Updated on February 21, 2023
Where exactly should you mount your dashcam? This is a very important question, one that is fundamental to vehicle owners with dashcams. This depends on a few questions. Yes, especially given the name, it may seem that installing a dashcam on the dashboard is the most logical thing to do, but that can directly interfere with the view and make for unsafe driving. In this brief article, I will discuss the best and worst places to mount your camera within your vehicle’s interior.
Things To Consider
How About The Dashboard?
Ideally, when driving in peak traffic, you should be able to see the rear wheels of the vehicle in front of you. This is to keep at least a minimally safe distance at all times. With the camera installed on the vehicle’s dashboard, that view can at times become somewhat impaired. You would ideally want to have the dash as clutter-free as possible. Therefore if possible try to avoid this area for increased safety and best visual ability.
What About Discretion?
Ideally, you would also not want the dashcam itself to be easily picked up by anybody. Discreet is the name of the game when you have such a device installed in your car. It could easily become the target of a thief looking to sell it on. There are a number of other arguments as to whether they should be in plain view or hidden out of immediate sight, but that’s to be covered in a different article in the near future. So, depending on the color, finish, and material of the camera you can slightly change the position of the unit. If it is black and in a matte finish, which is probably the best combination, you can mount the dashcam anywhere on the windshield, and it would be discreet enough to be passed.
The Windshield
Barring the dashboard, the second and most common option is to mount somewhere on the windshield. Now, that is something ideally suitable, depending of course where it is placed. A lot of drivers do prefer to install dashcams on the front windshield because it allows them to record a clear, unobstructed view of the road ahead, and doesn’t interfere with the view whatsoever when driving. The best position is right down the center of the windshield, about a few inches down from the headliner. If your dashcam comes with a suction cup mount, you should leave enough space so that the device can be easily installed. But which location would be best? Ideally, just behind the rear view mirror. This is the one area of the windshield that is already usually blocked. So, if you install it just behind the rearview mirror, you don’t prevent any additional viewing area, which is perfect.
Also, for best results in terms of view angle, when installing, take into consideration that the camera is placed right under the rear view mirror handle. This is more or less the center of the windshield. This will ensure that the central view looking out of the windscreen will cover the whole of the road in front as well as the bonnet of the vehicle you are driving, which is critical if you have a car camera with a relatively cheap dash cam with a low view angle of say 140° or less.
Suction Mounts
The mount of your camera is also an important consideration. There are two types of a mount in general. First of all, is the most common and best which is the suction mount. The second is the adhesive mount. With a suction mount, you need far more space than with an adhesive mount. So choose the area to install the dashcam accordingly based on whichever type comes with your device.
Rear View Mirror Cameras
Possibly the best solution is to buy a rear view mirror dash cam. These are literally cameras that clip straight over your existing rear view mirror. There is no need to mess around choosing a position for the suction mount or adhesive mount, and no worry of obstructing your view.
Dual Camera Dash Cam
In some instances, you may want to install an additional camera that points towards the back of the vehicle. For recording out the rear of the car you can mount another dash cam if you like in the rear area of the interior, for example, on the rear windscreen, though it might be a bit too much in terms of wiring. There are also alternative devices which offer the same functionality, which is known as a dual camera dash cam, which have twin lenses that can be rotated to whichever direction you want. For example, one lens can point in front while the other records everything happening behind. These are particularly good for people who want maximum coverage but without the added cost and wiring mess.
Top 5 Dashcams Of 2023
| Brand / Model | Display | View Angle | GPS | WIFI | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garmin Dash Cam 65 | 2" | 180° | Yes | Yes | 1.6 x 0.8 x 2.2” |
| KDLINKS X3 | 2" | 165° | No | No | 2.5 x 2.5 x 0.7" |
| Vantrue N2 Pro | 1.5" | 170° | Optional | No | 5.4 x 4.6 x 3.8" |
| Apeman C860 | 3" | 170°+170° | No | No | 3.5 x 2 x 1.2" |
| Rexing V1P Pro | 2.4" | 170°+170° | Yes | Yes | TBC |
With more than 20 years of experience in the automotive industry, Ash possesses a deep understanding of the diverse needs and challenges faced by drivers on the road. His relentless commitment to road safety and ongoing research is fueled by a genuine desire to create safer environments for all drivers.
An additional consideration for placement is the area covered by the wipers. The cam should be located where the wipers keep the windshield clear of rain, snow and ice. Something that those of us in the north deal with quite often.
i’m curious for the best place to place the rear camera for station wagons. i have a volvo 850 wagon, with the 3rd brake light where the windshield wiper is in the middle of the rear window. would that be the best place or up on the upper portion of the window where the top edge of the wiper would clear rain and such?
Looking at pictures of the volvo 850 wagon I would say the best position to mount your dashcam is at the top of the rear window, not near the 3rd brake light.
What about using the power magic pro? My fuse panel is outside of the cabin, under the hood.
An additional consideration for placement is the area covered by the wipers. The cam should be located where the wipers keep the windshield clear of rain, snow and ice. Something that those of us in the north deal with quite often. Yup, and if you do that, you’ll be breaking the law.
Very helpful comments. I have another car recently and have to remount the car cam..usually center top of windscreen..
Would add that after a three years break from driving how standard has dropped. Would not be without dashcam..
I think you need to angle the dashcam a bit, in order to pick up what is coming at you from the roadside. If someone hits you from the RHS, for LHD cars, it is important that the relative positions of the two cars are clearly shown.
I looked at some footage this morning, where I came out in front of a car on the right – just being clumsy – and the footage didn’t reveal the other car at all !! Suppose we had an accident and I swore blind that the other guy was going far too fast, and was at a good safe distance for me to come out in front of him? With 170 degree cover, I am going to angle the dashcamera to get a good look at the approach from the right.
most cam with suction are falling down when is hot or to cold ,why there is no magnet mounting which is not depend from temperature inside vehicle ?
Hmmm, glass isn’t magnetic… I use goopy-tape.
I just bought the Garmin 55 for my semi truck. Just realized after looking at your page that i didn’t even think about the fact that I would have wanted audio. What is the best one for a big truck with: