How we grade

What a letter means

Each camera gets three grades: evidence, parking, and night. They are not averages of customer stars. They are a reading of the spec sheet against two checks — a readable UK plate, and a camera that still records after the engine is off.

• A — named current sensor class and a parking suite that is specified in full, including radar or a real buffer, on a hardwire path the maker documents.
• B — honest mid: a named sensor or 4K, parking that exists but needs extra kits, or a dual with a weaker rear.
• C — 1080p, unnamed night vision, or parking that is a G-sensor wake unless you buy cables and, sometimes, a subscription.

Evidence

Looks at resolution, named sensor class, and whether a dual includes a useful rear. A named Sony STARVIS 2 part beats unnamed “night vision”. A 2K rear beats a 4K front with nothing behind for car-park bumps.

Night

Same sources. We do not invent a plate-read distance. An A means the sheet shows a current STARVIS 2-class front (and a serious rear on duals). A C means 1080p or no named sensor — fine to hide, weak as evidence after dark.

Parking

A means a full suite on a documented hardwire path, with radar or a real buffer called out by the maker. B means parking exists but needs kits, or the best mode is optional. C means G-sensor wake, missing hardwire, or subscription-gated alerts around the useful part.

Parking rule

If the camera needs a hardwire kit or a battery pack to keep recording after ignition off, we say so. Until that kit is fitted, parking mode does not count. Cigarette-lighter leads are for driving, not for a car park.

What we will not do

• Invent a night-plate distance we did not measure.
• Print a price that will be wrong next week.
• Show star scores we did not collect.
• Scrape Amazon for reviews or use Product Advertising API on day one.

Sources

Maker spec sheets and manuals (VIOFO, Nextbase, Thinkware, 70mai, Garmin, BlackVue). ASINs are static and were checked against amazon.co.uk listings. Check the live Amazon title and stock before you buy — listings change.

If you want the short version of how to buy, read the guide. For the five starter picks, open the Best 5.