If IR cameras are better at capturing in total darkness, can I use them instead of standard rear cameras?Updated 12 days ago

You could, but we would not recommend doing so in most cases. IR cameras are fitted with infrared LEDs, whose job is to illuminate the camera’s field of view with infrared light. If the IR camera is mounted up against the rear window (pointing through the glass to capture outside of the vehicle), the infrared light is instantly reflected off the glass, resulting in a reflection or glare that will blind the camera. This will cause your videos to be overexposed or washed out.

The only exception is if the IR camera is mounted on the exterior, such as the Thinkware Exterior Infrared Camera. However, these units tend to be bulky as they're geared towards larger commercial vehicles like box trucks, cargo vans, semi trucks, as well as RVs, rather than light vehicles like cars, minivans, SUVs, and pickup trucks. Additionally, they are also significantly more difficult to install, requiring more wiring work and oftentimes drilling.

Learn more about IR dash cams on our blog: IR Dash Cams: Explained and Compared

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