Best dash cams 2024

Best dash cams 2022: On-board video recording
(Image credit: ShutterStock)

The best dash cams will give you peace of mind whether you're in a car or truck, making even an accident or a crime less of a threat to you and your family. In the future we'll look back at cars that don't come with dash cams built in as strange and old. Like looking back at cars without seat belts. It just doesn't make sense now. And with insurance claims working the way they do, having the best dash cams available to back up your claim is a must nowadays.

Not only will the best dash cams give you peace of mind but it could save you money as some insurers will lower your premium if you have one installed in your vehicle. Check out the best auto insurance to find one that'll help you on this. While this is great for everyone it makes especially important sense for those that use their vehicles for work, like taxi or delivery drivers. 

While the best dash cams all offer high quality video there are other features that may make your ideal model stand out. From Alexa voice controls to smart car movement sensors, like lane alerts and creeping to close to the car in front thanks to built-in accelerometers. Some lock the files as they're recorded to SD card so they can't be deleted and others offer super hi-res 2.5K resolution and front and rear dual views.

Whatever your needs you'll find the ideal car buddy below in our list of the best dash cams you can buy right now.


1. Nextbase 422GW: Best dash cam overall

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Best dash cams: Nextbase 422GW Review

(Image credit: Nextbase)
Combines great 2.5K video with a robust build and clever magnetic mount system

Specifications

Resolution: 2.5K 2,560 x 1,440 maximum resolution
Screen: 2.5in LCD display
GPS: Yes
Additional Safety Features: G-sensor for detecting incidents
Wireless: WiFi

Reasons to buy

+
Great 2.5K video quality
+
Built-in GPS
+
Extremely convenient magnetic mount system

Reasons to avoid

-
Few advanced dash cam features 

The Nextbase 422GW combines great 2.5K video with a robust build and clever magnetic mount system, then throws in Amazon Alexa control ability as a bonus extra. This is a very solid dash cam. The Alexa functionality, whilst clever, may not be something you use regularly, although it could be useful to be able to control music streaming from your phone to your car without having to pull your phone out of your pocket. 

What really makes this dash cam a recommended choice is its excellent physical design and superb video quality. A dash cam has to get the main function right first before adding extra features, and the Nextbase 422GW does just this.


2. Vantrue N2 Pro: Best front and rear cam

Best dash cams: Vantrue N2 Pro Dual Dash Cam

(Image credit: Vantrue)
Integrates front and rear-facing cameras into one unit, so you can capture the road ahead and what’s going on inside the car simultaneously

Specifications

Resolution: 2.5K 2,560 x 1,440 maximum resolution
Screen: 1.5in LCD display
GPS: optional extra
Additional Safety Features: G-sensor for detecting incidents, rear-facing infrared camera
Wireless: No

Reasons to buy

+
Reasonable 2.5K video quality
+
Built-in infrared internal rear-facing camera
+
Easy to remove from car when not in use 

Reasons to avoid

-
Full HD only when operating front and rear cameras

The Vantrue N2 Pro integrates front and rear-facing cameras into one unit, so you can capture the road ahead and what’s going on inside the car simultaneously. It may be a little pricey, but the rear-facing camera is a valuable bonus if you want to capture the interior of your car alongside the road ahead. 

However, you do have to drop the resolution of the main camera to Full HD from 2.5K to enable this, which results in a notable reduction in image quality. So whilst this is a neat dual-camera solution, if you merely want the best dash cam video quality there are better-value options without the extra camera.


3. Apeman C860: Great value all-in-one cam

Best dash cams: Apeman C860 Dash Cam Review

(Image credit: APEMAN)
Bundles a rear dash camera along with excellent front camera, though not the most feature-packed

Specifications

Screen: 2.7n touch LCD display
GPS: No
Additional Safety Features: G-sensor for detecting incidents
Wireless: No

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent 2.6K video quality
+
Very good value 

Reasons to avoid

-
No GPS
-
No advanced dash cam features 

The Apeman C860 bundles a rear dash camera along with excellent front camera. It may not be packed with features, but with its $100 price, the Apeman C860 is a bargain. The absence of GPS will be a particular disappointment for some. But the main camera image quality is excellent for the money, which is the primary reason you buy a dash cam in the first place. 

The rear camera footage is quite a bit behind, however. It’s still good for Full HD, but not in the same league as the video from the main dash cam. If you just want a great-quality dash cam with a rear camera thrown in, the Apeman C860 is well worth considering.


