Skip to main content
Roda
Guides

Dashcam Malaysia — Front, Rear & Parking Mode Guide

· Roda Editorial · Updated

dashcamsafetyaccessories

A dashcam records the road while you drive, and sometimes while the car is parked. After an accident, a clear recording can help show what happened when you make a police report or an insurance claim. This guide covers the types of dashcam, the features that matter in Malaysian conditions, installation, and what to do with the footage.

Types of dashcam

Front only

One camera behind the rear-view mirror, recording the road ahead. It is the simplest and lowest-cost option, and covers most collisions where you hit or are cut off by another vehicle.

Front and rear

A second, smaller camera on the rear windscreen records what happens behind you. Rear-end collisions are common in heavy traffic, and a rear camera also records vehicles that tailgate or hit you while parked.

Front and cabin

Some units add an interior camera, often with infrared for night recording. These are used mostly by e-hailing and fleet drivers. Tell your passengers that the cabin is being recorded.

Features that matter

Heat resistance

Cars parked in the Malaysian sun get very hot inside. Dashcams that use a supercapacitor instead of a lithium battery generally cope better with heat, because they do not rely on a battery to save the last file. Check the operating and storage temperature range on the specification sheet.

Video quality

Look for a camera that can read number plates in real conditions: at night, in rain, and when the other car is moving. Higher resolution helps, but a good sensor and lens matter as much. Watch sample footage from the actual model, recorded at night, before you buy.

Memory card

Dashcams record continuously and overwrite the oldest files. This wears out ordinary memory cards. Use a high-endurance microSD card of the type and size the manufacturer recommends, and format it in the dashcam every few weeks. A card that has failed silently is the most common reason for missing footage.

Parking mode

Parking mode records when the camera detects movement or an impact while the car is parked. It needs constant power, usually through a hardwire kit connected to the fuse box. A good kit has a low-voltage cut-off so the dashcam does not drain the car's battery. Have it installed by someone who knows your car's electrical system, especially on newer cars and hybrids.

GPS and time

Built-in GPS records your speed and location with the video. Make sure the date and time are correct, because footage with the wrong time is harder to use as evidence.

Installation

  1. Mount the front camera behind the rear-view mirror, so it does not block your view of the road.
  2. Keep it inside the area swept by the wipers, so rain does not blur the image.
  3. Run the cable along the headliner and down the pillar trim, not across the windscreen. On cars with curtain airbags in the pillars, route the cable so it does not interfere with the airbag.
  4. Check that the camera is level and that the bonnet takes up only a small part of the frame.
  5. If you have tinted film, mount the camera in a clear area of the windscreen. Tint in front of the lens darkens night footage.

JPJ's tint rules for private vehicles, as amended in 2019, allow 70% visible light transmission on the windscreen and 50% on the front side windows, with no limit on the rear side windows and rear windscreen as long as both side mirrors are fitted. A dashcam mounted on the windscreen should not block your view of the road.

After an incident

  1. Stop safely, and check that everyone is unhurt.
  2. Save the recording. Most dashcams lock the file automatically after an impact. If yours does not, press the emergency or lock button.
  3. Copy the file to your phone or computer as soon as you can, before it is overwritten.
  4. Make a police report within 24 hours of the accident, as the Road Transport Act 1987 requires, and keep the footage ready if the police or your insurer ask for it.
  5. Do not post the footage on social media before your report and claim are settled. Ask your insurer or a lawyer if you are unsure.

You can also report traffic offences you record. The MyJPJ app's e-Aduan feature accepts photo and video evidence for a list of offence types. Report only what you recorded yourself, and keep the original file.

Footage and privacy

A dashcam records other people, number plates and places. Use the footage for your own safety, insurance and police matters. If you share a clip, blur faces and number plates that are not relevant to the incident.

Buying a dashcam

Compare models on price, heat range, night footage, and the warranty from the seller. You can find dashcams and installers among car accessories and parts on Roda. Ask the seller whether the price includes installation and a memory card.

Related reading: car insurance renewal and how to buy a used car.

Sources

Latest cars

See all cars

Related reading