Best Dash Cam for Uber & Lyft Drivers in 2023
Joining the rideshare network of over 3.9 million Uber drivers or the 1.4 million Lyft drivers worldwide can be a great way to earn income, and unlike working for a taxi service, you get to keep your own tips. It is one of the few jobs that can provide steady work while allowing for total flexibility of hours. Uber drivers generally transport people, meals and packages while Lyft drivers are also known for transporting medical supplies and essential items for those that can’t get them on their own. Driving for these companies is great when everything goes smoothly, but unfortunately, the more rides you take on, the more likely you are to encounter all sorts of drama. Uber and Lyft drivers are more vulnerable than private cars and must be prepared to protect themselves and their vehicles.
How does having a dash cam can help Uber & Lyft drivers?
Uber and Lyft drivers are paid to provide a service for customers who are essentially strangers, while the methods of vetting passengers before they enter the vehicle are limited. The incidents of bad passenger behavior of every kind are numerous; and accounts of passengers attacking drivers, damaging the vehicle, or engaging in rowdy or dangerous behavior are endless. Additionally, rideshare drivers sometimes transport animals or medical supplies which can be risky. Having an interior dash cam protects rideshare drivers from the burden of proof. Dash cams often also serve as a deterrence for would-be mischief. People tend to behave better when they know that they are being recorded. Furthermore, drivers with cameras always have the truth on their side. Videos don’t lie, they provide indisputable evidence of what really happened.
Another important factor to bear in mind is that all rideshare drivers must maintain clean driving records, and the more that you are on the road, the likelihood of being involved in a road incident or being dealt an unjust ticket only increases. Having video proof of events such as a stop sign being blocked or a pedestrian crossing against the light saves drivers both legal and insurance hassles. Interior and exterior dash cam recordings for rideshare drivers provide proof of fault or innocence when things go wrong.
List of 5 Best Dash Cams for Uber and Lyft Drivers
There are many cameras to choose from and selecting the best dash cam for Uber and Lyft drivers is a decision that may have important monetary or legal ramifications for both the driver and the company. We have recommended 5 top dash cams that best suit the needs of rideshare drivers.
#1 - The Nexar One
At the top of our list is the Nexar One. Recording in super crisp, 4K resolution and from three different viewpoints, exterior, interior and rear-view, the Nexar One is an especially powerful and comprehensive dash cam. It is also a connected dash cam, meaning users can livestream video from their vehicle at any point. Priced at $299, the Nexar One has a super-wide view of 140° outside and 160° inside, capturing everything that happens in and around the vehicle. The Nexar One has infrared night vision, so that footage taken when it’s dark inside the vehicle is clear. All Nexar dash cams also equip customers with unlimited cloud storage and live video via the app. The Nexar One is our #1 pick for best dash cam for Uber and Lyft drivers.
#2 - The Nexar Pro
In close competition with the Nexar One is the Nexar Pro. For $184.95 drivers get both an interior and exterior camera, so that everything inside and in front of the vehicle is recorded with high quality 1080 full HD image sensors. Just like the Nexar One, the interior camera has infrared lights, providing full night vision for drivers, an important feature for early morning and after-dusk jobs. In the case of a road incident, Nexar’s app generates instant accident reports to show police or submit to insurance.
#3 - Vantrue N4.
This high ticket dash cam is the ultimate companion for professional drivers. With three different vantage points, it really covers all the bases. 4K recording is available but only if you power down the interior and rear-view cameras. The camera is easy to set up and use with a built in screen so drivers can see what they are recording as they go.The downside is there are no GPS capabilities and no cloud storage available. That said, we do believe the three angles make it worth the higher price tag.
#4 - The Rexing V1P Pro Dual
Just missing the podium but placing for honorable mention, is the Rexing V1P Pro Dual, priced at $199. Sharing some of the same essential features as most other dash cams including built-in GPS, WiFi connect, and both front and rear cameras, the Rexing V1P pro Dual has two unique qualities that offer important value. First, the Rexing V1P Pro Dual uses a built-in supercapacitor instead of a lithium battery, making the device resistant to extreme temperatures. Second, the recordings are carefully secured by splitting them into segments and storing them in chronological order. When out of space, the memory card overwrites the oldest recordings with the new footage. Most importantly, the dashcam’s G-sensor is able to detect collision and then simultaneously locks the video, regardless of the date, ensuring that any accident footage is secured. The downside here is the app has not received stellar ratings, which leaves this camera in the fourth spot.
#5 - The Thinkware F800 Pro
A valuable feature of the Thinkware F800 is its Advanced Driver Assistance System that alerts the driver of potential forward collisions and close front lane changes. This technology protects you and your passengers by keeping you aware of the movements in front of your car. This dash cam also has distinct cloud functionality: Not only can you monitor your vehicle's location but driving impact notifications are sent directly to your phone with the Thinkware cloud mobile app. Though this is a very innovative dash cam, for such a high price, we think that the resolution should be higher than 1080P.
While all of our picks are great choices, the Nexar One dash cam stands out as the best dash cam for Uber and Lyft drivers. It’s like the missing clause on your insurance policy protecting you against false claims. Rideshare drivers can be falsely accused of discrimination or aggression only to be exonerated with clear, high definition footage from the Nexar One. Drunk passengers have been known to trash the inside of cars and have had to take responsibility when confronted by the unambiguous video provided by the dash cam’s 4K resolution and infrared night vision sensors. The dash cam has all the high-priority features that rideshare drivers need to take on customers with peace of mind.
FAQs:
Can Uber and Lyft use a dash cam legally?
Uber and Lyft drivers are legally permitted to use dash cams as long as they comply with the regulatory requirements particular to the state that they work in.
Will a dash cam lower my Uber ratings?
As more and more rideshare drivers are using dash cams, passengers are becoming accustomed to seeing a camera on the dashboard. Complaints are uncommon and it is unusual for a driver to be rated lower because he or she has one.
Conclusion
In sum, rideshare drivers have a unique opportunity to earn income from a convenient situation that provides a constant flow of customers and accommodates life’s ever changing schedule. Drivers, however, must be wary and protect themselves from the countless hazards involved. Protecting yourself with a dash cam that has thought of everything and sees everything is essential for staying clear of the pitfalls of the profession.
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Nexar Fleets
If you are a small business owner who manages multiple vehicles or if you are a fleet owner, you might also want to look into Nexar's fleet monitoring solution. Nexar Fleets provides an efficient dashboard where you can simply monitor all of your drivers and vehicles. Learn more about it here.