Are you looking for the best dash cam to buy in 2021? You are in the right place. I will help you decide on the best dash cam for your car or van. With the dash cam market advancing more and more each year, it’s sometimes hard to know which are the best dash cams available.
With rising insurance premiums, there has never been a better time to protect yourself with video evidence if you find yourself in a traffic incident. I would suggest you invest in a dash cam this year.
Today, we will be showing you some of the best dash cams on the market to save yourself time and money and keep yourself protected on the roads.
BlackVue DR900S-2CH
Best dash cam on this list.
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If you find that you’re someone who is on the roads more than your not, driving in even the worst weather conditions, it may be justified to spend that bit extra on your vehicle dash cam. The BlackVue DR900S-2CH is the perfect dashcam, full of all the essential tech you would need, but without any added gimmicks.
The package comes a little under £500 and includes a front and rear-facing camera that quill record high-quality videos at both the front and back of your vehicle. The wide 162-degree field allows for clean and expansive imagery, losing the fisheye effect created with some other dash cam models.
It comes fully equipped with collision GPS tracking and the ability to share videos to your smart device via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
PROS:
- Stunning design
- Amazing video quality
CONS:
- Hard to set up
- Expensive
Nextbase 622GW Dash Cam
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With stunning video quality, greater stabilisation technology, and what3words geolocation services included, the Nexus 622GW brings a lot of tech to make it one of the elites in the dashcam market.
Offering 4K quality videos, recordings are crisp and clear even in the worst lighting conditions. Perfect for depicting registration plates and harder to see elements of a collision.
A built-in polarised filter can be rotated to help reduce any windscreen glare. At the same time, the advanced digital image stabilisation prevents any bumps and knocks on the roads causing your recordings to shake.
Although the smart app isn’t the best compared to some other models, the built-in Alexa is a great feature that gives you complete hands-free abilities to control your device.
For UK users, it’s even better, as with each purchase, Nextbase offers up to 30% off their car insurance premiums helping you save even more!
PROS:
- Stunning video quality
- Alexa built-in
CONS:
- It needs a large SD card to support video quality
- Smart device app needs a little work
Garmin Dash Cam 66W
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Easy to use and packed with lots of extra features, the Garmin 66W is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a new dash cam for your vehicle. More expensive than the previous model, but with the wide 180-degree viewing angle lens, it has zero problems capturing the roads ahead.
Although there is this wide-angle lens, there is a slight distortion towards the edge of the screen. Just as with many dashcams, when the built-in G-sensor recognises there has been an accident, it will automatically begin recording and saving the footage.
As well as the automatic video use, the 66W also uses voice commands if you want to start and save recordings manually or take pictures when you’re driving. A great feature, but sometimes a little unresponsive when driving at faster speeds on loud motorways.
Video recordings are even great in low light conditions ensuring that you capture the finest quality videos no matter the time of day.
PROS:
- Lots of features
- Compact design
CONS:
- Voice control needs some work
- Slight video distortion
Viofo 4K Pro Dual Dash Cam
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With the features that the Viofo offers, the value for money is maybe the best on our list. It provides 4K definition and a built-in GPS module, which is usually an added extra when it comes to dash cams.
There are many wires due to the supercapacitor batteries included, different from other models that use a standard rechargeable battery. This is built to last even in extreme temperature changes.
Installation is a little more work than other models, with the interior trim needing to be removed and clever concealment of wires, but if you are willing to put in the extra work, you will have more features than ever before.
With a parking monitor, night mode, motion detection, automatic collision recording, GPS tracking and much more, the Viofo is the best dashcam that you’ve probably never heard of.
PROS:
- Amazing value for money
- Crisp, clear videos
CONS:
- Bulky design
- Lots of wires
Garmin Dash Cam Tandem
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With dual-lens capabilities, the Garmin dash cam mini is the perfect choice for taxi drivers who want to keep an eye on the roads as well as the passengers in the back of their cab. It comes in a compact design that can be easily mounted and dismounted when not needed.
There are multiple USB options, with the first connecting via the cigarette lighter input, which also allows you to charge your phone. If you want to use this dashcam for incident recording, you will need to hardwire it into your vehicle’s electronics.
