Are you looking for a hidden car camera for spying? Then you are at the right place. The best hidden car camera keeps an eye on your vehicle while being out of sight or in disguise. It can be a great tool to monitor the behavior of those behind the wheel. It works by either being installed in a hidden spot inside of a vehicle or it could be disguised as something else, such as an air freshener hanging from the rearview mirror for example.
Regardless of where it is placed, there are many benefits to installing a hidden car camera in your vehicle. One of these benefits includes capturing footage when someone approaches your vehicle for malicious intent, or you get some uncanny passenger on board. With a hidden camera installed in your vehicle, you’ll have the evidence should you need to take legal action against them for damages done.
One other benefit is that it provides extra protection for those who may not act responsibly behind the wheel and drive while intoxicated or those who may try illegal substances while behind the wheel. With the best hidden car camera, you’ll have proof of their lack of responsibility and hopefully, be able to stop them before they cause an accident or harm others on the road. They can also come in handy when you need to know how and why your car ended up at a certain location that you don’t remember driving to.
The footage captured by this device can provide law enforcement with useful evidence if you’re ever in a road rage incident as well, where another driver wants to press charges against you for things such as assault or reckless driving. It’s also helpful in protecting your family and property since it can capture footage of thieves trying to break into your car.
The last benefit of having the best hidden car camera is that it’s like having a dash cam without actually being one. The footage captured by both is usually the same and can be used interchangeably, so, both have almost the same benefits. But the advantage of using a hidden car camera over a dash cam is that you get to keep it hidden, not distracting others or yourself while driving.
Moreover, where dash cams can be dodged or unplugged by thieves during the theft, the best hidden car camera will still keep on performing its duty and keep recording footage for you. And though we don’t appreciate it, some people prefer it over dash cams because when accidents happen, your dash cam’s footage can be used both ways, in your favor or against you while only you know about your hidden camera for the car so you hand over the footage only when it favors you.
You’ll find plenty of different types of hidden car cameras ranging in many colors so that they can blend in with your vehicle’s interior design. Some of the most popular ones include those that are hidden inside mirrors, cell phone chargers, and even air fresheners. Any object that you wouldn’t be suspicious of having a camera inside is what they’ll look like. Additionally, they also record sound as well which can provide valuable evidence to back up other footage should it be needed at some point. Also, some of them come equipped with night vision so that they can capture what’s happening regardless of whether it’s day or night out.
Installation of a hidden camera is fairly simple and only requires you to find the right place and angle inside your car for it to spy from. It doesn’t require any wires or complicated installation procedures, which means that anyone can do it with ease. You can simply charge its battery from your car’s cigarette lighter port. And once charged, it will spy for days in disguise. Video quality ranges from many different brands, but one thing remains the same; they all record in crystal clear HD so that you get the clearest view of what’s going on around your vehicle.
Depending on where you purchase yours from, prices can vary and range anywhere from $15 to upwards of $200 depending on the features included with each one. Most will either come with a built-in DVR or a micro SD card slot so that you can record video and store it onto a memory card for later viewing. This way you’ll be able to review footage as many times as you’d like and even share it with others if needed.
Hidden car cameras are an inexpensive investment that can provide plenty of benefits down the road or during certain times while driving. Take some time to read through our reviews below to find one that’s right for you.
- Also Check: Best 360 Dash Cams For Cars
- Also Check: Best Dash cams For Motorcycles
Top 10 Best Hidden Car Cameras In 2024
1. LawMate Car Charger Hidden Camera
- Resolution: 1080p
- Power source: Battery powered
- Memory storage: 128GB
- Night vision: Yes
When looking for the best hidden car camera, you need to ensure that the camera you choose goes unnoticeable. The LawMate car charger hidden camera is an adjustable camera and is an excellent choice. It can be disguised as a charger. It works as a USB charger. This makes it a very useful camera in disguise with actual USB charger functionality. So, the LawMate PV-CG 20 comes as a USB charger with a USB charging port and a small hidden camera lens on it. When you buy it, the box also contains a 16 GB microSD card and a micro USB cable for data transfer.
