Car & Driving · 10 compared · prices in £
Best Dash Cam UK 2026: We Priced 10 Front and Rear Dash Cams All-In. The Big Name Came 6th.
A front and rear dash cam costs anything from about £60 to £473 once you add the bits the box leaves out: the rear camera, the wiring kit for parking mode, the SD card and the fitting. So we priced ten of them all-in. Then we read 3,881 UK owner reviews to see which ones were recording when it mattered. The UK's best-known brand came sixth. The best one costs £149.
Updated · 14 min read
We pick and rank every product ourselves. If you buy through a link on this page we may earn a commission, and the order stays the same either way. How we are paid
- Dash cams priced all-in
- 10
- UK owner reviews read
- 3,881
- Owner quotes we sorted by fault
- 1,401
- Gap, cheapest to most expensive all-in
- £413
The short version, if you are in a hurry
Our No. 1 pick: Halden Duo 4K, £149
It is the only dash cam here with a 4K front and a 2.5K rear, no battery inside, and the rear camera and parking-mode kit in the box. All-in with a card it is £173.99. The Nextbase 622GW front and rear set comes to £374, before fitting.
All 10, best first
- 01Halden Duo 4KA+ · 9.6
- 02VIOFO A229 Plus 2CHB · 7.1
- 03REDTIGER F7NPB- · 7.0
- 04Kenwood DRV-A510W front and rearC+ · 6.7
- 0570mai A810 4K front and rearC · 6.3
- 06Nextbase 622GW front and rear bundleD+ · 5.7
- 07Road Angel Halo Guardian 2K+ DualD+ · 5.6
- 08Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3D · 5.5
- 09Nextbase 322GW (with rear camera)D · 4.9
- 10The £40–£65 "4K" front and rear camsD- · 3.3
Check availability of our No. 1 pick »or see all 10 compared
Our No. 1 pick
Halden Duo 4K
★ 4.8 from 1,286 reviews on the maker's page
- 4K front + 2.5K rear
- Reads plates at night
- No battery inside
- Rear camera in the box
- Parking-mode kit in the box
- GPS + phone app
- 60 days to try it
- 2-year guarantee
£149£229
Check availability →£149 · 60 days to try it, full refund · 2-year guarantee · free tracked UK delivery
or read the full comparison first ↓Why so many dash cams let people down
Here is what UK owners say, word for word. "It was her word vs mine." "They tend to say roundabout collisions are settled 50/50." "My 622GW showed a frozen image on the screen and hadn't been recording for the previous hour or more." "At night you may as well not even have it." "The battery swelled… it popped the display screen out." And the fear behind half the questions: "I'm wanting to avoid getting in to the car only to find I then have to jump start it."
Then there is the second bill. The rear camera is extra. The wiring kit for parking mode is extra. The card is extra. "You also have to buy a separate hard-wire kit. This is not made clear when you order the bundle." So we priced ten dash cams the way you actually buy them, all-in, and read what owners say about each one.
What to look for
- A real rear camera that sticks on the back window, with a cable long enough for your car
- No battery inside (it runs on a capacitor), so nothing swells or dies in a hot car
- 4K at the front with a named sensor, ideally Sony Starvis 2, and at least 2K at the back
- A wiring kit for parking mode that cuts out before your car battery gets low
- GPS, so your speed and place are on every clip
- A phone app that connects first time, so you can send the clip from the roadside
- At least 60 days to try it and a guarantee of 2 years or more
What to avoid, and which cams here do it
- A battery inside: Nextbase 622GW and 70mai A810
- Rear camera sold separately: Nextbase 322GW (and the 622GW outside the bundle)
- Wiring kit for parking mode sold separately: Nextbase, VIOFO, Kenwood, 70mai
- No rear camera at all, no screen, no GPS, and a paid plan for parking alerts: Garmin Mini 3
- A 720p or 1080p rear, too blurry for plates: Nextbase 322GW, 70mai, REDTIGER, Kenwood
- "4K" with no sensor named and no UK support: the £40–£65 marketplace cams
All 10 compared, best first
| No. | dash cam | Rating | Price | Front / rear | Battery inside | Rear cam + kit in the box | No battery inside | 4K front + 2.5K rear |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | A+9.6/10 | £149 | 4K front · 2.5K rear | None. A capacitor, works -20 °C to 70 °C | ||||
| 02 | B7.1/10 | £229.99 | 2K front · 2K rear (1440p both) | None. Capacitor | ||||
| 03 | B-7.0/10 | £111.10 | 4K front · 1080p rear | None. Capacitor | ||||
| 04 | C+6.7/10 | £199.95 | 2K front · 1080p rear | Not confirmed on its UK page | ||||
| 05 | C6.3/10 | £123.99 | 4K front · 1080p rear | Yes, 500mAh | ||||
| 06 | D+5.7/10 | £349 | 4K front · 1080p rear | Yes, lithium | ||||
| 07 | D+5.6/10 | £309.99 | 2K front · 1080p rear | Not confirmed | ||||
| 08 | D5.5/10 | £129.99 | 1080p front · no rear | None. Capacitor | ||||
| 09 | D4.9/10 | £109 | 1080p front · 720p rear | Not confirmed (other Nextbase models have one) | ||||
| 10 | D-3.3/10 | £49.99 | "4K" on the listing · 1080p rear | Rarely stated |
- Price
- £149
- Front / rear
- 4K front · 2.5K rear
- Battery inside
- None. A capacitor, works -20 °C to 70 °C
- Rear cam + kit in the box
- No battery inside
- 4K front + 2.5K rear
- Price
- £229.99
- Front / rear
- 2K front · 2K rear (1440p both)
- Battery inside
- None. Capacitor
- Rear cam + kit in the box
- No battery inside
- 4K front + 2.5K rear
- Price
- £111.10
- Front / rear
- 4K front · 1080p rear
- Battery inside
- None. Capacitor
- Rear cam + kit in the box
- No battery inside
- 4K front + 2.5K rear
- Price
- £199.95
- Front / rear
- 2K front · 1080p rear
- Battery inside
- Not confirmed on its UK page
- Rear cam + kit in the box
- No battery inside
- 4K front + 2.5K rear
- Price
- £123.99
- Front / rear
- 4K front · 1080p rear
- Battery inside
- Yes, 500mAh
- Rear cam + kit in the box
- No battery inside
- 4K front + 2.5K rear
- Price
- £349
- Front / rear
- 4K front · 1080p rear
- Battery inside
- Yes, lithium
- Rear cam + kit in the box
- No battery inside
- 4K front + 2.5K rear
- Price
- £309.99
- Front / rear
- 2K front · 1080p rear
- Battery inside
- Not confirmed
- Rear cam + kit in the box
- No battery inside
- 4K front + 2.5K rear
- Price
- £129.99
- Front / rear
- 1080p front · no rear
- Battery inside
- None. Capacitor
- Rear cam + kit in the box
- No battery inside
- 4K front + 2.5K rear
- Price
- £109
- Front / rear
- 1080p front · 720p rear
- Battery inside
- Not confirmed (other Nextbase models have one)
- Rear cam + kit in the box
- No battery inside
- 4K front + 2.5K rear
- Price
- £49.99
- Front / rear
- "4K" on the listing · 1080p rear
- Battery inside
- Rarely stated
- Rear cam + kit in the box
- No battery inside
- 4K front + 2.5K rear
Prices checked 20 October 2026 at the shops named on each card.
