Can a Dash Cam Capture Scratches on the Car?
2 Answers
It depends on the type of dash cam and the location of the scratch. Generally, if the car is scratched at the front and the dash cam is a single-lens model, the dash cam can capture it. For dual-lens dash cams, scratches on the front or rear of the car can also be recorded. If a 360-degree panoramic dash cam is installed, scratches on any side of the car (front, rear, left, or right) can be captured. It's important to note that for a dash cam to record scratches while the car is parked, the parking monitoring feature must be enabled, or motion detection and time-lapse recording must be activated. The parking monitoring function works by utilizing the built-in G-sensor in the dash cam. When the dash cam detects vibration from a scratch, it automatically starts recording. The next time the car is started, the dash cam will notify the owner to review the footage. Motion detection, on the other hand, triggers recording when movement is detected within the dash cam's field of view while the car is parked. Time-lapse recording compresses long videos into shorter ones, similar to fast-forwarding in a video player. For example, if set to 8 hours, it condenses 24 hours of footage into 8 hours, enabling round-the-clock monitoring. Combining parking monitoring and motion detection is recommended because time-lapse recording consumes more power due to continuous monitoring. Motion detection and parking monitoring only activate recording when movement or impact is detected, conserving battery power and helping preserve the car battery's charge. However, installing the parking monitoring feature requires using a voltage-reducing cable connected to the fuse box for power supply. The voltage-reducing cable should have low-voltage protection to prevent battery drain.
Whether a dash cam can capture car scratches depends on specific circumstances. Most dash cams only record front or rear views, so side scratches are usually out of frame unless installed in special positions. Having driven for years, I've encountered similar situations: my car got scratched while parked, but the dash cam didn't record it because side incidents fall outside the camera's field of view. Many modern dash cams feature parking surveillance that automatically activates recording upon collision detection, covering parking environments. However, ensure the function is enabled and power supply is stable, such as using a power bank to prevent draining the car battery. Opting for models with wide-angle lenses or multi-channel cameras can expand coverage; immediately review footage when incidents occur as loop recording overwrites old data. Installing additional side cameras, like fisheye lenses, provides more comprehensive risk monitoring. In summary, not all situations are visible, so proactive planning is key.
