Our content is funded in part by commercial partnerships, at no extra cost to you and without impact to our editorial impartiality. Click to Learn More
Dash cams are now commonplace in consumer vehicles and a must-have for fleet management, shielding individuals and companies from insurance fraud and even deterring vehicle theft. However, trawling the web for the perfect dash cam isn’t particularly easy – there’s a lot of choice and a wide range of pricing options. So, we’ve done the hard yards to find the best dash cam prices currently available.
Consumer dash cams for cars cost around $50 to $200, though some are as little as $20. A professional-grade dash cam will cost from $100 to $500, and may include advanced features like night vision and AI. The primary difference between a consumer-grade car dash cam and a professional trucking dash cam is that truck dash cams tend to have a wide-angle fish-eye lens, covering around 160 to 170 degrees, while a car dash cam is more likely to cover only 120 degrees.
Read on for a full breakdown of every factor to consider when buying a dash cam, examples of the best prices available today, and how a good dash cam might save you money in the long haul. Or, if you’re ready to start comparing prices to find the best deal, just take a minute to fill out Tech.co’s quotes form, which will help you get the ball rolling.
In this guide
In Short: How Much Does a Dash Cam Cost?
In short, dash cams for consumers and dash cams for truckers cost different amounts. Generally, if you’re purchasing a dash cam for a fleet of vehicles, you’ll need a slightly more powerful, wider-lens dash cam, so they cost more. According to our market research:
- Consumer dash cams typically cost between $50 and $200
- Dash cams for truckers are usually between $100 and $500
However, these prices rise if the dashcams include advanced features, especially for fleet-based businesses. Key features include HD resolution, GPS tracking, and night vision. Prices will also vary based on whether you want a front or dual-facing dash cam. We recommend a dual-facing cam like the AIPLUGER 4K or the TOGUARD, to film both the road ahead and the cab interior.
| Price | Pros | Cons | Best for: | Top Features | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |  | ||
| $469 | $79 | $69 | $99 | $159 | ||
| Fantastic resolution | Very affordable | Wide angle lens is good for visibility | Small, neat design | Unlimited cloud storage is a fantastic perk | ||
| Right at the top end of the pricing spectrum | Lack of Wi-Fi is disappointing | Tiny screen | Difficult to use | Video replay can be glitchy | ||
| Best overall dashcam | Dual-facing dashcam | Value for money | Durability/extreme weather | Video quality | ||
|
|
|
|
|
Total Cost of a Dash Cam: Price Breakdown
In this section, we’ll provide a more detailed look at precisely how much a dash cam costs, broken down in various ways. We’ll look at the difference between consumer and commercial dash cams in a bit more detail, plus the cost difference between font and dual-facing dash cams, as well as dash cams with GPS tracking.
Consumer vs commercial dash cam prices
Trucker dash cam prices vary massively. The cheapest dash cams are available for around $100-$500, but heavier-duty devices can cost in excess of $500. When buying in bulk for a fleet, reliable, high-resolution dash cams are likely to cost around $100-$250. For this range, a fleet manager should expect the essential features: a 1080p HD cam with a 170-degree wide-angle lens and a dual-facing unit.
At these price points, a small fleet of five vehicles will cost $500 to $1,250 to equip with dash cams and may cost $750 to $1,500 to equip with advanced features and installation. A fleet of 50 vehicles will cost from $5,000 to $12,500 to equip, or between $7,500 and $15,000 to equip higher-end devices (including installation).
| Lowest price range | Highest price range | |
|---|---|---|
| Average Consumer Dash Cam | Average Commercial Dash Cam | |
| $50 – $70 | $50 – $80 | |
| $100 – $200 | $100 – $500 |
Front-facing vs dual-facing dash cam prices
A front-facing dash cam is the most common type of dash cam. It has a single lens and is designed to record the road in front of a vehicle. The term “front-facing” can be a little misleading, however, as some front-facing cams are designed to swivel in order to film inside the vehicle itself. Either way, a front-facing dash cam will only ever have one lens, and might cost between $80 and $250.