Sort that table by price and the order is nearly upside down. The Nextbase 622GW, the Road Angel and the VIOFO cost the most all-in, and none of them has a 4K front with the kit in the box. The cheapest cams cost the least and can't read a plate at night. Paying more bought a better-known name, not a better set-up.
Only one camera has a tick in every box. It does not win because it is cheap. It wins because it is the only one with a 4K front and a 2.5K rear, no battery inside, the rear camera and parking-mode kit in the box, and 60 days to try it on your own car.
What front and rear really costs, all-in
Here is the sum for each set-up: the price on the box, what you buy on top for front and rear with parking mode, and the total.
| dash cam | Price on the box | Bought on top | All-in, fit it yourself | All-in, fitted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Halden Duo 4KRear camera and kit in the box | £149 | 64GB card £24.99 | £173.99 | Any auto electrician |
| VIOFO A229 Plus 2CH2K front, no 4K option in this set | £229.99 | Kit £24.99 + card £24.80 | £279.78 | Halfords won't fit it |
| REDTIGER F7NP1080p rear | £111.10 | Nothing (UK store kit) | £111.10 | Halfords won't fit it |
| Kenwood DRV-A510W front and rear32GB card in the bundle | £199.95 | Kit £29.95 + card £24.80 | £254.70 | Halfords won't fit it |
| 70mai A810 4K front and rearBattery inside, 1080p rear | £123.99 | Kit £21.99 + card £24.80 | £170.78 | Halfords won't fit it |
| Nextbase 622GW front and rear bundleHalfords fits it for £99 | £349 bundle | Kit £25 | £374 | £473 at Halfords |
| Road Angel Halo Guardian 2K+ DualCard and kit in the bundle | £309.99 bundle | Nothing | £309.99 | £389.98 with Road Angel fitting |
| Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3Parking alerts need a paid plan | £129.99 | Cable £44.99 + card £24.80 | £199.78, front only | No rear camera made for it |
| Nextbase 322GW (with rear camera)Rear records at 720p | £109 | Rear £69 + kit £25 + card £24.80 | £227.80 | £326.80 at Halfords |
| The £40–£65 "4K" front and rear camsMay need replacing within a year | £49.99 | Kit, price varies | about £60 | – |
Halden Duo 4K
Rear camera and kit in the box
- Price on the box
- £149
- Bought on top
- 64GB card £24.99
- All-in, fit it yourself
- £173.99
- All-in, fitted
- Any auto electrician
VIOFO A229 Plus 2CH
2K front, no 4K option in this set
- Price on the box
- £229.99
- Bought on top
- Kit £24.99 + card £24.80
- All-in, fit it yourself
- £279.78
- All-in, fitted
- Halfords won't fit it
REDTIGER F7NP
1080p rear
- Price on the box
- £111.10
- Bought on top
- Nothing (UK store kit)
- All-in, fit it yourself
- £111.10
- All-in, fitted
- Halfords won't fit it
Kenwood DRV-A510W front and rear
32GB card in the bundle
- Price on the box
- £199.95
- Bought on top
- Kit £29.95 + card £24.80
- All-in, fit it yourself
- £254.70
- All-in, fitted
- Halfords won't fit it
70mai A810 4K front and rear
Battery inside, 1080p rear
- Price on the box
- £123.99
- Bought on top
- Kit £21.99 + card £24.80
- All-in, fit it yourself
- £170.78
- All-in, fitted
- Halfords won't fit it
Nextbase 622GW front and rear bundle
Halfords fits it for £99
- Price on the box
- £349 bundle
- Bought on top
- Kit £25
- All-in, fit it yourself
- £374
- All-in, fitted
- £473 at Halfords
Road Angel Halo Guardian 2K+ Dual
Card and kit in the bundle
- Price on the box
- £309.99 bundle
- Bought on top
- Nothing
- All-in, fit it yourself
- £309.99
- All-in, fitted
- £389.98 with Road Angel fitting
Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3
Parking alerts need a paid plan
- Price on the box
- £129.99
- Bought on top
- Cable £44.99 + card £24.80
- All-in, fit it yourself
- £199.78, front only
- All-in, fitted
- No rear camera made for it
Nextbase 322GW (with rear camera)
Rear records at 720p
- Price on the box
- £109
- Bought on top
- Rear £69 + kit £25 + card £24.80
- All-in, fit it yourself
- £227.80
- All-in, fitted
- £326.80 at Halfords
The £40–£65 "4K" front and rear cams
May need replacing within a year
- Price on the box
- £49.99
- Bought on top
- Kit, price varies
- All-in, fit it yourself
- about £60
- All-in, fitted
- –
All-in means the camera, rear camera, parking-mode wiring kit and a 64GB card. Where no card is in the box we added a SanDisk High Endurance 64GB at £24.80. Halfords fitting is £75 front or £99 front and rear, and only for cameras bought from Halfords. Prices checked 19 and 20 October 2026.
