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Dash cams are an excellent addition to almost any vehicle, as they offer a blanket of security. They can help prove your innocence in an insurance fraud accident case but also protect you from accusations from your rideshare passengers. They can even help you determine how the tires on your vehicle magically ended up slashed after an overnight stay on the street.

Given the ample benefits these compact devices offer, their increasing popularity is no surprise. But how do you choose the best dash cams in Canada? How do you know which one will best fit your needs? We did the hard part for you, spending hours upon hours carefully researching these devices to present you with the best dash cams for Canadians. So, if you’re on the hunt for a comprehensive list of the best dash cams in Canada for 2023, look no further.

Best Dash Cams for Canadians in 2023

Why Did We Choose These Dash Cams in Canada?

We picked a handful of the best dash cams for Canadians to help consumers like you select the best option for your needs. We curated the list through thorough research and evaluations to examine all aspects of each model, from its field of view to storage capacity. After this meticulous process, we emerged with the following collection of dash cams. Each excelled for different reasons. Here’s a quick peek into why each option made this list.

Decked out in high-end features and complete with high-resolution recording quality, the RedTiger Dash Cam is our top overall pick. It features front and rear cameras with wide-angle fields of view for optimized recording, ensuring you capture everything in front and behind your vehicle.

The VIOFO A119 V3 Dash Cam is an outstanding choice for nighttime recording. It features multiple exposure HDR for better image quality and better light correction, plus a Sony STARVIS 5MP image sensor to provide clearer nighttime footage than many basic dash cams.

If you regularly take long hauls across the country and need a massive storage capacity from your dashcam, the Rove R2-4K Dash Cam is an excellent pick. This device is compatible with memory cards with up to 512 GB of storage space, making it a perfect choice for long hauls. Plus, it comes with loop cycle recording to ensure you never miss out on recordings due to a full card.

The VANTRUE 3 Channel Dash Cam is our top pick for its high-tech features. It’s equipped with three lenses for full coverage of the car cabin and the rear and front of the vehicle, ensuring you have all your bases covered. It comes with wireless and voice control, loop recording, a 24-hour park mode, buffered motion detection, and excellent night vision. On top of that, it features an exceptional warranty.

Last but not least, we have the Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2. This compact dash cam is perfect for everyday driving, as it offers several key features to assist you. From voice control to effortlessly regulating your device to driver alerts to improve situational awareness, this dashcam is perfect for everyday driving.

Best Overall

RedTiger Dash Cam

REDTIGER Dash Cam Front Rear Camera 4K/2.5K Full HD Car Dashboard Recorder with 3.18” IPS Screen, Wi-Fi GPS Night Vision Loop Recording 170° Wide Angle WDR, Free 32GB Card

It's Great For:

The REDTIGER Dash Cam is an outstanding pick with its well-rounded feature lineup, earning its place as our top pick as the best overall dashcam in Canada. The setup features two cameras for full coverage of the front and rear. The front camera features 4K resolution, while the rear camera is 1080p.

The rear camera is adjustable, so you can swivel it to capture whatever you want. For example, you could point it downward to capture your belongings in the backseat of your truck or direct it upward to view the goings-on behind you.

The rear camera offers a 140-degree field of view, whereas the front camera offers an expansive 170-degree field of view. The wide angle of the front-facing camera makes this option an excellent choice for larger vehicles, including buses, vans, and trucks.

The setup boasts smart features, including built-in Wi-Fi and smart app control. You can view, playback, and manage the footage from your dashcam conveniently on your smartphone. On top of that, the device is equipped with one-click sharing, allowing you to easily share your views with friends and family.

If you get in an accident, the camera’s G-sensor will detect the occurrence, automatically locking and saving the collision footage. A parking monitor function allows you to keep an eye on things when your car is parked via 24-hour time lapses, which is another perk for truckers wanting coverage on the go.

Key Features

  • Wide angle. This dashcam is perfect for larger rigs, with its wide-angle lens capturing 170 degrees.
  • Built-in GPS. The unit features a built-in GPS, allowing you and your loved ones to keep track of the device or check in with your driving progress.
  • Excellent night vision. This unit features a high-quality optical lens equipped with HDR/WDR technology, so it can clearly capture footage in low light.
  • Loop recording. When the SD card is full, this dashcam will begin recording footage over the oldest clips, ensuring you don’t need to worry about reformatting when it’s full.