A dual-facing dash cam has two lenses and will film both the road ahead and the inside of a vehicle at the same time. This style can cost a little more, and is far popular among fleets than consumer vehicles, since footage of a driver with their eyes on the road can keep liability to a minimum. Dual-facing models can cost as little as $100, but often cost between $200 and $400.
The dual-facing Lytx Drivecam. Image: Lytx
Finally, a “front and rear” dash cam covers both the road in front of and the road behind a vehicle (though not the interior). These cameras come in two units with one lens each, which sync up when filming, so one can be placed at the front and one at the rear. It’s also more common for commercial fleets, though it’s not uncommon for consumer vehicles. Front and rear dash cams cost between $100 and $400.
The best coverage possible, of course, is 360 degrees. While some products on the market offer a complete 360-degree view, this is a rare and exceptional feature. Prices for 360-view dash cams are usually calculated on a case-by-case basis, depending on fleet size.
| Lowest price range | Highest price range | |
|---|---|---|
| Front-Facing Dash Cam | Dual-Facing Dash Cam | Front and Rear Dash Cam |
| Around $80 | Around $100 | Around $100 |
| Around $250 | $200 – $400 | Around $400 |
Dash cams with GPS tracking capabilities
Some dash cams offer GPS data logging, which embeds GPS data into the video footage being recorded. This lets viewers match locations to timestamps and helps them verify a vehicle’s location during any given incident.
Dash cams with GPS often cost $50 or $100 more than cams that don’t, but for most truckers, location tracking is too useful a perk to give up for a cheaper price – particularly when paired with the added features a fleet management service (FMS) offers. Which brings us to our final point…
Always-on/connected dash cam prices
A relatively recent industry development, always-on, or connected, dash cams boast 4G LTE functionality, meaning that they’re constantly streaming footage. Not only this, but users can access this footage from anywhere, providing round-the-clock peace of mind. Many of these dash cams also offer live alerts, notifying vehicle drivers whenever a break-in is detected. All in all, they’re a great solution for security-conscious fleet owners.
Always-on dash cams can fetch a price anywhere between $60 to $500, depending on functionality. It’s a broad range that should appeal to a large target audience. Fleet managers responsible for particularly valuable cargo should definitely consider it.
Best Cheap Dash Cam Deals
So, you want an inexpensive dash cam that’s still sturdy, easy to use, and records in 1080p HD? You came to the right place. Pickings are a little slim, though – as with any product range, you tend to get what you pay for.
The cheapest options are more likely to be made with cheaper materials, and there’s a danger that you’ll wind up paying more in the long run, as you’ll need to replace them more often. With that said, these options are some of the best cheap dash cams around.
Best Dash Cam Under $100
We’d recommend the Rexing V1 Dash Cam ($99) and the TOGUARD Dual Dash Cam FHD ($69) – both are well under $100, and offer all the basics needed for a dash cam worth buying. They are both easy to use, offer wide angles and HD video, and include essential features, like an accident-detecting shock sensor that will record and save a video file when triggered by a collision.
The Rexing V1 dash cam. Image: Rexing
The TOGUARD cam stands out for its dual camera setup, filming both the road and the cab, making it a great inexpensive option for fleets. If you’re looking for long-term durability, you may need to raise your dash cam budget beyond $100.
Best Dash Cam Under $50
Once you drop below $50, finding a quality dash cam becomes a fairly tough chore. That said, the Byakov Dash Cam ($30) stands out from the crowd. It offers a 1080p HD 170-degree view, although the screen is just an inch and a half.
Features include Wide Dynamic Range, collision detection, and a parking mode. It uses continuous loop recording, which makes sure the user won’t have to manually delete any files. Instead, the oldest files will be seamlessly overwritten by new ones (unless the device has detected a collision, in which case it saves the incident automatically). Plus, it comes with a two-year warranty, so you’ll be able to return it if something goes wrong.
True penny pinchers might also consider a dash cam app, a type of mobile app that records video to serve as a makeshift dash cam for $3.99 or less. Granted, you won’t be able to use your phone and you’ll run out of storage quickly, so an app is likely not a long-term solution worth considering.
