Dash Cam - Is It Worth It?

Bargain-er on 12/09/2024 - 08:28
Last edited 12/09/2024 - 10:10 by 1 other user

Hi brain trusts, thinking to install dash cams (4K res front, 2K res rear) and would like to hear your opinions/experiences.

Some YouTube reviewers mentioned it's better to use GoPro for image quality but much less convenience (and no parking recording due to risk of getting stolen) + overheat (?). Thinking to get Viofo A229 pro, but not sure if it can make up licence plate well (moving cars or lowlight).

What's your experience? I have insta 360 x3 and probably will test it how it goes but X3 tends to overheat after some time. Just not sure spending $800 installed will worth it.

TIA.

Automotive Dash Camera

Comments

  • sumyungguy on 12/09/2024 - 08:34
    +1

    I'm a BlackVue user and haven't had any issues to date. Do your action cams have GPS speed recording?

    • Bargain-er on 12/09/2024 - 09:04

      Not too sure. Is it for speed cam evidence?

      • sumyungguy on 12/09/2024 - 09:52

        Yes, helpful for speeding infringements and most other incidents. I find it interesting to see the displayed speed when watching dashcam clips online.

        • CurlCurl on 12/09/2024 - 16:06

          Yes, helpful for speeding infringements

          Providing it's had testing, certification and maintenance every 3 months it will be fine.

          • sumyungguy on 12/09/2024 - 16:14

            @CurlCurl: Not gonna win in court, but a first round appeal may succeed with dashcam footage vs police ICV, especially where a handheld LIDAR is involved

    • HeWhoKnows on 13/09/2024 - 14:38

      Navman dash cams are excellent as well.
      All info is downloaded from GPS each time its turned on (with car ignition) so not much to set up

      Is it worth it ?

      You only need to use it once as evidence for any incident and its very worthwhile.

      Do you need 4K?…not really.
      You will fill up your memory card in no time.
      Standard 1080P HD works fine.

      Do you need a rear camera?….
      Probably not a bad idea if its easy enough to wire in.
      But if anyone rear-ends you its always thier fault.
      The jolt will be picked up by the front camera anyway.

  • bobbified on 12/09/2024 - 08:42
    +17

    Dash Cam, Is It Worth It?

    Yes - there's too many f-heads that wont take responsibility for their own actions and will happily twist a situation to try and make it "your fault" (even when you're not). This happens way too frequently.

    Just not sure spending $800 installed will worth it.

    You don't have to spend that much - there are cheaper options available that will do the same thing. But even if you did choose to spend that much, you'll be glad you did if you ever came across one of the abovementioned-type of person and it becomes your word vs their's. It is so much easier dealing with insurance etc when there's a video that clearly shows what happened,

    If you go through some of the car-related threads in this forum, you can get a better idea of how frustrating it can be.

  • hocus on 12/09/2024 - 08:46
    +5

    At the very least a FHD 1080p so you have hard evidence in case of a disputed fault accident.

    E.g. I was in a crash where a ute driver was at fault but got his mates to make up a fake witness statement.
    If it weren't for the footage from my $100 dashcam I likely would've been found at fault and had to pay $800 in excess + future premium increases.

    IMO there's diminishing returns the more features you get (2K/4K, parking mode, rear camera).
    Driving a shitbox during the day I don't need parking mode, but if you have a new car you want to protect or drive a lot at night those features can be handy.

  • kerfuffle on 12/09/2024 - 09:04
    +8

    If it means not having to wait five months for your insurance claim to be resolved, yes.

    (I now have a dashcam)

  • Bargain-er on 12/09/2024 - 09:05
    +1

    Thanks all for your inputs. Will probably get the Viofo A229 pro. Having a new car means more toys to buy lol

    • airzone on 12/09/2024 - 09:59
      +1

      You'll be happy with that.. Most dashcams all use the same image sensors and processors. This one is using the new STARVIS 2 sensor on both cameras and it's a good bump over the previous generation, especially at night.

  • MS Paint on 12/09/2024 - 09:09
    +4

    I look forward to your future content on Dash Cam Owners Australia

    • 87percent on 12/09/2024 - 09:52
      +2

      I sent a video to them about a month ago, still haven’t seen it on their videos

      Some (profanity) turned right while I was going straight. Luckily I could avoid it, and also that the kids were in the car, or there would be some bad language heard on the Dashcam!

      • MS Paint on 12/09/2024 - 09:56
        +4

        Bad language is what makes the channel.

  • Bignudge on 12/09/2024 - 09:40

    Of course it's worth it… and you don't even have to spend that much either.

    If you're on a budget then a VIOFO A119 MINI 2 for about $250 (all up with SD card) will do wonders.

