We’ve all seen the videos online of a driver being stupid or making poor decisions and crossing into the path of someone with a dash cam. They’re everywhere, and it seems as though everyone is starting to get a dash cam to protect themselves from these bad drivers. Protect your car and yourself with one of the best dash cams available in Canada.

With so many people on the road these days, you’re more likely to be in a collision due to someone else’s mistake than any other circumstance. Many people encounter other drivers on the road and are left in a legal battle for a crash where they weren’t at fault. Having a way to prove that the responsibility lies with the other party is pivotal today. Being able to take video or pictures of the event as it occurs will save you the time and effort of trying to prove it to them.

However, even once you have a dash cam, you could run into the issue of low video quality, or the device wasn’t recording at the time of the incident. These little cameras can be the insurance between you paying for an accident you didn’t commit and getting paid for the other drivers’ fault. We’ve compiled a list of the three-bet drive cams in Canada. We understand that many car cameras look the same and claim the same services, but we tested each camera on the list before offering it a spot for you.

Best Dash Cams at a Glance

• Garmin Dash Cam 66W Bundle – Our Top Pick
• Nextbase 422GW Dash Cam – Best Dash Cam With Night Vision
• BlackVue DR900S-2CH – Incl. Parking Mode Voltage Monitor

Our List of the 3 Best Dash Cam Cameras in Canada for 2020

Garmin Dash Cam 66W Bundle – Our Top Pick

This is the pinnacle of dash cam devices, and the installation kit that comes with it adds to the quality of this device. If you’re looking for a great dash cam that works with you and serves to make your car and personal belongings safer, then this is the perfect dash cam for you. The Garmin Dash Cam 66W Bundle is discreet, yet hosts an extra-wide lens that can record a 180-degree view. The picture quality comes out in 1440p so you can see every minor detail that could be necessary for later viewings.

Our Thoughts

This truly is an excellent dash cam product. It takes every step necessary to keep you safe and capture the details and clean and straightforward. At night, it switches to its low-light setting and records with increased detail. This camera automatically records and saves videos and photos of any incidents that might occur, so you don’t have to worry about missing a single important second.

With voice control – which response to English, French, German, Italian, Swedish, and Spanish – you won’t have to worry about taking your eyes off the road. Say your command, and the dash cam will be able to answer. You can quickly start or stop recording, save files, and receive driver alerts about possible forward collisions. This is easily one of the best dash cams on the market, and the bundle provides you with the tools necessary to install the device properly.

Pros

• Voice control
• Includes a parking mode adapter
• Motion detection
• Great video quality
• Records in extreme detail, even at night
• Alerts you about possible poor conditions and collisions

Cons

• One of the more expensive options

Nextbase 422GW Dash Cam

Much like the Garmin product, the Nextbase 422GW Dash Cam device records in 1440p and low-light situations to provide you with as much detail as possible. It hosts many extra features designed to keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road while still enjoying the ride. With the built-in Amazon Alexa, this device is capable of playing music, placing calls, and even getting directions. It also comes with MyNextbase cloud storage to keep all recordings and files in one place.

Our Thoughts

This is much more than a dash cam. With this product, not only are you able to record incidents that occur on the road, but you’re also able to utilize Alexa, access Wi-Fi, connect to Bluetooth, and even call emergency services should something go wrong. The Nextbase dash cam is designed with you in mind and considers your safety first. It allows you to keep your eyes on the road and mind at ease.

When you’re stopped, the touchscreen interface allows you to navigate the system and get to the necessary service quickly. If the camera size isn’t enough, this device enables modular additions to expand your options. Add on cameras for a more comprehensive view and further legal protection when in an accident. This is a great dash cam and one that will keep you safe as you drive and in the court.

Pros

• Built-in Amazon Alexa
• Come with intelligent parking mode
• Modular additions possible
• Connects to Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and contacts emergency services

Cons

• Associated apps can be glitchy at times

BlackVue DR900S-2CH With Parking Mode Voltage Monitor

Two cameras are always better than one, and with this product, you’re getting more for less. With the BlackVue DR900S-2CH, you receive a front camera that records any incidents that might arise as you’re driving, but you also receive a rear camera from catching any collisions. Most companies assume if you’re hit in the back, you have an open-and-shut case. However, that’s not always true. The rear BlackVue camera looks to add a final layer of protection for drivers against any legal issues that arise from a collision. The camera is also equipped with night vision to record the road at any time of day.

Our Thoughts

This is a 4k dash cam that records in 30 FPS format so that you don’t miss a single detail. The rear camera is almost as impressive with its 30 FPS format but only catches full HD video quality. BlackVue also offers its cloud service, much like Nextbase, and can easily record and store videos and pictures for later access when needed.

When nighttime rolls around, the best dash cam up to their game. This device records with an 8 megapixel CMOS sensor in the front and a 2.1-megapixel sensor in the back. That way, you’re catching every incident in the front and back, no matter the conditions. It was also built for hotter climates with a built-in high-temperature cutoff. If your car gets too hot, the device won’t fry itself and will turn off to conserve cooling.

Pros

• Front and rear cameras with exceptional detail
• High temperature cut off
• Enhanced night vision
• 4K and Full HD quality video
• Comes with a parking mode voltage monitor

Cons

• Some issues with the distributor

What Makes a Great Dash Cam?

Finding the perfect dash cam for your car can be difficult as there are so many options available and many of them seem to offer the same basic features. We took a look at what makes a dash cam so successful and what features are pivotal. Every camera on our list offers all of these features.

Easy Mounting

A sturdy dash cam will be a favourable one when in an accident or collision. If the dash cam is rocking around and loose, you’re going to miss important information about the crash that could make or break your case. This all comes down to how easy the camera is to mount on the dashboard or window.

Many dash cameras have begun to perfect the mounting process and offer a simple mount. Simplicity and structure are the focus as they allow users to stick it to the dash and not worry about it ever coming off.

Automatic Saving and Labeling

The way that most dash cams work is that they have a finite amount of storage. Older footage gets recorded over once the dash camera is full and newer clips take their place as the cams record in short spurts. Classic dash cams require the user to go in and manually save and label a particular clip.

This often led to the loss of essential clips due to the user not going in and saving them. However, with modern dash cams, this is no longer an issue. Many new dash cams include incident detection technology, which allows the cam to sense crucial moments and save them for later viewing.

Extra Features

When considering the dash cam you’re going to choose, it’s important to wonder what makes this dash cam different from the rest. Extra features might make the price go up quite a bit, but having useful ones can be substantial. Autosave is a fantastic addition, for example.

Voice control is another popular feature that many dash cams are beginning to include. Nextbase utilizes Amazon Alexa, for example, and many dash cams offer Bluetooth connections for easy use. Finding the right dash cam for your car doesn’t have to be difficult, and any of the choices on our list are sure to match your needs.