Many motorists have been dissuaded from getting dashcams because they’ve heard they can drain the battery of the vehicle. This is mostly untrue. But it can happen if you choose a cheap dashcam or one that hasn’t been installed properly. Let’s look at some answers to your dashcam questions as they pertain to vehicle battery life.
It’s very unusual for a dashcam to stay on 24/7. Modern-day dashcams do have a parking mode setting that allows you to keep them on while your car is switched off, but this isn’t typically used 24/7. Rather, you might choose to enable parking mode during times when you want to monitor your car while it’s parked (for extra security).
If your dashcam is of high quality (like the ones we supply at Cartrack), it should last a minimum of 3 to 5 years. Many cheaper options will have a much shorter lifespan than this, so make sure you go with a reliable supplier (and installer).
A dashcam that’s on parking mode will use the car battery while the car is off, but this won’t necessarily “drain” the battery unless the dashcam is wired incorrectly. Dashcams on parking mode are designed to use minimal battery power, so make sure you get yours installed by a professional like the ones from Cartrack.
A good dashcam for a private motorist should cost anywhere between R189 and R289 per month. When you opt for a Cartrack dashcam, the price of the device is bundled up into a subscription because we manage your footage for you. A good dashcam for a fleet is impossible to estimate, because it would depend on many different factors like fleet size, camera quantity, additional dashcam services, etc.
Different dashcams have different ways of showing you that recording has been activated. If you want to know if your dashcam is recording, look for a recording light, a blinking light, or in some cases a voice alert telling you that recording has started.
Usually when a dashcam’s memory card is full, new recordings overwrite the oldest ones. But many dashcam services (like the ones from Cartrack) offer additional storage space if you want to keep footage. Remember that not ALL your footage is automatically saved; only footage of pertinent incidents or footage you’ve specifically chosen to be saved.
Yes, if you opt for a Cartrack dashcam subscription, you’ll be able to view your dashcam footage on your phone or mobile device because our software is mobile compatible.
No, your dashcam doesn’t need Wi-Fi to function. But you will need Wi-Fi to download the footage onto your phone if you choose to do so.
While a front and rear dashcam certainly offers more protection, it’s not always necessary for every person. If you only want to record what’s happening in front of your vehicle, then a regular front-facing dashcam is enough. But if you want to also record what’s going on behind your vehicle, a front and rear facing dashcam is best.
Before you choose a dashcam to invest in, always consider:
Cartrack’s dashcams come with a 1-year warranty, with an option to extend coverage of the dashcam with an indefinite maintenance plan.
Cartrack will only get an alert during tampering if the camera is within signal range (meaning it’s possible that a power loss event will be sent). Practically, most disconnects aren’t detected because thieves use jammers, or because the vehicle is parked in an area where there’s no reception.
