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What dash cam should I buy and should I fit both front and rear facing cameras?
I had Nextbase dash cams fitted to the front and rear of my car recently. I was not entirely satisfied with the fitting (by a well known supplier) or the performance of the cameras. The vehicle was involved in a minor collision recently that was unquestionably the fault of the other party. To support this view we referred to the cameras' recordings and were disappointed to discover that there were large gaps in the recordings of both cameras including the time of the incident.
I referred the matter to the Nextbase technical support department. I was asked to return the dash cams to Nextbase who, following tests, replaced the original cameras. Before buying the Nextbase cameras I had researched matters and found these to be widely recommended. In the event it would appear that the cameras were not of the quality that I had thought. I now wish to have another car fitted with dash cams and have found a smaller company who I am confident will offer a good fitting service. This company fits mainly BlackVue and Garmin. I am not constrained by cost provided the cameras are good quality, reliable and easy to operate and replay. I should be grateful to receive your recommendations and also whether or not to fit separate front and rear cameras.
I referred the matter to the Nextbase technical support department. I was asked to return the dash cams to Nextbase who, following tests, replaced the original cameras. Before buying the Nextbase cameras I had researched matters and found these to be widely recommended. In the event it would appear that the cameras were not of the quality that I had thought. I now wish to have another car fitted with dash cams and have found a smaller company who I am confident will offer a good fitting service. This company fits mainly BlackVue and Garmin. I am not constrained by cost provided the cameras are good quality, reliable and easy to operate and replay. I should be grateful to receive your recommendations and also whether or not to fit separate front and rear cameras.
Asked on 24 September 2018 by David Lines
Answered by
Georgia Petrie
Sorry to hear that you had a bad experience with your Netxbase cameras, we usually have good experiences with the ones we test and generally from our readers' experiences with them too. As for whether to choose the Garmin or the BlackVue, we haven't tested any BlackVue cameras so can't comment too much - but we recently tested the Garmin 55, which we gave 5/5 stars. We think Garmin is a great choice of dash cam, but I'd advise you to read reviews and watch YouTube footage on the cameras that you're interested in to find one you think suits you. For example, the Garmin 55 is voice activated, which can come in handy - but might mean it costs more for an option you don't really want or need. The Garmin 55 doesn't film in 4K though, which isn't a necessity - we often find 1080P suffices - but it will offer the very best possible footage resolution if that's what you're looking for.
In regards to the rear and front dash camera question, it's again down to personal choice really. The majority of drivers who use dash cams only use a front facing cam because if you're rear-ended you'll rarely need to prove it wasn't your fault. Also, dual dash cams/two separate dash cams are expensive. However, a rear dash cam could provide useful info in the event of a hit and run, like reg plate details or to evidence that the other driver demonstrated reckless driving just before hitting your car. It could also prove someone was on their phone at the wheel before they hit you. If you have to stop suddenly and get hit from behind, it could prove that someone was too close/tailgating you beforehand.
If you can afford it, there's no reason not to have a front and rear dash cam, but make sure you read/watch plenty of reviews before buying. It's not uncommon for manufacturers to focus more on the front camera, so the rear camera often films in a lower resolution.
In regards to the rear and front dash camera question, it's again down to personal choice really. The majority of drivers who use dash cams only use a front facing cam because if you're rear-ended you'll rarely need to prove it wasn't your fault. Also, dual dash cams/two separate dash cams are expensive. However, a rear dash cam could provide useful info in the event of a hit and run, like reg plate details or to evidence that the other driver demonstrated reckless driving just before hitting your car. It could also prove someone was on their phone at the wheel before they hit you. If you have to stop suddenly and get hit from behind, it could prove that someone was too close/tailgating you beforehand.
If you can afford it, there's no reason not to have a front and rear dash cam, but make sure you read/watch plenty of reviews before buying. It's not uncommon for manufacturers to focus more on the front camera, so the rear camera often films in a lower resolution.
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