There was a time not too long ago when the idea of mini-dash cameras for cars mounted on your car didn’t seem to make much sense. Who, after all, had any kind of interest in a camera recording your driving activity? How would this be interesting or entertaining to anyone?
In reality, there are a lot of surprising and useful applications for having mini-dash cameras for cars mounted on a dashboard that is capable of being used for photographic and video image capture.
Dash cams are invaluable pieces of evidence in settling disputes over the series of events in a car accident when people are trying to assign fault.
Mini-dash cameras for cars can be used to monitor the activities of other drivers in your family, such as when your teenage children are learning to drive. Mini-dash cameras for cars can even be used to help fight crime by being at the right place at the right time to capture important information such as drunk, negligent or aggressive drivers, or even fights or other accidents that occur on the road.
But not all mini-dash cameras for cars are made equally, even though they all tend to fill the same primary role. So which dash cam is the right one for you? We have a few different suggestions for people to consider based on their needs.
Onn Mini Dashcam: The Best Budget Mini Dash Cam In 2023
For people that want a good mini-dash camera for cars but don’t want to pay premium prices, here’s a good starting device. The Onn Mini Dash Cam is affordably priced at well under $30 but it still gives you a lot of power in this price range.
It’s a full-color camera and holds up surprisingly well at night in addition to giving sharp, crisp images during daytime operation. It’s also easy to use and people can quickly get up to speed with how to set it up in cars and get it recording. Overall, a very good starting camera for people that want good image quality and don’t need a lot of extra premium features.
Garmin Mini Dashcam – Most Features In 2023
Our next dash cam is a bit more expensive, but also comes with quite a number of extra features. The Goluk T2 FHD Dash Cam is a good camera for people that want a little extra coverage when it comes to the unexpected. This camera is all about being prepared when you least expect it.
It has motion detectors, so it activates while parked and senses people nearby, meaning it can be recording when vandals or car thieves approach your vehicle. It also detects crashes, collisions, and other impacts, so if your car is parked and someone gets into a fender bender with it and then drives off, the camera will automatically start recording, giving you a good chance to find out who damaged your car, complete with license plate information.
Quelima SQ12 Mini Camera – The Low Profile Option In 2023
One of the occasional issues that people run into with mini-dash cameras for cars is visibility. That is to say, if a dash cam is very obvious and easy to see, it makes more clever but less scrupulous people careful. If they’re going to do anything to you or your car, they’ll do it out of the line of the sight of the camera they can obviously spot.
Quelima SQ12 Mini Camera is one way to get around this. This mini-dash camera has a unique, smaller, less obtrusive design that makes it easy to mount and hide in areas, like near your rearview mirror. This means that for people who don’t have the luxury of coming out of their own car and carefully inspecting their own, they can often get caught on camera without realizing it when they commit an offense near you.
Quelima SQ23 Mini Camera – The Most Versatile 2023 Dashcam
Most mini-dash cameras for cars are pretty limited when it comes to the placement. Of course, one of the reasons for that is that you want a clear field of view for the camera, but you don’t want it to obstruct your vision either. In many cases, that means that the camera can only be mounted in one area.
The Quelima SQ23 Mini Camera has a few things going for it. In addition an impressive 170-degree field of view that means it can see nearly everything around it, it also comes with three different mounting options. You’re not just confined to one particular position as you would be with the other cameras, so if this is important to you, this is the camera you want to go with.
Youpin DDPai Mini Dash Cam – Best High Definition Dashcam In 2023
The Rexing V1 Dash Cam is similar to the HiCool in that it also has a smaller profile that makes it easier to mount discreetly and be less noticeable unless someone is really looking for it. However, it also puts an emphasis on image quality, with features like wide dynamic range and the ability to record full HD images at 1080p for five hours, or 720p for 10.
It’s a good choice in mini-dash cameras for cars for people that want to make sure the images are crisp and even pleasing in appearance. So if you’re looking for something more than just being able to read license plates, this might be a solid option. It has some good features but is not so packed with frills that it’s too expensive.
Hilitand SQ11 1080P Mini Camera Camcorder – Best Budget Dashcam In 2023
Another camera that is on the low side for pricing is the Hilitand SQ11 1080P Mini Camera Camcorder. This is another good choice for people who just want some basic functionality and aren’t looking for a lot of other features. If all you’re concerned about is getting a recording of your drive, this is the device to go for.
The low price also makes it one of the better mini-dash cameras for cars for business reasons. You can outfit a fleet of vehicles easily at this price point, giving you a bit more peace of mind when it comes to traffic disputes. This is a great way to get a little more security with regards to your company auto insurance claims.
VanTop H609 Dash Camera – Best Mini Rearview Mirror Dashcam In 2023
Our final mini-dash camera is the VanTop H609 Dash Camera. This is definitely more on the premium side, but you get what you pay for. In addition to three different camera mounts, a full 170 degrees of view, and full HD image quality, you also get GPS tracking so your images can be directly tied to a location.
The camera also features other quality of life options such as a notification if you drift from your lane. For people that take their eyes off the road to interact with their phone, this may be a lifesaver in more ways than one. A great, feature-filled option for people that want more out of their cameras.