Getting a dashcam for your car is great in itself! You’ve made the right decision and bought a BlackVue dashcam to protect your vehicle from now on.

And while the BlackVue dashcam – the installation as well as the ease of use – is a pretty straightforward device and records everything quietly in the background without you having to pay it any mind (until needed), there are a few ways you can make the most out of your dashcam experience. 

Here are a few tips that will help you make the most of your BlackVue dashcam!

The Perfect Installation

The first thing you need to do after getting your brand new dashcam out of the box is to install it. While it may seem like a daunting task at first, we prepared a list of tips that will help you get the installation just right – and on the first try, too!

If you’re wondering how long it takes to install a BlackVue dashcam –  our users report that the installation doesn’t take them more than an hour, and that includes tucking all the wires neatly so they don’t stick out anywhere. Just make sure the power and video cables you run in your vehicle don’t impede the deployment of airbags. 

Essential Settings to Check

BlackVue dashcams are designed to run seamlessly regardless if you’re a tech whiz or not. However, even if you don’t care much about customization, going over some of the essential settings is recommended. In this article you will learn how to change the date, time and time zone, speed unit (km/h or mph) and many, many more.

Take Advantage of the Free Cloud Plan

If you own one of the Cloud compatible BlackVue dashcams (DR900X Series, DR750X Series, DR750-2CH LTE from the current lineup, or the S series from the previous one) you can use the BlackVue Cloud.

And the best part? It’s free to use! There are paid plans available, but the most basic plan is free and includes 10 minutes of Live View per day, 100 times video downloads or playbacks per month) and 5GB of Cloud storage. It also lets you receive impact notifications for when you are away from your parked vehicle.

To set up the Cloud, on top of your Cloud-compatible BlackVue dashcam, you will need to create your BlackVue Cloud account and make sure that your dashcam has access to the internet (either via an external hotspot, LTE module or SIM card, depending on your dashcam model). 

You can also watch our tutorial video to see how to set up the Cloud.

Use Parking Mode

There are many reasons you need a Parking Mode accessory for your BlackVue dashcam. From hit and runs and vandalism to leaving your car at the carwash, there are situations where having video evidence is crucial. 

All BlackVue dashcams are capable of recording in Parking Mode – which means that they can record even when your car is stationary (ie. parked).

For older BlackVue models and the DR750-2CH LTE, you will need a Parking Mode accessory, which will monitor your car battery’s voltage (Power Magic Pro) or power the dashcam by itself (the Ultra Battery or the Battery Pack). With the new X Series dashcams, we introduced native Parking Mode (built-in voltage monitoring). 

Unsure which Parking Mode accessory is the right one for you? We got you covered.

Use Parking Mode AND Cloud

Pairing up your Cloud-compatible BlackVue dashcam with a Parking Mode accessory (or using the X series’ native Parking Mode) is the perfect combination for both individual and business users.

Why? Parking Mode keeps your BlackVue active when ignition is off. That means your dashcam is recording, regardless of the fact if you’re driving or parked. But what if something happens when you park your car – let’s say, a shopping mall parking lot – and you’re away when someone backs up into your vehicle?

Well, this is where BlackVue Cloud comes in. Since the dashcam is in Parking Mode, it detects the impact and records a video that includes the few seconds leading to the impact. This will be useful to make any insurance claim or provide proof to law enforcement. But with the Cloud feature you will be able to instantly check on your car via the BlackVue app – you will receive a Push Notification alert message as soon as the impact is detected. To learn more about using Parking Mode with BlackVue Cloud, check this article on our website.

Summary

This post shows only a small portion of what you can do with your BlackVue dashcam to enhance your experience with it. On our YouTube channel you will find more tutorials on how to use your dashcam. You can also check our Help Center for help articles and community forum.