Car dash cameras are one of the most important tools for safety and protection as an Uber or Lyft driver. There is a reason most rideshare drivers have them installed in their vehicles. The best dash cam will help provide important evidence in case of an accident or an unruly passenger.
You’ll want to make sure you find a dash cam that meets your needs, not all dash cams are equal.
Below you will find all of the reasons you should have a dash cam installed. As well as what to look for when choosing the best dash camera for you. A dash cam is super important, so choose carefully!
- Why do Uber or Lyft Drivers Needs to Have a Dash Cam Installed?
- Coverage For Drivers From Riders
- What to look for in a Rideshare Dash Cam
- Top 3 Recommended Dash Cams
- Best Rideshare Dash Cams Under $100
- Best Value Dash Cam: Rove R2-4K Dash Cam
- More Dash Cams For Uber and Lyft Drivers
- Recommended Micro SD Cards For Dash Cams
Want to be an Uber driver? Check out our guide on the Uber sign up requirements.
Why do Uber or Lyft Drivers Needs to Have a Dash Cam Installed?
Driver and passenger safety is number 1, and a dash cam is one of the cheapest insurance policies.
Anything can happen on the road (or in the back seat) and you want to be prepared when it does. Video footage will help sway the vote in your direction during any dispute with a passenger, Uber, or another driver. The main reasons to install a dash cam are to help with accidents, insurance, and traffic tickets.
Collisions and Accidents
Even the most seasoned rideshare driver may find themselves in an accident one day. If it happens when you are mid-trip, you will not only have the other driver to worry about but your passenger as well. These situations can also lead to plenty of legal or financial headaches.
Having a dash cam installed can really help determine who is truly at fault in an accident.
Fender benders can come from any side of the car. The absolute most ideal situation is to have a front facing, rear facing, and passenger facing camera installed.
This allows plenty of angles outside of the car as well as a good view and (hopefully) an audio recording inside the car. The audio and video from inside the car can help determine if a passenger was truly hurt in the accident.
Either way you look at it, having cameras installed in your vehicle will help keep your mind at ease if you do end up in a mishap.
Need support after an accident? These are the best ways to get in touch with Uber or Lyft!
Insurance Claims
A dash cam is a great accessory for capturing interesting moments as well as providing evidence after a collision.
An insurance provider will be more than happy that you recorded any incident that you may have. Using a dash cam allows your insurance company to quickly and accurately establish that liability and fault.
This can lead to less headaches and quicker turn arounds when it comes to repairing your vehicle and getting back on the road.
Getting a Traffic Ticket
The view from the police cruiser does not always paint a perfect picture.
Sometimes you may be given a traffic ticket for something that you actually did not do. This is where it helps to have a dash cam installed to show the other side of the story. The video evidence from your vehicles view can help you get the ticket reversed when you are presenting your case in court.
Coverage For Drivers From Riders
For the most part our passengers behave pretty well. But every so often you’ll pick up a rider with a bad attitude or plans to ruin your day.
Many dash cams also come with interior audio+video recording. The camera can capture your entire interaction with the passenger so you have back up when it comes to building your case. There are many situations where the footage from inside the car can be useful.
False Accusations by Riders
Riders will sometimes complain to Uber about either your service level or your driving abilities in hopes that they may get a free ride. Uber’s reaction to these situations is usually to side with the rider (the customer is always right…until you prove them wrong).
Let’s say for example that a rider calls Uber and says that you were extremely rude or you sexually harassed them. We know this is a false accusation but Uber decides to side with their customer rather than their contractor. You tell them you have video and audio from the trip and you send them a copy of the footage. Uber reviews the footage and sees that you did in fact not do anything wrong and the trip was actually quite pleasant.
The rider has been busted on their false accusation!
Theft Protection
Driving with Uber or Lyft means that you are driving with your own vehicle. Sometimes passengers think it may be ok to take something from your vehicle.
With the in car video you will be able to prove that the rider did in fact take the item you are missing. Sometimes rideshare vehicles are also the target of a robbery. Thieves may call the service only to rob you when you arrive to pick them up. You can use your camera and audio footage as evidence which may lead to the police finding the robbers.
Better PAX Behaviour
When a passenger gets into an Uber and sees a dash cam, they are more inclined to behave during the trip.
Riders know that dash cam footage can be used against them if they act inappropriately and everybody wants to look good on camera. The increase in positive behaviour means a better interaction between drivers and riders, which in turn leads to higher ratings for both!
Bonus: Installing a dash cam means that YOU are also on camera. Another benefit of having one installed is that you are held accountable to your actions. This means safer driving and providing a top notch service to your passenger (which you should be doing anyway). Happier passengers lead to a higher rating and maybe a tip!
