Short for a dashboard camera, a dash cam or dashcam is a specialized digital camera designed for use in a vehicle. It records footage from the front windshield, getting a similar perspective to the driver. Depending on the dash cam, the videos are saved to a storage device like a flash drive or automatically synced with a smartphone app.

Many dash cams have features in addition to recording footage. Some collect data about your driving, including GPS location or speed. Some dash cams, like the ones sold by comma.ai, are developed for special tasks like automated driver assistance. Other dashcam manufacturers provide an additional camera that mounts to a rear window for recording additional footage behind the car.

While some high-end cars like Teslas include built-in dash cameras, most dash cams are purchased from third parties and sold separately. Aftermarket dash cams can be mounted on the front windshield or built into the back of a rear-view mirror. It is also possible to repurpose an action camera like a GoPro as a dash cam.

Why do people use dash cams?

People purchase and use dash cams for many reasons. The most common uses are the following:

  • Record evidence in the event of a car accident or hit-and-run.
  • For surveillance purposes, if the car is broken into while left unattended.
  • For parents to monitor the use of their car by children.
  • For recreational purposes like creative video projects or documenting a road trip.

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