Why this spot keeps the view clear
You’re cruising down the highway and catch the dash cam sitting right in your peripheral vision — annoying, distracting, and maybe even blocking a pedestrian stepping off the curb. So do what owners suggest: mount the camera behind your rearview mirror on the passenger side. From the driver’s seat the body disappears behind the mirror, the lens stays centered on the road, and you skip the distraction people talk about when the unit sits on the driver’s side. Skip that and you risk a blocked view, a ticket for obstruction, or footage that misses the action because the camera was aimed at your A-pillar instead of the lane ahead.
The passenger-side spot keeps the camera out of your line of sight while still giving a centered, clean view of the road.
How to position the camera itself
You’ll end up with a centered, unobstructed view that captures the road ahead without blocking your sight. To get a perfect view without any blind spots, follow these steps for positioning:
- Find the housing: Locate the black plastic housing behind your rearview mirror.
- Move to the passenger side: Position the camera immediately to the right (the passenger side) of that housing.
- Mind the gap: Set the lens about 1 inch (30mm) below the bottom edge of the housing. This prevents the housing itself from blocking the camera’s wide-angle view.
- Center the lens: Make sure the lens is aligned with the middle of the mirror so it captures the road centered in the frame.
Fit checks for your own car
Before you peel off the adhesive and commit to a permanent install, you should always do a quick test mount — just hold the camera up to the windshield to check the spot. This lets you confirm your specific car works with the chosen location before you stick it down for good.
Hold the camera up to the windshield and line the lens up with the center of your rearview mirror. This helps you confirm that the location won’t interfere with your sensors or your view of the road. Most importantly, look through the camera or check its placement to ensure it can actually see the road ahead clearly before you stick it down for good.
Rules for rear and cabin cameras
If you are using more than one camera, you should follow similar rules for the rest of the vehicle.
For a rear-facing camera, the optimal spot is at the top center of the rear window. Using this high, centered position ensures you get the best coverage of what is happening behind you.
If you have an add-on cabin camera, you must ensure it does not obstruct your view while driving. Just like the front camera, keep it placed where it won’t be a distraction to you or blocked by the main mirror.
Placement mistakes to avoid
Avoid these common errors to keep your driving safe and your footage high-quality:
- Don’t mount on the driver side: This is often distracting and less discrete.
- Don’t block the wide-angle view: If the lens is too close to the mirror housing, the housing might cut off the edges of your video.
- Don’t obstruct the driver: Always double-check that your cabin or front camera isn’t sitting in a spot that forces you to look around it.
FAQ
Does mounting behind the mirror make the camera invisible? Yes, mounting right behind the rearview mirror keeps the camera effectively invisible from the driver’s seat. The body of the camera disappears behind the mirror while the lens stays centered.
How do I avoid interfering with my car’s sensors? Line up the camera lens with the middle of your rearview mirror. This is a standard way to ensure you stay away from the vehicle’s internal sensors and your own line of sight.
What is the best way to avoid blocking the camera’s view? Place the camera on the passenger side of the mirror housing with the lens positioned about 1 inch below the bottom edge of that housing. This ensures the wide-angle footage isn’t blocked by the plastic housing.
How can I be sure the spot I chose works? Before finalizing the install, place the camera in the windshield area and confirm it does not interfere with your driving. Check to see that the camera has a clear, unobstructed view of the road ahead.