A hidden car camera or spy camera is often used to record or photograph people without them knowing.
The subjects are often unaware that they are being watched, which can be very beneficial for the recorder.
Hidden cameras have boomed in popularity over the years.
The emergence of digital technology means that we have a constant stream of surveillance whether it is through cameras, face recognition technology or digital data.
Having your own cameras can help you feel secure, safe and cover your back if you need them to.
In 2019, there were 70 million security cameras in the US alone. More and more people than ever have security cameras in their home or on their property.
The car is no different. People are now installing hidden car cameras, dash cams and security cameras in their vehicles more than ever before.
There are many reasons as to why you may want to keep an extra eye on your vehicle. Some people prefer to be super vigilant when driving, or like the feeling of safety and protection that a camera brings.
Others may have some ulterior motive for wanting to keep a watchful gaze upon their car and passengers.
Luckily, we are not here to judge why you want a hidden car camera. We are here to help you find the best hidden car camera for your needs.
Footage Finalist
If buying a hidden car camera is top of your to do list, say no more. We have compiled the best hidden cameras for your vehicle and have found the best ones for you. Our top pick is the ZumYo Mini Spy Camera!
This is an impressive, discreet camera that you can hide anywhere.
Keep your home, car, garage, and family safe with this hidden spy camera. This camera is so small and magnetic, it can be mounted anywhere without being seen.
It can be connected to your Wi-Fi and has its own smartphone application so that you can control it from anywhere.
With instant playback and live feed watching, you can monitor this camera remotely from your smart devices!
What is even better is that it has full time recording, 1080 HD resolution, night vision, wide angle, and it will send an alert to your phone if motion is detected nearby.
This is the perfect solution if you are looking to purchase a small, discreet car camera that can be hidden anywhere.
| Rank | Name | Key Features | Ratings | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | No products found. | • Full HD 1080P Mini Spy Camera • No-Glow IR Night Vision & Built-in Magnet • Motion Detection & Remote Alarm • Remarkable WiFi & Hotspot Hidden Camera • Easy Installation and Built to Last | 5 | $ |
| #2 |  | • Dual 1080P Dash cam • Built-in GPS Dash Camera • Sony Night Vision • Super Capacitor • Reliable Witness for Accident | 4.5 | $$$ |
| #3 |  | • 1080p DUAL SYSTEM CAMERA • BUILT IN G-SENSOR • SEAMLESS LOOP VIDEO • DVR RECORDING • CAMERAS AND CABLES | 4 | $$ |
| #4 | No products found. | • Dual 1080P Dash Camera with Audio for Uber Lyft Taxi • 340° Wide angle & 360° Rotatable Cameras • 24 Hours Parking Monitor & Motion Detection • Continuous Loop Recording & G-Sensor • Super IR Night Vision & WDR & Reliable Service | 4 | $$$ |
| #5 | No products found. | • Lower Power Consumption Provdes 2 Hours of Video Shooting • Superior HD 1080P Lens Bring Excellent Imaging Capabilities • Classic Elegance&Hidden Lens Design • Suitable for Different Scenarios • Professional Technical Support | 4 | $$$ |
ZumYo Mini Spy Camera: Wireless with Night Vision
No products found.
For an impressive hidden camera you can keep in your car, home, office and never raise suspicion, try the ZumYo mini spy camera. This is a faithful partner to have in your home or car to help you monitor everything and remain safe and protected.
This camera can be connected to your phone for instant playback or live feed, to ensure everything is in order. It is magnetic and can be placed absolutely anywhere. It is so small in size the eyes gloss over it and ignore its presence.
With options for full time recording, night vision and alerts sent straight to your phone when motion is detected, this is the perfect spy camera to keep your vehicle safe. You can also use your phone with the app and control the camera from wherever you are.
- 1080 HD resolution
- Full time recording
- Motion detection
- Infrared Night vision
- Magnetic
- 150 degree wide angle
- Motion sensor- alerts
- Watch in real time on app
- Works with wifi and hotspot
- Durable and lightweight materials
- SD card not included
Vantrue
If you are looking for a discreet, easily hidden car camera, then try the Vantrue dash cam. With front and rear cameras, you can simultaneously capture the road in front and in the rear.
This camera features 4K video for clear license plates capture, and built in GPS, that can check speed, location, and route. This would provide conclusive evidence or support if used in case of an incident.
The 1080 P dash cam provides crystal clear images and has a super capacitor as its power source so that it can last much longer. With motion technology and auto-save options, this camera is sure to record any footage that you need it to.
- Discreet design
- Dual 1080 P dash cam
- GPS
- Night vision
- Long battery life
- Dual camera records front and rear
- Motion detection
- G-sensor
- Loop recording
- Parking mode
- Difficult to set up
- Video is not high quality
Pyle
For a great and discreet dash camera, try the Pyle Dash Cam Rear View Mirror. This camera records a full range of vision, including blind spots for extra protection when driving your car.
This product features a dual camera function with view of the exterior and interior of the vehicle. This way it will record images and video of other cars on the road, and of the passengers.
This camera has full 1080P HD capabilities and a 4.3 inch display to view the footage. This product is completely waterproof, and still provides optimal video resolution. It also has a built in G-sensor that will automatically lock any footage for safekeeping.
It has motion sensors that turn on and record when there is any nearby movement for ultimate protection and security.
- Easy to install
- G-Sensors
- Loop recording
- High quality video
- 4.3 inch display
- Rear view mirror design
- Parking monitors
- Instant playback
- 1080 P HD
- Can be used for taxi drivers
- No memory card included
- Functions as a rear view mirror- not entirely discreet
TOGUARD
No products found.