Fleet operators likely won’t want to stop at an off-the-shelf solution. If you want to expand your search beyond these cameras and the quality limitations of a $50 or $100 budget, just remember you can always compare the best business dash cam deals with our handy comparison form.
Other Dash Cam Price Factors to Consider
When it comes to weighing up the costs of buying a dash cam, it pays to look at each price factor in turn. Once you know where you stand on each of the topics below, you’ll have all the info you need to compare each selected dash cam’s specs and price against your personal needs and budget.
Video quality
High-definition video footage comes in four different varieties – 720p, 1080p, 2K, and 4K – each of which offers a higher resolution and more pixels than the last. Realistically, any truck or car should be fine with a resolution of 1080p. A normal 1080p HD dash cam will be able to capture the necessary detail to identify a license plate or street sign, and won’t come at the higher cost of a 2K or 4K dash cam.
However, the higher quality detail of a 2K or a 4K camera (like the Blackvue DR900X-2CH) could make the difference you need when it comes to insurance claims. That higher quality is more common for commercial cams, while a consumer camera is unlikely to reach 2K or 4K unless it is a particularly high-end model.
The Blackvue DR900S 2CH dash cam (4K, Ultra High Definition). Image: Blackvue.com
Installation
The process of mounting a dash cam might not cost anything extra. Many dash cams can be installed by hand, coming with mounts that are either adhesive pads or suction-cup style attachments. Others can also be plugged into a vehicle’s ODB-II port or cigarette lighter.
The more complicated fleet dash cams require a slightly complex installation – they’ll need to be manually wired behind a panel in the vehicle. These cameras will come with a hardwire kit: If the device comes with two power wires, one should be connected to constant 12V, while the other goes to ignition 12V. Labels and color coding will vary by camera model, so you’ll have to rely on the instructions. If you’re not self-installing, don’t expect the installation costs to be any more than $50 per install. Many commercial dashcams or fleet tracking software companies will include the installation free with a purchase.
Functionality
Any dash cam will be able to record video footage. Many include the “Wide Dynamic Range” software feature, which can tone down bright lighting and improve dark lighting for a better video image. Some also come with additional perks, which could include the following features:
- Night vision: This feature allows the cam record clear video during the night.
- Motion sensors: If anything interferes with a microwave beam sent out by the cam, including when parked, it will be triggered to begin recording.
- Collision detection auto-recording (also called shock sensors): this automatically saves a video clip when the cam’s sensors are shaken by a vehicle collision.
- Internal accelerometer: this senses a vehicle’s rate of acceleration.
- Time-lapse auto-recording: this takes periodic snapshots when turned on, and compiles them into a time-lapse video.
- Artificial Intelligence: Cameras with built-in AI can identify and record a range of events, from unworn seatbelts to specific driving violations, so you can track and encourage safe driving. These kinds of driver monitoring systems and features are designed for fleet-specific dash cams, as they’re especially useful to managers handling groups of vehicles.
- In-cab coaching: Some dash cams have built-in speakers to alert drivers of relevant information and keep them focused. This feature is also exclusive to fleet dash cams rather than consumer cameras.
You’re unlikely to find a dash cam with all these features, however, and certainly not an inexpensive one. Try picking one or two of your favorite abilities from this list, and look for a camera that offers them. Our roundup of the best dash cams for truckers includes cameras that offer one or more of all these features.
Fleet Management Software Dash Cams
Many major fleet management software companies, including Samsara, Verizon Connect, and GPS Insights, offer a hardware selection that includes dash cams. If a fleet already uses that specific fleet management system, it will likely want to buy that system’s dash cam, or at least ensure its third-party dash cam is compatible.
Fleet management systems bring a broad range of abilities to a business fleet of trucks. Fuel management, routing, and dispatching functionality, ELD compliance, and two-way messaging ability are all big perks that can streamline operations.
Regardless of whether you’ve moved your business over to a fleet management platform, your search for the best-priced dash cam (with the features to meet your needs) should start with collecting and comparing quotes. By using Tech. co’s 1-minute form, you’ll receive competing personalized quotes from the best business dash cam vendors out there.
