A dash cam can be a great addition to your personal vehicle or company fleet. However, it is important that you choose the right dash cam to meet your unique needs as a driver. The best cameras will be reliable, have a decent set of features, and capture great video, even at night.
Unfortunately, there are dozens of dash cams on the market today. This can make it tough to find the best option for your specific needs. To help, we’ve compiled a list of our top 5 choices so that you can find the best front and rear dash cam with night vision.
Quicklook: Best Front and Rear Night Vision Dash Cam
- Best For Affordability: APEMAN 1080P C680 Dash Cam
- Best For Rideshare Drivers: Garmin Dash Cam Tandem
- Best For Commercial Fleets: Vantrue N2 Dual Dash Cam
- Best For CDL Drivers: Thinkware U1000 Dual Cam
- Best For Tech-Savvy Drivers: VAVA 2K Dual Dash Cam
5 Best Front and Rear Dash Cams with Night Vision
APEMAN 1080P C680 Dash Cam
The APEMAN 1080P C680 is one of the most affordable night vision dash cams on our list. Despite its cost, it provides quality video recording and is extremely reliable. However, the GPS and hardware must be purchased separately, which does add about $40 to the original price tag.
Best For: Affordability
Special Features:
- Loop recording
- Optional GPS
- G-sensor for emergency recording
Benefits:
- Great night vision quality
- Affordable
- G-sensor is extremely sensitive
Disadvantages:
- Hardware sold separately
- GPS sold separately
Pricing: $79.98, including hardware
| Technical Specifications | |
| Dimensions | 3.5” x 1.5” x 0.5” |
| Resolution | 1080P |
| Display Type | LCD |
| Mounting Type | Suction cup |
| Voice Command | No |
| Camera | Yes |
| Field of View | 170-degree front, 130 degrees rear |
| Storage | Up to 128GB |
| Lane Assist | No |
| Speed Limit Indicator | No |
| Traffic Services | No |
| Battery | Battery and micro USB |
Garmin Dash Cam Tandem
The Garmin Dash Cam Tandem is perhaps the best front and rear dash cam with night vision on the market today. It offers exceptional video and audio quality, which makes it the best choice for rideshare drivers. Whether you need to document an accident or an incident involving an unruly passenger, the Tandem will see and hear all.
Best For: Rideshare drivers
Special Features:
- Dual 180-degree lenses
- 1440p video (front lens only)
- Voice command capabilities
- Pocket-sized camera
Benefits:
- Discreet
- Includes voice command capabilities
- User-friendly app
- GPS and incident detection included
Disadvantages:
- Cost prohibitive for some users
- No built-in display
Pricing: $299.99
| Technical Specifications | |
| Dimensions | 2.2” x 1.6” x 0.9” |
| Resolution | 1440P front, 1080p rear |
| Display Type | Mobile app |
| Mounting Type | Suction cup |
| Voice Command | Yes |
| Camera | Yes |
| Field of View | 180-degrees (both cameras) |
| Storage | Up to 128GB |
| Lane Assist | No |
| Speed Limit Indicator | No |
| Traffic Services | No |
| Battery | Micro USB |
Vantrue N2 Dual Dash Cam
The Vantrue N2 is a bit bulkier than the Garmin. However, it includes a built-in display, quality night vision, and crisp audio capturing capabilities. It also includes auto power off and variable loop recording settings so that you can customize it to suit your needs.
Best For: Commercial fleets
Special Features:
- Variable loop recording
- Auto power off feature
- Motion detection
Benefits:
- Good mix of value and features
- Customizable settings
- Timestamp option for all video recordings
Disadvantages:
- Screen is a bit small
- No built-in GPS
Pricing: $149.99
| Technical Specifications | |
| Dimensions | 5.28” x 3.8” x 4.45” |
| Resolution | 1440p front, 1080p rear |
| Display Type | 1.5” LCD |
| Mounting Type | Suction cup |
| Voice Command | No |
| Camera | Yes |
| Field of View | 170-degree front, 140-degree rear |
| Storage | Up to 128GB |
| Lane Assist | No |
| Speed Limit Indicator | Yes, with optional GPS |
| Traffic Services | Yes, with optional GPS |
| Battery | 3.7V Li-ion battery and micro USB charger |
Thinkware U1000 Front and Rear Dash Cam Bundle
The U1000 is Thinkware’s newest model. It provides 4K video quality and includes a wealth of driver assistance features. The U1000 is an excellent choice for CDL drivers that are operating commercial motor vehicles.
