Best Dash Cam For Under $100 - Top Picks & Guide

Imagine this: you’re driving along, everything seems fine, and then—BAM!—something unexpected happens on the road. Suddenly, you wish you had a silent witness to prove what really occurred. That witness is a dash cam, but finding a good one shouldn’t empty your wallet.

The market is flooded with dash cams, and when you look for options under $100, the choices become confusing. You worry about poor video quality, reliability issues, or features that just don’t work when you need them most. It feels like you have to choose between saving money and getting real protection.

This guide cuts through the noise. We dug deep to find the best, most reliable dash cams that cost less than a nice dinner out. Keep reading to discover which budget-friendly models offer crystal-clear footage and peace of mind without breaking the bank.

Top Dash Cam For Under $100 Recommendations

Bestseller No. 1

Dash Cam Front and Rear, 1080P Dash Camera for Cars, 3 Channel Car Camera Front Rear and Inside with 32GB Card, Loop Recording, Night Vision, HDR, 24Hr Parking, G-Sensor

TRIPLE DASH CAM: This 3 channel dash camera features with a 170 wide-angle front camera + 150°Cabin + 150° waterproof rear camera, reduce visual blind areas. The Screen made by IPS panel, It allows you to see a clear picture at any angle without any blurring.
G-SENSOR & PARKING MONITOR: SUVCON dash camera for cars built in G-sensor, which will activate emergency recording and lock the recorded videos when it detects sudden shakes or collisions while your car is stationary.
LOOP RECORDING: Car camera loop recording function makes the newly recorded video will automatically overwrite the oldest video when storage limit reached, the video can be recorded in 1, 3 minute intervals. Car dash cam is already equipped with a 32GB SD card, you do not need to buy this card additionally.
SUPERIOR WDR TECHNOLOGY & CLEARER NIGHT VISION : The interior facing car dash cam design with 4 infrared LED lights, which can accurately capture important footage clearly under low light conditions. The superior HDR technology allows the camera to perform optimally in any lighting situation by adjusting the exposure to create balanced images and footage.
EASY INSTALLATION AND OPERATION: Dash camera is plug and play, very convenient. Simple to mount the 3 channel dash camera on the windshield which makes for an overall straightforward installation process. Easy to understand display and friendly key settings make it easy for you to use.

Bestseller No. 2

Dash Cam 1296P Front Dashcam, V300 WiFi Dash Camera for Cars with App, Night Vision, Mini Hidden Single Car Camera, Loop Recording, 24H Parking Mode, Support 256GB Max, Black

【Unmatched Clarity with 1296P HD Resolution】Experience the road like never before with the Veement V300 1296P car dash cam. Capturing ultra-clear footage at 2304*1296@30FPS, this dash camera for cars ensures every detail is preserved with exceptional clarity, offering comprehensive coverage both day and night.
【Superior Night Vision & Expansive View】Veement V300 hidden dash cam for cars features a starlight-level sensor, F=1.7 large aperture, and a 170° ultra-wide lens, allowing it to capture clear, detailed video even in low-light environments. With six-layer glass lens technology, this dashcam enhances your night driving security, ensuring no detail is overlooked.
【Advanced Safety Engineering】Designed with your safety in mind, Veement V300 mini dash cam incorporates an RTC circuit and eliminates traditional lithium batteries to prevent overheating. This dedication to safety guarantees reliable performance under various conditions, requiring only a continuous USB-C power supply.
【Seamless Connectivity & Easy Operation】Utilize the built-in WIFI and exclusive VeeCar APP to effortlessly control your WiFi front dash cam. From real-time previews to straightforward video downloads, edits, and shares, Veement V300 dash camera for cars offers an intuitive interface for managing your driving footage.
【Advanced Features for Complete Protection】Take advantage of cutting-edge TS stream technology in this WiFi dashcam for fast and reliable video storage. Supporting up to 256GB SD cards, seamless loop recording, and 24/7 parking mode, Veement V300 car dash cam provides comprehensive security. Its user-friendly operation ensures a seamless experience. (Note: SD card not included, must be purchased separately).

