Asking “how much is a dash cam?” is very similar to asking “how long is a piece of string?”. There really isn’t a set answer.
Dash cameras can vary drastically in price, with our cheapest starting at £99.99, and the most expensive up to £499.99.
This may seem intimidating at first, but this is actually great news for you as it means you have plenty of choices to make a dash cam purchase comfortably fit your budget.
As you go up the price range, you will see added features, improved quality & design, and increased reliability. Because of this, your needs and expectations from a dash camera will dictate how much it will be for you.
When we help people to decide what dash cam they should get, there are generally 3 different mindsets which people fit into. So, this article will go through these and try to answer the question of “how much is a dash cam” for each one.
I Want Something Cheap And Basic, But Reliable
If you are looking for a cheaper car camera which gets the job done, it doesn’t have to cost you a lot.
With high-quality budget options such as the Thinkware F70, you are able to get a solid dash camera stripped of the complex features for something reliable and cheap that does the job.
The Thinkware F70 records the front of your vehicle in 1080p HD at 30 frames per second. This is good enough to capture the details you need such as number plates.
This camera also comes with an additional GPS antenna by default, allowing speed and location data to be recorded alongside the footage.
An 8gb Micro SD card is supplied which is enough to record 1 hour of footage before it begins to overwrite. However, the camera has the capacity for up to 64gb.
This is a fantastic option which only costs £99.99
Click here to see the Thinkware F70.
I Want Something High Quality But Without The Added Features
When looking into the mid-range section of dash cams, you have a lot of choices.
However, in terms of quality and value for money, the Thinkware F200-2CH is a clear winner – and is also one of our best selling cameras.
The Thinkware F200-2CH records the front of your vehicle in 1080p HD at 30 frames per second, and from the rear in 720p HD. Improved night vision and clarity is another improvement seen in this model from previous versions.
This car camera has built-in WiFi which allows you to connect to the camera via the smartphone app. This means you can remotely access, download, or review footage without having to get the SD card. Very convenient.
The GPS antenna is optional with the Thinkware F200 and can be purchased for an additional £24.99. This keeps the cost down for those of you who are not interested in getting the GPS information.
The F200 comes with a 16gb Micro SD Card as standard and can be upgraded up to 128gb of storage.
For a front and rear dash camera system that only costs £169.99, there is no better option.
Click here to see the Thinkware F200-2CH.
I Want The Best Dash Cam Possible With All Features
If you want the absolute best for your vehicle, then BlackVue is the way to go.
Their premium line of dash cams boasts extensive features and impressive design, and the BlackVue DR900S-2CH is no exception.
The DR900S-2CH is a top of the range dash camera recording in 4K Ultra HD from the front camera and 1080p HD from the rear. This uses an 8MP Sony CMOS sensor allowing crystal clear footage during both the day and night. A 162° ultra wide angle lens is also a key feature of the DR900S’ recording.
Along with this, built-in WiFi & GPS are standard, allowing you to remotely review or download footage and location details when connected to the camera via the smartphone app.
Aside from the 4K Ultra HD recording quality, perhaps the most impressive feature is the BlackVue cloud access. This allows you to remotely view the live camera feed and vehicle tracking, receive mobile alerts when your camera’s sensors are triggered, and store footage on the cloud, rather than on your phone, computer, or SD card.
The recording quality, design, and features of this dash cam are unparalleled. It is the best option if you want a top of the range dash cam for your vehicle.
Click here to see the BlackVue DR900S-2CH.
Why A Dash Cam Is Worth Investing In
Just because you can afford to invest in a dash cam, should you? Absolutely.
Below are just some of the reasons why you should invest in a dash cam.
Save Money
A benefit that offers a more immediate return on investment is that a dash cam can provide you with discounted insurance premiums.
Many motorists don’t realise this is a possibility, by the number of insurers providing these discounts in rapidly growing for any drivers with a fitted dash cam.
If you spend £200-£250 getting a dash cam which is professionally installed and see that returned in insurance savings over the course of 24 months or less, then its a no-brainer.
This is hugely beneficial for new and young drivers who often have issues facing extortionate car insurance rates. Also, it is a fact that new drivers are among the most likely to be involved in a road traffic accident.
Although there is no hard proof, there has been research to suggest drivers with a dash cam are less likely to drive recklessly as they are acutely aware that they’re being recorded.
Crash For Crash
Crash For Crash is a car insurance scam that has constantly been on the rise over the last few years.
This involves an accident being staged where the innocent driver looks to be at fault, whereas in reality – it was caused by the other driver.
This could involve the driver in front of you suddenly slamming on their breaks, aiming to make you hit them. Or another example would be flashing you to go at a junction, but then continuing to drive on and hit you.
Without video evidence to prove who was at fault for the accident, in most of these situations, you will appear to be guilty. Because of this, you will face fines of vehicle damage, personal damage, and more which often reach £10,000+.
Having video evidence of the incident not only proves your innocence so you can avoid these charges, but also drastically decreases the time taken to process your insurance claim.
Being involved in an accident is stressful enough without having the worry of a length claims process hanging over you. With a dash cam, you can avoid unnecessary costs, retain your no-claims benefits, and give yourself that extra piece of mind when driving.
Public Security
When your vehicle becomes stationary, most dash cameras will switch to parking mode.
Whilst in parking mode the dash cam will shut down unnecessary features such as GPS but will enable motion detection and the G-sensor.
If the vehicle is knocked, or if movement is detected around the vehicle, recording will begin.
This is incredibly useful when leaving your vehicle in a public place. It can capture crucial evidence if someone reverses into your vehicle, hits it with their door, and more.
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Studies from 2018 data published by INRIX have revealed that on average, drivers in the UK lose £1,317 every year from sitting in congested traffic. The top offenders being London with 227 hours lost, and Birmingham with 134 hours lost due to congestion, per driver, each year.
This camera proves that you don’t need to be spending large amounts in order to get a great product, however, it does lack some key features which many people will want.
With Thinkware being a leading providor of dash cameras, the F770 is able to rival many of the more expensive cameras on the market.
Unlike other cameras, the DR750S also has the option to become completely silent at all times, making it the best dash cam for driving instructors.
Another key feature of the BlackVue DR750S making it stand out as a premium dash cam is access to the BlackVue Cloud. This allows you to securely store any important video files onto the cloud, making them easily available when required.
Winter is a brilliant time of year. With an emphasis on family, food, and good TV, it’s hard not to have a good time. However, there is no escaping one thing – It’s dark when you leave for work, and it’s dark again before you leave. Pretty mood-dampening. It is also due to this that around this time of year, many of us start to feel more vulnerable during the daily commute to and from work, given that it can be hard to see through the rain, fog, or snow – especially in the dark.
e settings of the camera. Most cameras will have an option for you to adjust the recording quality, you should always set the recording quality to a minimum of 720P at 30FPS.
As you can see from the photograph here, once in place the DR650S offers a very discreet and stylish solution to an on-board camera.
The BlackVue DR650S-1Ch is a 1080P full HD front facing dash camera that has Wi-Fi and GPS built-in. This is one of the highest quality cameras available and our best selling front only camera. Alongside the camera, is the power magic pro. This accessory is needed for the camera to be hard-wired into the vehicle, allowing for parking mode to be used as well as allowing the cables to be hidden.