    If you're feeling fancy then an Vantrue Nexus 4 Pro 3ch will be around $500. That shit will get you covered… no problems.

    Note: Installation costs? Screw that, plug it into the cigarette lighter port and call it a day. Better have it recording than caring about a few wires in the car. You could always tuck it away into the trims later on.

    • Bargain-er on 12/09/2024 - 10:11

      How about the rear and parking recording? Need to be hard wired isn't it? Vantrue Nexus 4 Pro or Viofo A229 Pro… 🤔 Thanks

      • Bignudge on 12/09/2024 - 10:46
        +1

        1. The easiest way is to plug the front dash cam into the cigarette lighter port. If you have a rear cam, it can also go into either the same port OR into the front camera (depending on which model dash cam you buy). There's a single black cord that runs to the rear camera and I just let it run beside/under my drivers seat, and under the rear passanger mats, and inbetween the seats and back to the back window.

        2. I was in the same dilemma between the two but went with the Vantrue Nexus 4 Pro due to YouTube comparisons showing it had a better firmware that allowed better night time plate recognition. (The firmwares between the two may have been updated now so idk which is better… but both have the new Stravis 2 sensor, and capacitors instead of batteries).

        3. Parking mode… I just bought "high capacity" powerbanks from CEX. Yes they're 2nd handed but provide 24 months of warranty. If it degreades due to heat =refund/replacement. I've made an external 3 pole switch which toggles between 12V socket powered, battery powered, or off. (And yes the powerbank is automatically charged when you start the car)

        I bought mine from Amazon as for their excellent return/refunds policy. May be more expensive but they'll shove your money back in your mouth 3 years down the road if you give a hint of it having a problem.

        • Bargain-er on 12/09/2024 - 12:10

          Where did you buy the 3 pole switch? Link?

          You said, "There's a single black cord that runs to the rear camera"

          Is this Vantrue Nexus 4 Pro? Thanks

      • Blargman2001 on 14/09/2024 - 01:59

        Don't know about you but parking mode is illegal here in SA. Legislation says dash cams are not allowed to be on while parked in SA.

  • bargaino on 12/09/2024 - 09:40
    +2

    Even a $20 or $50 dashcam will tell you a lot. In an accident, you often just need to know the sequence of events. The other vehicle does not even need to be in frame. Is $800 more worth it? Unlikely.

    • Bargain-er on 12/09/2024 - 10:13

      Ah right, was reading to get cameras capable to make up license plate

      • John Kimble on 12/09/2024 - 11:21
        +1

        It sounds like a great feature to have, but my understanding is most dashcams struggle to get licence plates due to all the variables like sensor size, movement, lack of light at night.

        Wouldn't that mainly be for more serious issues like hit and runs where you don't/can't exchange details?

        Usually you would get out and exchange details, take photos of licence plates and damage etc.

      • TheFreaK on 12/09/2024 - 12:19
        +10

        Majority of dashcams struggle to get license plates, best bet is to literally say the license plate out loud and have your dashcam record audio

        • Loopholio on 13/09/2024 - 11:12

          ^ This. Always have audio on and read out any license plate you want to remember.

    • Bruceflix on 12/09/2024 - 10:55

      Viofo A229pro regularly around $400

  • darshu on 12/09/2024 - 09:45
    +6

    Dashcams are well worth it. You do not want to get into [this situation] without
    a piece of video evidence. (https://www.reddit.com/r/sydney/comments/1dmgpmk/these_peopl…)

    • Bargain-er on 12/09/2024 - 10:16

      Wtf 🤮

    • Bruceflix on 12/09/2024 - 10:55

      Seems almost unbelievable

    • Euphemistic on 12/09/2024 - 12:32

      Thats nuts. Like how the dude filming it just wanders over films her, then moves away to get the wide shot. Nothing says scam like not checking on someone supposedly hit by a car but continuing to calmly film.

    • ihfree on 12/09/2024 - 18:56

      Damn, can't believe that scam is happening in Sydney.

  • Bruceflix on 12/09/2024 - 10:54

    Got a Viofo A229 Pro installed a couple of weeks ago. Very happy with it. Small price to pay for peace of mind with insurance claims.

    • carmarriner on 13/09/2024 - 10:51

      You in Melb? Recommend installer?

      • Bruceflix on 13/09/2024 - 16:21

        Sorry can't help with Vic.

  • plmko on 12/09/2024 - 11:39
    +1

    I have a trashy car which I use when I know I'll park in bad areas.

    In the last 3 years I've had 2 minor accidents where the drivers just didn't care about rules and ploughed into me.

    It is complicated because my car only has 3rd Party and they have none. I do not feel compelled to use my insurance as I see zero reason to fund the mistakes of other people who are reckless.