Bestseller No. 3

E-YEEGER Dash Cam Front and Rear, 2.5K Dual Dash Camera for Cars, 2560P Mini Car Camera, 2 inch IPS Screen, 32GB Card Included, WDR Night Vision, 24 Hours Parking Monitor, G-Sensor, Support 256 GB Max

【2.5K Dashcam Front and Rear Cameras】The S60 dash cam delivers unparalleled clarity with a 2560*1440P front camera and a 1080P rear camera, With ultra-wide angle shooting from both front and rear cameras, complete coverage of your driving experience.
【Superior Night Vision 】The S60 dashcam effortlessly navigates low-lig ht conditions with its starlight night vision sensor and 170° ultra-wide-angle 6-layer glass lens, delivering clear and detailed footage even in challenging lighting environments.
【Enhanced Safety and Reliability】Even when the memory card is full, the E-YEEGER car dash cam continues recording thanks to its Loop Recording feature. When the G-sensor detects a sudden collision, it locks and saves the footage. Additionally, the dash cam offers a 24-hour parking monitor with time-lapse recording in parking mode. Please note, a hardwire kit is required for this feature.
【2-inch IPS display】The 2-inch screen provides you with the clearest experience. The user interface on the screen is self-explanatory and easy to operate.
【Adjustable suction cup】The suction cup can rotate 360° and adjust to any shooting angle you prefer. It is easy to install and remove, making it convenient to view videos.

Bestseller No. 4

4K Front and FHD1080P Rear Dual Dash Cam Dash Camera,5.8G WiFi for Cars, 3.0" IPS Screen,UHD Night Vision 24H Parking, Dual 170° Wide Angle, WDR, G-Sensor,Free 64GB Card Can Supports 256GB Card Max

【With Dual Car Camera 4K UHD Front+FHD 1080P Rear】Equipped with the Free App and advanced Dual 170 ° ultra wide angle, providing you with all protection. Capture front in ultra clear 4K (2160P) and the rear in full HD 1080P. This ensures that details such as road signs&license plates are clearly visible.Loop recording to ensure that Capture every moment.When the memory is full（Supports 256GB Max), automatically covers old useless videos, saves memory space and locks the Sudden Shock Videos
【Super Night Vision WDR & 5G Wifi】Bigger Dual F1.6 aperture and 6-layer lens, provides excellent clarity in low light environments and eliminates noise in high exposure environments. It is also very suitable for complex road conditions where high and low light coexist. With smooth playback at 30fps and 5.8GHz WiFi, download speed is 5 times faster than 2.4GHz WiFi, providing real-time playback and settings without delay, allowing you to share your videos with family and friends for social media
【G-Sensor & 24H Parking Mode】Equipped with high-performance G-sensor to detect collisions or abrupt events.The dash cam automatically locks the relevant footage, ensuring are not overwritten during loop recording (Function Include）. This feature provides reliable protection,making it an essential safeguard for driving.And it also supports 24-hour parking monitoring, requiring a voltage reduction line（Asin：B0FCS616L6）
【Easy to Install】The front and rear dash cam features a sleek, compact design that simplifies installation. Its small size allows for discreet mounting behind your rearview mirror, ensuring an unobstructed view while driving for a seamless and comfortable experience. With a 3.0" screen and 6 Lens , the dash cam provides sharp, clear visuals, allowing you to effortlessly navigate settings and view recordings.
【7x24 After-Sales Support & With 64GB SD Card】Our customer service team provides 7*24 technical support and assistance for any inquiries. Simply email us to resolve questions or concerns as we prioritize consumer satisfaction above all.Without adding a voltage-reducing line, it cannot support 24-hour recording.