Each dash cam, in order
Halden Duo 4K
4K front · 2.5K rear on the back window · no battery inside
- Reads the plate at night9.4
- Records every time9.8
- Everything in the box9.6
- Easy to fit and live with9.3
- All-in price and cover9.8
Cost to own
- Price today
- £149
- Rear camera
- in the box
- Parking-mode wiring kit
- in the box
- 64GB SD card (optional)
- £24.99
- All-in, front and rear with parking mode
- £173.99
Our verdict
The only set-up here with a 4K front camera and a 2.5K rear, no battery inside to swell or die, and the rear camera and parking-mode wiring kit in the box. £149, with 60 days to try it and a 2-year guarantee.
This is the set-up we would buy for our own car, and for a son or daughter who has just passed their test. The rear camera, its 6-metre cable and the wiring kit for parking mode are all in the box. Add a card, or use one you already have, and that is the whole job.
It also answers four of the things UK owners complain about most. The camera that wasn't recording when it mattered. The plate you can't read at night. The battery inside that swelled in the heat. And the parking mode that flattened the car battery. This one starts with the car, reads the plate, has no battery inside, and its wiring kit cuts the power before your battery runs low.
Fitting it yourself takes about twenty minutes for front and rear. The camera sticks behind the mirror. The cables tuck into the roof lining with the trim tool in the box. The rear camera sticks inside the top of the back window. If you would rather not, any auto electrician can fit it, and the maker's page shows every step.
In its favour
- Everything for front and rear in one box: the dash cam, the rear camera, a 6-metre rear cable, the parking-mode wiring kit with fuse taps, clips and the trim tool
- 4K front camera with a Sony Starvis 2 sensor, the sensor owners on PistonHeads tell each other to look for. Plates stay readable under streetlights and in the rain
- A 2.5K rear camera that sticks inside the top of the back window. Most rear cameras here are 1080p
- No battery inside (it runs on a capacitor), so there is nothing to swell, bulge or die on a summer dashboard. Rated from -20 °C to 70 °C
- Starts recording the moment the car starts. A bump locks the clip so it is never recorded over
- Parking mode for up to 24 hours. The wiring kit switches the camera off before your car battery gets low
- GPS puts your speed and where you were on every clip. Clips go to your phone over the camera's own Wi-Fi. You can send them to your insurer from the roadside
- Quiet by default. No voice greetings, no beeping at speed cameras, and the screen goes off after a minute
- 60 days to try it on your own car with a full refund, then a 2-year guarantee with no registration. Free tracked UK delivery
Against it
- It sells out often, so check it is in stock before you order
- Only sold online, on the maker's own site. You won't find it at Halfords or Argos
- The SD card is not in the box unless you add one (64GB £24.99), or use your own fast (U3) card
- Front / rear
- 4K front · 2.5K rear
- Rear camera
- In the box, on the back window, 6 m cable
- Battery inside
- None. A capacitor, works -20 °C to 70 °C
- Parking mode
- Up to 24 h, wiring kit in the box
- GPS
- Built in: speed and place on every clip
- Screen
- 3.2-inch
- SD card
- Not in the box. Add 64GB or 128GB, or use your own
- Guarantee
- 2 years, no registration
- Returns
- 60 days to try it, full refund
Best for: you want front and rear footage that holds up at night, and you would rather fit it yourself than pay Halfords.
£149£229
£149 · 60 days to try it, full refund · 2-year guarantee · free tracked UK delivery
No. 02The enthusiasts' pick
B7.1/10VIOFO A229 Plus 2CH
2K front · 2K rear · no battery inside
- Reads the plate at night9.0
- Records every time8.8
- Everything in the box5.0
- Easy to fit and live with6.6
- All-in price and cover5.6
The dash cam PistonHeads and Reddit tell each other to buy, and a good one. No battery inside and Sony Starvis 2 sensors front and rear. But it is 2K at the front, not 4K. The hardwire kit and the card are extra, and all-in it costs about £106 more than our No. 1.
If you know your way round a fuse box and you like choosing your own card, the VIOFO is a very good camera. It is what the forum regulars run, and it is why it came second.
It lost on the box and the price. You buy the kit and the card on top, which takes it to £279.78. And it is 2K at the front. The Halden is 4K at the front, has the kit in the box, costs £173.99 all-in and gives you 60 days to try it on your own car.
In its favour
- No battery inside. VIOFO's own spec: "NO Battery, built-in Super Capacitor"
- Sony Starvis 2 sensors front and rear, both 1440p. "Works a treat for me… the footage is clear"
- Long-running enthusiast brand. One PistonHeads owner: "I've been running a Viofo for the last 13 years or so and it's been faultless"
Against it
- 2K at the front, not 4K. DashCamTalk: "Night video is average"
- The hardwire kit (£24.99) and the SD card are extra. "You'll also need to budget for an SD card"
- Owners say it is picky about cards: "The VIOFO's are fussy about the cards you use in them"
- Heat worries: "I've read about Viofo A229 Plus units shutting down in hot weather"
- £279.78 all-in, about £106 more than our No. 1
- Front / rear
- 2K front · 2K rear (1440p both)
- Rear camera
- In the box, 6 m cable
- Battery inside
- None. Capacitor
- Parking mode
- Needs VIOFO's hardwire kit, £24.99
- GPS
- Yes, plug-in module
- Screen
- 2.4-inch
- SD card
- Not in the box
- Guarantee
- 18 months (24 if you register)
- Returns
- Amazon's returns
Best for: you are a confident DIYer who wants to pick every part yourself.
Skip it if you want one box, one price and 4K at the front.
Next to our No. 1: A fine camera. But 2K at the front instead of 4K, the kit and card bought separately, about £106 more all-in, 18 months of cover (24 if you register) against 2 years, and no 60-day home trial.
£229.99hardwire kit £24.99 extraAmazon.co.uk (sold by VIOFO), 19 October 2026
Check availability of our No. 1 »No. 03Cheapest complete kit
B-7.0/10REDTIGER F7NP
4K front · 1080p rear · no battery inside
- Reads the plate at night6.8
- Records every time6.6
- Everything in the box9.0
- Easy to fit and live with6.2
- All-in price and cover6.0
The front and rear camera you have probably seen in Facebook ads, nearly always on sale. The UK store kit has the card and the hardwire kit, and no battery inside. But the rear is 1080p, the front sensor isn't named on its UK page, and UK owners report the parking wiring draining their battery.
