Dash Cam Installation Guide
Get your dash cam fitted the right way
Two paths, both covered here: have a certified auto electrician come to you, or do it yourself with our step-by-step guide. Either way we’ll help you power parking mode safely — including in EVs — and pick the right cables and battery for your car.
Professional installation — from $250
A mobile auto electrician comes to you across Melbourne metro (FineVu: Australia-wide via FineVu Australia), hardwires the camera for full parking mode, hides every cable and configures it before they leave. The safe choice for new cars, EVs and hidden installs.
Book an installDo it yourself — free
Plug-in and OBD-II installs take about 20 minutes with no tools. Our full step-by-step guide walks you through mounting, cable routing, power and parking-mode setup.
Jump to the DIY guideProfessional installation
Hardwiring taps your fuse box for a clean, permanent, fully-hidden install with proper parking mode — but modern cars pack curtain airbags into the pillars and sensitive electronics into the fuse box, so it’s a job worth doing right. We fit dash cams professionally across Melbourne metro — and FineVu cameras can be installed Australia-wide through FineVu Australia.
What’s included
- A certified auto electrician who comes to you — at home or work, across Melbourne metro
- Hardwired to the fuse box with correct constant + switched circuits
- Low-voltage cut-off set so your starter battery is always protected
- Every cable routed behind trim and headlining — nothing on show
- Parking mode enabled, sensitivity tuned and the camera tested before we leave
- Front, rear and cabin channels, plus battery packs, fitted as part of the job
- Backed by a lifetime workmanship warranty
Recommended if you’re…
- Fitting to a new, leased or company car and want zero risk to the trim or warranty
- Driving an EV or hybrid — the 12V system needs a knowledgeable hand (more below)
- After a hidden, factory-look result with no visible cables
- Running a 2- or 3-channel kit, a cabin camera or a parking battery
- Simply not comfortable working around fuses and airbags
Installation pricing
Flat, all-inclusive rates for Melbourne metro — booked online and added to your order. Add a parking battery fit for just +$80. Buying a FineVu? Installation is available Australia-wide (metro) for $250 — scan the barcode on the box to book and pay directly with FineVu Australia.
Power parking mode the right way
Your cabin and accessories run off a small 12V battery, not the main drive battery — and it isn’t built for a constant draw. Many EVs also shut it down when parked and locked, so pulling parking-mode power from it can slowly flatten it, stop the car waking, or trigger fault warnings. Some manufacturers advise against it.
The clean fix is a dedicated battery pack: it charges while you drive, then powers parking mode entirely on its own — isolated from the car’s 12V and drive batteries. Days of runtime, zero drain, warranty-friendly.
Our EV power picks
- Universal Cellink NEO 8+S — fits any dash cam, best value
- BlackVue B-130A Ultra for BlackVue cloud setups
- Thinkware iVolt Max for the longest runtime
The DIY installation guide
Plugging in the included 12V lead, or an OBD-II cable for parking mode, is a genuinely easy 20-minute job with no tools. Hardwiring is more involved — if you’re not confident around fuses and airbags, that’s the point to call in a pro. Here’s how to do a clean, factory-look fit yourself.
Watch a full setup, start to finish
These two official BlackVue Australia videos show a complete setup — unboxing, microSD card, mounting, app pairing and parking mode, then the fine-tuning. The process is much the same for every brand we sell, so they’re worth a watch whichever camera you’re fitting.
Part 1 — The basics: what’s in the box, inserting the microSD card, pairing with the app and a live parking-mode demo.
Part 2 — Fine-tuning: the advanced settings worth changing to get the best footage and parking-mode results. Or read the written setup guide.
Before you start
- Grab a fresh high-endurance microSD card — ordinary cards fail under constant recording
- Decide how you’ll power it: plug-in (driving only), OBD-II cable or hardwire (parking mode), or a battery pack
- Park somewhere shaded, turn the ignition off, and give the windscreen time to be spotless and dry
- Have the camera’s app installed on your phone so you can check the live view as you position it
Clean the windscreen
Wipe the mounting spot inside and out with glass cleaner and a microfibre cloth, then let it dry completely. Adhesive mounts only bond properly to clean, grease-free glass — this is the No.1 reason cameras fall off in summer.
Choose the mounting spot
Mount the front camera high on the windscreen, behind or beside the rear-view mirror and within the tinted band at the top where fitted. Keep the lens roughly centred, and don’t cover the car’s forward safety-sensor housing — sit the camera to the passenger side of it.
Check the angle before you commit
Hold the camera in place, open the app’s live view, and level the horizon so the shot is about 60% road / 40% sky. A quick check now saves peeling a stuck-down mount off the glass later.
