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Workshop 16 April 2026 5 min read
Dash cam parking mode: do you actually need it?
Parking mode is brilliant if you park on the street. It's pointless if you park in a garage. Here's how to know which camp you're in.
Parking mode keeps your dash cam recording while the car is parked and locked, triggered by motion or impact. To do that, the camera needs constant power — which only comes from a hardwire kit.
When it's worth it
- On-street parking in Cambridge city centre, Mill Road, Romsey, Newnham.
- Multi-storeys (Grand Arcade, Park Street).
- Long stays at Cambridge North or Cambridge station.
- Anywhere you've ever come back to a scuff on the bumper.
When it isn't
- Locked private garage at home.
- Cars only used at weekends — battery will be drained by Saturday.
How we hardwire it properly
We use the manufacturer's hardwire kit, tap into a constant 12V circuit at the fuse box, and set the cutoff voltage to ~12.2V (or by time — usually 24h). That way the camera records but never leaves you with a flat battery.
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