attempt to stem the rise of crash-for-cash schemes and hit-and-run scammers. And if you’re wondering if you can take your dash cam on holiday for use in a hire car, then the answer is normally yes – countries such as Austria, Switzerland and Germany, who either prohibit or limit their use due to privacy and data-protection issues, are in the minority.

You might think that many dash cams would offer poor-quality recording, something akin to a Crimewatch CCTV tape, but you’d be wrong. Modern dash cams deliver crisp HD resolution, dual cameras and smartphone integration to produce great-quality video and make managing captured clips all the easier – and, best of all, without you having to spend a fortune.

How to buy the best dash cam for you

How much should I spend?

Dash cams vary hugely in price, with budget models starting around £20 and working right up to GPS navigation devices with built-in cameras that can cost as much as £300. Cheaper models often do away with luxuries such as a screen for previewing footage, but while this makes setup a little more straightforward, it’s by no means essential. Pay more, and you can expect higher-quality video thanks to increased recording bit rates and higher sensor resolutions – basic cameras may offer only middling 720p HD video, whereas the best use 1080p sensors to offer a big leap in image quality. However, if you’re after something a little more fancy to film track days or scenic drives, then a dash cam is unlikely to cut the mustard – in that instance it’s worth considering a pricier dedicated action camera, such as a GoPro, which will provide vastly improved image quality.

Is a dual-camera dash cam worth it?

Some pricier models offer a dual-camera setup. These can be a little bulkier than single-camera models, but will allow you to record both the front and rear view at the same time – meaning you’ll be better covered in the event of a collision. For a better view of what’s happening in front of and behind you, however, some models use two separate cameras mounted in the front and rear of the car. Alternatively, of course, you can just buy two (or more) cheaper dash cams and mount them wherever you want.

Do I need a memory card?

Most dash cams are going to need a microSD card to store footage on – some come with one but it might be on the small side. Generally, we wouldn’t recommend buying one smaller than 32GB or you could end up running out of space. These cards aren’t expensive, however, as you can get a 32GB card for little more than a tenner, and at 720P resolution and standard bit rates, this should store around seven hours of footage. However, if you’re looking at a dash cam that records video in 1080p, HD and higher bit rates, then it’s well worth shelling out for a 64GB or 128GB card – otherwise the card will fill up more quickly and record over old footage.

Read next: The best microSD cards to buy from £8

How to fit a dash cam

Much like a satnav, most dash cams have suction mounts that allow the device to be securely fixed onto the vehicle’s windows. Smaller models make it easy to attach a dash cam just behind the rear-view mirror, but it’s advisable to position any dash cam near the top of the windscreen rather than the bottom, if possible, as this will allow the cam to get a great, high-level view of the road. This means that trailing cables obscuring your vision can be a potential hazard, however, so you’ll want to look into buying sticky pads (or gaffer tape, if you’re less fussy about looks) for routing the cables where they don’t obstruct your view. If you have a particularly large vehicle or are looking to install a rear-facing dash cam, then it’s worth checking how long the supplied power and extension cables are, as you may need to get a little creative with cable routing.

How to power a dash cam

Dash cams have built-in batteries that will only last a few hours on a full charge, so unless you’re only driving up the road, it will need constant power from a USB port or 12V accessory socket. If you don’t want to lose your cigarette lighter, then hard-wiring is also an option. These tend to draw power from the fuse box, meaning the camera will power up at ignition. If this all sounds like too much hassle, it’s worth looking to see if any retailers in your area will install a dash cam for a fee.

The best dash cams to buy

1. Nextbase 512G: The best all-round dash cam

Price:£130

Nextbase revamped its dash cams not too long ago and besides the dual-camera Duo model (which we review lower down the page), the 512G sits right at the top of company’s current lineup. The Sony Exmor sensor records crisp 1080p video at a frame rate of 30fps; the good-quality lens ensures that images are sharp and detailed from corner to corner; and the sensor’s wide dynamic range allows the Nextbase to capture good-quality footage at night time. An integrated anti-glare polarising filter reduces glare from the windscreen, and the 140-degree field of view means that it will capture everything going on in front of your bonnet. Not only that, but the the 512G has built-in GPS and an accelerometer for recording your location and potential impacts – if it detects a collision, it will automatically save the footage recorded. For a fully featured dash cam at a sensible price, the 512G is hard to beat.

