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ActiveGPS has specialised in GPS navigation and dash cams since 2005, and this guide is designed to help you decide which dash cam matches how you actually drive, rather than simply listing specifications. We stock the current range from BlackVue, Garmin, Mio and Snooper, covering everything from discreet budget models to premium front and rear systems with cloud connectivity. Read on to see which features matter for your situation, or jump straight to our recommendations below.
If your budget is under £100 - consider the Mio MiVue J20 or Mio MiVue J35.
If you want front and rear protection - consider the BlackVue ELITE 10 2CH, BlackVue ELITE 9 2CH, Mio MiVue 956WD or Mio MiVue C595WD.
If you want the most discreet installation - consider the Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3, Mio MiVue J20, Mio MiVue J35 or BlackVue ELITE 8 1CH.
If you want cloud connectivity and remote access - consider the BlackVue ELITE range, which supports BlackVue Cloud via the free BlackVue app.
If you want Parking Mode included as standard, not as a separate purchase - consider the Mio MiVue 803W PRO, 903W PRO, 903WD PRO, J756DS or J756EXT. The J756DS and J756EXT both include the SmartBox III hardwire kit as standard, with the J756EXT also bundling a high-endurance microSD card.
If you ride a motorcycle - consider the Mio MiVue M820WD (bike-mounted) or MP30 GPS (helmet-mounted).
If you drive for a living (taxi, private hire, company car) - a front and rear dual-camera model with Parking Mode gives the most complete protection and evidence coverage.
We recommend a dash cam with a screen if you want to review footage immediately after an incident without needing to connect a phone, and to check camera alignment when fitting. A screenless model suits anyone who wants a smaller, more discreet installation, and most screenless models still let you download and view footage via Wi-Fi on a compatible smartphone.
The smallest screens are found on the Garmin Dash Cam range. Each model, including the Garmin Dash Cam 67W features a 2-inch screen. The latest Garmin Dash Cam X range feature a a screen size of 2.4-inch. Garmin dash cams in the X range include the Garmin Dash Cam X310 and Garmin Dash Cam X110. The Mio MiVue 803W PRO and Mio MiVue 903W PRO both feature a 2.7-inch screen. Some dash cams including the BlackVue ELITE 8 1CH and Mio MiVue J35 don't include a screen however you can download video to a compatible smartphone or to a compatible computer.
Physical size varies significantly between models, and this is closely tied to whether a dash cam includes a screen: models without a screen are noticeably smaller and easier to tuck out of sight behind the rear-view mirror.
If you want a discreet installation we recommend the Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3, Mio MiVue J20, Mio MiVue J35 or BlackVue (such as BlackVue ELITE 8 1CH, or BlackVue ELITE 10 1CH).
Every dash cam records the road ahead, but not every model includes a rear-facing camera as standard. If you would like a front and rear dash camera we recommend you consider the BlackVue ELITE 10 2CH, BlackVue ELITE 9 2CH, Mio MiVue 956WD and Mio MiVue C595WD.
Viewing angle refers to the width of the scene captured by the camera's lens. A wider angle captures more of the road and surroundings, but very wide lenses can introduce distortion toward the edges of the frame, so the figure alone doesn't tell the whole story - image sensor quality and clarity matter just as much as the angle itself. The Garmin Dash Cam 67W offers a 180° viewing angle, the BlackVue ELITE range offers a 146° viewing angle, and Mio MiVue dash cams, including the Mio MiVue 955W and Mio MiVue 956W, offer a 140° viewing angle.
Many dash cams that feature a screen include a speed camera database so you will also be alerted to speed camera locations along your journey. Furthermore the vast majority of dashboard cameras include GPS technology to record your GPS location and speed at any recorded incident. Snooper have their own database of speed camera locations which is very comprehensive and features on the Snooper SC5900 DVR MY-SPEED XL Plus (pictured right). Garmin use the Cyclops database for speed camera locations in their dash cams (see the Garmin Dash Cam 57 or Garmin dash cam 67W. Mio MiVue dash cams include a free lifetime speed camera database and also speed limit database.
The majority of dash cams include a parking mode. The parking mode feature uses motion detection to begin recording and some offer a means to power the dash cam without draining the car battery (Mio Smart Power Box IV sold separately for Mio MiVue dash cams). Other dash cams rely on a built-in battery to power whilst in parking mode. All BlackVue and Garmin dashboard cameras include parking mode. Parking mode is built in as standard on the Mio MiVue 803W PRO, 903W PRO, 903WD PRO, J756DS and J756EXT, while other Mio MiVue models such as the C595W, C595WD, 956W and 956WD offer parking mode as an optional feature via the Mio Smart Power Box IV. Parking Mode matters most if you park on the street or in a shared car park, since it can capture evidence of a hit-and-run or vandalism that would otherwise go unrecorded while the vehicle is unattended.
Most dash cams include photo mode for taking photos using the internal battery for power. Please check the device features to ensure this feature is included.
Commuters and everyday drivers who want reliable speed camera alerts alongside dash cam recording should look at the Snooper SC5900 DVR MY-SPEED XL Plus, which combines dash cam recording with Snooper's own speed camera database, or a Garmin dash cam using the Cyclops database.
High-mileage and company car drivers benefit most from a front and rear dual-camera model with Parking Mode included as standard, such as the Mio MiVue 903WD PRO or Mio MiVue J756EXT, giving continuous coverage and protection while the vehicle is parked.
Motorcyclists need a camera designed for the elements rather than a car dash cam. Choose the Mio MiVue M820WD for a bike-mounted system, or the MP30 GPS for a helmet-mounted camera.
Drivers who mainly park on the street should prioritise Parking Mode above other features, since this is what protects the vehicle from unrecorded damage while unattended. See our Mio dash cam comparison table to compare which models include it as standard.
Anyone wanting cloud access to footage without removing the microSD card should consider the BlackVue ELITE range, which supports remote viewing via BlackVue Cloud and the free BlackVue app.
To compare the latest dash camera range available to buy from ActiveGPS please see the dash cam comparison table. The dash camera comparison table features a selection of 10 dash cameras from the various manufacturers including; Garmin and Snooper. If you would like to compare all dash cams from a particular dash cam manufacturer, e.g. BlackVue, please click on the relevant link below:
‣BlackVue Dash Cam Comparison Table
‣Garmin Dash Cam Comparison Table
‣Mio Dash Cam Comparison Table
‣Snooper Dash Cam Comparison Table
‣Dash Cam range
‣Comparison table
‣FAQs
This page was last updated on: 22nd July 2026
