Does the Dash Cam Still Work After Locking the Car?
2 Answers
After the engine is turned off, the dash cam continues to work if it has a parking monitoring (motion detection) function. The parking monitoring function requires the dash cam to have a built-in battery or to be connected to the ACC fuse for power supply. Once 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, the dash cam automatically records the monitoring video and saves it separately. Here is some additional information: The first way a dash cam operates is by drawing power from the cigarette lighter, but the cigarette lighter must remain powered after the vehicle is turned off. The second method is for the dash cam to draw power from the reading light or other constant power sources. Both methods allow the dash cam to continue working after the vehicle is turned off, essentially operating 24/7. However, both methods have a drawback: the continuous power draw from the dash cam can drain the battery, making it unable to provide sufficient power the next time the engine is started.
Regarding whether the dash cam continues to work after locking the car, it depends on the specific settings and installation method. Take my own car as an example: if the dash cam is directly plugged into the cigarette lighter, it will shut down when the power is cut off after turning off the engine, and it won’t record anything. However, for my dash cam with parking monitoring, which is connected to the car’s constant power supply in the fuse box, it remains in standby mode after locking the car. Once it detects vehicle vibration or moving objects, it automatically starts recording a few seconds of footage. I’ve personally experienced this—my car was scratched while parked on the roadside, and thanks to this feature, I found the evidence. But leaving it on for extended periods can quickly drain the car battery. Once, I forgot to turn it off, and the next morning, I had trouble starting the car. I recommend checking the dash cam’s manual to see if there’s a parking mode option and setting the monitoring sensitivity appropriately, otherwise, premature battery failure could become a hassle.