2. Nextbase 101: The best budget dash cam

Price:£35

The 101 is one of the cheaper dash cams on the market, but Nextbase has done its bit to pack in all the essentials for well under £50. You get a camera capable of recording 720p video with a 120 degree field of view – noticeably less wide than that of pricier units – and small enough to almost disappear behind the rear-view mirror. Unlike some budget models, Nextbase has equipped the 101 with a small colour 2in display, which makes it possible to view footage and adjust settings a little more easily. There are some downsides: transferring files over a USB cable is torturously slow, and you’ll need to stump up for a microSD card. At this price, though, the Nextbase 101 is a steal.

3. Garmin Dash Cam 55: Stunning video quality with a ton of GPS options

Price:£150

Garmin might be better known for its satnav systems, but its top-of-the-range dash cam is something special. The 55’s 1440p sensor records supremely crisp video footage that puts 1080p rivals in the shade, and you can quickly sync videos to your mobile via Wi-Fi with Garmin’s Virb app. In the event of an accident, the Dash Cam 55’s 3.7-megapixel sensor allows you to take decent-quality photos of the scene, and while the voice control is a little gimmicky, it’s handy for snapping a quick photo without taking your hands off the wheel. GPS location recording and collision detection are present and correct, and the clear, straightforward menus and bright 2in display make it easy to set up and play back footage. Some of the more premium features include lane-departure and forward-collision warnings in the event that you swerve out of your lane or drive to closely to the car in front.

4. Mio MiVue 658: Sterling image quality and premium features

Price:£152

Mio’s MiVue 658 is one of the pricier dash cams out there, but it pays its dues by packing in a whole host of premium features. Image quality is superb in both daytime and nighttime settings thanks to the light-gathering abilities of the f/1.8 lens, and the Extreme HD setting records video at higher-than-1080p resolution. The integrated three-axis accelerometer automatically stops video footage from being overwritten when it detects an impact, and the in-built GPS tracks your speed and location and embeds it into the video clips. The secondary microSD slot is a lovely touch, too – it backs up your recordings in case the first microSD card fails. The big 2.7in touchscreen is a boon, making setup and video playback superbly straightforward, and it also pops up safety camera warnings and alerts when you go over the speed limit.

5. Nextbase Duo: A great-value dual-camera dash cam

Price:£145

The Nextbase Duo packs in two cameras for the price of one high-end dash cam. Twin 720p cameras are positioned on either edge, both of which swivel back and forth to get the perfect view of the road. The rear camera has a zoom lens that focuses in on what’s happening behind your car rather than inside it, and both lenses have a 140-degree field of view that covers all the action front and rear. One quibble is that the lower-resolution sensors can struggle to pick up number plates at nighttime, but the motion-sensing feature is a nice touch – it automatically starts recording if it detects something moving nearby, even when your car is parked. All the key features such as GPS logging and crash-sensing are present and correct, too, so clips are automatically saved in the event of a collision. If you can’t be bothered faffing with installing separate cameras front and rear, then the Duo is a solid option.


6. Snooper DVR-4HD: Feature-packed, but the speed alerts are iffy

Price:£133

Snooper’s DVR-4HD has been knocked down the rankings by Nextbase’s offerings, but this is still a solid dash cam for a reasonable price. The good-quality lens and 1080p sensor provide strong, sharp image quality, and only begin to struggle in darker conditions, where the likes of the Nextbase 512G comes out on top. The built-in accelerometer adds collision detection to the feature list, allowing the DVR-4HD to automatically save footage in the event of an accident. Wi-Fi support means that you can stream footage direct to a smartphone or tablet, too. There are a few niggles: it can be tricky to unclip from the windshield mount when you need to remove it, and the speed camera alerts are patchy at best. If you can find it for a good price, however, then it’s well worth considering.


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