How to Install a Front and Rear Dash Cam (Step by Step)

Installing a front and rear dash cam sounds like a job for a car audio shop. For most plug-in dash cams it is not. If your camera powers from a USB or 12V socket, you can have it recording in about the time it takes to drink a coffee. Here is how to do it cleanly, using the Dashnox eCam as the example.

What you need

• The front camera with its adhesive windshield mount
• The rear camera and its extension cable
• The USB-C power cable and 12V car adapter
• Adhesive cable clips and a plastic pry tool (both come in the eCam box)
• A microSD card. The eCam takes cards up to 128GB.

Step 1: Clean the glass and pick the spot

The best spot for the front camera is behind the rearview mirror, near the top center of the windshield. It stays out of your line of sight and gets a clear view of the road. Wipe the glass with a dry cloth first so the adhesive holds.

Step 2: Insert the microSD card

Push the card into the slot until it clicks. Do this before you mount the camera, because the slot is easier to reach in your hand than on the glass.

Step 3: Mount the front camera

Peel the backing off the adhesive mount, press it firmly against the glass for several seconds and attach the camera. Check that the lens is level and the hood is not in the frame.

Step 4: Route the power cable

Run the cable along the top edge of the windshield and tuck it into the gap between the glass and the headliner. Use the plastic pry tool to open the gap slightly. Bring it down the side, along the edge of the door seal, and under the dash to your USB or 12V socket. A few adhesive clips keep it tidy. Avoid running cables across the front of side curtain airbags, which are usually marked "SRS" or "Airbag" on the pillar trim.

Step 5: Mount the rear camera

Mount the rear camera on the inside of the rear window, high and centered. Run the extension cable along the headliner to the front camera, tucking it in the same way. On SUVs and hatchbacks, leave a little slack where the cable crosses the tailgate hinge so it does not pull when the hatch opens.

Step 6: Power on

Start the car. The eCam starts recording automatically as soon as it gets power.

Step 7: Connect the app and check the view

The eCam has no screen, so you aim it with your phone. Connect to the camera's Wi-Fi in the free app and open the live view. Adjust the front angle so the road fills most of the frame with a little sky at the top, and check that the rear view shows the road behind you, not your headrests. From the same app you can watch clips and save them to your phone. There is no subscription and no cloud fee.

Do I need to hardwire it?

Not for normal driving. A plug-in setup records whenever the car is on. Hardwiring only matters if you want the camera to keep watching while the car is parked. For that, the eCam Parking Kit connects to your fuse box. Our guide to dash cam parking mode explains how it works and how it protects your battery.

Quick answers

How long does it take? Most drivers finish in about 5 minutes for the front camera, plus a few more to route the rear cable neatly.

Will it drain my battery? Not with a plug-in setup on a socket that turns off with the car. Parking mode is different, and the parking kit is built for it.

Is it legal to mount a dash cam on the windshield? Rules on windshield mounting vary by state. Mounting behind the rearview mirror, out of the driver's view, is the usual approach. Check your state's rules if you are unsure.

Ready to set one up? See the Dashnox eCam.