Mount the front camera
Peel the red backing off the adhesive pad, press the mount firmly onto the glass and hold for 30 seconds. Leave strong adhesive to cure for a few hours before hanging cables off it if you can.
Mount the rear camera (2- and 3-channel kits)
Fit the rear camera high and centred on the rear glass, with the brand logo facing into the cabin so the footage isn’t upside-down. Then connect the front-to-rear cable to the V-IN / rear port on each unit.
Route the cables
Tuck the power cable up into the headlining, then down the A-pillar and along under the dash to your power source. Push the cable gently behind the rubber door seals and plastic trims with a trim tool or your fingers — no tools needed. Leave a little slack at each end.
Connect the power
Plug-in (driving only): push the 12V lead into your accessory socket — done. OBD-II (parking mode, no wiring): plug the matching cable into the OBD-II port under the dash and switch on parking mode. Hardwire (tidiest, permanent): connect to a constant and a switched fuse plus an earth — the advanced option, best left to a pro on modern cars.
Insert and format the memory card
Slide in your high-endurance microSD, then format it in the camera (via the app or menu) before first use. Reformat it every month or two to keep recordings healthy.
Set up parking mode and test
If you’ve wired for parking mode, enable it in the app, set a sensible impact sensitivity and (on hardwire kits) a battery cut-off voltage around 12.0V. Take a short drive, then review a clip front and rear to confirm the angle, clarity and time/GPS stamp. You’re done.
Get the parts for parking mode
Match the power option to how you park. Not sure which is right? Read our power options guide or how parking mode works.
OBD-II cables
The easiest path to parking mode — plug into the OBD-II port, no fuse-box wiring. One for every brand we stock, with battery protection built in.
Shop OBD-II cablesBattery packs
Round-the-clock parking power from their own cells — zero drain on your car battery. Essential for EVs and long-stay parking. From $299.
Shop battery packsCellink specialist batteries
Universal LiFePO4 packs that fit any dash cam — the best-value way to run parking mode with zero drain, expandable for multi-day trips.
Shop CellinkRather not touch a fuse box?
Get the tidy, hidden hardwire result without the risk. Our auto electricians fit it at your place across Melbourne metro from $250 — airbags avoided, cut-off set, parking mode configured and tested. FineVu owners can book an Australia-wide (metro) install for $250 directly with FineVu Australia — just scan the barcode on the box.
Installation FAQs
Will installing a dash cam void my car’s warranty?
Fitting an accessory doesn’t void your new-car warranty under Australian Consumer Law — a claim can only be knocked back for a fault the accessory or its installation actually caused. A professionally installed dash cam with a correctly fused connection is standard practice, including on EVs. We cover this in detail in our dash cams & new car warranty guide.
Can I hardwire a dash cam myself?
Experienced DIYers can, especially on older vehicles. But modern cars hide curtain airbags behind the pillar trim and pack sensitive electronics into the fuse box, and fuse-tap types vary between cars. For late-model vehicles, EVs, leased or company cars, professional installation from $250 is cheap insurance. Plug-in and OBD-II installs, on the other hand, are comfortably DIY.
How long does professional installation take?
A front-and-rear hardwire fit typically takes around 60–90 minutes at your home or workplace. Adding a cabin camera or a parking battery adds a little more. Your installer confirms timing when you book.
Where do you offer professional installation?
Our mobile installers cover Melbourne metro for every brand we sell. Buying a FineVu? Professional installation is available Australia-wide (metro) for $250 — once your camera arrives, scan the barcode on the box to book and pay FineVu Australia directly. Outside Melbourne with another brand, the plug-in and OBD-II options above make a tidy DIY fit straightforward.
Which OBD-II cable or battery do I need for my car?
Match the OBD-II cable to your camera brand — they aren’t interchangeable. Battery packs are more flexible: a universal Cellink pack fits any camera, or you can choose a brand-matched pack. A few EVs manage the OBD port differently, so if you’re unsure, ask our team before you buy.
Do I actually need parking mode?
Parking mode records while you’re away and catches car-park dents, hit-and-runs and theft attempts. If you park on the street, at shopping centres or in shared car parks, it’s well worth it — you’ll need an OBD-II cable, a hardwire kit or a battery pack to run it. If you only want footage while driving, the included plug-in lead is all you need.
What memory card should I use?
Always a fresh, high-endurance microSD built for continuous recording. 256GB suits 4K and dual-channel cameras; 128GB is plenty for 2K single-channel. Some brands (FineVu, for example) require their own or specific cards, so check the product page.
Ready to get protected?
Book a professional fit, or grab the cables and card you need and do it yourself this weekend. Not sure which camera or power option suits your car? We’ll help you get it right the first time.