Lawmate car charger hidden camera functions day and night, and it automatically turns on when the car starts. The videos recorded also have the daytime stamp and nighttime stamp on them. It is a fantastic feature that carries importance in some situations. One more interesting thing about this camera is that it will keep recording for an extra 20 minutes even after the car engine stops.
This camera has memory storage of 128 GB; with this storage capacity, it can continuously record for a longer period without any worry of space shortage. The adjustable lens angle of the LawMate car charger with the camera makes it easier for you to adjust the angle according to your needs by tilting the DVR base.
The camera has a compact design, and it is easy to set up and disguise because of its charger design. It plugs directly into the cigarette lighter socket of your car giving direct power to its built-in battery. To view the recording plug the device into your computer through a MicroUSB port or insert the microSD card into the computer. Though it records no audio, its video quality is impressive and records crystal clear 1080p video at 30 fps, and it has a fantastic night vision recording, which makes it one of the best hidden car cameras by users.
2. Garmin Dash Cam Mini
- Resolution: 1080p
- Power source: Capacitor powered
- Memory storage: 128GB
- Night vision: Yes
Garmin is the name of the leading manufacturer of dash cams. Garmin Dash Cam Mini is the smallest dash cam sold by Garmin and can function as the best hidden dash camera. Though it isn’t manufactured for spying purposes, it is still one of the best hidden dash cameras because of its smaller unnoticeable size. Some low-price Chinese dash cams may come as worthy competitors for a smaller size than the Garmin dash cam mini, however, their image sensor quality and the processor are not equivalent to the Garmin. Garmin’s dash cams have higher-end sensors that provide you with fantastic video quality, ensuring the best result for your day and night recordings.
Likewise, the Garmin dashcam mini with its high resolution of 1080p HD videos at 30 frames per second gives impressive footage and has a wide lens angle of 140 degrees. With the range of dash cams Garmin offers, the Garmin mini dash cam can be synchronized with other Garmin dash cams if you want to add more than one dash cam to your vehicle.
It has a compact design; as the name suggests, it is smaller in size and shape. But it still has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth features, which allow you to connect your Garmin dashcam mini remotely to your smartphone by using the free Garmin application. With this fantastic feature, you can download videos from your dash cam to your smartphone and save them for later use. This way, you can also share your monitoring videos with the car insurance company or the police efficiently when needed.
It comes in perfect if you are looking for the smallest dashcam for your car. And it would fascinate you, even more, when you’ll find this small in-car camera with a parking mode feature. So despite its size, it not only records crystal clear videos, but it can also easily detect any movement around your car when your car is parked and record it for you even when you are not near your car. For your parking mode to work correctly, you need to have an external battery, so your Garmin dash cam mini will be able to record even when your car engine is off.
3. Oumeiou Power Bank Hidden Camera
- Resolution: 1080p
- Power source: Battery powered
- Memory storage: 256GB
- Night vision: Yes
The Oumeiou power bank hidden camera has one specific feature that is of great use. And that is that this best hidden camera for cars is built into an actual power bank. So it can work longer than another hidden car camera. On a single charge, it can work for 25 to 40 hours. It can be one of the best hidden car cameras for your car because it also features night vision making nighttime recordings possible as most people would go out on a drive at night. Also as most people used to have power banks in their cars, it goes unnoticeable smoothly and doesn’t look suspicious. So you can easily plugin and get the recording done as you drive while nobody can detect it.
When you buy it, the Oumeiou power bank comes in a box with a USB cable to charge your power bank. Hidden on the power bank comes a tiny, unnoticeable security camera for cars that has an impressive high-quality video recording with a resolution of 1080p at 30 fps. The power bank has a tiny button for motion detection, which you can turn on, and with its G-sensor, it can detect any movement around your vehicle and start recording even when your car is parked.
The Oumeiou power bank hidden camera is very inconspicuous. It fulfills the meaning of a spy surveillance camera and records for up to 25 hours at night and 40 hours during the day on a single charge. To support its daytime 40-hour recording, it has a large battery capacity of 10000 mAh. It doesn’t support audio; however, the customer reviews suggest it is a handy and hard-to-detect spy camera for cars. Not only does it have excellent use as a mighty power bank, but it can also be used as an ultimate spying camera both in your car at your workplace or home, and wherever you need it.