Bestseller No. 5

TERUNSOUl 4K Dash Cam Front and Rear, Full HD 3 Channel Dashcam, Free 128GB Memory Card, Built-in 5.8GHz WiFi Built-in GPS, Collision Sensor, Night Vision, HDR, 3.16" IPS, 24H Parking Mode（Black）

UHD 4K Front + 1080 Rear + 1080P Cabin Recording: Supports simultaneous triple-channel recording, delivering crystal-clear details for every driving scenario. Equipped with a 3.16" IPS screen, it’s ideal for family road trips, commercial drivers, and rideshare use
3 Channel Dashcam: Front, rear, and cabin cameras deliver near 360° panoramic coverage. The front camera has a 170° ultra-wide angle, while the rear and cabin cameras both feature a 165° wide angle—capturing broader road views and in-car details simultaneously for all-around protection
Reliable Accident Capture: Pre-installed with a 128GB Memory Card . When a severe impact is detected by the collision sensor, collision footage is locked and saved automatically. When storage is full, it overwrites the oldest recordings for seamless loop recording
Built-in High-Precision GPS: The dash cam records driving routes, real-time speed, location, compass and timestamp, with GPS data directly embedded in videos. Review GPS-tagged footage via the free GPS player for Windows and Mac or the app—providing solid evidence for accidents
5.8GHz WiFi and Free App Control: Connect the dashcam to your iOS/Android via dual-band 5.8GHz & 2.4GHz WiFi. Use the TERUNSOUl app for seamless operation, instant preview, 20MB/s downloads, sharing with friends, family or insurance, and wireless firmware updates

Bestseller No. 6

galphi 4K Dash Cam Front, Built-in 5G WiFi, 64GB Card Included, Dash Camera for Cars, Mini Dashcam with Super Night Vision, Loop Recording, G-Sensor, 24 Hours Parking Monitor, Support 256GB Max

【4K 2160P Resolution Dash Cam】Capture every drive in stunning 4K UHD resolution with the Galphi front dash cam, featuring a 160-degree wide-angle lens for clear, cinematic video footage. Ideal for family cars, new drivers, and Uber/Lyft drivers, it provides reliable video evidence for accident disputes and insurance claims.
【Advanced 5GHz WiFi with App】 Featuring cutting-edge 5GHz WiFi and a free app, the video download speed reaches up to 8MB/s, compared to just 2MB/s with the 2.4GHz option. This greatly reduces download times and minimizes lag during video playback.
【No Screen & Less Distraction】This dash camerma features a screen-free design, minimizing distractions while you drive so you can stay focused on the road. Enjoy peace of mind knowing your camera is recording without taking your attention away from the journey.
【Compact and Super Easy to Install】The dash cam's slim and compact design ensures it won't obstruct your view. With easy installation and clear, detailed instructions included, even first-time users can set it up without any hassle.
【24-Hour Parking Mode】 A Type C hardwire kit (ASIN: B09SPN811C, NOT included) is required. When parked, the dash cam switches to parking mode, recording in time-lapse with low power consumption and a reduced frame rate, ensuring footage for various scenarios.

Bestseller No. 7

OVAMAN K600 4k Dash Cam Front and Rear, 3.59" IPS Screen, Built-in GPS 5G WiFi Dash Camera for Cars with App, UHD 2160P Night Vision Free 64G SD Card, 170° Wide Angle, HDR, 24H Parking Mode

【4K + 1080P Dual Recording 】 The OVAMAN K600 front and rear dashcam can simultaneously record video at ultra-high definition 4K (3840*2160P) and 1080P resolution. This dual car camera setup allows you to capture critical details such as license plates, road signs, oncoming pedestrians, and other key elements on the road.
【Wide-Angle View & Superior Night Vision】 Equipped with a 170° front facing and 160° rear camera lens, this automobile dash cam covers a wide area around your vehicle. The advanced night vision technology ensures clear footage, to ensure that it can record vivid colors and true clear details in low-light and complex light motion environments, making night driving safer.
【Intuitive 3.59" Screen & Easy App system】The 3.59 inch big display provides a clear and convenient interface for reviewing footage. Use the app control with 5G without wires Wi-Fi to phone manage, view, and share your recordings easily and share video instantly, ensuring you never miss a moment.
【Built-in GPS and Reliable Parking Surveillance】 That dash cams interior GPS records your vehicles lane drive route, speed, and location, providing vital data in case of an accident. The 24/7 parking mode keeps your car under monitor even when parked, offering peace of mind with continuous protection anti theft. Please note that this feature requires a hardware kit.(ASIN: B0D98CC7L8, not included). Suitable for semi truck, trucks, jeep, van, autos, suv, motorcycle.
【Loop Recording & 64GB SD Ram Card】 Our road dashcams never miss a moment with the smart 24 hour loop recording feature, which automatically overwrites the oldest files when storage is full. The included free 64GB SD card ensures you have ample large space to store your footage securely. 💖The included free SD card capacity of the dash cam has been upgraded from 32G to 64g since 5 May 2025, Hope every drive of you with safety and pleasure!💖