    Because I have a dashcam I have persued them for repairs with a lawyer. Ambulence chasers are more than happy to fund your case if you have such easy evidence. Insurance completely redundant.

    IMO the quality of the dash cam isn't important. It is only for the small events where someone does a hit and run or you value a fancy parking mode etc. That will determine how much to pay otherwise some $60 dashcam works the same.

  • TheFreaK on 12/09/2024 - 12:18

    Got a Garmin DC Mini 2 and works like a charm, mate got one as well and his is sweet too

    Nice and simple, all in a small convenient form factor

  • pao2x on 12/09/2024 - 12:29

    I have a $40 dashcam that has reasonable quality day and night and a 5m USB cable that I hid under the trims

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qXWJRkiz54
    https://blackvue.com/how-to-hide-your-dashcam-wires-the-ulti…

  • FitDVR on 12/09/2024 - 13:03
    +2

    definitely worth it! If you’re involved in an accident, a dash cam can provide a clear record of what happened, which can be crucial for insurance claims and legal disputes.

  • boomramada on 12/09/2024 - 15:25
    +2

    Been using it for 10 years, been driving for about 20k per year. Still no actions.
    And I just checked it, my dashcam still works LOL

    Probably worth it if you're in Russia or Sydney LOL

    • Bargain-er on 12/09/2024 - 16:22

      Yeah, u dun want to have to use it :) it's just like an insurance.

  • Brucet on 12/09/2024 - 15:39
    +1

    I spend less than $150 for front dash cam. It did help once for car accidents.

  • AustriaBargain on 12/09/2024 - 16:08

    Just get it. Better to get it now than after you need it, when you'll still want to buy one anyway.

    • Bargain-er on 12/09/2024 - 16:24

      Yeah just thinking which way to go. Budget or spend a bit. Watching utube, I may go to Vantrue Nexus 4 Pro or Viofo A229 Pro.

      • sumyungguy on 12/09/2024 - 16:26

        Consider also the highly rated Nextbase 622GW

        • Bargain-er on 12/09/2024 - 16:33

          Thanks, might be out budget. $468 just for front cam.

  • Nutrino on 12/09/2024 - 20:18

    For pete sake, you dont need to spend $800 on a freaken dash cam.

  • coffeeinmyveins on 12/09/2024 - 20:57
    +1

    . Thinking to get Viofo A229 pr

    Got this. it works great. just get it, stop over thinking it.

    • supersabroso on 14/09/2024 - 01:38

      Yep, same. I'd recommend A229 Pro for the front and A139 Pro for the rear. I had an open and shut case that NRMA wouldn't accept. Went through crash claims and NRMA still won't accept it but they were more than happy to accept it thanks to the dashcam footage and now they will take NRMA to court for free money. Saved like $20k for something that cost $300. The new cars like the Haval H6 have a usb port built onto the rear view mirror so installation is a breeze, no special wiring required. There was minimal work at the rear as well thanks to the cigarette lighter & separate dash cam, this will also double your footage (2x 512GB microSD cards).

      Day time video is crystal clear as long as HDR is turned off. Night time video is pretty bad as usual but you can actually see the license plates for one frame if HDR is turned on which is a very new feature very few dashcams can do.

  • Massive Flog on 12/09/2024 - 22:01
    +2

    Everyone should have a dash cam.

    I was recently involved in a(nother) minor accident. 100% other party's fault (failure to give way, entered my lane and contact was made). The driver's husband kept insisting that we take my car to his mate to fix. I declined and told him I'm going through insurance.

    I've been getting text messages from Recoveriescorp for nearly two weeks. One of them mentioned RACV insurance as the company I apparently owed the debt to. I called RACV today. Long story short, the other driver put in their own claim with their insurer (RACV, obviously), telling them that they were stopped at the traffic lights and I ran into the back of their car.

    If I didn't have the dash cam footage, I may well be up for the repairs for the other party's car. You can't argue with dash cam footage.

    • 2025 on 13/09/2024 - 22:39

      telling them that they were stopped at the traffic lights and I ran into the back of their car.

      I’d love to know if they cancel the persons policy when they make a fraudulent claim like this.

    • supersabroso on 14/09/2024 - 01:44

      Yep, so many people who were never taught to be decent and own up to their own mistakes. Everyone wants to say it was the other person's fault regardless of what happened. I've heard stories of people hitting the rear and then just driving off hoping that you don't have a dash cam to prove it.

  • numloxx on 13/09/2024 - 09:15
    +2

    Highly recommend dashcams. I have the Viofi 139pro 3 channel (I do ride share driving) and they are well worth the price. Had a road rage incident just a few days ago and submitted the footage to police. Licence plate is very clear. Spend a good amount on good quality cameras. The GoPro or 365 cameras might be too wide angle and you will lose detail. Dashcams are designed for this purpose. Mine are hardwired using a parking switch device. It keeps them running into the voltage drops below a certain level which you can select. This also saved me when somebody scratched my car a few months ago.

