Dashcam

[Canwehavesunshineplease]

Hi, what are people’s recommendations for a dashcam please? How much do I need to spend to get something half decent, and specifications I should look for? Want to get my young daughters one each (one has just passed her driving test) Is just a front one sufficient or should I get a rear one too? Anyone has experiences of one?

They both have a 09 plate ford fiesta so quite an old car if that has any bearing

I'm interested too OP. Also if it's worth paying extra to have it wired in. I think I've been watching too many dash cam videos on TikTok!

@SacreBleugh Yes I was wondering this too if they should be wired in

@SacreBleugh sounds like you have been doing some research already 😅

Following with interest as I'd like to get one.

I want one too, but I have no idea where to start!

I would go for a Nextbase (in fact I have).
I recently added the rear camera option having seen a video of someone rear-ending a car and pushing it into the car in front, and it then driving off.

It is hardwired as I didn't like the cable hanging down.

It is a 522GW and cost about £150 a few years ago.

Interestingly (maybe) someone pulled across in front of me on a roundabout and the insurance said without the dashcam footage they would have said both parties would be regarded as being at fault and I would have had to pay the excess of £350. With the evidence I didn't have to pay it.

Would Halfords hardwire a camera?

I have a Nexbase - it's not wired in, thank goodness for gaffer tape! - but I can't get the rear one to record.

@TwoLeftSocksWithHoles thank you for replying. That is interesting as one of the main reasons I want my 17 year old to have one is for exactly that example you have given. She has to negotiate a roundabout twice a day where people are often in the wrong lane and cut across seemingly oblivious (has happened to me too numerous times, it’s well
known for it in our area) and a 50/50 accident where actually it’s not her fault at all would be really unfair plus of course the impact on her insurance premium.

@YabaJaba yes they do, I believe it costs £50

Thanks that's good to know. 😀

I have Nextbase front and rear and got them to hardwire it in.

I have a Nextbase too, I changed cars recently and it is now hardwired in whereas before DH had fitted it as a plug and play. Having it hardwired means the battery in it should always be able to record a collision when the car is parked up, if it is on plug and play you have to make sure you keep the battery in the dashcam charged.

I've been using a dash cam for a while now and it's honestly given me peace of mind, especially after a minor bump where the other driver tried to blame me. The footage clearly showed they were at fault.

Mine loops the recording and saves clips automatically when it detects an impact, which has been really useful. Make sure the cable is long enough to reach neatly around the windscreen.

Did you fit it yourself?

Dd has one but I don't know how to fit it!. Any tips?

We got one for both our daughters from Amazon, just under £50 and they seem
pretty good. They’ve downloaded clips which are pretty clear, not had to use it in the event of a claim yet thank goodness but it is handy for piece of mind. My husband fitted them in their cars easy enough, he traced the wire around and managed to tuck it behind the car trim. We haven’t wired up the rear view camera though as it’s hard wiring in to work

I wouldn't recommend Halfords, my experience was dreadful. Clearly inexperienced technicians who left my car in a dangerous state and a potential fire risk. (piggy back fuse installed the wrong way round).