It is cheap, and the UK store kit is complete. That is why it is third. But a camera whose parking wiring can flatten your battery is the one thing UK owners fear most, and this is where we found the stories.
In its favour
- The cheapest complete kit here: card, hardwire kit and rear camera for £111.10 on its UK store
- No battery inside: "Built with a high-reliability supercapacitor instead of a lithium battery"
- Owners like it: "bought RedTiger F7NP it's quality is so good. Saved me 2 accidents as well."
Against it
- 1080p at the back, so plates behind you are harder to read than on a 2.5K rear
- A UK owner on Trustpilot: "it will drain a large, new car battery in 48 hours"
- Same owner: "Resulting in me needing the AA to come out to jump start me"
- An owner on its own UK page: "The hardwire have some issue with my battery" and the holder "Keep coming of after a few days"
- Nearly always on sale. The "was" price is rarely the price anyone pays
- Front / rear
- 4K front · 1080p rear
- Rear camera
- In the box
- Battery inside
- None. Capacitor
- Parking mode
- Hardwire kit in the store kit
- GPS
- Built in
- Screen
- 3.18-inch
- SD card
- 128GB in the "Basic" kit
- Guarantee
- 18 months (24 from its own store)
- Returns
- Depends on the seller
Best for: price matters most and you will plug it into the cigarette lighter socket rather than use parking mode.
Skip it if you want parking mode without worrying about the car battery.
Next to our No. 1: About £63 cheaper all-in. But 1080p at the back instead of 2.5K, owner reports of flat batteries from the parking wiring, and no 60-day home trial. The Halden's kit cuts the power before your battery gets low.
£111.10"Basic" kit on its UK store, card and kit includeduk.redtigercam.com, 19 October 2026
Check availability of our No. 1 »No. 04Best-known hi-fi name
C+6.7/10Kenwood DRV-A510W front and rear
2K front · 1080p rear
- Reads the plate at night7.6
- Records every time8.0
- Everything in the box6.0
- Easy to fit and live with6.4
- All-in price and cover5.4
A name your dad will trust from his old car stereo, and a solid camera. The bundle has the rear camera and a 32GB card. But it is 2K at the front, the rear is 1080p, the screen is small, and parking mode needs a £29.95 kit.
A safe, sensible camera from a name you know. It just costs about £81 more than the Halden all-in, for a lower resolution at both ends.
In its favour
- A trusted name, sold by Kenwood's own UK shop
- Rear camera and a 32GB card in the bundle
- Built-in GPS
Against it
- 2K at the front and 1080p at the back
- Parking mode needs a £29.95 kit
- A 2-inch screen, the smallest here apart from the cheap cams
- The UK shop page doesn't state the standard guarantee. Three years costs £19.99 extra
- Front / rear
- 2K front · 1080p rear
- Rear camera
- In the bundle (waterproof)
- Battery inside
- Not confirmed on its UK page
- Parking mode
- Needs the Kenwood kit, £29.95
- GPS
- Built in
- Screen
- 2-inch
- SD card
- 32GB in the bundle
- Guarantee
- Not stated; 3 years for £19.99 extra
- Returns
- The shop's returns
Best for: you want a household name and you are happy with 2K.
Skip it if you want the sharpest picture for the money.
Next to our No. 1: About £81 more all-in, 2K front instead of 4K, 1080p rear instead of 2.5K, and the parking kit is extra.
£199.95bundle with rear camera and 32GB cardKENWOOD Shop UK, 19 October 2026
Check availability of our No. 1 »No. 05Cheapest 4K Starvis 2
C6.3/1070mai A810 4K front and rear
4K front · 1080p rear · battery inside
- Reads the plate at night8.4
- Records every time5.2
- Everything in the box5.4
- Easy to fit and live with6.2
- All-in price and cover5.6
A strong 4K front camera with the same kind of Sony Starvis 2 sensor, from a Xiaomi-backed brand, for £123.99. But there is a battery inside, the rear is 1080p, parking mode needs a kit, and cover is 12 months.
A good front camera at a good price. The battery inside and the weak rear camera are why it is fifth, not second.
In its favour
- 4K front with a Sony Starvis 2 sensor
- About the same all-in price as our No. 1
- Built-in GPS and a 3-inch screen
Against it
- A battery inside. DashCamTalk: "a 500mAh battery instead of a capacitor which is not ideal in hot climates"
- DashCamTalk: "Poor quality rear camera recording has been one of the drawbacks with all 70mai cameras"
- Wi-Fi is 2.4 GHz only, so clips are slower to get onto your phone
- DashCamTalk: "70mai support outside of China is not the greatest"
- 12 months of cover
- Front / rear
- 4K front · 1080p rear
- Rear camera
- In the set
- Battery inside
- Yes, 500mAh
- Parking mode
- Needs the UP03 kit, £21.99
- GPS
- Built in
- Screen
- 3-inch
- SD card
- Not confirmed
- Guarantee
- 12 months
- Returns
- 30 days from its UK store
Best for: you mostly care about the front camera and you park in the shade.
Skip it if you want the car behind you sharp, or you park in the sun.
Next to our No. 1: About the same all-in (£3 less). But a battery inside, a 1080p rear, the kit bought separately, and 12 months of cover against 2 years.
£123.99with the RC12 rear camera70mai UK store, 19 October 2026
Check availability of our No. 1 »No. 06The UK's best-known name
D+5.7/10Nextbase 622GW front and rear bundle
4K front · 1080p rear · battery inside
- Reads the plate at night8.2
- Records every time5.0
- Everything in the box4.6
- Easy to fit and live with6.6
- All-in price and cover3.8
The dash cam on every Halfords wall. A 4K front camera that reads plates well by day. But the bundle is £349 before the £25 wiring kit. There is a battery inside, and the 1★ reviews are about it freezing when it mattered.
