Does the Dash Cam Continue Working After Parking?
3 Answers
Whether the dash cam continues recording after parking depends on the actual situation of the dash cam. For most dash cams, they will not continue working after the car is turned off. Parking Monitoring Function: If the dash cam continues working after the car is turned off, it means the dash cam has a parking monitoring (motion detection) function. The parking monitoring function requires the dash cam to have a built-in battery or be connected to the ACC fuse for power supply. After the vehicle is turned off, it automatically enters parking monitoring mode, where the sensors continuously monitor the vehicle's condition. If any abnormality or vibration is detected, it will automatically record the monitoring video and save it separately. Precautions for Using Dash Cams: Dash cams with parking monitoring function can save power by connecting to the ACC fuse, which also reduces the impact on the car battery. However, if the vehicle is left unused for several days, the battery may drain, making it difficult to start the car. If the car is not used for an extended period, it is recommended to disconnect the power supply of the dash cam to avoid draining the battery.
My car has a dash cam, and whether it continues to work after parking depends on the specific model and how you set it up. Mine has a parking surveillance feature, connected to the car battery, which automatically records for a while when it detects vibrations or someone approaching while parked. However, you need to enable this mode in the mobile app; otherwise, it shuts down after parking and turning off the engine. The issue is that it drains the battery. Once, I forgot to turn it off, and the next day, the car struggled to start. It's recommended to install a low-voltage protection device with a hardwiring kit, which automatically cuts power when the battery level drops below a threshold. Also, check if the dash cam itself has a built-in battery—if it does, it can operate independently for a few hours. In short, recording while parked is possible, but configure it properly to avoid affecting daily driving safety, especially in winter or with older vehicles.
As a car owner, I've noticed that dash cams behave quite differently after parking. My old car has a basic model that shuts off completely when the engine is turned off—dead silent. But in my friend's car, he installed a high-end model that keeps recording after parking, specifically to monitor scratches and dings. I have to manually set whether to enable this feature by selecting the parking guard mode in the dash cam menu. Keeping it on frequently drains the battery—I once had difficulty starting the car after a week due to a drained battery. Now, I mostly keep it off and only turn it on in parking garages or high-risk areas. Additionally, some dash cams come with an automatic power-saving feature that goes into sleep mode when the voltage is low, which is pretty smart. In practice, it works well when parked, but you have to balance convenience with battery longevity.
