Like them or not, dashcams have become a big part of UK driver culture. They can be invaluable when you’ve been involved in an accident which wasn’t your fault, and therefore more and more road users have started to invest in these handy cameras. Another reason for having a dashboard camera is to catch footage of dangerous drivers which can then be passed onto the local police to investigate and also to prevent cases of fraudulent crash for cash drivers who intentionally try to cause car crashes.
Prices can vary dramatically when it comes to dashcams, with some costing less than £30 and others coming in at over £200. But do you really get much more for your money when buying these expensive dashcams with tonnes of tech-enabled extras?
As providers of Motorhome and Campervan Insurance, we understand how useful dashcams can be when involved in a collision, that’s why we’ve put together this guide to the top 5 dashcams available right now, for budgets of all sizes.
1. Nextbase 522GW Dashcam
Key features
- Alexa Built-In
- Emergency SOS
- Bluetooth Auto-sync
- Intelligent Parking Mode
- Front Camera Only
- GPS
*Memory card not included
The Nextbase 522GW is a fantastic dashcam and currently one of the most popular dashboard cameras on the market. When looking at the fantastic features it offers, it’s easy to see how this device has become a favourite.
One of the best features on the Nextbase 522GW is the auto-sync option. This allows you to connect the dashcam directly to your phone so that all footage can be automatically downloaded and watched on your phone via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi instantly.
Other top features include emergency SOS and intelligent parking mode. The emergency SOS will alert emergency services to your location in the event of any accident which ensures they get to you faster. Intelligent parking mode ensures your campervan or motorhome is monitored whilst it’s parked up, it will automatically turn the camera on and begin recording if the dashcam senses a bump.
This is one of the first dashcams to have Amazon Alexa built into it, meaning you can use voice commands as you would with an amazon echo device, for example, you could ask for the location of the nearest car park, save a recording or control your music whilst on the move!
This dashcam doesn’t come with a memory card, so this will need to be purchased in addition to the device.
2. Nextbase 322GW Dashcam
Features
- Emergency SOS
- Bluetooth Auto-sync
- Intelligent Parking Mode
- Front Camera Only
- GPS
*Memory card not included
Like the more advanced 522GW, the Nextbase 322GW dashcam is chock full of fantastic features which makes it a very popular device.
The camera quality is brilliant and can film 1080p at 60 frames per second, ensuring you capture every detail of any incident which is helped by the wide 140-degree viewing angle. Footage can be set to automatically download to your phone via Bluetooth which makes saving and sharing clips extremely easy. Intelligent parking mode ensures your motorhome or campervan is protected even if it’s parked up, as the sensor will turn the camera on if it feels any impact to the vehicle. Emergency SOS links up to your phone to send out important information to emergency services in the event of a collision where the driver is unresponsive. It will send your location and any important medical details you have saved to ensure efficient medical treatment.
Like the 522GW dashcam, this doesn’t include a memory card, you will need to purchase one if you want to store footage on the dashcam.
3. Apeman C420D Dashcam
Features
- Huge 170 Degree Viewing Angle
- Front & rear camera
- Motion Detection When Parked Up
- Loop Recording
- Excellent Low Light Recording
- Memory Card Included
If you’re searching for a dashcam which won’t break the bank, then this discreet Apeman C420D camera is perfect. Priced at just £39.99 on amazon, you get an abundance of features for your money.
The extreme 170-degree viewing angle can ensure every detail is recorded. It has a dual-lens with a front and rear camera so you can be protected in the event of a collision from behind and there are no witnesses. The dashcam has a vibration sensing motion detector which will turn the dashboard camera on and begin recording if triggered. This ensures your vehicle is protected even when parked up, usually this feature is only associated with more expensive dashcams! The Apeman C420D allows loop recording, this means it will automatically overwrite old footage when the memory card becomes full. However, you can choose to turn this feature off if desired. This in-car camera is excellent in low light conditions due to the dynamic sensor and large aperture, so capturing details in the dark shouldn’t be an issue when travelling on poorly lit A-roads during the night.
Unlike many of the other dashcams, this model comes ready to use with a memory card included, saving you some extra money.
4. Garmin Tandem Dashcam
Features
- 360-degree Viewing Angle
- Front and rear camera
- Night vision camera
- Voice control
- Wi-Fi connectivity
- Parking surveillance mode
- Incident detection and GPS
- Memory card included
The Garmin Tandem Dashcam is new to the market but packed full of expensive features. The most eye-catching of all is the 360-degree field of view thanks to the 180-degree front and rear cameras.
The rear-facing camera is equipped with a night vision option so you can see all activity in the rear of the vehicle even in total darkness. Like the Nextbase 522GW, this dashcam can respond to voice commands, which makes it easier to save footage on the move and comply with the law prohibiting you from touching the device whilst driving. Parking surveillance mode ensures your vehicle is protected if left unattended in a car park and will instantly begin recording if any amount of force is detected.
In the unfortunate event of a serious collision, the Garmin Tandem dashcam can alert emergency services to the vehicle’s location if the driver is unresponsive. This is a feature which could certainly save many lives.
5. Garmin Mini Dashcam
Features
- Compact size
- 140 Degree Field of view
- Automatically Saves Footage of Incidents
- Bluetooth
- Wi-Fi
- Smartphone App
- Parking Surveillance Mode
- Memory card not included
The Garmin mini dashcam may be small, but it still packs a punch. This compact camera can capture crystal clear footage at 1080p and quickly make it available to view on your smartphone via the dedicated Garmin Drive smartphone app for iPhone and Android.
Due to its discreet size, it can be fitted behind the rear-view mirror and left in place virtually unnoticeable. This dashcam comes equipped with parking protection and will begin recording if motion is detected even when the vehicle is parked up and the engine is off.
Fitting your dashcam
If you do plan on installing a dashcam in your vehicle then it’s important to make sure it’s fitted properly. Should you need it to be hardwired in, then you may want to seek the help of a qualified auto electrician. If you live near to a Halfords store then you could get your dashcam fitted by the staff as part of their dashcam fitting service.
Buying a memory card
You should check which size memory card your dashcam requires and the maximum size it can hold. Most dashcams take a micro SD card which can be purchased for a small amount on Amazon.
When choosing a micro SD card, you should opt for one that is rated class 10, this will ensure the fastest speeds when transferring data to and from the memory card and is also less likely to develop a fault whilst recording.
Dashcams banned in some countries
If you’re planning on travelling in the following countries in your vehicle then you may need to remove your dashcam, as having one in your vehicle recording could land you in serious trouble with the police due to a ban on dashcams.
Here are some countries where dashcams are banned:
- Austria
- Luxemburg
- Portugal
You should make sure you’re familiar with the rules and regulations of any country you intend to travel to because this can ensure you don’t break any laws.
Do you use a dashcam in your motorhome or campervan? Let us know what you like/dislike about it on Facebook and Twitter.