What to look for in a Rideshare Dash Cam
There are many different types of car cameras out there, but there are a few common features that you should look for when purchasing a rideshare dash cam. The most important features to look for are: Resolution, Night Vision, Installation, and the Viewing Angle.
Resolution
You’ll want a nice clear good quality recording from your dash cam.
The resolution will often be a good indicator of how the video will look once recorded. You should be able to read license plates and the makes and models of the cars ahead or behind you. This can help identify who is driving ahead of you. Camera resolution is expressed by the number of vertical pixels in the image. The higher the number, the better the quality of the recording. 1080p is a good benchmark to look for when choosing a dash cam.
Best Resolution: Rove Stealth 4K Dash Cam
Night Vision Recording
A lot of rideshare drivers tend to work in the evening, especially if rideshare is a second job for the driver. This makes it important to have a night vision capable camera pointing to the road. Night vision cameras are usually more expensive but are well worth it, especially if they are good quality.
Best night vision: YI Smart Dash Cam
Installation
Dam cams are available in different sizes and feature various options for mounting. Most cameras are mounted via suction cup to the windshield, some of them can be mounted to the rear view mirror.
There are a few that use the “semi-permanent sticker” method of installation but we recommend you avoid these types as they can leave residue on your windshield. You’ll also want to find a “wireless” dash cam so that you don’t have to connect or route any cables in your vehicle.
Viewing Angle
Your camera recording should include as much information as possible, this can be achieved with a wide viewing angle. The viewing angle for cameras usually range between 90-180 degrees with 180 being the most ideal for capturing everything. You should be able to find a camera with a wide viewing angle for a reasonable price.
Best viewing angle: APEMAN Dash Cam
Camera Views and Audio
The best rideshare camera set up covers all of the angles. In front of the car, behind the car, and inside the car are all important angles you should be capturing. Audio is also highly recommended as you will be able to record the interactions between yourself and the rider.
Some dash cams come with two-way video recording which record the road ahead and the passengers at the same time. These types of camera are ideal because they will help keep your windshield view free from the obstruction of multiple devices. The downside is that the two-way models often come with a higher price tag.
Best for camera view and audio: TOGUARD Uber Dual Dash Cam
Motion Activated
Many car cameras come with a motion activation feature that turns the camera on when the car is parked. Not all rideshare drivers have a safe place to keep their vehicles when they are not driving.
Motion activation cameras can save you in case someone runs into your vehicle when you are not in the car. Some cameras even have the capability to send you a notification if the motion sensor is activated!
Internal Storage
The more storage room you have in the camera means you will be able to record more of the time you are online. High quality video can take up a lot of storage space so you’ll want to make sure you have the room required for recording a full shift.
Storage space is noted in GigaBytes and the higher the better. Most cameras range from 32GB on budget models to 256GB on the high end models. It is common for the video to be stored on an SD card, this allows you to bring multiple cards with you if you are away from home base for long periods of time.
Best storage capacity: Vantrue N2 Pro Uber Dual Dash Cam
Loop Recording
Cameras only have so much room to store footage, so what happens when you hit your storage capacity? Either your camera will stop recording, or your camera will start to loop the video. This means that the oldest footage is overwritten with the current footage.
Loop recording is extremely helpful as it removes the need to bring multiple SD cards as you only need to keep the footage that you actually need. If you get in an accident or an incident with a passenger, you should make sure that you don’t continue recording and loop over the footage.
Battery or Cable Power
A good battery inside your camera ensures that you keep recording as long as you need to. The battery also means that you don’t have to connect power and run cables inside of your car. The cables can sometimes block your view of the road which is not an ideal situation.
The bonus of having your camera plugged in is that the camera will turn on when you turn the car on. This means you will never miss footage because you forgot to turn your camera on.
Top 3 Recommended Dash Cams
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| Name | Vantrue N2 Pro | ROVE R2-4K | YI Smart Dash Cam |
| Price | $$$ | $$ | $ |
| Front/Back/Interior Video | Front and Interior | Front | Front |
| Resolution | 1440p/1080p | 2160p | 1080p |
| Night Vision | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Installation | Suction Cup Mount | Suction Cup | Suction Cup |
| Viewing Angle | 170/140 | 150 | 165 |
| LCD Screen | Yes (1.5") | Yes (2.4") | Yes (2.7") |
| Interior Audio Recording | Yes | No | No |
| Motion Activated | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Memory Capacity | 256 GB | 1256 GB | 64 GB |
| Loop Recording | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Vantrue N2 Pro Uber Dual Lens Dash Cam
The Vantrue N2 Pro dash cam is our top pick for rideshare cameras.
This camera has both a front and an interior facing cameras allowing for an eye on the road as well as your passengers. Night vision mode enables you to record high quality videos in low light situations. The Vantrue N2 comes with a wide front camera angle of 170 degrees and a narrower 140 degrees for the interior view.
