You’ll hope to never need a dash cam, but when the unexpected happens on the road, you’ll be glad you’ve got one watching your back. A dash cam is a specialized camera system designed to mount securely and unobtrusively to your car’s windshield to record the road as you drive. The technology gained notoriety with the rise of crazy dash cam videos on the internet over the last decade, but these little security cameras for your car can save your bacon should you need to determine fault in a car accident, protect yourself against insurance fraud or prove your innocence after a traffic stop.
The best part is that dash cams are better than ever before with high quality 4K video capture, outstanding night vision, speed and location data powered by GPS, and new Wi-Fi and smartphone connectivity. The best examples, which I’ve gathered here based on my experiences as a camera enthusiast and automotive expert, are packed with features while still being relatively affordable. When it comes to protecting yourself when things go wrong on the road, the benefits of a dashboard camera far outweigh the cost.
Best dash cams of 2025
Pros
- Super compact and unobtrusive design.
- 4K Starvis 2 sensor captures sharp footage with PlatePix for clear license plates.
- Affordable price with core features like GPS logging and great night vision.
Cons
- Non-modular design can’t be upgraded for multi-camera use.
Why I like it: The Vantrue E1 Pro has earned a permanent home in my partner’s car for a few key reasons. The cube-shaped dash cam is super compact, measuring just over 1.5 inches in every dimension, and features a sturdy adhesive mounting system that keeps the cam shake-free and out of the way. Despite its compact size, the E1 squeezes in a full suite of physical controls and a 1-inch screen on the outside, along with a 4K Starvis 2 sensor inside that captures sharp footage of the road with Vantrue’s PlatePix post-processing software that helps more clearly render license plates, day or night.
Who it’s best for: There are more fully featured dash cams available with more bells and whistles, but I find that the E1 Pro sits in the Goldilocks zone with all of the core features I need in a dash cam (like GPS logging and great night vision) while keeping its price very affordable.
Who shouldn’t buy it: The E1 Pro’s compact size comes at the expense of modularity. Drivers looking to eventually upgrade to a multicamera system may want to consider the single-camera variant of the VIOFO A229 Pro (below) as a more flexible starting point.
Pros
- Excellent 4K HDR front camera with Starvis 2 sensor.
- Modular system allows for adding rear and interior cameras later.
- Smart voice control for locking recordings and snapping photos.
Cons
- A bit pricey for drivers with more basic needs
Why I like it: The VIOFO A229 Pro is not just a great dash cam, it’s a great platform that’s customizable to nearly every level of vehicle monitoring. At the base of the system is the A229 camera with its excellent 4K HDR capture thanks to its Starvis 2 sensor. The compact, teardrop shape of the camera keeps it out of the way while driving and smart voice control allows you to lock portions of its recording or snap still photos with a spoken command. A second remote camera watches out of the vehicle’s rear window in 2K resolution, capturing footage to the same SD card media.
I especially like the modularity of the A229 Pro system. While available as a 3-channel kit, you can also pick up one or two camera configurations to save money up front and then add additional cameras as accessories later to build out a dash cam system to meet your needs. The camera can even be upgraded with a hardwiring kit for motion-sensing recording of your car when parked with a smart battery-monitoring shutoff that ensures you don’t need a jump start when it’s time to hit the road.
Who it’s best for: Meanwhile, a third 1080p camera monitors the interior of the car at 1080p FHD with infrared low-light assistance and an ultrawide 210-degree field of view, making this a great investment for rideshare drivers looking to protect themselves during pickups.
Who shouldn’t buy it: The VIOFO system is flexible enough to scale to almost any driver’s needs, but drivers who don’t need its more advanced features (or buyers on a budget) can save both money and windshield real estate going with one of our smaller, less expensive picks.
Pros
- Premium system with 4K front, 2K rear, and 2K interior Starvis 2 sensors.
- Fast Wi-Fi 6 and USB 3.0 for quicker media transfer.
- Supports up to 4TB SSD for extended recording time.
Cons
- Most expensive pick for mostly minor advantages
Why I like it: Evolving everything that’s great about the A229 Pro, VIOFO’s A329S is perhaps the best dash cam system that money can buy. Up front, the Starvis 2-powered 4K front camera is just as good as before with excellent image quality, good night vision and surprisingly low levels of blur helping greatly with the legibility of license plates. The rear and interior cameras are now both powered by 2K Starvis 2 sensors — an upgrade over the 1080p interior camera of the A229 resulting in even better passenger monitoring. And like its predecessor, the A329S system can be had in single-, dual-, or triple-camera configurations.
Who it’s best for: The biggest upgrade is to the A329S’ storage and connectivity. The dash cam now features a fast Wi-Fi 6 connection, which helps to more quickly transfer media wirelessly to a phone or computer. It also now features a USB 3.0 connection, unlocking the ability to save footage directly to an up to 4TB SSD. VIOFO claims that’s enough space for around 40 days of footage, which seems like overkill until you remember that the A329S can be upgraded to monitor your car while parked at, say, long-term airport parking.
