The best dual dash cams: see everything

It seems reasonable to think that if you are wanting onboard recording in your car for security and safety purposes, you'll want a device that records not just where you are going but where you've just been.

Car accidents don't only occur in front of you, rear-ending jostles for position as the most common form of a car collision. Thus, it pays to keep a watchful eye on what's going on behind you.

Without further ado let's look at dual dash cams. If you are interested in other types of car security, read our guides on car trackers, RFID and Faraday pouches for car keys, and even humble steering wheel locks and wheel clamps.

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Why is a dash cam important?

Insurance provider-depending, dash cams usually bring the cost of your insurance premiums down. In this regard, dash cams pay for themselves and then some. One good example of this is dash cam manufacturer Nextbase. They have actively gone and partnered with a number of insurance companies, offering sizeable insurance discounts to owners of Nextbase dash cams.

Read our Nextbase dash cams back-to-back review

Dash cams also discourage poor behaviour by reckless, rude, and impatient road users, not to mention criminals who are actively curating crash-for-cash scams.

Important features in dual dash cams

Several features get championed by dash cam manufactures, particularly on more budget models. But the following features come in all dash cams and can therefore be taken as read: G-sensor (automatically saves the footage if the sensor feels a jolt), loop recording, and parking monitor.

Front-facing cameras should be at least Full-HD with a frame rate of 30fps for smooth, detailed video. High Dynamic Range (HDR) or Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) software is a big plus. This reduces overexposure and helps produce a clear image. Take viewing angle into consideration too, the wider the better; 140 degrees should be a minimum.

Rear-facing cameras will usually have a lower resolution than the front camera, but 720p should still be your bottom line. Likewise, rear cameras may have a narrow viewing angle the front camera and 100 degrees should be a minimum here. Some rear cameras are externally mounted, though most are internal.

Those are the essentials. Extras such as Wi-Fi and GPS are nice-to-haves, Wi-Fi giving you faster access to files, GPS providing data on location and speed.

The best dual dash cams

Like the 622GW, the 522GW still gets voice-activated Alexa built-in to essentially turn it into a smart device. In terms of video quality, it can record front and rear at either 1440p and 720p respectively or 1080p for both. Thanks to clever software and a polarising filter, the image clarity and colour is excellent.

On top of the software, you get the best build quality of any dash cam and a very easy device to use due to the three-inch touchscreen and simple menus.

The S900 isn't packed with luxuries but instead focuses on delivering quality video. The front camera records in Full-HD 1080p at 30fps, and the Sony sensor combined with the HDR technology provides great image quality for this price bracket. The rear camera is waterproof and can be externally mounted above the rear number plate.

While the video quality is a major plus point, so too is the ease of use. Many cheap dash cams fall down here and are a pain to use but not the S900.

Read our guide to the best budget dash cams

Build quality is almost on par with the 522GW, as is the video quality, although you can only record in 1080p. The 522GW has Alexa and Emergency SOS, but the F770 has lane departure warning, front collision warning, and access to the Cyclops speed camera database. Like the 522GW, the F770 has Wi-Fi and GPS.

Thinkware dash cams are quite distinctive in their shape, being long and thin. They look large but in fact it's a clever design, mimicking the shape of a rear view mirror and thus sits perfectly behind it.

The RC2 records in Full-HD 1080p at the front and HD 720p at the rear at 30fps. The shape is very compact and while the two-inch touchscreen is not as good as the three-inch screen seen on the more expensive 522GW, it is perfectly useable.

The compromise naturally sits in the level of features seen on each. The A129 misses out on Alexa, what3words, emergency SOS, and image stabilisation, for example. But crucially, the A129 records at 4K at 30fps too (rear video quality is 1080p).

The other major plus point of the A129 is the shape and size. It's about the size of an egg and thanks to the lack of suction cup it is the most discreet dash cam here when mounted on the windscreen.

Where to mount your dash cam?

Front-facing dash cams should be adhered to the windscreen behind the rear view mirror, tucked away out of sight. In that position, they are centred with a good view of the road and not distracting to the driver. Fine-tuning will be needed to get exactly the right position.

Rear-facing cameras will be mounted in the centre of the rear window, or if externally mounted, above the rear number plate. Refer to your dash cam's installation instructions in regards to specific positioning because rear cameras vary more than front ones do in terms of where they sit.

Cables can be hidden in the interior headlining and other gaps.

While dash cams normally come with a 12V plug to insert into the cigarette lighter, you can opt for hardwiring kits. This is more fiddly to install but still not that difficult but lets you take advantage of the dash cam's parking monitor features because the dash cam will be wired directly to the car battery. You can always get your dash cam professionally fitted ig you want to.

Lastly, remember to keep you windows clean. You should be doing this anyway but even the most sophisticated of dash cams can't see through a grubby pane of glass. Get yourself a microfibre cloth and keep your car's windows clean.

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