Dash cams are compact cameras you can mount on your car to record everything that happens around your car. Normally dash cams are used to record when you are driving your car. But did you know that you can also use your dash cam to record around your car even when you are not driving it. Yes, this is what the parking mode on your dash cam is for. This guide has everything you should know about parking mode on your dash cam and how to use it.
What is Parking Mode on a Dash Cam?
Parking mode is a special feature on some dash cams that lets you record your car’s surroundings even when the engine of your car is turned off. This can be very helpful to protect your car from hit-and-runs, vandalism and other incidents that can happen when it is left unattended. You can get peace of mind knowing that your car is being monitored even when you are away.
5 Common Types of Parking Mode
There are different ways your dashcam can be used for parking mode. You should know about these different types of modes so you can understand which one will be right for you.
Motion Detection
In motion detection mode, your dash cam uses a sensor to detect any movement or change in motion near your car. When it detects any movement, the dash cam will start recording. It is a very useful feature because your camera doesn’t operate all the time but only when there is motion detection. Whenever someone walks too close to your car, your camera will record it.
Impact Detection (G-Sensor)
When in Impact detection mode, your dash cam uses a G-sensor to detect sudden impacts or vibrations. The dash cam records videos in the form of small segments ( of 3 – 5 minutes) and writes over the oldest segment. Whenever it detects any impact, it will save the video permanently and not overwrite it. In this way you can have recordings of before and after the incident as well. This mode can help you to get evidence for insurance claims in case of hit and runs.
Time-Lapse Recording
Time-lapse recording mode takes pictures from your dash cameras at set intervals such as one picture per second or every few seconds. Your dashcam will then put these images together to make a time-lapse video. You can use this mode for long-term monitoring without having to worry about the storage space on your SD card.
Low Bitrate Recording
In your bitrate recording your dashcam will record at a lower video quality for a long time to save storage space. You can use this mode to record for a very long time without getting your storage filled. But you should know that the video quality might not be that great.
Buffered Recording
Buffered Recording can continuously record a short loop of video in your dash cam. When an event is detected by any sensor, the dash cam will save that loop within a few seconds before the event. You can use it to make sure that the moments that lead to the incidents are also recorded.
Advantages of Parking Mode
Protection Against Hit-and-Runs
If your car is left unattended during the night and someone hits it, you will never know what happened to it without the dashcam. Without any evidence, you can face many difficulties getting insurance. But with parking mode, your dash cam will save the video of the time someone hit your car which can save you from a lot of trouble.
Deterring Vandalism
When your dash cam is recording your car even if it is turned off, it can also deter vandalism. When someone sees a dash cam in your car, they might think twice before damaging your car. This is a good way to protect your car and yourself from costly repairs.
Providing Evidence in Parking Disputes
In case you have parked your car somewhere and something leads you to a dispute, you can use the parking mode recording of your dash cam to prove your case. This feature can help you to save time and hassle.
Monitoring for Theft
When your dash cam is recording in parking mode, it can also capture any attempt made to steal your car. This can give you much needed evidence for the police and can help you get your car back.
Capturing Unexpected Events
You can also use parking mode in your dash cam to record any unexpected events that might happen near your car. This can be anything from a funny interaction to a weather event such as a lightning strike. You can later get the recording from your dash cam to watch it.
Peace of Mind
When you are going somewhere new and have to park your car there without knowing about anything, it can make you worried about the safety of your car. But when you know that your car is being recorded even when you are not in it, it can give you peace of mind.
RedTiger Parking Mode on Dash Cams
Most models of RedTiger dash cams come with a parking mode feature that can help you record your unattended car. They have a combination of both G-sensor and motion detection that can monitor your vehicle when it is parked. You can also adjust the sensitivity of the G-sensor in RedTiger dash cams. With low sensitivity, you can record everything from a nearby walker to hit-and-runs.
Best Dash Cams with Parking Mode
RedTiger F77
The RedTiger F77 is the first camera that has dual 4k recording cameras. It comes with both front and rear cameras recording in high-quality 4k resolution.
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Feature
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Specs
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Video Quality
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Front ( 4k ) & Rear ( 4K )
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Viewing Angle
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170° Front & 160° Rear
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Night Vision
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Super Night Vision
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GPS
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Built-in
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Wi-Fi
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5GHz
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Parking Mode
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Yes (G-sensor, Motion Detection)
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Yes
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RedTiger F7NP
RedTiger F7NP dash cam has a reliable parking mode feature that can record good quality videos. It also has a built-in GPS and Wi-Fi which let you transfer videos from dash cam to your mobile phone easily.
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Feature
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Specs
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Video Quality
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1440P Front, 1080P Rear
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Viewing Angle
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170° Front, 160° Rear
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Night Vision
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Yes
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GPS
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Optional
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Wi-Fi
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Yes
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Parking Mode
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Yes (G-sensor, Motion Detection)
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Loop Recording
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Yes
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RedTiger F17
RedTiger F17 Dash cam is a compact and discreet dashcam that comes with good parking mode options. It can help you record everything around your car without taking up too much space.
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Feature
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Specs
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Video Quality
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1080P Front & Rear
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Viewing Angle
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170° Front & Rear
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Night Vision
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Yes
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GPS
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No
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Wi-Fi
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Yes
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Parking Mode
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Yes (G-sensor)
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Loop Recording
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Yes
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RedTiger VS10 4G
RedTiger VS10 4G dash cam gives you 4G connectivity to access and monitor your camera from anywhere in the world. This mode can help you see what is happening around your car at the exact moment even if you are not near it.
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Feature
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Specs
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Video Quality
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2.5K Front, 1080P Rear
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Viewing Angle
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170° Front & Rear
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Night Vision
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Yes
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GPS
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Yes
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4G
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Yes
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Parking Mode
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Yes (G-sensor, Motion Detection)
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Loop Recording
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Yes
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FAQs
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Can parking mode drain my car battery? Your dash cam needs power to run in Parking mode and it takes this power from your car battery. Using a car battery directly without any prevention can drain your battery completely. But if you are using the RedTiger Hardwiring Kit with a cutoff feature, it can protect your battery from draining.
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How long can my dash cam record in parking mode? This depends on different things such as the health of your battery, the power consumption of your dash cam and other camera settings. You can use motion detection or impact detection mode to keep your dashcam running for a longer time.
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Do all dash cams have parking mode? No, not all dashcams come with parking mode. You should check the specifications of the dash cams before you buy one to see if they have parking mode. RedTiger has several dash cam models that have parking mode.
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Do I need a special SD card for parking mode? While you can use any Dashcam compatible SD card, it is recommended to use a high-endurance SD card. These cards can handle continuous recording and overwriting without getting damaged. You can get the best SD Cards for your dashcam from RedTiger.
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How do I install a dash cam with parking mode? You will need to hardwire the dash cam to your car's electrical system to use parking mode. It is best to follow the instructions that come with your dash cam and hardwire kit for perfect installation.