Who shouldn’t buy it: The A329S is by far the most expensive camera system on this list for not much tangible daily benefit over the A229 Pro’s sweet spot. Budget-conscious shoppers need not apply.
Pros
- Extremely compact and unobtrusive.
- Automatic event saving via accelerometer.
- Simple, distraction-free operation.
Cons
- No screen, requires an app or computer for viewing footage.
- Only captures in 1080p HD.
Why I like it: The Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3 is one of the compact dash cams you can buy today with a Lilliputian chassis that’s just 2 inches wide by 1.5 inches tall. However, that super-small size comes with a few compromises: There’s no screen, so you’ll have to view the footage via the Garmin app or a computer. There’s only one big «Save» button on the backside of the device, which you won’t need to fiddle around with much thanks to accelerometer-powered automatic event saving.
Who it’s best for: For the money, I still prefer the also very small Vantrue E1, but for drivers seeking the absolute smallest, most unobtrusive, distraction-free dash cam on the road, the Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3 is a small, but mighty choice.
Who shouldn’t buy it: My biggest nitpick is that the Mini 3 only captures at 1080p HD. If you want more resolution, even 2K (1440p) would be an upgrade when spread across the 140-degree field of view. That said, the footage still looks quite good, especially during the daytime.
Pros
- Very affordable.
- Captures clear daytime footage at 1296p QHD resolution.
- Small, screenless, and unobtrusive shell.
Cons
- Simple mounting system makes quick removal a hassle.
- Uses an internal lithium-ion battery, not recommended for extremely hot climates.
Why I like it: The 70mai M310 can usually be found on sale for under $35, making it one of the least expensive dash cams you can buy. It’s also just one of the okayest. The 130-degree camera captures clear daytime footage at an uncommon 1296p QHD resolution, which is a bump up in resolution over the 1080p of most budget cams. Night vision is decent, too, and the camera itself is tucked into a small, screenless and unobtrusive shell.
Who it’s best for: Personally, I’d wait for the top picks to go on sale. However, a decent dash cam is often better than none at all, and the 70mai isn’t a bad pick if you’re pinching pennies.
Who shouldn’t buy it: At this price point, there are compromises. The action-camera style mounting system is simpler than my other picks, making it a hassle to remove the camera quickly in, say, neighborhoods where theft is an issue. The M3110 also uses an internal lithium-ion battery (rather than a more expensive supercapacitor) to complete recordings when shutting down at the end of a trip, which I recommend against when parking in extremely hot climates.
Best dash cams compared
| Category | Name | Price | Resolution | GPS | Upgradeable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall dash cam | Vantrue E1 Pro | $119 | 4K | Yes | No |
| Best multi-channel dash cam | VIOFO A229 Pro 3-channel | $290 | 4K front, 2K rear, 1080p interior | Yes | Yes |
| Best premium dash cam for rideshare drivers | VIOFO A329S 3-channel | $499 | 4K front, 2K rear, 2K interior | Yes | Yes |
| Most compact dash cam | Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3 | $169 | 1080p FHD | No | No |
| Best budget dash cam | 70mai M310 | $40 | 1296p QHD | No | No |
Dash cam shopping: What to look for
Video resolution and image quality. Look for stable 4K recording, especially for the front camera. It may seem like overkill, but given the ultra wide angle used by most dash cameras, more pixels usually means a clearer image and sharper rendering of details and small text like license plate numbers. That said, there’s more to image quality than just resolution. I’ve gotten excellent performance from 2K (1440p) dash cams. You’ll also want to pay attention to things like frame rate (higher frames per second mean less motion blur and improved clarity), image compression and post-processing like high dynamic range (HDR) that can improve night vision performance.
Camera configuration. Nearly all dash cams record the «over the hood» forward view with a camera pointing out of the windshield. However, many now feature multi-channel functionality with support for recording from additional cameras at the rear of the vehicle or in the cabin. A rear camera might capture someone tailgating before you’re rear-ended. If you’re a rideshare driver, you may also want a view of the people in the cabin with you. Knowing how many and where you want cameras to be is important, but if you’re not sure, consider a modular system, like the VIOFO A229 Pro, that can be upgraded later.
Storage and loop recording. Almost no dash cams come standard with internal storage, so you’ll want to factor in the cost of a micro SD card. My advice: Get the biggest card that fits your budget. Dash cams capture using a continuously looped recording. When the card fills up, the oldest clips are overwritten. A bigger SD card means a longer buffer before that old footage is lost forever. Good, high-capacity microSD cards are cheap (around $20 for a reputable 256GB), and with many dash cams writing multiple 4K and 2K streams with large file sizes, you’ll be grateful for the space.
Accelerometer or G-force sensor. You can usually lock recorded segments manually with the touch of a button, saving them from being lost forever. But if you’ve just been in a car accident, reaching over to your dash cam is probably the last thing on your mind. The best dash cams feature internal accelerometers or G-force sensors that detect bumps or impacts and automatically lock the current segment, saving the event from being overwritten. Detecting g-forces means you’ll sometimes get false positives going over big bumps or potholes, so if you drive a car with a firm ride, look for a dash cam that has an adjustable g-force threshold (or at least check your SD card regularly to ensure it doesn’t fill up with «events.»