The Garmin app is used for controls to record, save, and view your recordings without needing to touch the built-in SD card at all. Picture quality is generally excellent, but in lower lighting conditions, the Garmin mini does struggle.
PROS:
- Dual Lens
- Compact design
CONS:
- Garmin app still needs work
- Not the best in low lights
Kenwood DRV-A601W
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The Kenwood DRV-A601W has all the features that you could need without added gimmicks some dashcams offer to customers. Including 4K capture, the recordings are crisp and clear even in the lowest light conditions or adverse weather.
The Kenwood is a little more expensive than some other dash cam models, but that doesn’t mean it comes with extra features that can be enjoyed, such as the Nextbase 622GW that includes emergency SOS geolocation technology.
There is a hard-wired option that boosts security for your vehicle, offering parking surveillance without draining the battery of your car. With the Kenwood, you also get a rearview camera that records in superb HD, keeping you covered for any rear side collisions that may occur.
PROS:
- Easy to use and setup
- Compact design
CONS:
- Additional extras increase the price
- Not a lot of features
Kenwood DRV-830
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The Kenwood DRV-830 comes with its own 3-inch full-colour digital screen, giving you a place to directly review any recordings you have taken, adding a new level of convenience compared to models without a display.
The viewing angle is one of the widest on the market with a 144-degree range, which can be enjoyed both day and night with the stunning 1440p image quality recordings. This dash cam may not be up to the spec of some other models, but if you’re looking for a device under £100, this may be the choice for you.
Advanced features such as driver assist lane departure settings and front collision warnings are great in theory, but some users have described them as a little annoying.
PROS:
- Good image quality
- Huge potential storage
CONS:
- The menu is hard to navigate
- Not the most attractive camera
Viofo A139 Dash Cam
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You won’t find many dash cam packages that offer front, rear, and interior cameras all for one price point. Each camera is discreet in size, so it won’t cause many problems blocking your windscreen view, but trailing wires could be an issue.
The video footage isn’t as great as some other options on our list, but the Sony Starvis image sensors used in this device work wonders in even the lowest light conditions.
Compared to other models on our list, the Viofo A139 dash cam is way under budget. You can’t expect crystal clear image capture for the price, but it will impress you with the easy-to-use smart device app that allows you to share videos instantly.
PROS:
- Easy to use
- Comes as a three-camera set
CONS:
- Hard to set up
- Not the best video quality
Garmin Dash Cam Mini
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The Garmin mini is a perfect choice for drivers who want a compact and simple dash cam without all the bells and whistles. Built to be straightforward with just two buttons on the device, one to save clips on the go and the other to mute the microphone.
There isn’t any display on the device, but you can easily share your captured videos to your smart device using the Garmin app. The app is excellent as it lets you edit, preview, and export your videos in a simple, efficient way.
The Garmin Mini uses a loop recording system which is excellent as you don’t need to delete recordings when your SD card is full. However, if you have any captures you want to keep, it is essential to remember to export them not to get written over.
PROS:
- Easy to use and install
- WiFi Connectivity
CONS:
- It doesn’t have a built-in display
- No GPS
Nextbase 522GW Dash Cam
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If you’re in the market for a Nextbase but don’t want to spend the premium price tag that comes with the flagship model of the 622GW, why don’t you try the Nextbase 522GW? With clear visual recordings and a wide-angle lens, this dash cam does everything you need to a great level.
Including a responsive 3-inch touchscreen, the 522W is easy to use, especially with built-in Alexa compatibility. Conveniently play music, start and stop recordings with this hands-free feature.
Videos can be accessed easily by sharing to your smart device via WiFi or Bluetooth. Plus, there is a brilliant emergency SOS system that alerts the emergency services of your location if you find yourself in a collision and haven’t been able to respond to yourself.
PROS:
- Comes with Alexa built-in
- Great Price
CONS:
- Video quality is lower than some other options
- SD card not included
Most dash cams currently on the market offer similar features and can usually be mounted in your vehicle with ease. The majority of what you’re looking for is a preference, with the higher prices boasting better quality in more areas.
Decide what your personal needs are and make the dash cam work for you. Keep safe on the roads, and keep yourself protected with the addition of a new dash cam in your car, potentially saving you thousands in insurance premiums.
