My Journey to Getting a Dashcam
Okay so last month I got into this fender-bender near the grocery store parking lot. Some dude backed into my Mercedes bumper and tried saying I rear-ended him. Total nonsense! Cops showed up but without proof, it became he-said-she-said. That’s when I googled “car camera safety” at 2 AM eating cold pizza.
Choosing the Right One
Went down this rabbit hole comparing specs. Didn’t want some cheapo $30 cam failing when I need it. Settled on a mid-range one with night vision cause I commute before sunrise. Saw this YouTuber testing how cams handle sudden stops – sold! Ordered online next day.
Installation Headaches
Tried DIY first. Big mistake. Got wires tangled around steering column like Christmas lights. Then dropped the trim clip down the air vent – spent 20 mins fishing it out with chopsticks. Finally gave up and paid my mechanic $60 to route cables properly through the headliner. Lesson learned.
The Safety Perks I Actually Notice
After 3 months of daily driving with it running:
- Road Rage Proof: Recorded some lunatic brake-checking me on the highway last week. Showed the footage to traffic cops and they ticketed that idiot
- Parking Guardian: Caught a shopping cart smashing into my door at Walmart while I was inside. Manager paid for repairs after seeing playback
- Night Gamechanger: Driving home in pouring rain? The IR lights make license plates readable when my eyes can barely see road lines
Was It Worth the Hassle?
Hell yes. Paid for itself twice over already with the parking damage claim. But the real win? Peace of mind. When some moron cuts me off now, I just tap the camera and mutter “gotcha buddy”. Next time someone tries insurance fraud? I’m ready. Best $150 I ever spent on that car.
