Looking for a 12v camera for your car? A 12v camera car is also called a dashcam. All dashcams come with an in-car 12v cigarette power supply. An in-car 12v camera can come in handy to protect you while driving or when your car is parked. You simply connect the camera to the 12v plug in the car and it automatically starts recording as soon as you turn on the ignition.

A 12v in-car camera never has a (large) built-in battery and should therefore always be connected to the 12v plug. If you also want to use the camera when your car is parked, you will have to connect it to your 12v battery with a continuous power supply. This way, the camera receives power even when the car ignition is switched off. Most 12v cameras have a special parking mode where the camera is on standby and only starts recording when a movement or vibration is detected.

Most 12v cameras come with a cigarette power supply that is also suitable for 24v vehicles, such as trucks and buses. Some cameras come standard only with a 12v/24v continuous power supply and not with a cigarette power supply. However, this is then often available as an option if you do not want to connect the camera to the battery.