The cameras audio recording capabilities are a nice touch as well, allowing you to hear what is going on inside the car. Camera quality is top notch with the Vantrue N2 Pro as well, with its resolution coming in at 2560p.
Pros
- Loop Recording to ensure the camera always keeps rolling
- Night vision for low light situations
- Up to 256GB of storage
- Mini LCD screen (1.5″) turns off while driving
- Interior audio recording capabilities
- Easy to install/remove suction cup mount
Cons
- Camera needs to be hardwired for the motion sensor to work well
- No rear view camera
- High quality video consumes storage space fast
- Small LCD screen
- Built in battery not meant to run the camera
Buy the Vantrue N2 Pro on Amazon
ROVE R2-4K Dash Cam
The Rove R2-4K records Ultra HD video at a resolution of 2160p and is capable of recording high quality in low light situations.
The camera has only one lens which covers the road ahead of the car with a viewing angle of 150 degrees. A decent sized LCD screen (2.4″) shows the lens capture as well as the current speed and GPS coordinates. The Rove R2-4K also comes with a fairly large storage capacity of 128GB and features loop recording which overwrites older videos.
One of the more interesting features of the Rove is that it comes with a smartphone app. You can download your dash cam videos directly to the app to watch them or share them.
Pros
- Great value for mid-range price
- Motion sensor to record if your car is hit while parked
- Great night vision quality
- Easy to install suction cup mount rotates 360 degrees
- Up to 128GB of SD card storage
- Good sized LCD screen for previewing videos (2.4″)
Cons
- Needs to be plugged in
- No rear view or passenger view
- No memory card included
Buy the Rove R2-4K dash cam on Amazon
YI Smart Dash Cam
The YI Smart Dash Cam is small and compact but packs a big punch.
This camera features only a front facing camera but is packed with other features. A driver assistance feature helps keep drivers safe with a lane departure and vehicle proximity feature. The camera will tell you when you are drifting out of your lane or when you are too close to the vehicle ahead of you. The video is captured in 1080p resolution with a 165 degree viewing angle and can be previewed on a large 2.7″ LCD screen.
Pros
- Driver assistance features
- Loop recording
- 165 degree viewing angle
- Large 2.7″ LCD screen on the back of the camera
- Video can be downloaded to your smartphone with the YI app
Cons
- Does not come with a memory card
- Low storage capacity
- No rear or interior camera
- No audio recording
- Installs via 3M adhesive pad
Buy the YI Smart Dash Cam on Amazon
Best Rideshare Dash Cams Under $100
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| Name | Pruveeo F5 1080P Dash Cam | TOGUARD Mirror Dash Cam | Vantrue N1 Pro |
| Price | $ | $$ | $$ |
| Front/Back/Interior Video | Front | Front and Back | Front |
| Resolution | 1080p | 1080p/480p | 1080p |
| Night Vision | No | Yes | Yes |
| Installation | Suction Pad | Rubber Strap | Suction Cup |
| Viewing Angle | 140 | 170/120 | 160 |
| LCD Screen | Yes (1.5") | Yes (7") | Yes (1.5") |
| Interior Audio Recording | Yes | No | Yes |
| Motion Activated | No | Yes | Yes |
| Memory Capacity | 64 GB | 32 GB | 256 GB |
| Loop Recording | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Finding a good dash cam doesn’t have to break the bank. There are plenty of awesome cameras out there that you can buy for under $100 dollars. These are some of the best dash cams we could find under $100 dollars while still packed with features.
Pruveeo F5 Dash Cam
The Pruveeo F5 dash cam is a low cost option with plenty of features.
Wide angled lens, high quality video, and a high quality Lithium Ion battery are just a few of those awesome features. Loop recording ensures that you never stop recording by overwriting the older video with newer video. The Pruveeo also offers in car audio recording and a Small 1.5″ LCD screen for quick previews.
Pros:
- High quality 1080p HD videos
- Discreet design helps keep the windshield clear
- Runs on battery and charger
- Up to 64GB of storage space
- Loop recording
Cons:
- No WiFi capabilities
- Modest 140 degree viewing angle
- No night vision mode
- No motion activation
- 3M adhesive mount
Buy the Pruveeo F5 Dash Cam on Amazon
TOGUARD Mirror Dash Cam
The TOGUARD Rear Mirror dash cam is one of the best and top-selling cams online.
It’s popularity stems from its affordable price and many features. This camera mounts easily to your rear view mirror and comes with a cam for the back of the car as well. The TOGUARDs large design also provides it with a large LCD viewing screen. The video is high quality 1080p up front and a mediocre 480p on the back camera.
