How to Add a Rearview Mirror Camera to Your Car
You can get a full video view behind your vehicle with this technology.
Cadillac
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Rearview cameras are an important piece of safety gear that have been required by law as standard equipment in new automobiles since 2018. If your vehicle is older than that, you might have considered adding an aftermarket backup camera but been put off by the need to install a secondary screen on your dashboard or by the hassle of trying to wire it into your existing infotainment system.
Fortunately, there's an easier solution. Rearview mirror cameras offer a clean installation with no clutter in your line of sight. They also provide additional features that can further enhance your driving experience.
What Is a Rearview Mirror Camera?
Most rearview mirror cameras replace the standard rearview mirror in your vehicle with one that contains an LCD display. Unlike a standard backup camera where the display is activated when the transmission is shifted into reverse, a rearview mirror camera shows an image broadcast at all times by a small camera mounted at the rear of the vehicle. The screen is as large as the entire mirror.
There is another type of rearview mirror camera that actually attaches over your existing mirror, using it as a mounting point for a screen. These installations can look clunky and block some of the windshield.
How to Install a Rearview Mirror Camera
Rearview mirror cameras that replace an existing mirror either slip over the mirror mount on your windshield or come with their own mount. Clip-on mirrors cover your current mirror and snap into place. Some of these mirrors run off a rechargeable battery, while others require being hard-wired into a vehicle's 12-volt electrical system.
Wiring is also a consideration when connecting the mirror display to the camera itself. Again, some cameras use a battery, while others require their own power. There is the further wrinkle of whether the video signal is transmitted wirelessly or by a cable.
Finally, the camera mount itself offers many options, depending on the brand. Some cameras mount flush on your automobile's body to keep them out of sight. You might also discover license plate frames or brackets that incorporate the camera mount.
Other Features of Rearview Mirror Cameras
Many rearview mirror cameras also offer dash-cam capability. They can record the view ahead through the windshield, which can be useful in the event of an accident when trying to determine fault.
Other additional features offered by these cameras include Bluetooth hands-free capability, a touchscreen interface that lets you choose between multiple cameras installed on your vehicle, security options such as a "parking lot" feature that will activate the camera if motion is detected near your car or truck, and GPS tracking to help locate a stolen vehicle.
