Pointing a camera at your car can sometimes come in handy to protect your car from vandalism or theft. If you always park your car in the same spot in front of your home or office, pointing a camera at your car is one of the best ways to keep an eye on it. Most dashcams have a parking mode to secure your car when parked, this is very convenient if you don't have a fixed spot for your car. However, dash cams film from within the car itself (and usually only at the front and rear), so it can be difficult to keep an eye on the entire car. Pointing a camera at your car can therefore be a good alternative.

A camera pointed at your car can basically be any type of camera, you could even use a dashcam for it. However, the most convenient option is to use an IP camera that you connect to your Wi-Fi network. You can then log in to the camera from anywhere in the world and keep an eye on your car. Most IP cameras also have a motion detection mode where you can receive a notification on your phone if movement is detected in the image.

Note that in the Netherlands there are rules to filming from a fixed static location such as your home. You may only film your own property. So a camera pointed at your car that also films your neighbour's garden is not allowed. So make sure you really only point the camera at your own car and do not film anything else.

Here are the pros and cons of pointing a camera at your car compared to a dashcam with parking mode.

Camera pointed at car

+ Good view of the car
+ Power supply from home
+ Connect to home Wi-Fi network

- Fixed parking spot car needed
- Restrictive regulations

Dashcam in car

+ No fixed parking space required
+ Permitted filming

- Reduced visibility to front and rear
- Connect to car battery or battery pack
- SIM card required for Wifi connection