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No matter how well you drive, hopping behind the wheel is always dangerous. Having one of the best dash cams in Australia can offer you peace of mind and security, in the case you end up having an accident.
The dash cam category is rapidly evolving. A few years ago, a simple camera mounted to your front window recording forward-facing footage was all you could expect from the in-car devices.
Today though, models can record front and rear-facing footage, as well as footage inside the car.
Some models can track your location with GPS, and some will even alert you if it detects a collision, so you can hopefully avoid it in time.
If you are involved in an accident, footage from a dash cam can help provide evidence of fault, while some top of the line models will even contact emergency services.
As you can see, there’s a lot to consider when choosing a dash cam. To help, we’ve done the research to help highlight the best dash cams in Australia right now.
We’ve also looked at the different features you need to consider when choosing the best dash cam for your needs.
These are the best dash cams you can buy in Australia today
Nextbase 622GW
Recommended by 90% of review sites
If you’re after video quality from your dash cam, then the Nextbase 622GW will deliver.
Recording in 4K resolution with digital image stabilisation, the 622GW delivers crystal clear, detailed footage without blurring or bumpiness.
It can share your precise location using what3words, even if you don’t have a data connection. If you do happen to be in an accident, the Nextbase 622W will monitor for movement and if there is none, will contact emergency services for you.
It will even monitor your car while it’s parked and you aren’t around, so you can have a record of someone bumping into you while you’re at the shops.
While the camera itself shoots front-facing footage, you can add a rear-facing camera for more complete coverage of your vehicle
Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2
Recommended by 80% of review sites
The Dash Cam Mini 2 from Garmin is small on size, but not on quality or features.
Recording HDR 1080p video with a wide 140-degree field of view, the Mini 2 continually records from the moment it’s plugged into power.
If you do happen to be involved in an accident, the Garmin will save video from before, during and after the event and upload it directly to the cloud for security.
You can use voice commands to tell the camera to save video at any time, as well as start or stop audio recording, or simply take a photo.
You can easily access the camera remotely via a smartphone app, and the Mini 2 will also monitor for incidents while your car is parked for absolute peace of mind.
Nexar Beam
Recommended by 40% of review sites
The Nexar Beam is designed with simplicity in mind. Recording 1080p forward-facing video, the Beam records all your drives to your app and backs up important moments to its cloud storage.
If the Beam detects an accident, it can alert a family member, with footage of the incident and the option to navigate to their location. It also offers quick access to contact emergency services.
All incident data can be clearly exported to help make any insurance claims simple, while integration with Siri will help you get back to your car if you’ve lost it in a parking garage.
Garmin Dash Cam 57
Recommended by 40% of review sites
Garmin’s 57 dash cam is a compact device capable of recording 1440p HDR video, which can be viewed on the 2-inch LCD screen.
That screen offers additional safety alerts for the driver, flashing red if it detects you are driving too close to the vehicle ahead.
It also flashes yellow if you veer out of your lane, and will ping you if the traffic ahead starts to move and you haven’t noticed.
Like the Mini 2, it also records automatically when plugged in and offers parking guard features, plus voice control and incident detection.
How we chose the best dash cams in Australia
Review sites – including this one – are subjective by nature. Everybody has a different opinion of what is best.
So to try and counter the fact that every best guide on the internet has a different opinion of what is best, we approached our list by combining the results of some of the top sites recommending dash cams on the market today.
To determine this list, we followed the same journey most consumers would follow: we went to Google.
We searched for “Best dash cams” and identified 10 of the top results. It’s important to note that Google results can change often, so the full list of sites we referenced is outlined below:
The full list of sites referenced:
- Digital Camera World
- TechRadar
- NY Times
- T3
- ZDNet
- Tom’s Guide
- Cnet
- Dashcam Owners Australia
- Dmarge
- PC World
We then listed out all of the range extenders listed on each site, tidying up any slight differences in spelling for consistency.
We then calculated how often each product was mentioned across those 10 guides. The more frequently a product is mentioned, the more agreement there is between experts reviewing these products. We set a minimum of four mentions across all 10 guides to be eligible for inclusion here.
Before we created this page, we went through the list to make it relevant for our local audience. We removed products that are either unavailable, or difficult to find in Australia.
We also leveraged our own experience with products to ensure that we wouldn’t be recommending any product that doesn’t deliver.
What to look for when choosing the best dash cam in Australia
Whether you’re after one of the models listed above or something completely different, the decision factors you need to consider when buying dash cams are the same.
Image quality
At a bare minimum, you want to buy a dash cam that records in 1080p high definition, though the best models will record up to 4K.
But just as important as resolution is the framerate. Look for a device that records at 30 frames per second, as a combination of HD resolution and this framerate should mean clear images that can be used as evidence.
It’s also worth considering the field of view, which is just how much of the view in front of the car the dash cam can record. A larger field of view means you’ll be able to see more on the recordings.
Also look for the ability to shoot at night. That could be a dedicated night mode, which records high contrast footage in black and white, or simply a wider aperture to let in more light in dark environments.
Footage recording storage
Before you buy a dash cam, check how it records its footage. Does it store it on a limited amount on inbuilt storage? Or does it accept MicroSD cards.
More importantly look for loop recording functionality, that will automatically record over older footage when it runs out of space.
Importantly, you want your dash cam to automatically save and protect any footage from incidents, so the loop recording doesn’t delete it accidentally.
Some models offer cloud backup, which is nice to have, though watch for any additional fees involved there.
Mounting type and power
Many of the best dash cams are plug and play, using your car’s 9V point and a suction cup to mount to your windscreen.
There are options though. Some models attach permanently via adhesive to your windscreen or dashboard.
Others can be professionally installed, which is particularly useful if you want a rear camera connected as well.
Built in display
A display isn’t necessary for a dash cam, though it can make setting up easier, as you can line up what the camera can see more easily.
Some models with a screen will also use that screen for alerts, whether it’s an incoming impact or simply that traffic has moved off ahead of you.
Impact detection
If you want your dash cam to do more than just record footage, impact detction is going to be a key feature on your wishlist.
Not only does it enable the camera to automatically save and protect video files of the incident when you’re driving, but it typically supports recording an impact even when you aren’t in the car.
This means you have peace of mind for times someone dings your car at the shops.
GPS
While there are dash cam models that double as dedicated satnav devices, the key benefit of having integrated GPS in your dash cam is for emergency situations.
Top of the line models can automatically call emergency services if you are in an accident and don’t respond afterwards, sending your location to make it easier for the ambulance to find you.
Price
Cheap dash cams start for as little as $50, though expect a good quality model to set you back at least $200-300.
A premium model could cost more than $500.
Once you have the base camera on your dash, you could also consider expanding it with a rear-mounted camera if it allows for dual recording.
Update history
- 15 March 2023 – First Published
- 16 June 2023 – Updated the number of recommendations.
- 8 January 2024 – Updated the number of recommendations. Removed the Vantrue N4.
