How long can dash cam videos be stored?
3 Answers
The storage duration of dash cam videos depends on the memory card capacity. A 16GB card can record approximately 100 minutes, a 32GB card 200 minutes, and a 64GB card 400 minutes. Dash cams use loop recording, which automatically deletes the oldest footage when storage is full. To preserve specific recordings permanently, you must disable loop recording mode - this allows indefinite storage as long as the memory card remains functional. Since many accidents occur at night, the camera's nighttime recording quality is crucial. Most dash cams feature infrared capabilities or anti-glare/backlight compensation functions. Be sure to verify these specifications when purchasing.
I've encountered my dashcam running out of memory several times. The video storage duration mainly depends on the memory card capacity. For example, my 64GB card can store approximately 7 hours of 1080P video. However, the dashcam will loop and overwrite old files, with new videos replacing the earliest content. If you drive infrequently, it might store about 3-4 days' worth of footage. Additionally, video segment settings are crucial—setting it to 1-minute segments instead of 3-minute segments makes it easier to preserve complete evidence. I recommend manually formatting the memory card once a month to prevent fragmented files from occupying space, which could be frustrating if it fails to record at critical moments. In case of emergencies, remember to press and hold the emergency save button immediately to lock the current video.
The storage capacity of dashcam videos depends on specific circumstances. For regular household cars using a 128GB memory card with 1080P resolution, it can typically store around 10 hours of video footage. However, the actual number of days you can review depends on your daily driving duration – if you commute for two hours daily, you can view content from a week ago; for long-distance trips, it might cover everything in just one day. I've particularly noticed the differences in memory card quality – inferior cards often have reduced actual capacity. Another scenario is the parking surveillance mode after engine shutdown, where time-lapse recording consumes more memory – with 24-hour monitoring, it can overwrite all footage in just three days. Important videos should be backed up promptly.