4. Provision-ISR Hidden Dual Dashcam
- Resolution: 1080p
- Power source: Battery powered
- Memory storage: 128GB
- Night vision: Yes
The Provision-ISR hidden dual dash cam is a hidden dual camera for cars. It is a one-time installed car security camera, so when you buy it comes with a connection cable that comes with a cigarette port plug and a USB cable in the box. And it can be easily installed and it easily fits on the rear-view mirror and records the front and interior of your car at the same time. It is small in size, so it hardly gets noticed.
This dual dashcam system records a fantastic quality video with a resolution of 1080p. It is an excellent choice for those looking for the best hidden car camera with audio, as it comes with an excellent audio recording feature.
It supports a highly sensitive G-sensor that records the footage before and after the accident in case of collision. So your evidence is secured for insurance claims.
This best hidden camera for cars has a built-in memory card that supports loop recording. When its memory gets full, and there is no space, the new recording overwrites the previous file, and the recording continues. It allows you to get clear recordings even at pitch dark. Enhanced with its built-in infrared night vision LEDs, it gives you crystal-clear HD videos even at night time.
The customer reviewed this as the ideally placed hidden camera in cars. People don’t get any suspicion about this secret camera, and it goes undetectable in the car mirror. This hidden car dash cam provides more security than the other best hidden cameras for cars on the list because it monitors the front road and the interior and it is hidden at the same time.
5. Relohas HD 1080P Spy Camera
- Resolution: 1080p
- Power source: Battery powered
- Memory storage: 64GB
- Night vision: Yes
The Relohas HD spy camera is the smallest wireless hidden camera for cars that gives you a high-quality video resolution of 1080p HD. It can stream your footage all day long from anywhere in the world with its Wi-Fi feature. It has an 800mAh built-in rechargeable battery that can live up to 24 hours on a single charge. You can connect this small car spy camera with Wi-Fi and cellular data service for live streaming. This portable smallest spy camera can record your videos and store them in the micro SD card when you do outdoor recording, even without Wi-Fi.
It is tiny in size, just 0.79 inches, and a 1.41oz cube, so it goes undetected and is hardly noticeable. The camera can be separated from the casing and has a zoomable design to extend 8.47 inches to hide and go undetected. It has a hook to set it secretly anywhere in your car, and it also comes with a sticker to hide it at any place that gives you the perfect angle to record.
With its fantastic night vision feature, it gives you incredible quality for nighttime recordings. Night vision helps you record things even in the dark. As it has no lights or sounds of recording, people can’t notice being recorded and watched. With manual settings, you can turn off the night vision when it’s not dark. It has a motion detection feature that sends you push-up alerts when detecting a motion around your car. It sends you message notifications and even images of what is happening in your car surroundings. To prevent false alarms, it also has an upgraded version of motion detection where you can set up the motion sensor sensitivity to low, medium, and high. Which makes it one of the best motion-activated hidden cameras.
The Relohas HD spy camera comes with different recording modes. It includes full-time recording mode, time recording mode, motion detection recording mode, and phone recording mode. The Relohas spy camera starts loop recording in full-time recording mode, which turns on and automatically records for 24 hours continuously on a single charge. It also works without a Wi-Fi connection. Time recording mode helps you record within the present period while motion detection recording mode turns on when your secret hidden camera detects any motion around your car. With the phone recording feature, you can turn on and turn off your recording.
In this price range and with such impressive features, the Relohas HD spy camera is a highly recommended tiny Wi-Fi in-car security camera. When you buy it its package will come with one mini cam, one USB cable, one wall charger, and 2 strong stickers. This mini spy camera is easily portable and can be used in your car as well as outside and even for home security purposes. If you are looking for a live stream spy camera for a car then this is the best hidden car camera you must choose.
