Dash cam advice

egyptiancotton

I've been umming and ahhing whether to get a dash cam. Before the pandemic, I regularly commuted on the motorway, so back then I thought a dash cam would be a given as I was on the road all the time. Even when we're allowed back into the office, we won't need to be there as much, so my mileage will be reduced drastically. Would you say a dash cam would still be worth considering? I've been considering getting the Nextbase 522GW and rear cam bundle fitted by Halfords. I'd be grateful to hear anyone's experiences with this dash cam. I'd be interested in hearing people's experiences where they didn't have a dash cam but wish they had one, and also where an incident has occurred and they were glad to have a dash cam.

Car_54

I have a Nextbase, can't remember the model.

I'd had it about a month when I was stationary in lane 2 at a red light, waiting to go straight ahead. Traffic in lane 1 was turning left on a filter, and there was a cycle lane between. An idiot tried to overtake the lane 1 traffic by squeezing down the cycle lane, and hit my car before cutting in and impaling his car on the front of a bus. I showed him the damage to my car and got his details, but he later denied hitting me. The dashcam footage was supplied to his insurers and they backed down immediately.

Repairs were about £2,000, so the camera more than earned its keep.

Grumpy_chap

Nextbase are definitely the brand to go for.
We have one and used the Halfords install service and all went well.

Biggus_Dickus

Car_54 said:

I have a Nextbase, can't remember the model.

I'd had it about a month when I was stationary in lane 2 at a red light, waiting to go straight ahead. Traffic in lane 1 was turning left on a filter, and there was a cycle lane between. An idiot tried to overtake the lane 1 traffic by squeezing down the cycle lane, and hit my car before cutting in and impaling his car on the front of a bus. I showed him the damage to my car and got his details, but he later denied hitting me. The dashcam footage was supplied to his insurers and they backed down immediately.

Repairs were about £2,000, so the camera more than earned its keep.

Does having a dash-cam fitted lower your insurance premium in any way?

Navigator123

Some insurance companies will give up to 10% discount if you have a dashcam but they tend to be more expensive to insure with than others.  Very much a case of checking on the comparison sites and seeing what works best for you.
Where a dashcam comes in to its own is if you are involved in an accident and you are able to submit the footage to your insurers.  It leaves no room for doubt as to who was at fault and who is liable and speeds up the claims process no end.
I had a dent just before Christmas and the third party wanted to contest the incident.  I had submitted the dashcam footage as part of my initial claim to my insurers (SAGA) and they got my car fixed and supplied a courtesy car all within 2 weeks.  The third party was sent the dashcam footage and their insurers paid out in full without any argument.
By the way, I would recommend getting a dashcam that does front and rear cameras as you can guarantee that if you have a front facing dashcam only then someone will hit you from the rear.  The extra cost is around £50.00 (£65.00 fitted) so well worth it.

Supersonos

Biggus_Dickus said:

Car_54 said:

I have a Nextbase, can't remember the model.

I'd had it about a month when I was stationary in lane 2 at a red light, waiting to go straight ahead. Traffic in lane 1 was turning left on a filter, and there was a cycle lane between. An idiot tried to overtake the lane 1 traffic by squeezing down the cycle lane, and hit my car before cutting in and impaling his car on the front of a bus. I showed him the damage to my car and got his details, but he later denied hitting me. The dashcam footage was supplied to his insurers and they backed down immediately.

Repairs were about £2,000, so the camera more than earned its keep.

Does having a dash-cam fitted lower your insurance premium in any way?

I've never told my insurance company in case something happens and, for whatever reason, my dashcam isn't working.

I had a tracker fitted and it made no difference to the premium, so I'd be surprised if a dashcam did.

I don't really understand why people wouldn't fit a dashcam.  It saved me within a few weeks of getting it (someone hit me in a car park.  Caught on camera, phoned their insurer, they denied being in the area so I sent the footage - immediate admission).

robertosherman

Yes Nextbase is one good option. Dashcam is the most efficient proof you have for defending yourself while at road. Don't bother having one as it will save you more time and money in the long run.

[Deleted User]

Do keep in mind that a dashcam with GPS could be used against you if it proved you were speeding, so be mindful
I have a mobius which I got in 2014 time, still works fine but I think if it fails I would like one with a proper mount and nudge sensor 

JustAnotherSaver

I don't know if it's too late but I bought the Nextbase 522GW.
Then immediately sent it back. What an absolute pile of crap that is. 
OK some will think it's amazing but really the image quality is terrible. 

I have a Mio Mivue. It's a bit old now and the image quality isn't the best but it was better than the Nextbase which is newer and 'market leading' apparently. 

I did some research in to a better camera. You may wish to look at the VIOFO 119 V3 although the downside is there's no rear cam. For that you'd be on to the 129 duo but I have seen examples and the image quality is not bad but the quality on the 119 is much better in my view. 

Supersonos

JustAnotherSaver said:

I don't know if it's too late but I bought the Nextbase 522GW.
Then immediately sent it back. What an absolute pile of crap that is. 
OK some will think it's amazing but really the image quality is terrible. 

How funny - I think the picture quality is amazing.  Great camera - especially the way it mounts with the magnet so no rattling.

Scrapit

I have a nextbase, si.pke enough to fit, good pics but it has a mind of its own and records and protects random things. If anything happens I need to download that day.