Answers to the questions first-time dashcam buyers ask most often, gathered in one place so you don't have to dig through multiple articles to find them.

Q: Does the dashcam turn off automatically with the car?

A cigarette-lighter-powered unit loses power the instant the ignition turns off, so it stops recording immediately. For parking mode to work at all, you'll need either a hardwire install with a low-voltage cutoff, or a separate battery pack dedicated to the dashcam.

Q: Can I use any SD card?

A standard consumer SD card usually can't handle the repeated write cycles of loop recording for very long before it starts developing errors. Use a card specifically labeled high-endurance and made for dashcams or CCTV use, rather than a general-purpose card.

Q: Can I install one in a rental car?

Yes — a cigarette-lighter powered model needs no permanent wiring at all and can be mounted and removed easily within the rental period. Just double-check for any suction-mount marks or residue on the windshield before returning the car.

Q: How long is footage kept before it's deleted?

Loop recording automatically overwrites the oldest footage on the card once storage fills up, which can happen within a day or two of regular driving depending on card size and resolution. If you need to keep footage from a specific incident, download or copy it off the card separately right away rather than assuming it will still be there later.