We recommend dashboard cameras with a CHOICE Expert Rating of 70% and above.

The CHOICE Expert Rating is made up of picture quality in daylight (40%), picture quality at night (30%), ease of use (15%), and a heat test (15%).

Our tester installs the dash cam in a car, drives a set route in clear daylight, and assesses the recorded video for clarity, fluidity of motion and colour accuracy.

Our tester installs the dash cam in a car, drives a set route in different lighting conditions at night including well-lit main roads, tunnels and dark side streets. They assess the recorded video for clarity, fluidity of motion, colour accuracy, light balance and environmental details.

Comprises supplied instructions (10%), installing the mount (10%), attaching/detaching the camera (50%), adjusting settings with on-board and/or software controls (10%), viewing the recordings on the built-in display if applicable (10%), and accessing and viewing the recordings on a computer (10%).

Our tester places the dash cams into an oven at 80°C for three hours. After a period to cool down, he assesses their state, looking at both the device and the memory to ensure the recording is playable.

Models tested in 2021 were assessed under different conditions due to COVID-19 travel limits restricting access to our labs. Though the stringent method was very similar to the typical one used to test dash cams previously, it does mean that the results for 2021 models are not directly comparable to previous years as well as 2022.

'Tested model' means you should be able to find this dash cam in stores. We check product availability every time we test. You may still be able to find discontinued models on the second-hand market.

This is the recommended retail price at the time of testing. Keep in mind many of the dashboard cameras we've tested don't come with a required microSD memory card, which will cost you more money.

Shop Ethical rates the environmental and social impact of the company (not the product) using independent sources. This rating is not included in our total score. N/A means there is no rating for that company.

This lets the camera run without a permanent power connection for a short period. It's essentially a failsafe in most cases should the dash cam disconnect from the power supply. Some brands replace the internal battery with a capacitor that has enough power to save the video and shut down before the power runs out. These models, however, will not keep recording whereas a rechargeable battery will.

The angle of view claimed by the company. Very large angles of view may help in seeing more of the incident, however overall image resolution may suffer as a result.

This means the camera supports a resolution of at least 4096 x 2160.

This means the camera supports a resolution of 1920 x 1080.

A camera that supports 60 frames per second (fps) video capture may help deliver a clearer picture compared to a standard 30 fps camera. Note: Some cameras may decrease resolution to achieve a higher frame rate. The maximum frame rate at each resolution is noted in the manufacturer specs (e.g. 4K 30 FPS, HD 60FPS).

There are two main mounting methods: bracket with a suction cup, and adhesive tape. In both cases, there's usually a camera release switch that leaves the mount on the windscreen.

Memory card minimum specifications and preferred brand (where applicable) as recommended by the manufacturer.

Some models have a built in screen so you access settings, footage etc. Others offer the same functions via a paired smartphone app. Models that don't have a screen or an app typically use physical buttons.

This refers to dash cams that include a rear camera or support one as an optional extra. This is often displayed as "CH" in the product name, which stands for channel. E.g. A "2CH" model will support a rear camera.

This allows the camera to keep running when the car is turned off, so that any accidents are still recorded. It requires the dash cam to be hardwired to the car's power. You may need to buy this as an optional extra so check the specifications before buying.

This information can be useful for police and insurers if you're involved in an incident that results in an investigation or claim.

Can the dash cam capture stills in addition to video?