Our Expert’s Take

“This dashcam is an outstanding pick for all sorts of rigs, especially larger vehicles.”

Best for Night Recording

VIOFO A119 V3 Dash Cam

VIOFO A119 V3 Dash Cam 2K, GPS, True HDR, Buffered Parking Mode 24h, 2560x1660P Quad HD+ Car Dash Camera, Ultra Clear Night Vision, 140 Deg Wide Angle, Motion Detection, G-Sensor, Time Lapse, Loop Record

It's Great For:

The VIOFO A119 V3 dashcam is a perfect choice for Canadians who regularly drive at night. If you work nights and are routinely on the road after dark, this dashcam is a worthwhile consideration, as it offers exceptional nighttime recording capabilities.

It features multiple exposure HDR for a greater range of light levels, which ensures excellent image quality and corrects over-exposure issues. This feature automatically corrects overly bright or dark areas, allowing the camera to capture pristine footage at various times of the day.

A Sony STARVIS 5MP image sensor also allows the camera to provide clearer footage than many dash cams. Combined with the HDR function, this camera produces corrected, clear footage to ensure you’re protected.

A rotatable lens allows you to adjust the angle based on the height of your vehicle. If you’re in a taller rig, tilt the camera down slightly to fully encompass the action ahead of you. Make minor adjustments to ensure you get the most coverage from the 140-degree angle lens.

The camera features a built-in G-sensor, ensuring important footage won’t be overwritten due to loop recording. It has three adjustable sensitivity levels to accommodate varying road conditions and situations.

Key Features

  • Outstanding night vision. This dashcam is highly sensitive to nighttime light levels, as it features the Sony STARVIS sensor, enabling it to capture high-quality footage in darker areas.
  • Built-in microphone. Complete with a built-in microphone to collect sounds around you, this dashcam offers an extra layer of protection.
  • Multiple modes. The advanced parking mode with three solutions accommodates varying situations to ensure all your bases are covered, even when your car is parked.
  • Compact. The small footprint of this dashcam makes it a great choice for Canadians who don’t want an oversized or clunky camera obstructing their view.

Our Expert’s Take

“The dark shroud of nightfall can greatly decrease video quality, so for Canadians that drive at night, selecting a camera that can keep up is essential. This dashcam does exactly that.”

Best for Large Storage Capacity

Rove R2-4K Dash Cam

Rove R2-4K Dash Cam Built in WiFi GPS Car Dashboard Camera Recorder with UHD 2160P, 2.4

It's Great For:

The Rove R3-4K dashcam is a superior pick for Canadians who want a dashcam with a high storage capacity. While it doesn’t come with a memory card, it can support up to 512 GB memory cards, making it the perfect pick for long-haul drivers, such as truckers.

While this camera can only capture one angle at once, it rotates 360 degrees. So, if you notice suspicious behaviour from a driver behind you, simply spin the camera to capture their actions. Adjust the angle to your liking to ensure you capture everything you need to.

Like many dash cams, this model features a G-sensor and loop cycle recording to ensure essential footage isn’t lost in the event of an accident. It can also capture slow-motion videos and time lapses, making it a great choice for parked recordings. Its motion detection feature and 24-hour parking mode also lend well to capturing the goings-on around your parked car.

The device also comes with a solid one-year warranty and a full refund within 30 days of purchase. You can bring issues to the company’s customer service team via text for a quick response or email. The customer service team is based out of Chicago, Illinois, and quickly handles questions or issues.

Key Features

  • Distortion correction. Automatic distortion correction ensures your footage will be crisp and clear, despite the wider camera angle.
  • Large storage capacity. This device supports larger SD cards of up to 512 GB, making it a great choice for those who regularly go on long-haul trips or want 24/7 recordings.
  • App compatibility. The ROVE app offers convenient viewing and management of the footage, allowing you to easily download and share your recorded videos with friends and family.
  • Rotatable. Choose what you want to capture by spinning the camera around. It rotates 360 degrees, allowing you to collect footage from the front or rear of your vehicle.

