Will the Dash Cam Record If My Parked Car Gets Scratched?
4 Answers
When the car is parked by the roadside, it may occasionally get scratched by others or other vehicles. The dash cam has a recording function even when the car is parked. More information about dash cams is as follows: Introduction: A device that records images, sounds, and other related information during vehicle operation. After installing a dash cam, it can record the entire driving process in video and audio, providing evidence for traffic accidents. Function: To protect the legitimate rights and interests of drivers. In case of a scratch with pedestrians crossing the road or cyclists and motorcyclists, there might be extortion attempts. With a dash cam, drivers can provide valid evidence for themselves. By replaying the recorded footage, the responsibility for the accident becomes clear, allowing traffic police to handle the accident quickly and accurately. This not only enables quick evacuation of the scene to restore traffic but also preserves valid evidence of the incident, creating a safe and smooth traffic environment.
I remember when I first bought my new car, I also encountered a situation where it got scratched while parked. At that time, my dash cam didn’t record anything because it only turns on when the car is started. That’s how regular dash cams work—they stop functioning as soon as you turn off the engine, unless you specifically enable parking monitoring mode, which activates automatically based on motion detection. If you don’t have this feature turned on, it’s almost impossible to capture any footage if your car gets scratched while parked. The one I’m using now has parking monitoring, so even a slight movement when parked triggers it to record for about ten seconds—super handy. I recommend checking if your dash cam has this option enabled or consider buying a new device, as many affordable models now support this feature. If you don’t have any recorded evidence, don’t panic—take photos of the scene immediately and check if there are any other surveillance cameras nearby. In any case, it never hurts to be extra cautious when parking.
As someone who often drives out, I think this issue is quite common. Most of the time, dash cams shut off when the car is parked, leaving no footage if the car gets scratched. You should first check if your device has a dedicated parking protection feature. For example, I usually enable the vibration detection mode in the settings, which allows the camera to record incidents even when the car is parked. If your dash cam doesn’t have this mode, you’ll have to manually activate it, but that’s quite inconvenient. I recommend investing in a higher-end dash cam with a built-in battery or external power supply—they’re not too expensive. Also, try to park in less crowded spots to minimize the risk of scratches. If you don’t capture the incident, don’t panic—contact property management or the police to check nearby surveillance cameras; there’s usually some evidence to prevent this from happening again.
Last time my car got scratched while parked in front of the supermarket, but the dash cam didn't record anything because it only works while I'm driving. Later, a knowledgeable friend told me most basic models behave like this - they go idle when parked unless your dash cam has special modes like vibration activation. Now I've developed a habit of checking the settings before each parking to ensure this function is enabled. If nothing gets recorded, I immediately take photos as evidence and ask passersby if there were any witnesses. Choosing a safe parking spot under surveillance cameras can greatly prevent such issues.
