Reversing cameras used to be something you only got on expensive new cars. Now you can add one to almost any car, whether it's a ten year old hatchback, a family estate or a work van, and the kit costs a lot less than most people expect.
The question is which type suits your car. There are a few different routes, and the right one mostly depends on what screen you've got (or haven't got) and how much fitting you're happy to do. Here's how they compare.
Option 1: a universal wired camera
This is the most popular way to add a camera, and for good reason. A small universal camera mounts at the back of the car, usually near the number plate, and a cable carries the picture to a screen at the front.
Universal cameras fit almost any vehicle, they're inexpensive, and a wired connection gives a steady picture with no signal drop-outs. If you're happy to spend an afternoon tucking a cable under the trim, it's hard to beat.
A few things are worth looking for:
- A wide viewing angle. Around 170 degrees shows the whole width of the car and a good chunk either side.
- Good night vision. You'll do a lot of reversing in the dark over winter, and cameras with a starlight sensor give a much clearer picture in low light.
- A proper waterproof rating. IP68 means the camera is fully sealed against rain, road spray and the car wash.
- The right video format for your screen. Many cameras use AHD for a sharper picture, so check your screen supports it.
Our universal range includes a compact 170 degree camera with starlight night vision, an IP68 waterproof camera with starlight night vision and a 1080P AHD camera for an extra sharp picture.
Our step-by-step fitting guide walks you through the whole installation.
Option 2: a WiFi camera that uses your phone
No screen in the car? No problem. A WiFi backup camera sends a live picture straight to an app on your phone, so there's no video cable to run through the car at all.
The camera still needs a power supply, which normally comes from the reversing light, but that's a short wire at the back of the car rather than a cable all the way to the dashboard. That makes it one of the quickest and easiest ways to add a camera. Pop your phone in a dash mount and you're ready to go.
It's a great choice for older cars with a basic radio, for anyone who doesn't want to take the interior apart, and for people who swap between vehicles.
Option 3: a new stereo with a camera
If your car has an old stereo that's due an upgrade anyway, you can sort both at once. Our touchscreen car stereo with backup camera fits a standard single DIN slot and adds Bluetooth, FM radio and USB playback, with a screen that shows the camera picture when you reverse.
It's a tidy, all-in-one way to bring an older car up to date. You get hands-free calls and music streaming as well as the camera, all from one unit in the dashboard.
Option 4: a camera made for your model
For some popular cars, there are cameras designed to fit that model specifically, so the result looks like it came from the factory.
Boot handle cameras replace the original boot or tailgate handle with one that has a camera built in. The camera sits neatly where the handle was, with no drilling and no extra bracket on show. We have boot handle cameras for the VW Caddy, Jetta, Passat, Touareg and Transporter T5, and the Seat Alhambra.
Other model-specific cameras fit into the existing number plate area. We stock 1080p cameras with a 170 degree view for a range of older BMWs, including the 3 Series E90, 5 Series E39 and E60, X1 E84 and X5 E70. For the VW Tiguan and Seat Ibiza, we have plug-and-play cameras that need no coding.
Search for reversing cameras with your make and model to see what's available for your car. If you're not sure, send us your VIN and we'll help you find the right one.
Already have a factory screen? Use it
Lots of cars have a factory infotainment screen but no camera. In many cases, you can add an aftermarket camera and have the picture appear on the screen you already have.
The trick is an adapter cable. It plugs into the back of the factory multimedia unit and gives you a camera input, without cutting into the original wiring. We stock adapter cables for a number of Mazda models (the 2, 3, 6 and CX-5 with the 28-pin multimedia socket) and Suzuki, plus a retrofit cable for compatible BMW head units in the 1, 3, 5 and 7 Series.
Pair the right cable with one of our universal cameras and you get a factory-style result at a fraction of the price.
Want to see more than just behind you?
A rear camera covers reversing, but tight car parks, narrow driveways and high kerbs catch out the front and sides too.
Our 360 panoramic surround view camera uses four 1080P cameras, one on each side of the car, to build a bird's-eye view of everything around you. It's the same kind of view you'd find on a premium new car, and it makes parking much less stressful.
If you're building your own multi-camera setup, the panoramic video switcher box combines front, rear and side camera feeds into one panoramic view. And if you just want a front camera alongside the rear one, the front and rear camera switcher shows the front view when you start up and switches to the rear camera automatically when you select reverse.
Which one should you go for?
Have a screen with a camera input? A universal wired camera that matches its video format.
No screen at all? The WiFi camera is the quickest option, or the touchscreen stereo if you want an upgrade inside the car as well.
Want a factory look? Check whether there's a boot handle or model-specific camera for your car.
Factory screen but no camera? Look for an adapter cable for your model, then add a universal camera.
Want to see all the way round? The 360 kit.
Whichever you choose, a reversing camera is one of the most useful upgrades you can make. It takes the guesswork out of parking and shows you the low posts and small children that are hidden below the back window. Just keep using your mirrors too.
If you need any help choosing, get in touch and we'll point you in the right direction.