Pros
- Easy to mount to the rear mirror with rubber straps
- Comes with a rear view camera
- Wide viewing angle, 170 up front, 120 in the back
- Large 7″ LCD screen
- Motion detection sensor turns camera on while parked
- Touch screen controls
Cons
- May take some wiring depending on which functions you want to use
- Only up to 32GB storage SD card storage
- Requires cables for power
Buy the TOGUARD Mirror Dash Cam on Amazon
Vantrue N1 Pro Mini Dash Cam
Vantrue offers an affordable, feature packed model called the N1 Pro.
This camera has quite an impressive feature list such as: high capacity storage, high quality video recording, night vision, and motion detection recording. The 160 degree view angle captures three lanes of traffic in clear 1080p resolution. The dash cam has a low profile and is easily installed with a suction cup and charging cable. The loop recording and motion detection features ensure that the camera is recording right when you need it to be.
Pros
- 1080p HD video recording
- Night vision mode
- Motion detection video recording while parked
- Up to 256GB of Micro SD storage available
- Loop recording
- Wide 160 degree viewing angle
- Built in mic for audio recording
- Easy install with suction cup and cable
Cons
- Needs cable to power up
- No rear or in car view
- GPS and speed data requires an add-on
- Small LCS screen (1.5″)
Buy the Vantrue N1 Pro dash cam on Amazon
Best Value Dash Cam: Rove R2-4K Dash Cam
| Resolution | Infrared or Night Vision | Motion Activated | Memory Capacity | Loop Recording | LCD Screen | Viewing Angle | Installation |
| 2160p | Yes | Yes | 128 GB | Yes | Yes (2.4") | 150 | Suction Cup |
The Rove R2-4k wins our pick for the best value dash cam for Uber or Lyft drivers.
While it does lack some coveted features like interior recording, it offers a lot of other awesome perks. For starters, the camera features 4K video recording with a very large storage capacity of up to 256GB. You can also use the Rove smartphone app to view all of the videos you record through a WiFi connection. The mount of the Rove lets you swivel the camera around 360 degrees, so you could even use it as a passenger camera if you wanted to.
Although the viewing angle is not all that it could be, it still provides a wide angled view in a crystal clear 2160p resolution. The installation is as easy as using the suction cup to attach to the windshield and running a power cable to the unit.
Pros
- Affordable price with plenty of features
- Motion detection sensor activates the camera when parked
- High quality night vision mode
- Suction cup mount that can rotate 360 degrees
- Large Micro SD storage space of 128GB
- Big 2.4″ LCD screen
Cons
- Powered by a USB cable
- Need to buy a memory card separately
Buy the Rove R2-4K dash cam on Amazon
More Dash Cams For Uber and Lyft Drivers
Just in case one of the awesome dash cams above don’t meet what you are looking for, here are some more of our favourite options. These dash cams are well-suited to rideshare drivers and come with a welcoming price tag. You’re sure to find what you are looking for in one of these dash cams for Uber or Lyft drivers.
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| Name | Vantrue T2 24 | TOGUARD Uber Dual Dash | CHORTAU Dash Cam | Apex Dash Cam 4" |
| Price | $$$ | $$ | $ | $ |
| Front/Back/Interior Video | Front | Front and Interior | Front | Front and Back |
| Resolution | 1920p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p/480p |
| Night Vision | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Installation | Suction Cup | Suction Cup | Suction Cup | Suction Cup |
| Viewing Angle | 160 | 170 | 170 | 170/130 |
| LCD Screen | Yes (2") | Yes (3") | Yes (3") | Yes (4") |
| Interior Audio Recording | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Motion Activated | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Memory Capacity | 256 GB | 128GB | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| Loop Recording | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Recommended Micro SD Cards For Dash Cams
Most dash cams don’t come with SD cards for video storage. If they do they are usually lower end small capacity Micro SD cards. You’ll definitely want to maximize your dash cams storage capabilities by getting the largest SD card your cam will take. The maximum storage capacity on most dash cams range between 32GB and 256GB. You should also check to see what type of SD card your camera will take. You may need to get an adapter for your Micro SD card to fit.
Hopefully you now feel comfortable with choosing the best dash cam for you. Dash cams have been proven to work time and time again in the rideshare world. Saving drivers tons of time and headaches when it comes to accidents or passenger incidents.
With the amount of dash cams available, you should be able to find one that best suits your needs and your vehicle. Your new dash cam will offer you peace of mind and confidence in case you are ever in an accident. Hopefully you will never have to use it!
About The Author: Commercial Driver HQ
Commercial Driver HQ strives to provide you with quality information about driving for a living. Whether you’re an Uber driver or a long haul trucker, we are here to help you succeed!
For everything rideshare and commercial driving, follow us at CDHQ!
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