Five cheap dash cams to avoid for 2021

Picking the wrong dash cam could result in your filmed footage being deemed unusable in a court of law - a cost that is likely to be far greater than the money you saved when buying the camera in the first place.

With dash cams ranging in price from less than £20 to an eye-watering £500, one question comes to mind: just how much do you need to spend? 

Take a look at our test results, below, to see just how poorly some of the cheapest dashboard cameras on the market score in our tests. There are bargains to be had out there, but models this cheap should be an immediate red flag.

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Pricing, recommendations and test scores correct as of March 2021.

Find out which models you should buy - see our round-up of the best dash cams.  

How much should a dash cam cost?

Cost is not a factor in our testing. Every model that passes through our labs is judged equally on the exact same criteria, whether it costs £20 or £500. 

Cheaper models may lack important features, such as GPS tracking, G-force sensors and a parking mode. If a dash cam with an alluring price catches your eye, be sure it still has all of the features that you need - you can find these in the 'Tech specs' tab at the top of all of our reviews.

Paying more doesn't necessarily guarantee you quality. We've seen Don't Buy dash cams that cost more than some Best Buys - you definitely can't judge the quality of one on its price and branding alone. 

Our expert dash cam reviews will help you pick the model that's right for your budget.