How to Install a Dash Cam: Plug-In and Hardwire Methods Step by Step

To install a dash cam, mount the camera high on the windshield behind the rearview mirror, tuck the power cable into the headliner and down the passenger-side trim, and plug it into the 12V socket. That’s the simple method, and most people can do it in under an hour. If you want parking mode, you’ll hardwire the camera to your fuse box with a hardwire kit instead, which takes longer and involves working with your car’s electrical system.

This guide covers both methods, plus how to add a rear camera.

Choose Your Installation Method

Method	Difficulty	Parking mode?	Notes
12V socket (plug-in)	Easy	Usually no	Camera turns off with the car on most vehicles
Hardwire kit to fuse box	Moderate	Yes	Uses fuse taps; most kits include low-voltage cutoff
OBD power cable	Easy to moderate	Yes, on many	Plugs into the diagnostic port; check compatibility

If you’re not comfortable working around your fuse box or airbags, a professional installer or car audio shop can hardwire a dash cam for you.

What You’ll Need

• The dash cam, mount, and power cable
• A plastic trim removal tool (to avoid scratching trim)
• Cable clips or adhesive cable holders
• A microfiber cloth and glass cleaner
• For hardwiring: a hardwire kit, the correct fuse taps for your car, a circuit tester, and pliers

Before You Start

• Pick the mounting spot. High on the windshield behind or beside the rearview mirror, inside the wiper sweep, and clear of any safety sensors. See our guide on where to mount a dash cam.
• Check your state’s rules. California, for example, limits video event recorders to specific small zones of the windshield under Vehicle Code section 26708.
• Test first. Power the camera and check the live view before you stick anything down.

Method 1: Plug-In Installation (12V Socket)

1. Clean the glass where the mount will go, and let it dry.
2. Attach the mount to the windshield at the chosen spot. Press firmly for several seconds.
3. Attach the camera and plug in the power cable.
4. Tuck the cable into the headliner. Push it into the gap between the headliner and the windshield, working toward the passenger side.
5. Route it down the A-pillar. Many A-pillars contain curtain airbags. Keep the cable behind the airbag rather than across its path, tucking it under the door weatherstrip where possible. Follow your camera maker’s instructions.
6. Run it along the side of the dashboard and under the glovebox to the 12V socket. Use clips to keep it away from the pedals and passenger’s feet.
7. Plug in and test. Start the car and confirm the camera powers on and records.
8. Adjust the angle so the view is roughly two-thirds road and one-third sky.

Method 2: Hardwire Installation (for Parking Mode)

A hardwire kit connects the camera to your car’s fuse box. Most kits have two power wires and a ground:

• Constant (battery) wire: always powered, for parking mode.
• ACC (accessory) wire: only powered when the car is on, which tells the camera when you’ve started driving.
• Ground wire: attaches to a bare metal bolt on the car’s chassis.

Steps:

1. Find the fuse box using your owner’s manual. It’s often under the dashboard or behind a panel near the driver’s footwell.
2. Identify suitable fuses with a circuit tester: one that’s always live (constant) and one that’s only live with the ignition on (ACC). Avoid safety-critical circuits such as airbags.
3. Use fuse taps (add-a-circuit adapters) that match your car’s fuse type, rather than wrapping wires around fuses. Insert the taps and the correct fuses following the kit instructions.
4. Connect the ground to an unpainted metal bolt.
5. Route the cable from the camera along the headliner and A-pillar to the fuse box, as in Method 1.
6. Set the low-voltage cutoff on the hardwire kit, if it has one, so the camera stops drawing power before the car battery gets too low.
7. Test with the car on and off to confirm normal and parking modes work.

If anything about your fuse box is unclear, stop and consult a professional. Incorrect wiring can blow fuses or affect other electrical systems.

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Check that any hardwire kit is compatible with your specific camera’s connector and power requirements.

Installing a Rear Camera

1. Mount the rear camera at the top center of the rear window, inside the wiper sweep if you have one.
2. Run the cable along the headliner from the front camera to the back of the car.
3. For sedans: route it down the C-pillar trim and along to the rear window.
4. For SUVs and hatchbacks: route it through the rubber boot (grommet) that carries wires to the tailgate, leaving slack so the tailgate can open and close.
5. Connect it to the front camera and check the rear view in the app or on the screen.

After Installation

• Format the memory card in the camera if the manufacturer recommends it.
• Set the date and time so footage is properly stamped.
• Adjust G-sensor sensitivity so potholes don’t fill the card with locked clips.
• Connect the app on Wi-Fi models to confirm downloads work.

For product recommendations, see our list of the best wireless dash cams front and rear.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Takeaway

Most drivers can install a dash cam with the plug-in method in under an hour: mount it behind the mirror, hide the cable in the headliner and trim, and plug it in. Hardwire it only if you want parking mode, and get professional help if you’re unsure about the fuse box.