Does the Dash Cam Continue Recording After Being Turned Off?
2 Answers
Normally, a dash cam cannot continue recording after being turned off. Here are the details: Reasons why it cannot record: Without modifying the battery or power supply, dash cams usually draw power from the cigarette lighter port. Generally, the dash cam will shut down within a few seconds after the car is turned off, making it impossible to record after parking. Methods to achieve parking monitoring: Dash cams with parking monitoring usually draw power directly from the ACC fuse box via a step-down cable. When the vehicle is parked and turned off, the dash cam will automatically shut down (entering a low-power sleep mode). However, once it detects a collision or movement in front of the vehicle, it will immediately activate the parking monitoring function and record the surrounding footage. This ensures the safety of the parked vehicle while saving energy and protecting the battery.
As an experienced driver, I've found whether dash cams keep recording after shutdown really varies by model. My first dash cam was a basic one - pressing the power button completely stopped recording, with no residual power whatsoever. But things changed after I upgraded to one with parking surveillance; even when manually turned off, it might continue operating after engine shutdown - either in time-lapse mode with reduced recording frequency or activating automatically via built-in battery upon collision detection. This taught me to always check the manual or disable the 'parking surveillance' option in the app settings. Otherwise, privacy concerns arise, like accidentally recording others in parking lots. I also recommend periodically testing with the mobile app: verify if lights turn off after shutdown, don't rely on guesswork. In short, taking time to confirm settings prevents surprises, especially after years of safe driving - these small details always prove helpful.