Best For: CDL drivers
Special Features:
- 4K front lens recording
- 2K rear recording
- Mobile app
- GPS and geofencing capabilities
Benefits:
- 4K video
- Tons of features
- Wireless update features via mobile app
- Parking surveillance mode
Disadvantages:
- Cost
Pricing: $499.99
| Technical Specifications | |
| Dimensions | 2.5” x 4.3” x 1.4” |
| Resolution | 4K front, 2K rear |
| Display Type | Mobile device |
| Mounting Type | 3M adhesive |
| Voice Command | Yes |
| Camera | Yes |
| Field of View | 150-degree |
| Storage | 128GB |
| Lane Assist | Yes, via mobile app |
| Speed Limit Indicator | Yes, via mobile app |
| Traffic Services | Yes, via mobile app |
| Battery | Micro USB charger |
Vava 2K Dual Dash Cam
The VAVA 2K Dual Dash Cam is our top pick for tech-savvy drivers. While the app and camera are extremely user-friendly, it is also jam-packed with features that will take some time to navigate. A few examples include the “smart witness” feature and video sharing capabilities of the mobile app.
Best For: Tech-savvy drivers
Special Features:
- Smart witness
- 24-hour parking monitoring
- Snapshot button
Benefits:
- Tons of features
- 24-hour parking monitoring is great for drivers that park in public spaces
- Snapshot button
- Easy to set up
Disadvantages:
- No GPS
- Not as affordable as other options
Pricing: $199.99
| Technical Specifications | |
| Dimensions | 6.2” x 3.7” x 3.2” |
| Resolution | 2K |
| Display Type | 2” LCD |
| Mounting Type | Suction cup |
| Voice Command | No |
| Camera | Yes |
| Field of View | 170-degree |
| Storage | 128GB |
| Lane Assist | No |
| Speed Limit Indicator | No |
| Traffic Services | No |
| Battery | USB |
What Is Night Vision?
Night vision refers to the technology that allows dash cameras to capture quality video in low light conditions. There are several different technologies that allow these cameras to record at night. The most common is known as IR or infrared technology.
How Does a Night Vision Dash Cam Work?
Most night vision dash cams use infrared lights to actively illuminate their field of view. IR light is invisible to humans but can be detected by the dash cam. When the camera is exposed to low light conditions, the IR lights automatically come on.
What to Look for in Dash Cams with Night Vision
When looking for the best front and rear dash cam with night vision, you should consider the following factors:
Video Quality
The video quality is expressed in pixels. At a minimum, you should find a camera that records in 1080p, as lower quality video will not clearly display things like facial features or license plates.
Field of View
The field of view is expressed in degrees. The larger the angle, the wider the field of view. For instance, a camera that has a field of view of 180 degrees will capture more than a camera with an FOV of only 150 degrees.
High-End IR Sensors
IR sensors impact video quality. The night vision dash cams include multiple high-end IR sensors, not just a single component. This enhances the quality of the nighttime video footage.
Reliability
All of the cameras featured in our list are known for their reliability. Key features like motion detection consistently trigger recording, which means that your camera will capture vital moments such as a traffic accident.
Extra Features
When choosing your camera, make sure that it is equipped with the features that are most important to you. This may include a mobile app, voice command functions, or GPS.
Finding the Right Dash Cam With Night Vision
While all of the night vision dash cams outlined above are great options, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. The best camera is the one that aligns with your budget and needs as a driver.
FAQs
Yes, some dash cams do have night vision. Most dash cams use infrared light to illuminate an area so that quality video can be captured.
Night vision or “night mode” means that the dash cam is equipped with technology that allows it to capture video in low light conditions. The most common night vision technology uses infrared lights.
All five night vision dash cams on our list are great options. You should select the camera that provides the best combination of value and features to meet your unique needs.
