A dash camera is one of the greatest tech gadgets for your car. If you have ever been in or witnessed a car accident, you may recognize the value of a dash cam. The chaos accident can confuse memories and witness accounts, but an objective recording can often help to resolve questions about exactly what happened. Additionally, a car camera can provide a record of how young drivers are handling new responsibilities and offer a hassle-free option for recording a road trip.

A dash cam for cars records the view of wherever it is pointed. Though the name “dash cam” implies that the camera is attached to a car’s dashboard, different cameras attach in a variety of ways to accommodate your needs. Some models are also rear facing to record what happens behind your car. If installation intimidates you, you can contact Best Buy for dash camera installation assistance.

As designed, loop-cycle recording dash cameras, recording over previous footage for storage reasons. However, footage you want to reference can be copied to a removable storage device, like a microSD card. If you want to preserve many hours of recording (for instance, if you plan to make a travelog of a family road trip) you may also find it convenient to have an external hard drive at the ready to download your dashboard camera video.

Finding the best dash cam for you starts with identifying how you intend to use it. If you want to record incidents around your car while you’re driving, you will benefit from dash cam front and rear installation. If you work for a driving service and often have strangers in your vehicle, you might consider a dash camera with a microphone or a dash cam that provides an inward-facing camera to record what occurs inside your car.

Beyond placement and direction, there are a number of other features to consider. A dash cam with night vision can improve nighttime recording clarity. A dash camera with automatic incident detection will use visual and gravitational force clues to detect a possible accident. This type of dashboard camera will also save the recording before it can be recorded over.

When considering a dash cam upgrade to your car, you might also assess whether you could benefit from a backup camera or an integrated vehicle GPS in your car. These devices can decrease the risks associated with driving by giving you greater knowledge of what’s happening around your car and providing a large screen with clear directions to get you where you are going.