Our Expert’s Take

“Storage capacity is a major consideration for dash cams, particularly those used in long-haul travel. This dashcam offers plenty of storage space plus loop cycle recording to ensure you capture everything on your journey.”

Best for High-Tech Features

VANTRUE 3 Channel Dash Cam

3 Channel WiFi Dash Cam with Voice Control, VANTRUE E3 1944P Front 1080P Inside 1080P Rear Dashboard Camera, APP Control, Buffered Motion Detection, Night Vision, 24H Parking Mode, Support 512GB Max

It's Great For:

The VANTRUE 3 Channel dash cam is a phenomenal choice for Canadians who appreciate high-tech features. This device is teeming with useful tools that you might not even know you needed.

For example, it comes with wireless and voice control to keep you focused on the road. The remote control option enables you to effortlessly lock emergency videos, snap photos, and regulate the audio recording function. Voice commands offer the same results, ensuring you never take your eyes off the road.

On top of that, this camera features outstanding nighttime recording features. It comes with Sony night vision, featuring four hidden IR lights for the cabin camera to ensure the video remains clear even in low light.

Loop recording ensures you won’t run out of space by overwriting the oldest video files, and collision detection automatically begins recording when any impact is detected. The 24-hour park mode allows you to improve the safety of your car at night, and buffered motion detection records action around your vehicle for 30 seconds after movement is detected.

While many cameras feature each camera built into the same setup, this device comes with separate cameras. The front and cabin cameras are attached, one facing forward and the other covering the cabin. However, the rear camera is entirely separate from the front and cabin cameras and instead is mounted on the rear windshield.

This makes capturing the activity behind you easier without obstructions, like passengers in your rear seats or items stored in the back.

In addition to the abundance of features, this unit comes with an excellent warranty. It features an 18-month extendable warranty, which is lengthier than most dash cams. Additionally, it comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee and lifetime customer service. The company proudly boasts it responds to queries by email within 24 hours, ensuring you’ll have help whenever you need it.

The company even offers lengthier rear camera cables for larger vehicles. All it takes is a quick email to request the cable, and the company will respond with the next steps.

Key Features

  • Three lenses. The trio of cameras offers extensive coverage by recording the vehicle’s cabin, front, and rear. This is a particularly convenient perk if you drive a rideshare or rent out your vehicle.
  • Voice control. Quickly lock footage, capture photos, and turn voice recordings on or off with a simple voice command.
  • Night vision. Featuring Sony technology, this dashcam is equipped to handle the dim lighting of nighttime driving.
  • Strong warranty. This device comes with an extendable 18-month warranty for optimal coverage and lifetime after-sale service.

Our Expert’s Take

“If you want full coverage and a myriad of high-tech features, this dashcam is for you.”

Best for Everyday Driving

Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2

Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2, 1080p, 140-degree FOV, Incident Detection Recording and Signature Series Cloth

It's Great For:

The Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2 is a marvellous choice for Canadians seeking everyday driving coverage. This unit is packed with features that help with day-to-day driving, helping to keep you safe and protect your car.

The Live View monitoring feature allows you to conveniently check on your parked car via the Garmin Drive app. Of course, it’ll need a Wi-Fi connection and constant power, but it can communicate with your device as it sits parked.

The Parking Guard feature offers alerts when an incident is detected, as it continually monitors activity around your parked vehicle. If something happens, you’ll know (as long as the device has power and a Wi-Fi connection).

The Voice Control feature offers convenient control without any hands-on manipulation required. Instead, simply say a command to save videos, start and stop audio recordings, or take photos. You can find saved videos and photos in the online vault, which you can access via the Garmin Drive app on your smartphone.

Lastly, the system offers driver alerts to ensure you remain safe on your journey. It alerts you of various scenarios, including forward collisions, lane departure, and speed camera warnings. Each alert helps encourage safer driving practices and keeps the driver focused by increasing situational awareness. However, these features aren’t always available, as certain conditions may impair the function, and specific regions don’t offer these perks.