Bestseller No. 8

IIWEY N5 4 Channel Dash Cam 360° View, 1080P Front and Rear Inside, Left Right Dash Camera for Cars, 8 IR Lamps Night Vision, 5G WiFi & APP Control, G-Sensor, Parking Mode, with a Free 128GB SD Card

❗❗❗NOTE: This product must be powered by the original cigarette lighter charger; it cannot be powered by a USB cable or a Type-C cable. IIWEY N5 dash cam equipped with a 3" IPS screen, FHD 1080P+1080P+1080P+1080P, which can record 360° all-round including front, rear, sides, and interior. It also features a 2.5K+1080P+1080P+1080P mode for diverse needs. In addition, N5 is equipped with 170° super wide-angle front and rear cameras and 150° wide-angle side cameras, providing a wide field of view.
❗❗❗NOTE: N5 dash cam DON'T HAVE GPS and DON'T SUPPORT OBD connection. The 128GB SD card has been installed in the card slot. It connects to your cellphone via built-in WiFi, no Bluetooth. The rear camera must be wired and connected to the front camera for use. It uses a super-capacitor instead of a battery, so please keep the dash cam connected to a power source while in use, we recommend to use the included car charger, or you can use our HARDWIRE KIT (ASIN B0DHJNRPB9, sold separately).
【Loop Recording & Free 128GB SD Card】N5 Dashcam comes with a 128GB Micro-SD card. (supports up to 256GB) Loop recording will start immediately once you turn on the engine. No seconds will be missing. The video will be saved in segments, and the storage space will be automatically detected. When memory is full, the earliest recorded video will be automatically deleted to achieve seamless loop recording.
【5GHz WiFi & Free App Control】❗❗❗NOTE: There are currently two free apps available: iiwey and viidure. You can find both apps on the Google Play Store and the Apple Store. The N5 dashcam boasts built-in 5GHz WiFi for 4x faster connectivity than 2.4GHz (with 2.4GHz support). It pairs with a free app for Android or iOS, enabling seamless control, video preview, download, and sharing.
【WiFi Using Note】Please note that each time you want to connect the APP to the dash cam, you need to long press the " ◀ " button to turn on WiFi before you can connect. ❗❗❗If the WiFi is not connected to the APP for more than 5 minutes, the dash cam will automatically turn off the WiFi function. This measure is to prevent the dash cam from overheating.

The Budget Dash Cam Buyer’s Guide: Getting the Best for Less Than $100

Finding a reliable dash cam without breaking the bank is totally possible. You want protection on the road, and a good camera doesn’t need a huge price tag. This guide helps you pick the best dash cam under $100.

Key Features to Look For

Even cheap dash cams offer important safety features. Focus on these essentials:

Video Quality and Resolution

Resolution: Aim for at least 1080p (Full HD). This resolution captures clear license plates and road signs. Some budget models might offer 720p, but 1080p gives you better proof if you need it.
Frame Rate (FPS): Look for 30 frames per second (fps). This keeps the video smooth, especially when things happen fast.

Essential Recording Functions

G-Sensor (Gravity Sensor): This is a must-have. If your car suddenly stops or gets hit, the G-sensor automatically locks the current video file. This stops the camera from accidentally overwriting important footage.
Loop Recording: Dash cams record constantly. Loop recording lets the camera delete the oldest files when the memory card gets full. This keeps recording without you having to stop and format the card.
Wide Viewing Angle: A wider angle (like 140 degrees or more) helps the camera see more of the road, including the sidewalks.