6. Mansso Mini Hidden Camera
- Resolution: 1080p
- Power source: Battery powered
- Memory storage: 64GB
- Night vision: Yes
The Mansso Mini Hidden camera is a wireless portable security camera for a car that you can set up on your car’s dashboard, and with its small size, it hardly gets noticed. The Mini Hidden camera records fantastic quality video with a resolution of 1080p at 30 fps. It is an excellent choice for a mini spy camera with audio and video recording features.
Mansso Mini Hidden Camera has a built-in memory card that supports loop recording. When its memory gets full, and there is no space, the new recording is overwritten on the previous file, and the recording is continued. Enhanced with six infrared night vision LEDs, this mini spy camera allows you to get clear recordings even at pitch dark. The camera also comes with motion detection to keep you informed of any suspicious motion activity around your vehicle. Moreover, the Mansso Mini Hidden Camera has a built-in Wi-Fi function. So, Install the app Colacam on your smartphone and configure it with Wi-Fi to access your spy camera’s videos live when you are away from your car.
It comes with memory storage of 64GB and has a recording time of 180 minutes while it also saves the video on an SD card. The best way is to transfer the files as soon as the memory storage gets full so that it won’t overwrite the new recording over previous files. The rechargeable battery time is 3 hours, but it goes on recording without any interruption at charging.
The customer ranked it as an excellent spy cam. You can use it for home security or place it anywhere in your car and people won’t get suspicious. It is a very small and portable camera, and with its internal magnet and 3M sticker, it can be absorbed on any surface whether you want to stick it inside your car or anywhere inside your home and office for spying.
7. Aukfa Car Keychain Camera
- Resolution: 1080p
- Power source: Battery powered
- Memory storage: 32GB
- Night vision: Yes
Aukfa keychain spy camera has a wide range of features to offer when you want to observe essential things inside your car or outside in the surroundings. You can easily carry it with you anywhere as it is handy or just set it up on your car dashboard. It has a unique design, which makes it look like an actual car keychain. It is easy to carry, as well as easy to operate. Place it inside your car when you are away, and you will get to see live streaming with a clear picture without missing any details.
It has a wide-angle lens of 140 degrees that gives you a wide-angle view to record and supports high-quality video at a resolution of 1080p. It has memory storage of 32 GB and doesn’t support a maximum of that. The night vision helps you record even in the dark and deliver clear recordings even at nighttime.
It has a rechargeable built-in lithium battery of 450 mAh with a battery capacity of 5V at a single charge; it has a life of 90 minutes. Aukfa car keychain spy camera has a great design and outstanding features at a minimum price range and impresses the customers with its deceiving similarity with ordinary car keychains.
8. Ploveyy Wireless Mini Camera
- Resolution: 1080p
- Power source: Battery powered
- Memory storage: 64GB
- Night vision: Yes
The Ploveyy wireless mini camera for cars comes with a high resolution of 1920x1080p at 30 frames per second. It is one of the best hidden cameras that records and captures pictures without a flash and has a wide night vision range of 16.4 feet distance. You can remotely turn it on or turn it off when you want and you don’t need to worry about night recording. Ploveyy mini hidden car camera gives you a fantastic nighttime recording experience and has a perfect quality recording even at pitch dark. It covers a wide angle of 150 degrees, enabling you to have a wide-angle view and not just a limited spotlight view inside and outside of your car.
It has an upgraded motion detection feature that allows you to set the sensor sensitivity to low, medium, and high as per your needs. As soon as it detects movement around your car, the Ploveyy mini car camera sends notifications and images to your smartphone to alert you. It supports a Wi-Fi connection of only 2.4 GHz, with which you can live-stream all your videos through your tablet and smartphone application that helps you view your car and surroundings when you are away, remotely. It has a compact design and comes in a small size. The built-in magnet allows you to stick it to any metallic material; also, it quickly sets up. The infrared night vision with no glow records the video at pitch dark and gives you clear recordings. It has playback and snapshot features.