    Just watch DashCam Owners Australia…

    • Bargain-er on 13/09/2024 - 11:17

      Did you catch the guy scratched your car? How did it go?

  • carmarriner on 13/09/2024 - 10:53

    Hey All, can anyone recommend a Viofo A229 installer in Melb?

  • LFO on 13/09/2024 - 18:39

    What's your experience?

    For front and back dashcams I much prefer to have the same model/brand installed for front and back recording.

    Yes it will need two (2) SD cards but install is a lot simpler in particular for modern car models with 12V or USB socket a front and rear.

    Also give redundancy if/when one dashcam dies the other could be swapped up until getting a replacement.

    • Bargain-er on 13/09/2024 - 18:42

      Same model and brand meaning 2 front dash cams instead of front and rear package? If yes, Will front dash cam a bit big for rear?

  • bruhhh on 13/09/2024 - 21:31
    +1

    Yes! They're 100% worth it.

    I personally have a Viofo a129 Duo I think? I've hardwired mine but they come with a cigarette plug with extra USB ports so its super easy to install yourself.
    I had an accident a few months ago and the only thing that saved me was the rear camera footage. A dodgy truck driver that was trying to commit insurance fraud and even tried to threaten and blackmail me once he found out I had a dash cam. He even worked for the same company that I work for, it was a really bad situation, but if I didn't have that rear camera, I would've been denied my claim.
    If I recall most dash cams use the same sensors as the Viofo's these days so they're the best bang for buck. Also purchased it on Prime when it was a lot cheaper too.

  • 2025 on 13/09/2024 - 22:02
    +1

    You do need to set some expectations with what a dashcam can and can’t do - you won’t be able to read number plates all the time, it depends on the light level and relative speed between your car and the other car, and other things. No camera will catch 100% of number plates under every condition.

    Seriously consider hard wiring with parking mode, however, even with parking mode and g sensors, you may get some pricks denting the door and be none the wiser until you wash your new car a week later.

    I experienced this recently and the impact of her door wasn’t quite hard enough to trigger the motion sensor, however after spending a some time trawling through the footage, I found the section of video with the dreaded sound but no movement of the car. (After manually checking for a while, I opened the videos to look at the audio wave form on a PC and found it pretty quickly) And because it happened on the side of the car, there was no actual video of her hitting the car with her door, just footage of her walking up and driving away.

    Consider a camera that has a channel to face the driver, as it also gives you some the out-the-side visibility.

    Look for a camera that uses capacitors instead of batteries, as batteries that are in GoPros and some dash cams don’t like being baked in the sun.

    I recommend a high endurance SD card, from a reputable retailer and manufacturer, the bigger the better.

    GPS is great for time sync, and proving you weren’t exceeding the speed limit, however it can also prove that you were exceeding it aha. It’s kinda handy to go back on the video when you buzz past a speed camera and wonder on the drive home “was I speeding” you can see the speed you were doing to set your mind at ease.

    Mount it within the arc of the windscreen wipers, but out of the way of ADAS sensors.

  • AuQld on 13/09/2024 - 22:14

    Xiaomi, never had any issues with any of their gear. Have two of them from around 200$ front and back, one has reverse camera also. No issues, easily installed by myself. Caught a car flipping on the motorway, the dangerous driver that caused it got dobed in by myself, got a side impact, guy never paid wasn't worth pursuing though the courts even if I could find him.

  • 91rs on 13/09/2024 - 22:20

    I've got them in my cars, 2CH 1080 minimum, two have batteries to be able to run while parked.
    No issues with quality of them even the oldest one which is a Thinkware from Korea about 10 years ago, the two others are Blackvue.

    The only downside I've felt is more related to insurance and the sh!t state that VIC is with so many unreg cars and bikes, one car was hit and run by a motorcyclist which was on fake\stolen plates OR just unregistered after being sold.
    Even with clear good footage of what happened, the plate, what the person looked like, as we didn't get the particulars from them (they did a runner and took off) insurance charged us the excess and refused to budge. Going on 18 months and insurance still don't care and we won't see that money back.

    A lot of back and forth with the police as the first couple of officers didn't want to get involved as it was not important enough for them (refused to even admit he could read the plate from the footage), the 3rd officer did get someone to do a check to the last owner who said it'd been sold and couldn't provide further info.

    So dashcams in those instances are mostly useless, I'd had hoped as they could see that we were not at fault that we'd not cop the excess.

  • OhNoUShiz on 13/09/2024 - 22:52

    Definitely worth it. Installed myself to save costs laying the cable behind the airbags as well. In fact all new modern cars should have it as fixed feature.

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