If you are an Uber, taxi or Lyft driver, you may want to invest in a hidden camera with a low profile that still records the passengers, yourself and the road. This way you can remain protected and have evidence of any incidents that may arise during your work.
The Toguard Uber dash cam has a dual 1080 camera with audio to record front and cabin in-car exchanges between drivers and passengers.
The powerful UHD video lens can also capture videos and images of the road, with great clarity of license plates. This is extremely useful in the case of a road traffic accident.
It also features a G-sensor and night vision for extra protection and support in case of accidents or bumps in the road.
This car camera has a wide-angle lens that ensures you capture everything that you need to. With motion detection and a parking monitor, you will be sure to capture any suspicious activity with this camera as well!
With excellent audio recording, you have all the evidence you need if you suffer abuse or theft from users.
- Dual camera
- Wide angle
- High quality videos
- High quality audio
- G-sensor
- Night vision
- Motion sensor
- 1080 HD camera
- Loop recording
- Parking Monitor
- Needs to be connected to power constantly
- No SD card included
- No app for phone monitoring
Szboke
No products found.
If you want to take it a step further and go full stealth-mode, try the Szboke Hidden Camera Car Key. This little hidden camera is disguised as a car key fob for ultimate camouflage, and will never be suspected.
This small and lightweight camera can be taken anywhere with you to record images and videos on the go, without raising any alarm bells.
This hidden camera is a great accessory that shoots up to 120 minutes of video with just batteries. This can also be charged up for extended use.
You can clip this to your belt, bag, buckle or keychain, you name it. No one will suspect that you have a quality recording device with you for whenever you need to use it.
- Small
- Lightweight
- Disguised design
- 1080P lens video
- 32GB memory
- Video is not high quality
- audio quality is not good
- No motion detection
- No night vision.
Best Hidden Car Camera: A Buyer’s Guide
Why you should get a hidden car camera
The digital age of technology means that almost everything can be recorded, and this may help you massively by providing evidence for your case. Hidden car cameras can be used to record assaults or abuse if you are a taxi or Uber driver, or can also be used to catch thieves.
In an age where nothing is sacred anymore, theft is always on the rise. Car theft and break ins happen much more frequently, and can happen at any time or in any place.
The emergence of portable cameras has meant that hidden car cameras have decreased in price and are now much more affordable and accessible for everyone.
Car cameras have also boomed in popularity due to the emergence of dash cams. These cameras can catch erratic or dangerous drivers on the road and protect you in the case of accidents.
For instance if you are involved in a road accident, and the other driver is at fault, you can provide conclusive and HD video footage of the incident to back up your claims.
The ease of surveillance with these cameras is astronomical. You can catch thieves or insurance fraudsters, but the camera is not always a good thing. You never know what the footage will see, and the camera never lies.
How to find the best hidden car camera
Finding the best hidden car camera is a difficult task, and we are here to help you. But before purchasing the right camera for you, you should first consider what you need it for.
If you are purchasing a hidden camera for your car then you need to figure out where you would like to put it. You must work out what size would be compatible with its hidden location, so that it remains discreet.
Many hidden cameras are very small in size and best for spying whilst remaining totally unnoticeable. If you are hoping to spy on someone or find out some information then a very small undetectable camera is best.
If you are hoping to catch a recurring thief, then you may require a motion sensor camera. These cameras can turn on at the drop of a hat whenever they sense movement. They can then record any suspicious activity that may come afterwards.
Motion sensor cameras are particularly useful as they do not record senseless and useless footage. They only record after recognizing activity around them.
Similarly, you may benefit from a car camera with a G-sensor. G-sensors automatically detect accidents and collisions, and will then auto-save the footage so that it will not be lost or deleted. This can then help protect you and find who was at fault in an incident.
Many hidden cameras have the option of running and downloading the recorded footage to your phone or computer. You may also be able to watch footage remotely through your phone whilst the camera is on.
In this sense, you need a camera that will be compatible with your mobile phone or smart devices. Many older cameras may have only worked with PC or Microsoft applications.
Nowadays, you can purchase hidden cameras that have apps for both Apple and Android phones, and can be uploaded or sent to laptops and Mac computers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I hide a spy cam in my car?
There are many ways you can hide a spy cam in your vehicle. This all depends on how large your spy camera is or where you would like it to record.
You may want to camouflage your spy camera behind some decorative accessories within your vehicle, to ensure its invisibility.
If you are hoping to catch a thief then you may need to place the camera in a position that will capture the driver, so that you can get a good look of their face for reporting it to the police.
Similarly, if you are a taxi cab or an Uber driver, you may need a hidden camera for your own safety. Drunk or disrespectful passengers may try to threaten, rob or abuse such drivers, and so a camera facing the passenger or backseats may be beneficial to their needs.
A great place to hide a car camera could be behind the rearview mirror, where it is out of sight of all of your passengers, whilst being able to capture all.
How long do car cameras last?
Car cameras often have a small memory card inserted that will record about 24-30 hours of video.
After that, it will record over the oldest files. Some cameras will work on a continuous loop, so it is important that you have a large memory card or keep on top of deleting or saving data so nothing is lost.
You can also purchase battery packs to ensure that your camera lasts longer and catches every minute you need it to.
Do hidden car cameras make noise?
This depends on the type of camera you have. Generally speaking, most car cameras will not make any noise.
Many do not have audio features either, so when you play back you will not hear any noise.
Do car cameras record all the time?
Dashboard and car cameras are designed to record continuously in case of any incidents that may arise.
However, most car cameras will require you to turn it on once entering the vehicle and setting it to record when you begin your journey.
You can then turn it off if you so wish when leaving your vehicle.