Driving
Thinking about a dash cam? 5 things to check before you buy
Coverage, night recording, storage, parked monitoring and fitting: a plain-English checklist, and how the Cartekit Vision360 measures up according to its seller.
A dash cam is one of those things you hope you never need. But when something does happen — a scrape in a car park, an argument about who pulled out first — clear footage of what actually happened can save a lot of back-and-forth.
Dash cams vary a lot, though. Before you buy one, these are the five things worth checking.
How much of the car does it see?
Many budget dash cams only record the road ahead. Multi-lens models also cover the cabin and the sides. The Vision360 has three rotatable lenses, which the seller says give 360° coverage.
Can it record clearly at night?
A lot of driving in a British winter happens in the dark. Look for night recording — the Vision360's listing includes night vision — and watch any sample footage the seller provides.
Where does the footage go?
Dash cams record onto a memory card. Check the card size the camera supports and whether a card is included in the bundle.
Does it watch the car while you're away?
The seller advertises 24/7 monitoring. Recording while parked normally needs a constant power supply, so check what your car needs.
Is it easy to fit — and legal?
Dash cams are legal to use in the UK. Mount it where it doesn't block your view, and tell regular passengers if the cabin is being recorded.
Opens the seller's website. Price, delivery and returns are set by the seller.
What footage can help with
- Showing what happened in a minor collision
- Supporting an insurance claim — insurers can consider footage, so ask yours how they use it
- Recording a car-park scrape while you're away, if parked monitoring is set up
- Keeping a record of long or late-night journeys
Cartekit Vision360: the key details
| Lenses | 3, rotatable — the seller describes 360° coverage |
|---|---|
| Night recording | Night vision, as advertised by the seller |
| Parked monitoring | Advertised as 24/7 — check what power it needs |
| Storage | Memory card — check the supported size and whether one is included |
| Price at time of writing | £69.99 for one unit on the seller's page (14 November 2026), plus delivery if charged — check the current price and the total at checkout |
Source: the seller's product page, checked 14 November 2026. Check the seller's page for the current details before you order.
May suit you if you…
- want footage of the road ahead, the cabin and the sides
- often park on the street or in busy car parks
- drive a lot in the dark winter months
- prefer one device to a multi-camera setup
Check before you buy
- What's in the box: memory card, mount and power cable
- What power parked monitoring needs (constant power or a hardwire kit)
- Where it will sit on your windscreen without blocking your view
- Delivery time to the UK and how returns work
- The final price at checkout
Opens the seller's website. Price, delivery and returns are set by the seller.
Questions people ask
Are dash cams legal in the UK?
Yes. Mount it where it doesn't block your view of the road, and don't handle it while you're driving.
Will my insurer accept the footage?
Insurers can consider dash cam footage when deciding a claim, but policies differ. Ask your insurer how they use it.
Does it record while the car is parked?
The seller advertises 24/7 monitoring. Recording while parked usually needs a constant power supply, so check the seller's instructions for your car.
Is a memory card included?
The product images show a memory card, but check the bundle description on the seller's page before you order.
What if I change my mind?
Returns are handled by the seller. Read their returns policy before ordering.
Opens the seller's website. Price, delivery and returns are set by the seller.