What should be the ideal angle of your car's dashcam?

The ideal angle for a front dashcam should capture the full width of the road ahead and a bit of your car’s surroundings to provide context during incidents. Here's how to position it effectively:

1. Angle and Positioning

Horizontal Field of View (FOV): Most dashcams have a FOV between 120°–170°. Mount the camera centered behind the rearview mirror, slightly tilted downward.

Tilt Angle: Aim the camera straight ahead with a slight downward tilt—enough to capture a small part of the bonnet (5–10% of the frame at the bottom).

This helps provide perspective and proves it’s your footage in case of legal disputes.

Too much bonnet = less road coverage.

No bonnet = lack of frame reference during incidents.

2. Why Include the Bonnet?

It confirms the dashcam is mounted in your car.

Helps estimate distance between vehicles.

Assists in judging lane position.

3. Test and Adjust

After mounting:

Record a short video.

Check if it captures both lanes clearly, traffic lights/signs, and a bit of the bonnet.

Avoid angling too high (sky-heavy) or too low (dashboard-heavy).