Dash Cam Cost Savings
When figuring out a business dash cam budget, it can be easy to forget the long-term benefits of adopting a high-quality dash cam. The soft savings can be tough to quantify, but they’re still worth noting. Here are a few hidden benefits of a good dash cam, which a fleet will continue to enjoy for years (or even decades).
- Insurance — If a truck gets in an accident but isn’t at fault, it’ll be easy to prove with video footage, saving your company from a higher insurance premium.
- Theft recovery — A motion-sensing dash cam can begin recording when disturbed during the night, and can automatically upload the footage online. The result? Stolen vehicles or equipment can be recovered rapidly and safely. Also, the culprits behind freight theft – which costs the US trucking industry up to $2 billion annually – will be more visible.
- Theft deterrence — When theft recovery is easy, it has the side effect of making the thefts themselves less common. Simply having a camera in place can have a deterring effect.
- Driver safety — Reviewing dash cam videos can help drivers gain a new perspective on their driving habits. For trucking fleets, a manager can review footage to determine how well their drivers are performing or can review previous collisions to gather information that might prevent future ones. Higher-end models may even be able to deliver audible driving alerts in real-time.
- Fleet efficiency — When a fleet manager has access to dash cam footage throughout the working day, that manager can know their vehicles’ locations without needing to rely on their drivers to respond. This speeds up and better informs decision-making, leading to a more effective fleet. Of course, combining a dash cam with fleet management software takes this benefit to the next level.
While these long-term benefits are easy to forget about and difficult to fully factor into a budget, they’ll combine to easily save vehicle owners hundreds – and fleet managers thousands – on an annual basis.
These hidden savings can help you rest easy when you buy a dash cam, secure in the knowledge that the camera’s cost will ultimately help you avoid even more unexpected charges years down the line.
Verdict: Is a Top of the Range Dash Cam Worth the Money?
Investing in a top-range dash cam is never a bad idea. Pricier consumer dash cams are a lot more durable than their cheaper counterparts, and it’ll minimize the chance that you’ll have to buy a new one. However, there’s a big middle ground too. Perfectly serviceable dash cams can retail for $50-80, such as the AIPLUGER Dash Cam ($79), which offers plenty of features and a high-quality resolution at a low price.
Fleets on a budget might prefer the TOGUARD Dual Dash Cam FHD, which offers a dual camera at just under $70. However, those who want the highest quality and have a bit more to spend should go for the Blackvue DR900X-2CH, a dual-facing dash cam with advanced features like a parking mode and 4K Ultra HD recording. It isn’t cheap, but it’s a long-term investment that will keep you safe from all sorts of road-based perils.
But the best way to ensure you save money on your dash cam is to compare the various prices offered by the top dash cam vendors available. Once you know your budget and your needs, the next step is to take one minute to fill out our free form, which can pair you with personalized quotes from the best dash cam providers available.
But will your insurance company lower your premium if you show you’ve installed a dash cam? That depends on the insurance company’s specific policies. Sadly, it’s currently uncommon for an insurance provider to offer a discount for those with dash cams, and many do not even have set policies regarding using dash cam footage in an insurance claim. As dash cams gain popularity, these standards may change.
As a rule of thumb, if the cam is plugged into a vehicle’s OBD-II port, it can operate 24/7 with a minimum of battery-draining, thanks to the port’s low voltage protection. If wired to the vehicle’s ignition circuit, the dash cam won’t draw power at all.
In addition, most dash cams can be set to turn off when the vehicle is off, and automatically turn back on when the vehicle turns on. Check your dash cam’s manual to determine how it draws its power.
If you click on, sign up to a service through, or make a purchase through the links on our site, or use our quotes tool to receive custom pricing for your business needs, we may earn a referral fee from the supplier(s) of the technology you’re interested in. This helps Tech.co to provide free information and reviews, and carries no additional cost to you. Most importantly, it doesn’t affect our editorial impartiality. Ratings and rankings on Tech.co cannot be bought. Our reviews are based on objective research analysis. Rare exceptions to this will be marked clearly as a ‘sponsored’ table column, or explained by a full advertising disclosure on the page, in place of this one. Click to return to top of page