Home » Security Camera Guides » 5 Best Dash Cams For Superior Car Security

5 Best Dash Cams For Superior Car Security

Car theft rates are better now, but as with any belonging, the threat of theft is still as present as ever, meaning now is a great time to invest in a car security camera. 

Learn about the importance of having security for cars, and discover our five favorite car security cameras, including dash cams.

Top 5 Best Dash Cams 2024

The best car cameras are small, discreet, and feature rich. Level up your car security with these excellent dash cams designed for versatile vehicle surveillance.

Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2

Available on Garmin. From $129.99.

The Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2. (Image via Garmin)
Image via Garmin.

Pros

  • Highly discreet
  • Incident detection saves video from before, during, and after the event
  • Voice control makes it easy to operate while driving

Cons

  • MicroSD card is required for use
  • Parking Guard needs a Constant Power Cable (sold separately)

Of Garmin’s dash cameras, the Dash Cam Mini is the most discreet. It’s about the size of a car key, and attaches unobtrusively to the dashboard, mirror, or windshield without attracting attention.

Don’t let its size deceive you: it’s a powerful device that records up to 1080p within a 140-degree view. Motion detection push notifications alert you to incidents via a linked device, while voice control makes it easy to control hands free and safely.

Key Specifications

  • 1080p HD
  • 140-degree field of view
  • Voice control
  • Parking Guard G sensor
  • microSD card required

What is a G sensor?

A G sensor is an accelerometer used in dash cams. They register vibrations, which the dash cam uses to notify the user when someone tampers with the vehicle or if there is a collision while the vehicle is stationary. If armed, it triggers the dash cam to start recording.

Garmin Dash Cam Tandem

Best dual camera dash cam

Available on Garmin. From $299.99.

The Garmin Dash Cam Tandem. (Image via Garmin)
Image via Garmin.

Pros

  • Super wide field-of-view captures everything needed
  • NightGlo works well to illuminate car interior footage
  • Voice commands

Cons

  • Expensive
  • No LTE mobile data

Another great entry into Garmin’s dash cam line is the Tandem. Featuring two cameras instead of one, Tandem records both outside and inside the car, making it particularly useful if you have a habit for leaving stuff in the car (sidenote: bad habit). 

Each lens boasts a 180-degree field of view. The front-facing camera supports up to 1440p, while the interior lens’ night vision feature allows for capturing up to 720p video in darkness. Expect voice commands. Unlike the Mini, expect a hefty price tag!

Key Specifications

  • Dual-facing cameras
  • 1440p HD (front facing)
  • 720p HD (interior)
  • 180-degree field of view
  • NightGlo night vision
  • Voice control
  • Parking Guard G sensor
  • microSD card required

Ring Car Cam

Best 4G data dash cam

Available on Ring, BestBuy, Amazon. RRP $249.99.

A leaked promo picture of the Ring Car Cam (Image via The Verge)
Image via The Verge.

Pros

  • Dual facing camera views interior and exterior
  • GPS tracking for missing vehicles
  • Sensors alert linked devices if car is tampered with

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Teething issues upon launch

Ring Car Cam adds mobile data support via SIM card. This means that the live feed is useful even when Wi-Fi isn’t available. In the event that the car is stolen, the Ring Car Cam can track its location. 

Otherwise, it’s much like a security camera, with 1080p HD video resolution, night vision, and two-way talk. This makes for a pretty advanced car camera, but the price tag might put some people off.

Key Specifications

  • Dual facing 1080p HD
  • Motion detection
  • Push notifications
  • Wi-Fi and LTE connectivity
  • GPS
  • Two-way talk
  • G sensor
  • Privacy covers

AREBI Spy Camera (4K)

Best hidden car camera surveillance

Available on Amazon. From $59.97.

The AREBI Spy Camera (4K) connected to a smart device via Wi-Fi. (Image via Amazon)
Image via Amazon.

Pros

  • Impressively clear image
  • Tiny size makes it super discreet
  • Can be used wired or wire-free

Cons

  • No G sensor features found in dash cams
  • No audio/voice control

Key Specifications

  • 4K video resolution
  • 160-degree field of view
  • 4-10 day battery life in motion mode
  • microSD card support
  • IR night vision
  • Push notifications

AlfredCamera

Best cheap car camera

Available from the App Store and Google Play Store. Free, with the option for premium.

Alfredcamera_home

Pros

  • Free, with option for premium
  • No hardware security cameras required
  • Unlimited number of camera devices at no additional cost

Cons

  • Capabilities limited by the hardware of the device it is installed on
  • No infrared night vision

With AlfredCamera, users get push notifications and  live viewing on their paired device. The low-light filter is super useful for monitoring the interior of a vehicle in relative darkness.