Given the features of this device, it’s an excellent option for everyday driving, especially if you drive to or work in the city.

Key Features

  • Live view monitoring. Access your camera remotely to check on your parked car via the Garmin Drive app.
  • Driver alerts. Helpful alerts, such as lane departure or speed camera warnings, keep drivers alert, increasing situational awareness as they move.
  • Parking Guard. This feature monitors activity around your vehicle, alerting you of any incidents detected.
  • Voice control. Convenient voice control functions allow you to complete basic commands without taking your attention off the road.

Our Expert’s Take

“We were impressed by this dashcam’s feature repertoire, from the driver alerts to voice control capabilities.”

Why Trust Us?


Dash cams can be an easy way to uphold your rights and prove your innocence in various situations, but selecting a good fit isn’t always as easy. We understand how overwhelming it can be to start the search, especially if you don’t know what to look for.

To simplify the process and send you in the right direction, we did the hard work for you. Our team is experienced in all sorts of home products, from comfy mattresses for more restful sleep to powerful heat pumps to keep your home perfectly toasty in winter’s biting cold. We’ve developed rigorous methods to ensure we weed out the sub-par options and list the best options available.

Each pick in our list is based on our own findings. The process starts with a general search for highly-rated, top-of-the-line products. We combine this with extensive research, going a step further to eliminate various models and hand-select outstanding options. At this point, we bring our findings to you by creating a comprehensive list of options and why we picked them.

As we searched for the best dash cams in Canada, we focused on a few notable aspects, including the following:

  • Field of view: Different vehicles require varying fields of view, so we included several options in our list to accommodate multiple vehicle types and preferences.
  • Number of cameras: Some Canadians might be content with a single camera, while others may want 360-degree protection. We selected a few options to ensure there’s something for everyone.
  • Camera resolution: High-quality footage is a key marker separating the best dash cams from their less-than-stellar counterparts. We looked for models with high resolutions and high-quality footage to ensure your camera can capture quality footage at any time of day or night and in nearly any weather conditions.
  • Power source: While many dash cams pull power via the cigarette lighter in your vehicle, some vehicles might not have them. We looked for models compatible with multiple power sources to ensure we covered numerous bases.

Why Choose A Dash Cam in Canada

Why Choose A Dash Cam in Canada?

Dash cams are useful for drivers everywhere, across Canada and throughout many nations worldwide. They serve as a security blanket by capturing evidence, whether you’re actively driving or your car is parked for the night. This footage makes an appearance in many car accident court cases and can serve as vital evidence that backs your statements.

While it can be helpful in an accident you cause, it can also prove your innocence in a case of insurance fraud. Some drivers on the road deliberately cause accidents to extort money from the alleged victim or insurance company. The footage can be the turning point in proving your innocence against the fraudulent charges.

The footage that these cameras capture can also be helpful for determining what caused damage to your car. For example, you might wake up to a smashed-in window or slashed tires one morning. If the angle is wide enough, your camera may capture the perpetrators, allowing you to pursue justice.

Additionally, dash cams can provide assurance for driving instructors and stressed parents, as many models feature built-in GPS devices, speed records, and driving history. If you’re concerned about your child’s ability to drive safely, the dash cam can serve as a way to ensure your child is driving safely.

Factors to Look for in a Dash Cam in Canada

Factors to Look for in a Dash Cam in Canada

Selecting a dash cam in Canada isn’t as simple as a quick grab-and-go. Instead, you’ll want to consider multiple aspects to ensure your dashcam performs in line with your expectations. Here are a few factors to help you choose the best option.

Field of View

The field of view is one of the most important factors to pay attention to in a dashcam. The best dash cams have a field of view between 130 and 160 degrees, as this captures a wide range of action around your vehicle.

If you go any lower, the footage may cut off the front sides of your vehicle around the fender area. Conversely, if you go too much higher, the footage may be distorted and result in poorer quality around the edges of the frame.

We recommend considering your vehicle type as you search for the best option. If you’re putting the dashcam in a compact car, you can err on the lower side of the specified range. Conversely, selecting a broader field of view is best if you plan to use the device in a larger vehicle, such as a truck or van.

