Dash cameras. Until recent years, you could only find them in cop cars, trucks and commercial vehicles. They’re great gadgets that can save you money on insurance & are irreplaceable in the event of an accident. It’s easy to understand that having a camera to record everything that happens around you when driving is crucial in stressful situations.
It can help provide video evidence and prove you innocent in court, even when other drivers are pointing the finger & putting fault on you. If there isn’t a dash cam that came pre-installed in your automobile, you’re missing out. We’ve written an article on the reasons to get a dash cam, and many readers have been reaching out after purchasing, wondering how to install a dash cam.
The good news is that most dash cams aren’t complex. They’re universally designed for all cars, so once you fully understand the process, it isn’t hard to troubleshoot. By the end of this article, you’ll be an expert at installing a dash cam by yourself in less than an hour.
The reason I’m writing this is because my tech-savvy friend recently took my advice and bought a dash camera, however he ran into some issues during the installation. Today I’ll be going over the entire installation process front-to-back, as well as answering some basic dash cam questions people have during install.
After these are covered in complete detail, we’ll move on more advanced troubleshooting, such as the questions that my tech-savvy friend had throughout the install. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to install a dash cam!
Installation Preparation & getting ready for the road
Read through the manufacturer’s instructions carefully, as they may provide specific guidance for your particular model. We won’t discuss it in this post but check out our installation guide on hardwiring for further details on how to hardwire. Before you begin the installation process, gather the necessary tools and materials:
- Your dash cam and its included accessories
- A microSD card (if required)
- A power cable or hardwiring kit
- Trim removal tools (if needed)
- Cleaning cloth and alcohol wipes
Regardless of your choice of dash cam, installing the dash cam properly is a process every user must go through to ensure their cam is safe & secure! Fortunately, it’s a quite simple process. This guide will provide you with tips that make installation easy.
Step-By-Step Installation Guide
1. Choose your Mounting Location
The first and most important step in installing your dash cam is determining the best mounting location. As mentioned earlier, the ideal spot is typically behind the rearview mirror, because it provides a clear, unobstructed view of the road without hindering your vision.
Keep in mind that some dash cams may have specific mounting requirements or perform better when positioned differently. When deciding on the mounting location, consider the following:
- Visibility – Ensure that the camera has a clear view of the road and that no objects, such as the rearview mirror or sun visors, obstruct its field of vision.
- Cable management – Choose a location that allows for easy and tidy cable routing, minimizing the visibility of wires.
- Accessibility – Make sure you can easily reach the dash cam to adjust settings, retrieve the memory card, or perform maintenance.
After you’ve picked the perfect spot, clean the area thoroughly with an alcohol wipe to make sure your mount gets a strong & secure adhesion. Read our full article on where to mount your dash cam for a more in-depth guide.
2. Attach the Mount
Most dash cams come with either a suction cup or adhesive mount. Suction cup mounts are best if you have multiple vehicles because they’re easy to remove. Adhesive mounts typically have an attachment bracket and an adhesive surface – so it’ll permanently attach to your windshield / dashboard / window.
If your device has a suction cup mount, firmly press it against the windshield in your chosen location. For adhesive mounts, peel off the protective backing then carefully place the mount on the windshield while applying pressure (to create a strong bond).
Optional: Using tape instead of a mount
As mentioned in our dash cam price guide, quality cameras aren’t very expensive. If you haven’t purchased a dash cam yet, read that before doing so. If you bought a cheap dash cam from Amazon/China, you’ll most likely have to go old-school route of adding a carpentry level and adhesive paint tapes.
Tape is easy and works great most of the time, but obviously a legit mount will secure your dash cam better. An unfinished surface is best for painters tape but it needs to be carefully set to the edge. After your car’s secured, attach the cam and pull the surface off the bottom of the tape, revealing the adhesive. Remove tape by lifting while pulling down.
3. Connect the Power Cable
Next, connect the power cable to your dash cam. Most dash cams come with a long USB cable that plugs into your vehicle’s 12V cigarette outlet or USB port. If your car doesn’t have a built-in USB port, you’ll need to hardwire it OR buy an adapter USBs.
When you’re plugging in the power cable, make sure it’s connected to both the dash cam & power source. If you’re using a hardwiring kit, follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully, as the process may vary depending on your vehicle’s make and model.