4. AUKEY DRS2: Great if you just want the camera

Best dash cams: AUKEY DRS2 Review

(Image credit: AUKEY)
It may only offer Full HD, but there’s a second Full HD rear-facing camera built-in

Specifications

Resolution: Full HD 1,920 x 1,080 maximum resolution front and rear
GPS: optional extra
Additional Safety Features: G-sensor for detecting incidents
Wireless: No

Reasons to buy

+
Detachable rear-facing camera for a rear external view
+
Decent Full HD video quality

Reasons to avoid

-
Few advanced dash cam features
-
No built-in GPS

The AUKEY DRS2 only offers Full HD resolution, but there’s a second Full HD rear-facing camera, which can be removed. This can be mounted facing out of your car’s rear window and all the fixings you need for this are included. The AUKEY DRS2 isn’t quite the bargain that Apeman’s C860 is, but you can at least add a GPS if you want to. The double function of the rear-facing camera also means you have flexibility about how you use it – either for inside your car or behind. 

The image quality merely “does the job” rather than being a revelation. But if you’re after a bargain dash cam with an internal camera that can also be used as a rear camera, the AUKEY DRS2 is definitely worth a look. 


5. Boscam R1: Best mirror-mounted cam

Best dash cams: Boscam R1

(Image credit: Boscam)
Hooks over your existing mirror for easy fitting, while you also get a rear-view camera that is actually a reversing camera

Specifications

Resolution: Full HD 1,920 x 1,080 maximum resolution front and rear
Screen: 2in LCD display
GPS: optional extra
Additional Safety Features: G-sensor for detecting incidents
Wireless: No

Reasons to buy

+
Great value
+
Rear-view and reversing camera included

Reasons to avoid

-
Mediocre image quality 
-
No built-in GP

The Boscam R1 hooks over your existing mirror to provide a much wider view, with the dash cam built in. You also get a separate rear-view camera that is actually a reversing camera. The Boscam R1 is an interesting proposition if you want to add a reversing camera alongside a dash cam to help you with parking. Considering the $110 price, you get a lot for your money. 

The reversing camera does take some rather involved installation but works reasonably well. The huge integrated mirror will be an improvement for most cars, too. The one downside is that the video image quality from the front camera is merely mediocre.


6. Garmin Dash Cam 66W: Best for extra safety features

Best dash cams: Garmin Dash Cam 66W

(Image credit: Garmin)
Incorporates a comprehensive range of useful safety features, and has reliable voice control as well

Specifications

Resolution: 2.5K 2,560 x 1,440 maximum resolution
Screen: 2in touch LCD display
GPS: built-in
Additional Safety Features: G-sensor for detecting incidents; forward collision and lane departure warnings; safety camera locations
Wireless: Yes

Reasons to buy

+
Comprehensive safety features
+
Built-in GPS

Reasons to avoid

-
Mediocre 2.5K image quality
-
No quick release

The Garmin Dash Cam 66W incorporates a comprehensive range of useful safety features for drivers, and has voice control as well, alongside 2.5K video recording. The comprehensive safety features include built-in GPS provides location tracking and safety camera notifications, plus you get collision detection and lane departure. The Travelapse feature provides recreational value along with the surveillance function, and the voice control is very functional too. 

All of this is rolled into a tiny, discrete form that will sit unobtrusively behind your rear-view mirror. But, unfortunately, the image quality is below what we would expect for a premium dash cam from a premium brand.


7. Thinkware Q800 Pro: Great smartphone extras

Best dash cams: Thinkware Q800 Pro

(Image credit: Thinkware)
It may not have a LCD screen, but it still includes every dash cam safety feature you could consider

Specifications

Resolution: 2.5K 2,560 x 1,440 maximum resolution
GPS: built in
Additional Safety Features: G-sensor for detecting incidents
Wireless: WiFi

Reasons to buy

+
Packed with advanced safety features
+
Unique capabilities via smartphone

Reasons to avoid

-
No LCD screen 
-
Average video quality

The Thinkware Q800 Pro may not have a LCD screen, but it still includes every dash cam safety feature you could consider, plus a few you might not even have thought about before. It’s packed with features. There isn’t a safety function missing, and the bundle is generous too. 

Although the advanced “cloud-based” features such as GEO-Fencing are very clever, having them tied to your phone makes them less useful than they could be, because you’re unlikely to leave your phone in your car. Add in mobile data, as some satnavs have, and this would have been a real bonus. But the main downside is that image quality isn’t as good as we would expect in a dash cam this expensive. The lack of detail lets the Thinkware Q800 Pro down.


James Morris

James is the Editor of WhichEV, a site dedicated to electric vehicles and all forms of green transport. He has written for a number of high profile titles, including Forbes, PC Pro, Trusted Reviews, and Custom PC. He crafted many of our Dash Cam reviews this year on Top Ten Reviews.