Do Dash Cams Record All the Time?

Dash cams have come a long way since their inception. Whether you consider the first dash cam to be William Harbeck’s mounted hand-crank camera on a streetcar in Vancouver, Canada way back in 1907, or H.C. Fairchild’s windshield-mounted camera of the 1930s for helping police catch traffic offenders, dash cams have evolved over time and can now do some pretty impressive things.

In this blog, Nexar answers the question “do dash cameras record all the time?” while also going over the many different recording modes available to drivers with dash cams. We’ll cover everything from continuous recording to event-based recording as well as go over how each recording mode works and what it means for you.

Do Dashcams Record When Car is Off?

Do dash cameras record all the time? Do dash cameras work when the car is off? The short answer to these questions is, yes, some do. Does it mean that the camera is always on? No. 

While some dashboard cameras turn on and off with their respective vehicle, there are dash cams that record when the car is off – dash cams that are hardwired and have an active Parking Mode feature. But these cameras are not “always on.” They have a sleep mode that initiates when there is no activity for a certain amount of time. This sleep mode is designed to give your car battery a break. If a dash cam was on every second of the day, you’d be draining your battery rather quickly. It would not be sustainable.

How do I know my dash cam is recording? While in Parking Mode, a dashcam detects movement or impact around the car with special sensors. When it detects something, your dash cam springs into action, waking up from a sleep state and recording things like vandalism, break-ins, or collisions.

More on Recording Modes

Do dash cameras record all the time, or is there a recording mode that allows a dash cam to record continuously? Basic dash cams will typically have loop recording and incident recording. More advanced dashboard cameras have continuous recording, manual recording, and Parking Mode in addition to enhanced features such as GPS tracking and remote live streaming.

Recording modes for dash cams include:

• Manual Recording
• Incident Recording
• Continuous Recording
• Loop Recording
• Parking Mode

We’ll provide more information about each recording mode below.

Typically, manual recording mode can be activated with the push of a button. When manual recording is activated, the dash cam will record either for a specific amount of time (like one minute, typically), or for as long as you desire. Typically, footage is uploaded to the cloud.

Incident Recording

Incident recording is an important dash cam feature –  relevant recording is set aside and will not be impacted by the deletion of the loop recording. Incident recording mode captures the moments before, during, and immediately after the incident. This footage is safeguarded from overwriting by continuous recording loops.

Built-in G-sensors make incident recording possible. These sensors pick up sudden changes in motion.

Loop Recording

Loop recording essentially means that the dashboard camera is continuously recording video, however, it starts overwriting old/inconsequential footage with new recordings when the memory card is full. Loop recording is a beneficial feature for automatically deleting old video footage to make room for new footage.

Parking Mode

Parking mode might be the best answer to the question “do dash cameras record all the time?”

Parking Mode is a more advanced feature that not all dash cams offer. Parking Mode entails recording when the car is off and parked, essentially operating as a surveillance system for capturing incidents while parked. The external-facing camera has the ability to detect motion with a built-in motion detector (visually or physically). 

In Parking Mode, your dash cam can capture accidents/collisions, theft, vandalism, or any other unauthorized activity around your car when it is unattended. Parking Mode gives you the extra layer of protection you’re looking for when your vehicle is parked. 

Manual Recording

Manual recording is for catching stuff on the fly, whether it’s an incident that you are a third-party to, or simply a scenic drive/view that you deem worth capturing.

Are Continuous and Loop Recording the Same Thing?

Both of these terms seem to be used interchangeably, however, these two features are not the same. Continuous recording refers to recording without interruption until the memory card is full. 

While loop recording does signify continuous recording, the overwriting aspect is what makes loop recording differ from continuous recording. Basically, loop recording is a very specific type of continuous recording with the distinct characteristic of having an overwrite function. 

Benefits of Recording When Vehicle is Off

Having the ability to record while the car is off is essential for round-the-clock security. Do dash cameras record all the time? Yes, Nexar connected dash cams have features like Parking Mode, which allows drivers to capture incidents like vandalism, break-ins, hit-and-runs, or theft – even when they’re away from the vehicle. 

Footage captured when the vehicle is off can also be invaluable when it comes to insurance claims as well as police investigations, whether you’re an independent driver or part of a fleet.

If you’re looking to enhance your driving experience and boost your security simultaneously, Nexar is a great place to start. Our Legacy and Connected cameras cover all the bases when it comes to capturing crisp footage, providing AI-driven intelligent features that ensure you and your vehicle are always protected, and inspiring a new sort of peace of mind – one driver and one car at a time.

If you’re looking for a car camera that records while car is off, get in touch with Nexar today, whether you’re running a fleet, a rideshare driver, or simply someone in need of an extra set of eyes on the road.