4. Route the dash cam wires to avoid a mess
To achieve a clean and professional-looking installation, take the time to properly hide the power cables. Tuck the cable behind the trim at the top of the windshield, using a trim removal tool if necessary. Work your way down the side of the windshield, hiding the cable behind the weather stripping and trim.
If your vehicle has side curtain airbags, be cautious not to interfere with their deployment path when routing the cables. Continue tucking the cable along the edge of the dashboard, securing it with cable ties or adhesive clips if needed.
For a rear-mounted camera, route the cable along the headliner, down the side pillar, and under the carpet or trim to the rear of the vehicle. Take care not to pinch or strain the cable, as this can lead to damage over time.
5. Adjust the Camera Angle
Now that the camera is mounted and the cables are cleaned up, it’s time to fine-tune the camera angle. Most dash cams have adjustable lenses or swivel mounts that allow you to point the camera in the desired direction.
Aim the camera slightly downward, so that the horizon is in the upper third of the frame. This positioning makes sure you record a balanced view of the road and sky to gauge weather conditions from the footage.
If your dash cam has a built-in screen, you can use the live-view to make necessary adjustments. If not, you may need to use your smartphone or computer to connect to the dash cam’s Wi-Fi or review the footage to ensure proper alignment.
6. Final Configuration Testing
Test your dash cam to make sure it’s working correctly before hitting the road. Start your vehicle and wait for the dash cam to start recording. If your device has a built-in screen, check to make sure the live view is displaying. Pay attention to any warning lights or error messages that may appear on the device or in the companion app.
Additional Notes on Rear Camera Installation
For users with front and rear dash cam systems, similar installation concepts can be implemented. Depending on the car, it might require more wire. One thing to keep in mind is to always install the front dash cam first! After the frontal dash cam is installed, mount your rear dash cam in between the headlights on your rear windshield.
Make sure your camera is pointed in the opposite direction to the car camera cable, as this makes for a much easier connection with the rear camera cable. For both front and rear dash cams, you’ll want the rear as close to the center of the windshield as far as possible.
The rear camera can be positioned far enough away for better viewing distance than the camera’s front camera can. We recommend using defrost wire & a heater for rear cameras so they’re aligned quicker. If you don’t own any, then you’ll want to install the cam as high as possible, in line with the top of the rear windshield to ensure it’s level.
A rear dash cam provides guidelines that include the best way to route the cable for the rear dash cam power wires. For safety purposes, make sure the wiring isn’t exposed – we talk about the importance of this in our post regarding hiding dash cam cables.
Since the dashcam should be placed near the rearview mirror anyway, you won’t need any extenders. The only situation I can think that you’d need to use an extender for the rear dash is if you’re driving a limo. Power splitters can be used for cables that don’t exceed two inches.
Special Cases: Advanced FAQ
You may need an Ethernet cable in this case, as it’s usually located under dash. Just plug the cable inside the gap between the windshield and dash and the doorway and into the port.
Note: OBD-II ports can be plugged on when a vehicle is turned on, thus this is a very good alternative to hard wiring for use in parking cameras. Almost every dash cam comes with a cable, and it’s quite easy to route the wire safely throughout the car’s interior.
A simple but most obstructive means is a universal auxiliary light-source cable. Most USB-powered cables have no charge adapter. They can easily be plugged in to the camera, then connected to a secondary port for auxiliary electricity.
Deleting footage depends on which type of dash cam you have. Certain dash cams store video on an SD card while some in the cloud. Because it isn’t as easy as you’d think, check out our full guide on how to delete dash cam footage.
Yes, as long as your dash cam supports parking mode and is properly hardwired to your vehicle’s fuse box, it can continue recording even when your car is parked. However, this feature may require an additional battery pack to prevent draining your vehicle’s battery if it isn’t hardwired.
Hard-wiring requires attaching a grounded wire to a 12V cigarette lighter outlet to the harness. The majority of dash cam manufacturers sell hardwired & accessories kit which you can purchase for as low as $20. It is much simpler and safer to use OBD-II relative to conventional wiring.
Hard-wiring provides constant power when parked or when driving. Using connection to the dash cam, your car controls the voltage in the vehicle to prevent battery drains.
If you are utilizing the parking modes on your Dashcam, it should undoubtable be hardwired, otherwise your car battery will likely die when you’re not using it. Hard wiring connects directly into the dashboard camera and regulates energy so there’s no battery drain.
Hardwired should only be used if you want your dashcam to be recording 24/7 (parking feature). Not all dash cams have a parking feature therefore hardwire kits are not needed in most situations.
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