GPS logging and speed tracking. Our three top picks all feature built-in GPS antennas that allow the dash cams to sync the vehicle’s speed and location with the captured footage. This can be useful, for example, to beat a speeding ticket with video evidence or provide precise positioning information in the event of an accident. Beyond just latitude and longitude, these dash cams also feature smartphone apps that can plot that GPS data on a map, so you’ll be able to look back on exactly where you were when a captured event happened.
Mounting system and installation. Scrutinize the mount. All dash cams come with some way to mount, usually to your car’s windshield. However, mounting methods can vary. Some use simple suction cup mounts that are easy to remove. Others use strong adhesive mounts for the most stable connection. (Trust me, the last thing you want is for your new dash cam to become a projectile during an accident.) The mounting hardware may also include a GPS antenna, a quick-release mechanism for times when you want to quickly remove the camera from the car or both, like the Vantrue E1 Pro. These factors determine if a cam is easy to move from car to car, if it’s going to be big and ungainly, or whether it may block more of your view and potentially run afoul of your local laws on dash cam mounting.
Power cables (12V, USB or hardwire). Every dash cam needs a power cable and, besides being a safety hazard, nothing looks worse than a cord dangling from your windshield to the 12-volt outlet in the dash. That’s why the best dash cams come with a power cable that’s long enough to route around your windshield and dashboard — leaving a clear view of the road — and hardware to tuck that cord into or behind your vehicle’s trim. Many dash cams can also be hardwired (either with included hardware or accessories), freeing up the 12-volt outlet or USB ports for other uses and enabling advanced features like parked car monitoring.
Lithium-ion or supercapacitor. During shutdown or in situations where the power is abruptly cut — such as during a major collision — a dash cam needs to be a few moments of unplugged power to prevent the final clip from being corrupted. The best dash cams make use of a supercapacitor for this Supercapacitors are preferable due to their improved reliability and resistance to extreme temperatures. Mid-tier cams use small lithium-ion batteries, which I’d avoid if you regularly experience Arizona summers, while the cheapest camera sometimes has no shutdown battery at all.
Wi-Fi, app and cloud connectivity. The simplest way to get the footage off of your dash cam is to remove the camera (or just the SD card) and connect it to a computer. However, many newer cameras now ship with wireless connectivity that enables simpler (and sometimes even automatic) file transfers. A wireless connection is usually slower than wired, so my top picks feature fast Wi-Fi. Many dash cams can also connect to smartphone apps for easier adjustment of settings on a larger screen, enhanced functionality like GPS mapping or trip logging and retrieving and sharing video clips. The most advanced cameras can even be upgraded with LTE data connections to enable remote monitoring of the vehicle while parked or automatic uploads of captured events, but that usually requires additional hardware and for you to bring your own data SIM.
More dash cam tips
Know that dash cams cut both ways. If you get in an accident with another driver, a visible dash camera is a sign that you have evidence. The other person may mention it to their insurance company, and attorneys may demand a copy of what you’ve recorded. That could go badly if you were in the wrong, but don’t get in the habit of destroying recorded evidence that is known or discoverable. This is an argument for using the smallest, least noticeable dash cam — like the Garmin Mini 3.
Think about audio. When looking for the best dash cams, consider whether they have audio recording, but, more importantly, make sure you can turn it off. Some states have two-party consent laws you’ll violate if you use a cam to record the voices of casual carpoolers, Uber and Lyft customers, or friends and family in your car who aren’t aware of the recording. And know that when an accident happens, spontaneous remarks like «Oh no, I didn’t even see him» can damn you in litigation if there’s video. I personally suggest turning off dash cam microphones, though users interested in recording interactions with law enforcement may disagree.
How we test dash cams
Our list of best dash cams is first curated by checking the specs on the newest (as well as tried and true) offerings on the market. When possible, I test each unit by installing the cam in a test vehicle, making note of what hardware is included for mounting, the power cable and any accessories (such as ND filters, cable clips or, rarely, storage media). I check how easy the unit is to install, how distracting it might be to a driver and, where possible, connect the camera to its complimentary phone app and check those features, settings or firmware updates.
I then test the camera on the Northern California roads around CNET’s San Francisco office, capturing footage during the day and at night, paying special attention to tricky situations such as dusk, where the sun may shine straight into the camera. Taking a close look at the captured video, I check the legibility of signs and license plates at a predetermined and safe following distance, as well as color accuracy, motion blur and overall image quality, comparing the results to other cameras I’ve tested and tagged dash cam footage found online.
Image quality and ease of use are paramount for best list consideration. However, advanced features, such as GPS mapping, voice recognition or wireless file transfer, also play a large role in separating the best from the rest, so I also put those to the test, drawing on my 17 years of professional experience testing car technology and human-automotive interfaces and my lifetime as a photography and videography enthusiast.
FAQs about dash cams