Its lithium-ion battery can record continuously for an hour with a single charge and has a 360-degree flexible semi-rigid USB cable. With a storage capacity of 64 GB, it records new videos by overwriting the old files when storage memory gets full. The mini design makes it easier to hide, so it is hardly detectable. It supports loop recording, and it starts recording automatically every 5 minutes. It is lightweight with a solid design and has a 12-month warranty and 30 days of refundable service. With Ploveyy wireless mini car camera bring convenience to your life.
9. Arebi spy camera
- Resolution: 1080p
- Power source: Battery charged
- Memory storage: 128GB
- Night vision: Yes
When spending on the best hidden car cameras, the Arebi spy camera can be considered an excellent and reasonable option among little spy cameras. It has good video quality and records 1080p resolution video. To access recordings in real-time, you can use the Arebi application. It is a wireless surveillance camera for cars with a rechargeable battery and can record while on charge. It has a high-resolution recording to give you clear videos with a recording angle of 150 degrees. It has a glare-free night recording feature so you can record clear videos even at night time.
The Arebi spy camera has a tiny size, about the size of a quarter, which makes it undetectable. With the help of its built-in magnet, it can be attached anywhere inside your car or in the body of your motorcycle for security or spying purposes. Along with its brilliant night vision, it comes with a motion detection feature. It’s wireless and is easy to install. You can connect it to your smartphone and it will push you notifications and snap whenever it detects any motion. The users reviewed this smallest wireless camera as easy-to-setup and easy to use. On a single charge, it can work for an hour. Considering its features at this price range, the Arebi spy camera is the best hidden car camera.
10. Safety Tech Smiley Face Spy Cam for Car Security
- Resolution: 720x480p
- Power source: Battery powered
- Memory storage: 128GB
- Night vision: No
Smiley face spy cam by Safety Tech is the best spy cam and a great choice when looking for pro spy equipment that can record both the road and the interior of the vehicle. It also spies on you even when you step outside your vehicle. It is amazingly designed, it’s wearable, and very small in size that it is hardly noticed. As it just looks like a little smiley face button, you can pin it on your shirt or car seat or anywhere inside your car from where it gives you a proper and perfect angle of what you want to record.
The buyers reviewed it as a friendly tiny camera with impressive features. You can also use it to take pictures other than recording the video. It has a rechargeable battery and also comes with an SD card. With a storage capacity of 128 GB, it records videos with time and date stamps on it. Its video quality is excellent and also gives you clear audio. So, if you are looking for a wireless hidden camera with audio, it is the best hidden car camera to be considered.
Buyers Guide: Things to consider before buying the Best Hidden Car Camera
When looking to invest in the best hidden camera for a car, it’s important to consider several factors to ensure you choose the right device that meets your needs and preferences. Here is a detailed manual to assist you in making a well-informed choice:
Video Quality
The fundamental objective of a concealed car camera lies in its ability to capture crisp footage. It is essential to seek out a camera possessing a minimum resolution of 1080p, as this guarantees recordings of exceptional quality, which can serve as substantiating evidence if ever necessary.
Discreet Design
The hidden camera in the car should be unobtrusive and blend seamlessly with your vehicle’s interior. Consider options that resemble common objects like chargers, air fresheners, or mirrors, allowing them to go unnoticed by anyone inside the vehicle.
Storage Capacity
Adequate storage is crucial for continuous recording. Choose a camera with sufficient memory capacity or support for external microSD cards to ensure that important footage is not overwritten too quickly.
Night Vision
Opt for a camera with night vision capabilities if you need to monitor your vehicle during nighttime hours. This feature ensures that the camera can capture clear footage even in low-light conditions.
Power Source
Hidden car cameras are typically powered by batteries or the vehicle’s power source. Consider whether you prefer a battery-powered camera, which can be discreetly placed, or a charger-style camera that draws power from your vehicle.
Motion Detection
Cameras with motion detection technology can start recording when they sense movement around the vehicle. This can help capture suspicious activities or events even when you’re not actively monitoring the camera.
Audio Recording
Some hidden car cameras include audio recording capabilities. Be aware of the legal regulations in your area regarding audio recording, as this feature might have limitations depending on local laws.
Remote Access
Cameras with Wi-Fi connectivity allow you to access live or recorded footage remotely using a mobile app. This can be particularly useful for monitoring your vehicle when you’re not around.