Important Materials and Build Quality

The materials affect how long your dash cam lasts, especially in hot or cold cars.

Lens and Casing

Lens Material: Glass lenses are better than plastic lenses. Glass holds up better against heat and produces clearer images over time. Plastic lenses can sometimes fog up or warp.
Casing: Most budget cams use durable plastic. Check user reviews to see if the plastic casing cracks easily after a few months of sun exposure.

Power and Mounting

Mount Type: Suction cup mounts are common and easy to move. Make sure the mount feels sturdy so the camera doesn’t shake during bumps.
Power Cable Length: Ensure the power cable is long enough to reach your car’s cigarette lighter plug without stretching tightly.

Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality

Price cuts often mean cutting corners. Know what trade-offs you are making.

Quality Boosters (Usually Found in Slightly Higher Priced Budget Cams)

WDR (Wide Dynamic Range): WDR balances very bright and very dark areas in the same shot. This is super helpful when driving into bright sunlight or exiting a dark tunnel.
Good Night Vision: Look for sensors that handle low light well, often advertised as having good “low-light performance.”

Quality Reducers (Common in the Cheapest Models)

Poor Heat Management: Cheap electronics often overheat in direct summer sun. This can cause the camera to suddenly shut down.
Reliance on SD Card Quality: Always buy a separate, high-quality memory card (Class 10 or U1). Cheap cams often struggle with slow or unreliable cards, which causes recording errors.

User Experience and Use Cases

A great camera is one you forget is even there.

Ease of Use

The best budget dash cams turn on and start recording automatically when you start your car. You should not need to fiddle with settings every time you drive. Simple button layouts make it easy to lock a file manually if something important happens.

Common Use Cases

Everyday Commuting: The primary use is recording daily traffic incidents or proving fault in minor fender-benders.
Parking Mode (Limited): Some cams offer basic parking surveillance, but true parking mode (which records when the car is off) usually requires hardwiring, which is often missing in sub-$100 models. Check the specifications carefully if this feature is important to you.

10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Dash Cams Under $100

Q: Does a sub-$100 dash cam really protect me?

A: Yes. If it has 1080p resolution and a G-sensor, it provides essential evidence for insurance claims or traffic disputes.

Q: Do these cheap cams come with a memory card?

A: Sometimes they include a very small, low-quality card (like 16GB). We strongly advise you buy a separate, larger, reliable card.

Q: How long does the battery last if the car is off?

A: Most budget dash cams rely on your car’s power. They do not have large internal batteries for parking mode. They usually only run for a few minutes after the car is turned off.

Q: Will a cheap camera work well at night?

A: Night performance varies widely. Look for reviews that specifically mention good “low-light” performance, as standard budget models struggle in total darkness.

Q: What is the main thing I sacrifice when I choose a camera under $100?

A: You usually sacrifice premium features like GPS location logging, advanced parking modes, or extremely durable, heat-resistant casings.

Q: How hard is the installation process?

A: Installation is usually very easy. You stick the mount to the windshield, plug the power cord into the cigarette lighter, and route the wire. Most people finish this in under 15 minutes.

Q: Can I view the footage on my phone?

A: Some models offer Wi-Fi connectivity for viewing files on a smartphone app. However, many older or very basic sub-$100 models require you to remove the SD card and plug it into a computer.

Q: What does “loop recording” mean for the video file names?

A: The camera saves clips, often in 3-minute segments. When the card is full, it overwrites the oldest file (File 1) with the newest recording, keeping the G-sensor locked files safe.

Q: Should I worry about the camera melting in the summer?

A: Yes, this is a real concern. Always mount the camera where it gets some shade from the dashboard, or check reviews to ensure the specific model handles high cabin temperatures well.

Q: Does the camera record speed?

A: Only if the model specifically includes built-in GPS. Most dash cams under $100 do not include GPS logging.