Nextbase is the name most UK drivers know, and Halfords sells it on every wall. That is why we expected it near the top. It came sixth.
It did not lose on the front picture. It lost on everything around it. The front and rear bundle is £349, the wiring kit is another £25, and Halfords charges £99 to fit it: £473. A car in summer can pass 45 °C inside, and that is this camera's top working temperature. The most common 1★ story is the one you least want: it froze, and it wasn't recording.
In its favour
- 4K front camera. Owners: "Easy to read numberplates unlike my old one"
- On sale everywhere, and Halfords will fit it if you buy it there
- 3 years of cover if you sign up to Nextbase's free Road Safety Club
Against it
- The strongest 1★ line in our 3,881 reviews: "my 622GW showed a frozen image on the screen and hadn't been recording for the previous hour or more"
- A battery inside. DashCamTalk: "use of a battery instead of capacitor, 45°C max operating temperature"
- Owners: "Keept over heating and crashing"
- Wi-Fi: "9 times out of 10 it will refuse to connect"
- £374 all-in before fitting, £473 fitted at Halfords
- Front / rear
- 4K front · 1080p rear
- Rear camera
- In the bundle (£69 on its own)
- Battery inside
- Yes, lithium
- Parking mode
- Runs on its battery; £25 kit for full-time power
- GPS
- Built in
- Screen
- 3-inch touch screen
- SD card
- 64GB in the Halfords bundle
- Guarantee
- 12 months; 3 years if you join its free club
- Returns
- Halfords 30 days, unused
Best for: you want a big name, you are buying at Halfords anyway and you will pay for them to fit it.
Skip it if you want front and rear for under £200, or you park in the sun.
Next to our No. 1: A good 4K front camera. But £200 more all-in, a lithium battery inside with a 45 °C limit, and 12 months of cover unless you sign up for the free club.
£349bundle with rear camera and 64GB card; hardwire kit £25 extraHalfords, 19 October 2026
Check availability of our No. 1 »No. 07Most complete shop bundle
D+5.6/10Road Angel Halo Guardian 2K+ Dual
2K front · 1080p rear
- Reads the plate at night6.6
- Records every time5.0
- Everything in the box7.6
- Easy to fit and live with4.4
- All-in price and cover4.0
A UK brand sold at Argos, and its bundle has the rear camera, a card and the wiring kit, which is more than most. But it is 2K at the front, it costs £309.99, and the warranty pages say two different things.
The box is good. What owners keep writing about across the Road Angel range is the bit that matters most: whether it is recording, and whether the app will let you get the clip off.
In its favour
- The bundle has the rear camera, a 64GB card and the wiring kit
- No subscription needed to record or use parking mode
- 3.2-inch screen
Against it
- 2K at the front, not 4K, and 1080p at 25 frames a second at the back
- Road Angel's own warranty text says one year. The ads say three
- Argos owner on a Road Angel: "The app repeatedly failed to recognise the camera"
- Trustpilot UK, Road Angel owner: "it randomly stops recording, on EVERY trip"
- £309.99, about £136 more than our No. 1 all-in
- Front / rear
- 2K front · 1080p rear
- Rear camera
- In the box
- Battery inside
- Not confirmed
- Parking mode
- Wiring kit in the bundle
- GPS
- Built in
- Screen
- 3.2-inch
- SD card
- 64GB in the bundle
- Guarantee
- "3 years" in the ads, 1 year in the warranty text
- Returns
- 30 days
Best for: you want to walk into Argos and buy a bundle today.
Skip it if you need the app to work first time at the roadside.
Next to our No. 1: About £136 more all-in, 2K at the front instead of 4K, a 1080p rear, and warranty pages that don't agree. No 60-day trial.
£309.99bundle with 64GB card and hardwire kit; £239.99 camera onlyRoad Angel UK, 19 October 2026
Check availability of our No. 1 »No. 08Smallest
D5.5/10Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3
Front only · no screen · no GPS
- Reads the plate at night5.0
- Records every time7.4
- Everything in the box2.4
- Easy to fit and live with9.5
- All-in price and cover4.4
Tiny, well made, no battery inside, and almost invisible behind the mirror. But it is front only, with no screen and no GPS. Parking mode needs a £44.99 cable, and its parking alerts need a paid subscription.
Lovely to look at and easy to live with, but the wrong camera for this job. If you want proof when someone goes into the back of you, a front-only camera with no GPS is the wrong place to start.
In its favour
- The smallest here. "Tiny, well hidden and unobtrusive"
- No battery inside, and a 2-year warranty
- "connected to my phone first time"
Against it
- Front only. Nothing for the shunt from behind, the most common story in the owner reviews
- Argos owner: "couldn't pick up a number plate from 6 feet away"
- No screen and no GPS, so no speed on the footage
- Parking alerts need the Vault plan, shown at £9.99 a month
- Front / rear
- 1080p front · no rear
- Rear camera
- None made for it
- Battery inside
- None. Capacitor
- Parking mode
- £44.99 cable, plus a paid plan for alerts
- GPS
- No
- Screen
- No screen
- SD card
- Not in the box
- Guarantee
- 2 years
- Returns
- The shop's returns
Best for: you only want the road ahead and hate anything you can see on the windscreen.
Skip it if you want the car behind you on the clip.
Next to our No. 1: Smaller and easy to fit. But front only, no screen, no GPS, and about £26 more all-in than the Halden's front and rear set.
£129.99front onlyGarmin UK / Amazon.co.uk, 19 October 2026
Check availability of our No. 1 »No. 09Cheapest name you know
D4.9/10Nextbase 322GW (with rear camera)
1080p front · rear sold separately
- Reads the plate at night4.6
- Records every time5.0
- Everything in the box3.4
- Easy to fit and live with7.0
- All-in price and cover5.0
The cheap Nextbase most people start with, and well loved for what it is. But it is 1080p and the rear camera is extra. The rear records at 720p, too low to read most plates.
A fine first camera five years ago. Once you add the rear camera and the kit, it costs more than the Halden and does less.
