The Best Dashcam for Parking Mode Effectiveness (Updated: October 2025)

At Dashcam Specialists, we offer the best package deals for Parking Mode effectiveness. There are two primary types of Parking Mode functions and features:

1. Event Detection Parking Mode: Motion + Impact Detection
2. (Ultra) Low-Power Impact Parking Mode: Event Detection + Low-Power Standby Impact Recording

The Low-Power Impact Parking Mode makes a lot of sense, but it comes at a cost and is not necessarily a priority feature that a daily driver needs with a budget in mind.

Summary

The following dashcams are the best for prolonged 'impact collision' recording while parked, thanks to their ability to enter a 'sleep mode' and 'wake up' when an impact occurs. While motion-detected recordings may be useful, they aren't as crucial as an impact-collision-detected recording.

• BlackVue ELITE 8 Series
• Vugera SV2 PRO
• Viofo A329S Series
• Thinkware U3000/1000 with Radar

When it comes to your beloved car and investment, it matters most what has caused the incident and best if a number plate or something that can be verified is captured in the footage. If cats and dogs were sleeping on your bonnet and caused scratches, yes, it would be nice to know what had caused it, but there isn't much action that can be taken. 

This is why we believe that a prolonged impact recording feature is necessary.

If you are a daily driver and don't require over 12 hours of Parking Mode, then any dashcam with Event Detection will work for you.

Event (Motion + Impact) Detection Parking Mode is a standard feature across any dashcam sold today

Our customers always have numerous questions related to Parking Mode. This usually comes after an unpleasant experience, such as a hit and run while parked on the streets or where CCTV footage cannot be obtained. If you are worried about a hit-and-run situation, yes! parking mode is a must!

However, many customers also ask us to set the Parking Mode 'OFF' as Parking Mode is related to battery consumption (of the vehicle's starter battery) which can leave vehicle owners stranded for hours (imagine this happens when you are about to go to work in the morning, a nightmare isn't it?) in need of a jump start by a roadside assistance provider which can cost money if not insured.

Having a One-touch Parking Mode ON/OFF switch can be very useful. 

Most customers get sold on a dashcam with Wi-Fi featuring a dedicated smartphone app. To switch Parking ON or OFF, you would need to 1) install the app, 2) connect to Wi-Fi, and 3) set up the ID/PW connection until you can find the 'Settings' to switch Parking Mode ON/OFF. It saves time and complications!

Parking Mode ON/OFF in the BlackVue APP

"I am not getting enough Parking Mode hours"

Assume your dashcam has motion detection and you are parked in front of a tree on a windy day. Your dashcam will be busy recording the dancing tree, and this will drain your battery very quickly!

As a result, many ask us, "Why did the dashcam switch off and not record while parked?". The reason for this is that every (good) dashcam has a voltage cut-off feature to protect the starter battery from draining. If the battery is near flat, the dashcam should immediately switch off to avoid the hassle of having you call roadside assistance. This is normal, unlike low-quality dashcams that drain your battery flat.

Now, the condition of your starter battery in your vehicle may not always be in the best condition, even if your vehicle is new. For example, your vehicle might have been standing on a dealer lot for months. Every starter battery is rated with a CCA (Cold Cranking Ampere). The older your battery is, the lower the CCA level will be. The more often you drain it with a dashcam while in Parking Mode, the shorter the lifespan of your starter battery will become. 

We have a starter battery analyser tool at our workshop. So feel free to ask to test out your vehicle's starter battery. We won't sell you a starter battery, though, but we can guide you to the nearest battery specialist.

Generally, basic parking mode features are 'motion detection' based, which means a steady consumption is drawn from the starter battery until the low-voltage comes active, shutting off the dashcam to protect the starter battery from draining.

However, some dashcams will draw a high level of 'dark current' even when the dashcam is switched off. We are aware of some popular brands that aren't automotive compliant (which we don't sell at our store), and these non-compliant dashcams consume as much as 10 to 35 times more dark current than the quality products we offer. Although we come across customers who buy it without knowing (usually hooked on a Black Friday deal), we still and always encourage you to stay away from these (junk) dashcams.

You get what you pay for.

When it comes to Parking Mode effectiveness, the Thinkware U3000 is the best solution to date as it records only when something like a moving object in motion is detected on RADAR, saving consumption to the maximum, but comes at a price of just under 1,300 AUD, inclusive of installation.

Let's take a look at two dashcams with Low-Power Impact Parking Mode.

The key information to note is the electrical consumption during Event Detection vs. Low-Power Standby in mA (12V) and the calculated days of standby

VUGERA SV2 PRO: 3mA vs. 360mA / 83 days standby with a 6,000mA Battery Pack

The Vugera SV2 PRO has three Parking Mode options. In Low-Power Impact Parking Mode, the dashcam will not record any motion (like your eyes closed) but will wake up to an impact and continue recording.

The Vugera SV2 PRO consumes around 3mA while in Low Power Impact Parking Mode. In Normal (Motion+Impact) Parking Mode, it consumes 360mA, which is a hundred times more. This feature will improve your dashcam's ability to stand by and record when in need of such a collision impact.

For example, a Cellink Neo 6 Slim auxiliary battery with 6,000mA will deliver 2,000 hours of standby by which is 83 days.

BLACKVUE ELITE 8 Series: 1mA vs. 420mA / 250 days standby with a 6,000mA Battery Pack

If you have a generous budget in mind, the BlackVue ELITE 8 Series is the BEST (Ultra) Low-Power Impact Parking Mode in the history of dashcam technology. 

The BlackVue ELITE 8 Series consumes under 1mA consumption on Low-Power Impact Parking Mode (420mA in Normal Parking Mode), it can stand by for weeks if not months, depending on the (car's 12V or optional auxiliary dashcam) battery capacity.

For example, a Cellink Neo 6 Slim auxiliary battery with 6,000mA will deliver 6,000 hours of standby by which is 250 days. Amazing, isn't it?

4K means higher consumption & shorter hours of recording in Event Detection Parking Mode

Remember! Any dashcam with a 2.5K or 4K resolution will draw more power than a conventional Full-HD 1080p unit. This is why we offer an external dashcam battery bundled package deal when you purchase your dashcam.

We are often asked, "How many days of recording are possible?" or "Will an external battery for a dashcam guarantee parking mode at all times?". We can guide you with an estimated value, but it all comes down to the following:

1. What state of charge is your battery in?
2. How much power does your dashcam consume in parking mode?
3. Has your external battery been charged?
4. Which parking mode fits your parked conditions?
5. What is your micro-SD card capacity?

On a tight budget?

If so, we recommend that you purchase a dashcam package with an external auxiliary battery only if,

• Your vehicle has a small starter battery, and the chances of draining are high
• You prefer not to shorten the lifespan of your vehicle starter battery
• Your vehicle starter battery is under the manufacturer's warranty
• The packaged deal is below 1,000 dollars (AUD)

If you are willing to consider a generous investment, the BlackVue ELITE 8 Series or DR970X Plus Series 2 bundled with a BlackVue B-130A auxiliary 7,500mA battery is our choice, thanks to its Cloud LTE and smartphone app connectivity benefits.

The Vugera SV2 PRO bundled with a smaller 6,000mA Cellink Neo 6 Slim battery, inclusive of a professional installation, just starts under $899 AUD. So check out this deal today!

For more information on What Dashcam Batteries we offer at Dashcam Specialists, feel free to check out more information HERE.

For all inquiries related to our posting, please feel free to contact us.

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