Installation Ease
Choose the best hidden camera for a car that is easy to install, preferably without requiring complex wiring or technical expertise. Many hidden car cameras offer simple plug-and-play installation.
Angle and Coverage
Consider the camera’s field of view and angle to ensure it captures the desired area of your vehicle. Some cameras offer adjustable angles to provide flexibility in positioning.
Price Range
Hidden car camera security system prices can vary significantly based on features and quality. Set a budget and look for options that offer the best balance of features within your price range.
Brand Reputation
Opt for reputable brands known for producing reliable and durable hidden car cameras. Reading customer reviews and seeking recommendations can help you gauge a brand’s reputation.
Legal Considerations
Be aware of the legalities of using hidden cameras in your jurisdiction. Respect privacy laws and use the camera responsibly.
People Also Ask
Can I use a hidden car camera to monitor the interior of my vehicle?
Yes, many best hidden car cameras are designed to monitor both the exterior and interior of vehicles. Consider cameras with adjustable angles to ensure comprehensive coverage.
Are hidden car cameras legal to use?
Hidden car camera legality varies by jurisdiction. While using them for security purposes is generally accepted, it’s crucial to understand local laws regarding privacy and surveillance. Always respect legal guidelines when using hidden cameras.
Can hidden car cameras record at night?
Yes, the best hidden car cameras are equipped with night vision technology, allowing them to record clear footage even in low-light or dark conditions. Look for cameras with infrared LEDs for effective night vision.
How do I view the recordings from a hidden car camera?
Hidden car cameras often come with mobile apps or computer software that allows you to view and manage recorded footage. Some cameras offer Wi-Fi connectivity for remote access to the recordings.
Can I install a hidden car camera myself?
Yes, many hidden cameras for vehicles are designed for easy installation and can be set up by users without technical expertise. Look for options that offer simple plug-and-play installation.
Do hidden car cameras have audio recordings?
Some best hidden car cameras offer audio recording capabilities, but this feature’s legality and limitations can vary by jurisdiction. Make sure to research local laws regarding audio recording before using this feature.
How long do hidden car camera batteries last?
Battery life depends on factors such as recording settings, frequency of use, and capacity. Look for a camera for the vehicle with longer battery life if you need extended recording periods.
Do hidden car cameras record while the vehicle is parked?
Some hidden car cameras offer parking mode, which allows them to detect motion or impacts even when the vehicle is parked and the engine is off. This feature can provide added security when your vehicle is unattended.
Do hidden car cameras have loop recording?
Yes, many hidden car cameras support loop recording, where new recordings overwrite old ones when the storage is full. This ensures continuous recording without running out of storage space.
Our Review Methodology: How have we tested, selected, and ranked the best hidden car cameras?
The process of testing, selecting, and ranking the best hidden car cameras involves thorough research to identify popular models and features, followed by objective testing of technical specifications, functionality, and durability. Our Team then subjectively assesses real-world performance and user experience. The cameras are compared based on criteria like video quality, ease of use, and features, with scores assigned for each criterion. Combining objective data, expert assessment, and user feedback leads to a final selection and ranking, aiding consumers in making informed choices about best hidden camera for a car.
Final Verdict
In conclusion, the search for the best hidden car camera in 2024 leads us to several impressive options with unique features and advantages. Among these, the LawMate Car Charger Hidden Camera stands out as the best overall choice. Its discreet design as a functional charger, along with its 1080p resolution, 128GB memory storage, and night vision capabilities, make it an excellent tool for monitoring your vehicle and surroundings. Despite its higher price, its dual functionality as a charger and camera, along with its adjustable lens angle, solidifies its position as a top choice for those seeking reliable vehicle surveillance.
For those on a budget, the Relohas HD 1080P Spy Camera offers exceptional value. Its compact size, high-resolution video, night vision, and motion detection push alerts make it the best hidden camera for your car. With its inconspicuous design, the Relohas camera can be easily positioned within your vehicle, and its Wi-Fi capabilities provide remote access to your footage for added convenience.
