There are many benefits to having a dashboard camera in your vehicle. Above all, they are an excellent way to improve safety on the road. A study in the Journal of Safety Research found using dashcams helped reduce total crashes by 60% and the cost of such crashes by 86%. A dashcam provides reliable video evidence for law enforcement and insurance companies if there is an incident. Other advantages include being a security measure against theft, monitoring young driver habits, or simply reliving scenic and exciting drives.
The dashboard cam market has exploded in recent years. As many as 18% of US vehicles already have a dash camera, and the market is expected to keep growing by 12% annually through 2033. Although you can buy an aftermarket dash cam and install it, some people find these cameras tricky to install. They also may not mesh with the onboard software, requiring additional controls and wiring.
As such, many people are looking for vehicles with a dash cam built in by the manufacturer, as this offers a convenient solution that’s often ready to go when you drive off the dealership lot. With that in mind, I’ve compiled a list of automotive brands with built-in dash cams on some or all of their North American vehicles. I’ll also review each system’s main features so potential buyers can compare them. Let’s get started!
Tesla
Perhaps no automaker has embraced dash cam tech more than Tesla. All the company’s vehicles, from the Model 3 to the Cybertruck, have a built-in camera capable of recording footage and storing it on a USB drive. Tesla Dashcam can record video from all the vehicle’s onboard cameras—front, rear, and sides. If you honk the horn or are involved in a crash, Tesla Dashcam will automatically store the most recent 10 minutes of video. You can also manually save footage.
In addition to recording footage as you drive, Sentry Mode allows the camera and sensor to monitor surrounding movement when parked. If the system detects a potential threat or incident, it automatically starts recording and storing video. Tesla vehicles manufactured from 2020 onward include a preformatted 128 GB USB stick to store the video; you’ll have to provide a flash drive on older vehicles.
Mercedes-Benz
Long seen as an onboard technology leader, Mercedes-Benz continued this reputation by jumping head-first into dash cams. As I write this, the AMG GT four-door coupe is the only new Mercedes-Benz vehicle with no built-in dash camera functionality. Note, however, that you will need to activate this technology yourself by plugging a USB flash drive into the port and using the menus on the MBUX operating system. How much video you can store depends on the USB drive capacity and recording resolution; some vehicles record at 720p (HD), while others offer 1080p (full HD).
There are a lot of other features to like about the Mercedes-Benz dashcam system. Videos are stamped with the time, location, vehicle speed, and other data that can help with investigations. Mercedes-Benz also maintains high-resolution recording at night and offers integrated parking monitoring for up to six days. Loop recording limits video files to two minutes long; it will automatically start overwriting the oldest files if the USB drive fills up. The only downside to the Mercedes-Benz, compared to the Tesla system, is that the Mercedes-Benz can only record from the front and rear cameras.
BMW
Another German automaker has joined Mercedes-Benz at the dash cam forefront. BMW introduced its Drive Recorder app in 2019, which connects the four surround-view cameras to a recording system. It’s available on all BMW models that have iDrive 7.0 or higher. You can set the system to record automatically or manually using the Drive Recorder app in the iDrive infotainment menu. There are also options to specify recording single or multiple cameras, including a Panorama View. If the sensors detect you are in an accident, the dash cam will automatically store video for 20 seconds before and after the accident (40 seconds total).
To use BMW Drive Recorder, you’ll need 1) An active subscription to the BMW ConnectedDrive app and 2) the Parking Assistant Plus or Parking Assistant Professional driver assistance package. On iX, X2, 5 Series, and 7 Series vehicles, you can add Drive Recorder via either of these parking assistance features. All other vehicles require using the ConnectedDrive store to add and activate the app.
MINI
Multiple options are available for owners of these legendary small cars. BMW has owned the MINI name since 2000, and they now offer Drive Recorder—renamed MINI Drive Recorder—on new MINI Cooper models. This version has the same dash cam functionality as on BMW vehicle marques. To use MINI Driver Recorder, you will need a MINI Connected app subscription and Parking Assistant Plus. With Operating System 9, you can activate an anti-theft recorder for the interior.
If you have a vehicle that doesn’t qualify for MINI Drive Recorder, the MINI Advanced Car Eye 3.0 Pro system is available for installation at franchised MINI dealerships. This front-and-rear camera system is an OEM component but runs separately from the onboard software, like an aftermarket dash cam. Installation takes approximately two hours.
Toyota and Lexus
Toyota and its luxury Lexus nameplate have stepped up dashcam efforts in recent years. The Toyota Integrated Dashcam system was introduced in 2021 on the Sienna Hybrid and Venza. Many other Toyota models are now prewired for the dashcam, including the Camry, Highlander, RAV4, Tundra, Prius, and Tacoma. Lexus vehicle series with integrated dash cam support include the RX, ES, GX, LS, and NX.
The dash cam has a wide-angle 1080p lens that automatically turns on when you start the vehicle. It comes with an industrial-grade 16 GB microSD storage card and sensors to counter the G-forces that can damage footage. Special features include:
- Action Mode captures longer drives in a single large file.
- Incident/Interesting Event Recording stores footage from 12 seconds before to 8 seconds after a shock is detected or you manually press the Action button.
- Parking Surveillance Mode automatically wakes the camera if an impact is detected and records it for 60 seconds.
- Adventure Mode stores up to one hour of continuous footage.
- Infinite Loop recording automatically overwrites the oldest files as needed.
Similarly to our other offerings, this camera requires an external application in the form of the Toyota/Lexus Integrated Dashcam smartphone app to wirelessly download and share footage. These apps are available for free through Google Play or the App Store.
Subaru
Although not a full-fledged dash camera system, Subaru EyeSight driver assistance technology offers limited dash cam capabilities in case of accidents. If you are involved in a collision or the sensors detect a potential impact, Subaru EyeSight will automatically record roughly 22 seconds of video footage surrounding the moment of impact on the forward-facing cameras. It can also automatically store images with incident data. However, the driver has no manual control over these recordings. The Subaru EyeSight system debuted in 2013 and is now standard or optional on most models.
Finding Vehicles with Built-in Dashcams
Although a built-in dashcam may not be the primary factor when deciding on a new car, truck, or SUV, it can help sway a decision when all else is equal. Well-done dash cam technology offers improved safety, peace of mind, and a way to remember your favorite journeys. The number of vehicles with factory dash cams has risen dramatically in recent years, and based on current trends, I expect this to continue. I’ll keep an eye on developments and update this list if necessary.
