Dashboard cameras are becoming more and more popular everyday. You may have questions about the technology so we’ve put together a FAQ to help answer the most common questions about dash cams.  

 

What is a dash cam?

A dash cam is basically a video camera that can be installed in your car (usually to the windshield) and constantly records video (and sometimes audio) as you drive. It’s also called a dash camera, in-car camera system, car black box or car Digital Video Recorder (DVR).

 

Why use a dash cam?

Dash cameras are rising in popularity and can be used by any driver who wishes to protect themselves while the road. Dash cameras provide the driver with safety and accountability by serving as an unbiased eyewitness in case of accidents or incidents. The recorded footage gives unquestionable evidence of what occurred before, during, and after an incident, should one occur. This footage will help save massive headaches and troubles when proving innocence in a car accident, or protecting yourself against false claims and insurance fraud. Dash cams can also record randomly occurring and interesting events that happen in everyday life. Dash cameras are also a popular choice for parents of new drivers, to help monitor the driving habits of their teenage drivers.

To learn more about why everyone should have a dash cam and view video evidence of how dash cams have helped drivers just like you, please visit here.  

 

Are there various types of dash cams?

Two important features of dash cams to distinguish between are single-lens dash cams (also known as 1-channel dash cams) and dual-lens dash cams (also known as 2-channel dash cams).

Single-lens dash cams (1-channel dash cams) record from one camera lens and are usually mounted in the front windshield to record what’s happening in front of the vehicle.

Dual-lens dash cams (2-channel dash cams) come with two cameras – a forward-facing camera that is used to record what’s happening in front of the car and second camera that is usually used to record the rear external of the vehicle. The second camera can also sometimes be rotated to record the inside cockpit of the vehicle. Dual-lens dash cams with this internal recording feature are particularly useful for drivers more interested in what happens within the car such as taxi/UBER drivers. There are also dash cam models that are optimal for commercial purposes that are mounted externally on the rear of large trucks.  

 

Which dash camera should you choose?

The best dash camera for you is the one that best suits your needs and budget. The first step to finding the right dash cam for your needs is to decide between a 1-channel or 2-channel dash cam. Each type has dash cameras that range from entry level options, to more powerful cameras that offer WiFi and GPS capabilities. Some dash cameras also provide screen capability to easily view footage. If you are unsure which dash cam is best suited for you, browse the resources and dash cams here to get a better feel for the different types and features offered.

 

Will you help me with choosing the right dash cam for my needs? 

We at DashCam Bros are more than happy to work with you to figure out which dash cams will be most suitable for your needs, so please feel free to reach out to us at contact@dashcambros.com with questions at any time, or use the live chat button on the bottom of your screen for immediate assistance!

 

What are some features dash cams offer?

Below are some of the features you may find in the dash cams among today's market.

Loop Recording - This is a feature that is found in nearly every dash cam. This allows the dash cam to continue to record when it has used up all memory card space by overwriting the memory card from the beginning. This allows the dash cam to record without any maintenance from the user, unless there is an incident that needs to be saved. 

GPS - Built in GPS or external attached GPS device that records  the location and speed of the vehicle. 

G-Sensor - In the event that an impact is received by a vehicle, the G-sensors will be triggered, and cause the dash cam to record another event video. This is particularly useful in parking mode, to record a hit an run event, or vandalism event when the car is unattended.

Dash Camera Auto Start and Stop - This is another feature found in almost all dash cams. The camera automatically records when the vehicle is turned on, and stops when the vehicle is turned off. 

Infrared Lights - This allows the camera to record exceptionally well at night, and is extremely useful for recording the internal of the vehicle. 

Time and Date Stamp - This is another feature found in most dash cams, which allows the date and time to be present on the video to as evidence. 

 

How do you install dash cams?

Once you’ve purchased a dash camera, you just need to insert a memory card into the dash cam, mount the dash cam to your car’s windshield (which is easy to do with suction cup mounts and adhesive mounts). Then plug the dash cam’s power cord into your car’s cigarette lighter outlet. Recording is automatic, so you just need to drive normally. Please be sure to familiarize yourself with the dash cam’s functionality through its instruction manual. Should you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us at support@dashcambros.com with questions at any time.

You also have the option to hardwire your dash cam into your vehicle’s electrical supply with our installation kits.

 

Where does a dash cam get its power?

A dash cam comes with a power cord that can be plugged into the 12 volt cigarette lighter outlet in the car. Most dash cameras also come with a built-in battery. It’s not designed to power the camera for a long period of time, but in case power from the vehicle is cut off during an accident, the internal battery will help the camera continue to record. If powered by the cigarette lighter outlet, dash cams stop recording when the vehicle is turned off. However, some models can be configured to keep recording even while the car is turned off (known as parking mode).

 

How do dash cams work?

Dash cameras automatically begin recording when they’re powered on and store recorded video in a removable memory card in the camera. When the memory card is full, the dash cam simply starts recording again from the beginning of the memory card (known as loop recording). This allows the dash cam to run without any maintenance from the user.

To view the video footage, the memory card is removed, and loaded onto your computer. With more advanced dash cams with WiFi, the video can be streamed directly on your iPhone or Android.

 

Where can you buy a dash camera?

You can purchase dash cameras here on the DashCam Bros site! We offer a wide range of popular, high quality, proven and tested dash cam models.  We continually update our stock to reflect the latest technology offered in the industry.

 

Why buy from DashCam Bros?

Please remember that all dash cams sold by DashCam Bros comes with a 1 year warranty to show that we stand behind the products we sell.  All accessories sold by DashCam Bros come with a 90 day warranty. These warranties protect against manufacturer defects and does not apply to the mistreatment or mishandling of the product. To learn more about our product guarantee, please click here.

DashCam Bros also offers a Hassle-Free return policy where customers may return any unopened item within 60 days of delivery for a full refund, minus the shipping costs. If an item (except memory cards) has been opened, but the item and packaging are intact and functional, the item may be returned within 60 days, minus shipping costs and a 10% restocking fee. To learn more about our return policy, please click here.

Customers returning an item due to an error on our part (i.e. received an incorrect item) will not have to pay return shopping costs.

We will ship to anywhere in the world, and also offer free shipping to anywhere in the United States for all dash camera orders, and accessory orders over $49.99. To learn more about our shipping policy, please click here.