Quality

Camera quality is another crucial consideration for Canadians seeking the best dash cam. You’ll want your dashcam to capture high-quality details, so a higher resolution is usually necessary. Generally, selecting a Full HD 1080p camera is best, but slightly lower resolutions will work too.

It’s best not to go much lower than this, though, as low-resolution footage can be tricky to understand and use. If you want the best of the best, select a high-quality 4K camera, as these are the cream of the crop, capturing excellent-quality footage.

Aside from this factor, you’ll want to ensure you select a camera that performs well in all conditions. While sunny days create perfect recording conditions, Canadian seasons don’t always bless drivers with such beautiful days.

Select a camera that can record well when it’s raining, snowing, at night, and in low light, as this will ensure the footage your device captures is usable.

Number of Cameras

Many standard dash cams feature a single camera aimed forward to capture what is in front of your vehicle. However, this coverage may not be sufficient for all drivers. Some Canadians may prefer extra protection via multiple cameras, such as front-facing and cabin-facing cameras.

Some dash cams go above and beyond, featuring four camera angles for a complete 360-degree view of your vehicle and its surroundings. This option is often ideal for rental cars and services, such as private vehicles the owner rents out or those used for rideshare services like Uber and Lyft.

The extra camera angles capture activities within the vehicle, protecting the owner or driver against the actions of the passengers or renters.

Multiple angles can also be suitable for truckers who want well-rounded protection, as the cameras can monitor their vehicle, belongings, and surroundings while working and sleeping.

Audio Recording

Although most people don’t consider audio recordings when considering a dashcam, it’s actually a worthwhile function. This way, the system can pick up environmental sounds, which can help understand events and conversations taking place beyond the camera’s line of sight.

While this feature isn’t a must-have, it can be a useful addition in various situations. For example, if you get pulled over and are unlawfully requested to complete a task, your dashcam can serve as vital evidence. The same applies to accusations from passengers or other drivers involved in an accident.

Mounting

Consider how you want to mount your dashcam. Most dash cams available today attach to your windshield, adhering to the inside of the glass with a suction cup. Other models connect to different places in your car, such as the dash.

Window-mounted models are usually the best, as they don’t interfere with your line of sight or block essential controls. However, you’ll want to select a model that is capable of taking on rough roads, as some suction cups may not be strong enough to remain securely fixed to the glass.

Storage Capacity

Pay attention to the storage capacity the dash cam offers. You’ll want something with plenty of storage to avoid frequent SD card reformatting or changes. Since most dash cams don’t have internal memory, you’ll need to swap out SD cards periodically to ensure each recording is safely stored.

The capacity is particularly important for Canadians who choose high-resolution dash cams, as these cameras require a considerable amount of space. If you select a camera with a lower resolution, you won’t need as much space, but it’s still important to choose a model with a good-sized capacity.

Generally, you can choose from a range of compatible SD cards, as most dash cams work with various brands. Ensure you select a compatible option, as some dash cams don’t support specific SD cards.

When selecting an SD card to capture your adventures, ensure you choose one from a reputable brand. Poor-quality cards may fail when you need them the most, rendering the camera useless. So, select a good-quality option to give your dashcam the best chance of capturing everything you need it to.

Additionally, look for an option that writes over the oldest recordings automatically. If you don’t, you’ll have to reformat the memory card as it fills up, which can be time-consuming.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, dash cams are legal in Canada. Canadian law allows citizens to record in public, and since many roads qualify as public spaces, using a dashcam is legal. However, private places are different since you’re no longer in a public area.

While you don’t necessarily need a dashcam in Canada, these cameras can be incredibly useful in varying situations. They can protect your rights in unlawful traffic stops and prove your innocence in fraudulent accidents, among other things.

Certain dash cams will continue recording even when your car isn’t running. However, you’ll need to pay attention to the specs on the dashcam you’re considering if you want it to record when your car is parked and off at night.

Not all dash cams require a cigarette lighter for power, although many do. Some models are hardwired, so they pull a steady stream of power from your car’s battery. Some models even use batteries, so no external power source is required to keep the camera running.