In its favour
- "This more than paid for itself by showing to my insurers that I was not at fault after 2 collisions"
- Cheap to start with, and simple
Against it
- 1080p front: "you can't read a number plate on it"
- The rear records at 720p on the 322GW
- "the battery swelled in one of the cameras & it popped the display screen out"
- "It keeps telling me to format the card after a few hours use!"
- Front / rear
- 1080p front · 720p rear
- Rear camera
- Sold separately, £69
- Battery inside
- Not confirmed (other Nextbase models have one)
- Parking mode
- Needs the £25 kit for full-time power
- GPS
- Built in
- Screen
- 2.5-inch
- SD card
- Not in the box
- Guarantee
- 12 months; 3 years if you join its free club
- Returns
- Halfords 30 days, unused
Best for: you only want a front camera and you are on a tight budget.
Skip it if you want to read the plate of the car behind you.
Next to our No. 1: About £54 more all-in for 1080p front and 720p rear, against 4K and 2.5K. 12 months of cover unless you join the free club.
£109front only; rear camera £69, kit £25Halfords / Nextbase, 19 October 2026
Check availability of our No. 1 »No. 104K on the box
D-3.3/10The £40–£65 "4K" front and rear cams
Marketplace listing · brands you won't have heard of
- Reads the plate at night2.0
- Records every time3.0
- Everything in the box6.0
- Easy to fit and live with4.0
- All-in price and cover2.0
"4K" on the listing, a rear camera and often a card, for under £65. Then owners find the plate is a blur at night, the battery can swell in summer heat, and there is nobody to ring.
Fine as a toy. Useless the one time you need it. "it would be the red blob is car 1 and the blue blob is car 2…"
In its favour
- Cheap enough to find out if you'd use a dash cam at all
Against it
- MSE owner: "slightly less than 720 upscaled to just under 1080 and they claimed it was 4k"
- "footage is blurry and at night you may as well not even have it"
- "The cheap one have very poor video quality even to the point you cant even read number plates"
- "I paid £20 for a cheap dashcam before but it only lasted about 3 months"
- Sold by trading companies, not UK brands. Often no GPS
- Front / rear
- "4K" on the listing · 1080p rear
- Rear camera
- Usually in the box
- Battery inside
- Rarely stated
- Parking mode
- Kit sold separately
- GPS
- Usually no
- Screen
- Often under 2 inches
- SD card
- Often included
- Guarantee
- 12 months from the seller
- Returns
- Marketplace returns
Best for: you want a camera for a car you are selling next month.
Skip it if you ever want to read a plate.
Next to our No. 1: About £110 cheaper all-in. Unreadable at night, often no GPS, and a seller instead of a brand to contact. You will buy twice.
£49.99about £40 to £65, depending on the listingAmazon.co.uk / eBay UK, 19 October 2026
Check availability of our No. 1 »Why the Halden Duo 4K came first
We expected a Nextbase or the VIOFO to win. One is the name everyone knows, the other is the one the forums trust. What changed our minds was adding up what each one costs as a front and rear set, then reading what owners say goes wrong.
Start with the box. The Road Angel bundle has a rear camera and kit too, but it is 2K at the front. The REDTIGER kit is complete too, but its rear is 1080p. The Halden is the only one with a 4K front, a 2.5K rear and the parking-mode wiring kit in the box. Add a 64GB card and you have spent £173.99 on the whole job. The Nextbase 622GW front and rear set is £374 before anyone fits it.
Then the thing that matters most: is it recording? The most common 1★ stories are a camera that froze, a battery inside that died or swelled, and a card that gave up. The Halden has no battery inside. It runs on a capacitor, rated from -20 °C to 70 °C, so there is no battery to swell in summer heat. It starts the moment the car starts, and a bump locks the clip so it is never recorded over.
Then the plate. The front camera is 4K with a Sony Starvis 2 sensor, the one owners tell each other to look for. The rear is 2.5K and sticks on the back window, so the car that shunts you at the lights is on the clip too. GPS adds your speed and where you were.
And the battery fear. Parking mode watches the car for up to 24 hours when you are in the shop. The wiring kit watches your car battery and cuts the camera off before it gets low. If you would rather not use parking mode, plug it into the cigarette lighter socket and it records whenever you drive.
Last, the cover. 60 days to try it on your own car with a full refund, then a 2-year guarantee with no registration. Nextbase gives 12 months unless you sign up to its club. 70mai gives 12. It sells out often, so check availability on the maker's page.
“Bloke reversed into me at the lights, then told his insurer I'd gone into the back of him. Front got his reg, rear got him reversing. His insurer accepted it in a week. Last time this happened I got stuck with a 50/50.”
“Our Ellie passed her test in August and I've not slept properly since. My husband fitted this in her Corsa on the Sunday. It comes on by itself when she starts the car, so there's nothing for her to remember.”
“Two jobs come through my van every week. A dash cam that flattened someone's battery, and one that wasn't recording when they needed it. A camera with no battery inside and a kit with a proper cut-off helps with both.”
Who should not buy it
- You drive a lorry or a van on 24 V and don't want to fit a converter
- You want a camera that films the inside of a taxi as well
- You want live view over 4G while you are away from the car
Our No. 1 dash cam · £149
£149 · 60 days to try it, full refund · 2-year guarantee · free tracked UK delivery
How we compared the dash cams
We priced every camera the way you actually end up buying it: front and rear, with parking mode, and a card. Where a part is sold separately, we added it at the price we found on 19 and 20 October 2026.
Then we read what owners say. 3,881 UK reviews from Argos, Halfords, Amazon.co.uk and Trustpilot, and threads on PistonHeads, MoneySavingExpert, Mumsnet and Reddit. We sorted 1,401 owner quotes by the fault they describe. The faults that came up most decided the five things we scored.
- Prices checked 19–20 October 2026
- Every set-up priced front and rear, all-in
- 3,881 UK owner reviews read
- 1,401 owner quotes sorted by fault
The five things we scored
- Reads the plate at night25% of the rating
Front and rear resolution, the sensor, and what owners report from dark, wet UK roads.
- Records every time20% of the rating
Battery inside or not, heat, freezing, and whether it starts every time the car starts.
- Everything in the box20% of the rating
Rear camera, rear cable, parking-mode wiring kit and card: in the box or extra?
