Auto Electrical
Dash cam installation near you
Dash cam installation behind the mirror, hardwired to the fuse box with cables hidden in the trim and parking mode set to protect your battery.
- Time at the shop
- 1 h 30 min
- about
- Mobile service
- Available
- at your address
- Shops in Canada
- 1
- doing this work
- Your price
- You set it
- shops bid on it
You set the budget
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1 shop in Canada does this
Auto Electrical
What a dash cam installation is
Dash cam installation mounts a camera behind the rear-view mirror and powers it from the fuse box instead of a cable dangling to the 12 V socket. The installer tucks the wire under the headliner and down the windshield pillar, clear of the curtain airbag, taps one switched and one constant fuse, and grounds the kit to bare metal. A rear camera adds a second cable run to the back glass.
Hardwiring is what makes parking mode possible: the camera keeps watch while the vehicle sits, and the hardwire kit cuts its power at a set voltage so the engine still starts. Drivers usually book after a disputed collision, a hit-and-run in a parking lot or a break-in, and rideshare and delivery drivers often want one fitted before they start working.
- For cars, EVs, vans and trucks
- Takes about 1 h 30 min
- Can be done at your address
What does a dash cam installation cost?
It depends on your vehicle and the shop. Post a job with your budget and compare the bids shops near you send.
Get bids
Name your budget. Shops near you bid.
1 shop across Canada does dash cam installation.
What to expect
Dash cam installation, step by step
What the job normally covers, what to mention in your request, and the signs that it is time. Every shop says what its bid includes.
The job
What’s included
- Camera placed behind the mirror, inside the wiper sweep and clear of driver-assist sensors
- Cable hidden under the headliner and routed clear of the curtain airbag’s deployment path
- Hardwire kit connected with fuse taps to one switched and one constant circuit, plus a chassis ground
- Rear camera cable run to the back glass, through the rubber conduit at the liftgate on SUVs and hatchbacks
- Low-voltage cut-off set so parking mode stops before the battery gets weak
- Memory card formatted, date and time set, and both camera angles checked on screen
- Phone app paired and a quick lesson in saving and downloading a clip
Checklist
Before you post
- 01Confirm if the price is for one camera or a front and rear pair, and whether the hardwire kit comes with it
- 02Confirm fuse taps go on non-safety circuits only, never the airbag, ABS or engine computer fuses
- 03Want parking mode? Ask how the voltage cut-off will be set or whether a battery pack suits how little you drive
- 04EV and hybrid owners: ask which circuit stays live when parked, because the 12 V battery in these vehicles is small
- 05Still choosing a camera? Pick a capacitor-based model and a high-endurance memory card; both cope with heat, cold and constant recording
- 06Leasing? Ask for an install with no cut or spliced wires so it all comes out cleanly at lease end
Signs
When you need it
- You want a record of what happened after a collision or a disputed fault decision
- Your vehicle has been hit, keyed or broken into while parked
- The camera you bought still runs off a cable hanging down to the 12 V socket
- You drive for rideshare, delivery or a fleet and want every trip recorded
- Your current camera shuts off when parked or has left you with a dead battery
Sound familiar?Tell shops near you what you need and what you want to spend.
Get bidsHow it works
Get a dash cam installation done in four steps
You set the budget and choose the shop. Posting is free, and you pay the shop you hire once the work is 100% done.
- 01
Post your job
Choose the service, describe the job and your vehicle, and set your budget. It takes two minutes and costs nothing.
- 02
Shops compete
Nearby shops that do the work see your request and send their best offer: price, when they can start, what is included.
- 03
Accept the best offer
Compare bids, ratings and distance, then hire one shop. The others are told, politely.
- 04
Talk and get it done
Your conversation with the shop opens right away to agree on the day. You pay only after the job is complete.
Keep exploring
Related services
Backup camera installation
Backup camera installation: a rear camera wired to your stereo, a mirror monitor or the factory screen, so you can see behind the bumper in reverse.
Car alarm installation & repair
Car alarm installation and repair: alarms, immobilizers and trackers fitted to deter theft, and false alarms traced to a weak battery or a bad switch.
Battery replacement & testing
Car battery replacement with the battery and charging system tested first, a matching battery fitted, registered if needed and the old one recycled.
Collision & Body Work
Windshield repair & replacement
Windshield repair and replacement: stone chips and short cracks filled with resin, or a new windshield fitted, with camera calibration where needed.
Questions
Questions about dash cam installation
General answers for drivers in Canada. The shop you hire confirms the details for your vehicle.
Will a hardwired dash cam drain my car battery?
It can if it is set up badly. A proper hardwire kit watches battery voltage and switches the camera off at a cut-off you choose, commonly around 12 volts, leaving enough to start the engine. If the vehicle sits for days, only makes short winter trips, or is an EV or hybrid with a small 12 V battery, ask about a separate dash cam battery pack instead.
Is a dash cam legal in Canada?
Yes. Recording the road from your own vehicle is legal across Canada; the camera simply must not block your view, which is why installers tuck it behind the rear-view mirror. Provinces also restrict screens in the driver’s view, so set the display to switch off while you drive, and leave the phone app alone until you are parked, since using a phone at the wheel is distracted driving.
Does a dash cam lower car insurance in Canada?
Do not assume a discount; ask your insurer or broker, because policies differ. Where footage helps is in a claim. It can show who ran the light or who reversed into whom, which supports your account when fault is decided. Keep in mind that the recording also shows your own driving, including any mistakes.
Can I plug the dash cam into the OBD-II port or 12 V socket instead of hardwiring it?
You can. The 12 V socket is simplest, but the cable stays visible and most sockets switch off with the ignition, so there is no parking mode. OBD-II power cables give constant power without fuse taps, though they occupy the port a technician needs for a scan tool. Hardwiring to the fuse box is the tidy, permanent option.
How long does it take to install a front and rear dash cam?
A front camera alone takes about an hour; a front and rear pair takes 90 to 150 minutes. SUVs, hatchbacks and minivans take longer than sedans because the rear cable has to pass through the rubber conduit between the body and the liftgate. In a pickup, the rear camera usually sits inside the back glass of the cab.
Something else to ask? Once you hire a shop, you talk to it directly in your request’s conversation.
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