Re: Dash cams.
Definitely going to recommend the Mobius Action Cams here.
The large dashcams like Nextbase are imo pointless.
They are too large and easily spotted that you couldn't feel happy leaving one in your car when you leave it. In fact you'd be stupid to leave such a dash cam on your windscreen/console in plain sight, it will just entice thieves to break into your car and take it.
To avoid that you'd have to constantly remove the dash cam each and every time you leave the car. Every visit to the supermarket, every time you go out. That's an inconvenience.
Plus then, every time you come back you have to put it back in place and make sure it is pointing in the right direction and plug in the power cable. A nuisance and one that will eventually see the power connection point compromised imo.
You could leave the dashcam in the glove compartment but let's be honest, every thief knows silly people do that. They leave sat nav's in there too. Thieves know they are there because the dimwits leave the windscreen holder in full view still stuck to the windscreen.
My final point is this. If you are going to do dashcams then you need 2 cameras, one front, one back. Deadly serious here. Of al the incidents that occur, rear end shunts are extremely common. If you get shunted you'll want the footage. It might show the driver on their mobile phone, eating, drinking etc.
How inconvenient would having 2 Nextbase dashcams be, having to remove them every time you leave the car etc?
The Mobius cameras sit in the palm of your hand, approx 2 inches long. They are extremely discrete, can not be seen when stood outside the car if you install them well and they perform brilliantly. Recording in full HD with fully configurable loop recording.
If you did want to remove one when you leave the car you are carrying something the size of your car remote key fob. No problem at all.
I now own 4 of these devices.
I have 2 permanently installed in the car, one front, one back.
I carry a 3rd in my trouser pocket everywhere I go, 24x7. I can record anything at a moments notice in full HD and do so completely discretely, unseen. If I am involved in a car accident, the first thing I do is switch it on, get out of my car and make sure I point it at the other driver and anyone in his/her car. I do a walkaround of their car, filming the damage. I point it at the surroundings to capture road and weather conditions and any witness car registrations etc.
This stuff is absolutely vital for any claim.
Within 4 weeks of receiving my first 2 Mobius cameras, my car was rear shunted by a young lad in a Peugeot. He claimed not to have a mobile phone when we asked him for a number. He borrowed my wife's phone to call his dad or other family members who arrived amazingly quickly, within 10 mins and towed his damaged car away.
The lad could have given us any made up old info. False name, address etc.
My handheld dashcam had complete footage of HIM and of his family members who arrived and of their towing vehicle.
The family of the young lad phoned me and asked not to go through insurance. I refused on the basis that it is a known phenomena that many people say they will settle privately but then go back on their word.
I sent everything to the insurance company and they responded instantly, waived my excess, arranged repairs at a really good garage, gave me a courtesy car and all was sorted swiftly.
The dashcam footage made all the difference, not just the footage from the car camera but equally the handheld footage of the driver and the damage to his car.
It was a slam dunk case.
Large dashcams are imo just a waste of time. A discrete device is needed as well as one you can carry around in your pocket.