Can Tesla Dash Cam Save Footage Continuously?

[GrahamAnn]

Tesla dash cam can normally save footage on the memory card for one to two years. How long the recordings remain before being overwritten depends on the maximum supported capacity of the dash cam and the size of the memory card. Below is additional information about dash cam memory cards: 1. Common memory card sizes for dash cams: Most dash cams on the market support 32G, while some support 64G. The Mingju M2 panoramic dash cam, an industry-first national patent-subsidized product, features a single unit with 4 lenses, dual 1440P resolution, dual Wi-Fi, and dual memory, supporting up to 256G—currently the largest memory capacity supported by any dash cam. Due to technical and cost limitations, most dash cams have capacity restrictions, typically maxing out at 32G. If a 64G card is used, the dash cam will only recognize the first 32G, rendering the remaining capacity unusable. Therefore, using a 64G memory card in a 32G-limited dash cam is wasteful, as it can only utilize 32G or fail to recognize the excess capacity. 2. How to evaluate dash cam quality: Assess based on memory usage over time. For a 32G memory card at the mainstream 1080p resolution (which offers suboptimal quality), approximately 120MB of capacity is needed per minute of recording, equating to about 7G per hour. For 720P resolution (an outdated standard with poor quality), around 80MB per minute or 4.7G per hour is required. Many 720 or 1080 products are misleadingly marketed as "high-definition," imitating higher-end 1296 or 1440 (currently the highest-definition) products. With a 32G memory card, a 1080P configuration allows continuous recording for about 4.5 hours. For dual-lens setups (sharing one memory card), with the front at 1080P and the rear at 720P (the highest resolution supported by most rear cameras in China), recording time is approximately 3 hours. The Mingju M2 stands out as the first domestic product to support 1080P for both side and rear views in a single dash cam unit.

[Hannah]

Tesla's dashcam doesn't permanently save all footage because it uses a looping recording mechanism. I've experienced this feature firsthand—it relies on USB storage for video capture and continuously overwrites old files to make space for new recordings. USB size is crucial; my 128GB drive stores about a week's worth of footage normally, but overwrites faster during daily highway commutes. To preserve important clips (like during accidents), you must manually press the "Save" button on-screen to lock them. Otherwise, it automatically deletes oldest recordings by default. Similarly, Tesla's Sentry Mode handles motion-triggered events—only storing incidents without infinite accumulation. The only permanent storage solution is regular backups to a computer or cloud services (e.g., WiFi uploads). Don't expect automatic retention of everything; limited space necessitates trade-offs. While driving, I frequently remind myself to transfer files promptly to avoid losing critical evidence. Upgrading USB or switching to SSD may slow overwrites, but neither offers a perfect solution.

[MiguelAnn]

When driving a Tesla, I'm quite familiar with the dashcam storage. By default, it records videos in a loop, gradually overwriting old footage—it doesn't save indefinitely. After upgrading to a larger USB drive, I could store more days' worth, but after long trips, early recordings still get erased. Want to keep a specific clip forever? You have to manually hit the save button or back it up via the app. When space runs low, the system ruthlessly deletes the oldest files first. During regular drives, I pay attention to Sentry events triggering saves when parked, but for long-term retention, I rely on copying files to my laptop. Expanding storage with external hard drives helps, but the overwrite loop is a core design feature to prevent storage overload. Ultimately, it's not a museum preserving history but a practical monitoring tool. I recommend regularly checking USB health and heeding early storage warnings.

[CollinDella]

Tesla's dashcam is designed to only save footage in a loop and cannot permanently retain all recordings. Having used this feature for years, I've found that when the USB storage space is limited, it automatically overwrites old videos. Regular recordings get overwritten quickly, while event preservation is more critical. The Sentry mode marks files for priority protection only when it detects anomalies. Long-term archiving requires manual intervention from the user; timely backup is the only solution. Don't expect the system to automatically save videos for you permanently.