- Easy to fit and live with15% of the rating
Fitting front and rear yourself, the app, the screen, and no beeping.
- All-in price and cover20% of the rating
The all-in price, the guarantee, and how long you get to try it.
What we did not score
Voice control, Alexa, speed-camera alerts and lane warnings. Owners hardly use them, and many switch them off: "I only need it to record, not to beep or do anything sophisticated."
What about having one fitted at Halfords?
Halfords charges £75 to fit a front camera and £99 for front and rear. It only fits cameras bought from Halfords. A Nextbase 622GW front and rear set fitted there comes to £473 with the wiring kit. Owners quote £380 to £500 for fitted bundles.
It is a real option if you would never touch a fuse box, and plenty of owners are happy with it. But most people fit the front and rear themselves in under an hour. As one owner put it: "It's mostly just plugging in USBs, then hiding the cables." A camera with a long rear cable and the trim tool in the box makes that easy.
Why is it £149 when a Nextbase front and rear costs more than twice that?
The camera is not the expensive part any more. What you pay for with the big names is the shop, the shelf on the Halfords wall, and the bits sold separately: the rear camera, the kit and the card.
Halden sells only from its own site, with no shop taking a cut. That is why the rear camera and the kit can be in the box at £149, down from £229. It is also why you probably haven't heard of it, and why it sells out. That is what the 60 days are for. The maker's page lists everything in the box.
What to expect in the first week
Day one
Fit it in twenty minutes
Stick the camera behind the mirror, tuck the cable into the roof lining, stick the rear camera on the back window, plug it in. Start the car. It is recording.
Day two
Pair your phone once
Open the free app, join the camera's Wi-Fi, watch a clip. Then you can forget it.
Week one
You stop thinking about it
It comes on with the car and goes off with the car. No beeping, no screen glowing at night.
The day it matters
The clip is on your phone
Front and back, with the reg, your speed and where you were. Sent to your insurer from the roadside. And you still have weeks left of your 60 days.
Before you buy any dash cam
Choose a camera with no battery inside
Most cheap dash cams, and most Nextbase models, have a small lithium battery inside. On a summer windscreen it gets hot, and owners write about it swelling, dying and losing the time. "5 Nextbases and all the batteries have gone kaput." A camera with a capacitor instead has nothing to swell. Our No. 1 has no battery inside.
Get front and rear, and check the rear is on the back window
Being hit from behind is the most common story in the owner reviews. Some cheap "rear" cameras clip onto the front unit and film the back seats. You want one that sticks inside the back window, on a cable long enough for your car.
Price it all-in before you buy
Add the rear camera, the wiring kit for parking mode, a card and the fitting. That is the real price. "You also have to purchase a separate memory card as well before you can use the unit… so add another £25 to the bill."
Use a fast SD card and format it once a month
Cheap, slow cards are the usual reason a dash cam stops recording. Use a fast card marked U3 from a name you know, format it in the camera when you first fit it, and again once a month. It takes one minute.
Fit the wiring kit to a fuse with a cut-off
For parking mode, use a kit that watches the car battery and cuts out before it gets low. If you are not sure which fuse to use, any auto electrician can do it in under an hour.
The real cost of a dash cam that doesn't record
The most painful stories in the owner reviews are not about a broken camera. They are about the claim that followed. "In cases of one word being taken against another, claims are usually settled 50-50." "I'm pretty furious that there's even a chance of having to take 50% blame." And a 50/50 is still a claim against you: your excess, your no claims, your next premium.
Every one of those drivers had a camera that froze, a plate they couldn't read, or no camera at the back. The cost is not the dash cam. It is the claim you lose without it, and the feeling of being lied about with nothing to show.
None of this is legal advice. A dash cam doesn't guarantee an insurer will decide in your favour, and footage can show your own mistakes too. What it does is show what happened.
Our No. 1 dash cam · £149
£149 · 60 days to try it, full refund · 2-year guarantee · free tracked UK delivery
The writer who disagreed
I run a VIOFO in my own car and I'd have put it closer. It has a capacitor too, and the forums trust it. The others argued that it costs about £106 more all-in once you add the kit and the card, and that the Halden is 4K at the front with the kit in the box and a 2-year guarantee. For most drivers, they're right.
Harriet Cole · Buyers Ledger writer, who drives about 18,000 miles a year
Questions people ask
Will a dash cam flatten my car battery?
Only if it is wired without a cut-off. Plugged into the cigarette lighter socket, most dash cams switch off with the car. For parking mode you wire it to the fuse box. That is where flat batteries come from: a cheap lead with no cut-off, or a fitter who used the wrong fuse. The Halden's wiring kit watches your car battery and cuts the power to the camera before it gets low. The kit is in the box.
Can I fit a front and rear dash cam myself?
Yes, most people can. The front camera sticks behind the mirror and the cable tucks into the roof lining. The rear is the fiddly bit: "wiring the front was a piece of cake… It was the rear that was a challenge." A long rear cable and a trim tool make all the difference. The Halden has a 6-metre rear cable and the tool in the box, and most people do front and rear in about twenty minutes. Halfords only fits cameras bought from Halfords. Any auto electrician will fit the others.
Does hardwiring a dash cam void my car's warranty or count as a modification?
A dash cam fitted with fuse taps cuts no wires and comes out in minutes. Owners report insurers telling them a hardwired dash cam is not a modification. If you are unsure, ask your insurer at renewal. It is a two-minute question.
Do I need a rear camera?
If you can only afford one camera, get front and rear. The most common story in the UK owner reviews is being hit from behind: at the lights, in a queue, reversing in a car park. As one owner put it: "I actually wish I had a rear cam as the only times my car has been hit is from behind." Make sure it sticks on the back window. Some cheap "rear" cameras just film the back seats.
Why do so many dash cams fail to record?
Three reasons come up again and again in the 1★ reviews: a battery inside that has died or swollen, a cheap SD card that has given up, and a camera that freezes in the heat. A camera with no battery inside and a good fast (U3) card avoids the most common of these. Our No. 1 pick has no battery inside.
Is 4K worth it on a dash cam?