Key Specifications

  • Live feeds
  • Motion detection
  • Continuous recording
  • Push notifications
  • Low-light mode
  • Two-way audio
  • 7 day free storage
Credit: Kevinz Gaming
“This is a review video for the AlfredCam made by the AlfredCamera company. I’m using it as a dash cam, but it’s intended to be an indoor camera. Testing it out for the first time! Hands-on review.”

What is the Best Security Camera for Your Car?

Dash cams are the best security cameras for cars, but dash cams are much more expensive than security cameras.

If you want to monitor the interior of the car, security cameras for cars are more than adequate, provided you’re able to power them. 

AlfredCamera is a free car security solution. Because it uses old phones or tablets as security cameras, it’s a great way to try out car surveillance without spending a dime.

Dual camera dash cams (necessary for viewing both the exterior and interior of the car) are an investment, make sure it’s exactly what you require by using Alfred before making the purchase. 

Well at our house, we can’t live without Alfred! Nightly here in California, we use our old smart devices as security cameras in every window of our home!! I’ll tell anyone who asks about security cameras and or surveillance stuff, don’t waste your money or time, just use Alfred! We can park our cars on the street or in the driveway even if we forget to lock em. we’re safe with Alfred. Motion activated video recording with live event notifications, plus use an alarm and the option to talk to the perpetrator through your devices, is amazing! Try it out.. you won’t be disappointed.

AlfredCamera User

Simply download AlfredCamera to your current phone as well as an old device, and it’ll convert the old phone into a car security camera, complete with low light mode, motion detection, and a siren.

What is the Best Way to Monitor a Parked Car?

Dash cams or security cameras inside your vehicle are a poor way to monitor a car that’s parked. The entirety of the vehicle must be visible to protect it from theft.

The best way to monitor parked cars is to set up a security camera at a window in your home with a clear view of the vehicle. Upstairs or downstairs suffices, as does somewhere on the exterior of the house, like the wall or porch.

Camera is pointed right at my vehicle – when someone slashed my tires, I was able to confront them about it and press charges.

AlfredCamera user
Use AlfredCamera to monitor your front yard and parked cars.
Use AlfredCamera to monitor your front yard and parked cars.
AlfredCam_Plus_Amy Baldwin
Use AlfredCamera to monitor your front yard and parked cars.

All AlfredCamera compatible devices make fantastic car security cameras, but AlfredCam and AlfredCam Plus provide infrared night vision (which phones, tablets and webcams simply don’t support). 

This means your car gets superior security round the clock, even when it’s dark out. 

Your Dash Cam Questions & Concerns, Answered

Like any security measure, there are some downsides to dash cams. Below, find answers to the most common concerns people have about dash cams.

1. Will a dash cam drain my car battery?

Dash cams are usually powered by the auxiliary power outlet (commonly referred to as a cigarette lighter), but some support USB charging in newer cars. Either way, dash cams derive power from the car battery.

The power consumed by dash cams is minimal, but leaving it on when the car is parked slowly drains the battery. When at home, use a security camera to observe the parked car from a vantage point rather than leaving the dash cam on 24/7.

2. How do I make my dash cam always on?

Dash cams usually have a ‘parking mode’, which leaves the device on when the vehicle is off. But if it is powered by the car battery, it will eventually drain the car’s battery. When in use for several hours at a time, enable low-power mode if the model supports it.

3. Should I leave my dash cam in my car overnight?

Unless the dash cam is particularly discreet, get into the habit of removing it from the car overnight. When out and about and leaving the car in a parking lot, put the cam into parking mode to protect it.

4. How many hours can a car camera record?

Car cameras record any number of hours of footage depending on the size of the microSD card, whether an internet connection is available to upload cloud footage, and so on.

While the car is moving, have the dash cam facing the road record continuously. For cameras viewing the car while it is stationary, enable motion detection to save memory and get more relevant notifications.

5. Can dash cams see inside the car?

Dash cams can’t necessarily see inside cars. Single-lens dash cams only view the road out of the windshield. Dual-lens dash cams view both the interior and the exterior of the car at the same time. The latter is more useful for securing the contents of the car or monitoring the cab, as well as capturing footage on the road.

Ring Car Cam is dual-facing, so it captures both the contents of the vehicle and what’s beyond the windshield.

Conclusion 

In car security cameras are beneficial for recording footage during an accident or emergency, but it’s just as important to have cameras viewing the entirety of the vehicle when cars are parked outside the home.

The good news is that there are plenty of inexpensive options for both internal and external cameras, including AlfredCamera, as well as other security devices that increase its security.