Christmas Gift Ideas: The Increasingly Popular Dashboard Camera

If you watch even a little bit of television, you’re probably used to seeing scenes of spectacular accidents happening around the world. What you may not realize is that these videos are captured by a dashboard mounted camera, commonly called a “dash cam,” that constantly records what’s happening in front of your car. A wide range of models are available on the Internet and in large automotive specialty stores. Many people use these cameras as a preventative measure—if ever an accident occurs, the video recording will demonstrate exactly what happened.

It’s a relatively simple accessory to use. Basically, the dash cam connects to your vehicle’s accessory outlet for power. It records non-stop for hours, with the total time of the loop depending on the device’s memory. If ever there’s a jolt, like in the case of a fender bender, the video segment in question is automatically saved.

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With big-name manufacturers like Garmin becoming interested in dash cams, the offer is now extremely varied. Some models hook to your rearview mirror, while others mount to the windshield or dashboard.

Dashboard cameras can cost upwards of $200, but if you take the time to browse the various websites that sell them, you’re sure to find some reasonable quality options for less than $100.