At the front, yes, if the sensor is good. 4K gives you more to zoom into when you need a plate. But a cheap "4K" listing is often not 4K at all. Look for a named sensor (Sony Starvis 2 is the one enthusiasts trust). If you want plates behind you too, get a rear camera of at least 2K.
Will a dash cam lower my insurance?
Sometimes a little, often not at all. Plenty of owners say their insurer offered nothing. What a dash cam does is show what really happened, so you are not stuck with a 50/50 when it was their fault, and you keep your no claims.
Where can I buy the Halden Duo 4K?
Only from Halden's own UK site. It is not in Halfords, Argos or on Amazon, and it sells out often. Delivery is free and tracked. Check availability on the maker's page.
Our verdict
Start with the exceptions. If you are a confident DIYer who likes choosing every part, the VIOFO A229 Plus is a good camera. If you will only ever buy from Halfords and pay them to fit it, buy the Nextbase there and accept the bill.
For most UK drivers the question is simpler: will it be recording, will I be able to read the plate, and what does the whole thing cost? Only one camera here has a 4K front and a 2.5K rear, no battery inside, the rear camera and parking-mode kit in the box, and 60 days to try it. It costs £149, and it sells out often.
The Nextbase costs more than twice as much once you add what the box leaves out. The best dash cam is the one that's recording when it happens.
Best dash cam UK 2026
Halden Duo 4K: front and rear, rear camera and kit in the box
★ 4.8 from 1,286 reviews on the maker's page
- 4K front camera with a Sony Starvis 2 sensor, sharp 2.5K rear camera (most rears are 1080p). Reads plates at night and in the rain
- Rear camera, 6-metre rear cable and the parking-mode wiring kit in the box
- No battery inside to swell or die. Works from -20 °C to 70 °C
- Starts when the car starts. A bump locks the clip. Parking mode for up to 24 hours
- GPS speed and place on every clip. Clips to your phone in the free app
- Fit it yourself in about twenty minutes. Trim tool and clips in the box
- 60 days to try it on your own car, then a 2-year guarantee. Free tracked UK delivery
£149£229
Check availability →£149 · 60 days to try it, full refund · 2-year guarantee · free tracked UK delivery
Price note: when we last checked, the maker's page showed £149, down from £229. No code needed. If the price has changed, the button shows today's.
Sources
Every figure here is a maker's own number, a named review or something owners said in public. Check any of them.
- [1]Halden Duo 4K UK page: price, specs, box contents, 60-day trial, 2-year guarantee, checked 20 October 2026
- [2]Halfords help: dash cam fitting, only for dash cams bought from Halfords
- [3]Halfords: Nextbase 622GW front and rear bundle with 64GB card, £349, fitting £99
- [4]Nextbase: Series 2 hardwire kit, £25
- [5]Nextbase: Rear Window Camera, £69, rear resolution by model
- [6]Nextbase UK warranty information: 12 months on dash cams bought direct
- [7]Nextbase Road Safety Club: free sign-up adds 24 months of warranty
- [8]DashCamTalk: Nextbase 622GW review (battery, 45 °C limit)
- [9]Halfords: Nextbase 322GW, £109, SD card not included
- [10]Amazon.co.uk: VIOFO A229 Plus 2CH, £229.99, sold by VIOFO Ltd
- [11]Amazon.co.uk: VIOFO HK4 hardwire kit, £24.99
- [12]VIOFO: A229 Plus specification (no battery, super capacitor)
- [13]VIOFO warranty policy: 18 months, 24 with registration
- [14]DashCamTalk: VIOFO A229 Plus review
- [15]REDTIGER UK store: F7NP Basic kit, £111.10, capacitor, card and hardwire kit
- [16]Trustpilot UK: REDTIGER owner, car battery drained in 48 hours
- [17]KENWOOD Shop UK: DRV-A510W front and rear bundle, £199.95
- [18]Kenwood UK: DRV-A510W specification
- [19]70mai UK store: A810 with RC12 rear, £123.99, 12-month warranty
- [20]DashCamTalk: 70mai A810 review (500mAh battery, rear camera, 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi)
- [21]Road Angel: Halo Guardian 2K+ Dual bundle with 64GB card and hardwiring kit, £309.99
- [22]Road Angel: limited warranty text (one year)
- [23]Argos: Road Angel Halo Guardian, £239.99
- [24]Trustpilot UK: Road Angel owner, stops recording on every trip
- [25]Garmin UK: Dash Cam Mini 3, £129.99, specs (capacitor, no GPS, card sold separately)
- [26]Garmin UK: Vault subscription plans
- [27]Garmin UK: consumer limited warranty, two years
- [28]Amazon.co.uk: SanDisk High Endurance 64GB microSD, £24.80
- [29]Amazon.co.uk: TINAZEOK C3 4K front and rear, £49.99
- [30]Amazon.co.uk review: Nextbase 622GW froze and was not recording
- [31]Amazon.co.uk review: Nextbase 322GW battery swelled and popped the screen out
- [32]Argos: Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3 owner reviews
- [33]MoneySavingExpert forum: cheap dash cams, fake 4K
- [34]MoneySavingExpert forum: hardwiring a dash cam with parking mode
- [35]Mumsnet: roundabout collisions settled 50/50
- [36]PistonHeads: front and rear dash cam recommendations, 2026
- [37]Reddit r/CarTalkUK: what dash cam are people using that is reliable?
- [38]Reddit r/AskUK: rear camera, "the only times my car has been hit is from behind"
- Prices checked 19 and 20 October 2026 at the shops named on each card. Amazon.co.uk prices include VAT. Halden's price checked on its own site, 20 October 2026.
- "All-in" means the camera, the rear camera, the wiring kit for parking mode and a 64GB SD card, fitted yourself. Where no card is in the box we added a SanDisk High Endurance 64GB at £24.80. Halfords fitting is £75 front or £99 front and rear, and only for cameras bought from Halfords.
- Owner quotes are copied word for word from public UK reviews and forum posts, with spelling left as written. The sources are listed at the bottom.
- We did not run our own lab test of night footage. Plate readability comes from each maker's sensor and resolution, published reviews and what owners report. The night frames shown are from the makers' own pages.
- Halden's rating, 4.8 from 1,286 reviews, is from its own page.
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