Parking Mode Explained

Dashcams are designed to record your drive, but did you know BlackVue dashboard cameras can also monitor your car when you are away?

It is a very useful feature to have if you are worried about hit-and-runs or vandalism on your parked vehicle. All BlackVue dashcams feature Parking Mode monitoring.

Here we share a few things to know about Parking Mode.

When does the dashcam switch to Parking Mode?

BlackVue Parking Mode activates after the dashcam’s accelerometer detects that the vehicle is stationary for five minutes.

How does the dashcam record in Parking Mode?

In Parking Mode, your BlackVue is active all the time but does not write to the memory card, unless:

  • Movement is detected by the front or rear camera (sensitivity can be adjusted or turned off). In this case, it creates a one-minute Parking video recording that starts a few seconds before the trigger*.
  • An impact or vibration is picked up by the dashcam’s accelerometer (sensitivity can be adjusted). In this case, it creates a one-minute Event video recording that starts a few seconds before the trigger*.

*The BlackVue constantly keeps the last few seconds of video in its buffer memory so as to catch the actions that led to the trigger.

What are the advantages of Parking Mode over Normal Mode?

In Parking Mode, because it only records when something happens, your BlackVue minimizes the risks of overwriting important footage during long Parking Mode sessions.
It also reduces the stress on the microSD card, which helps extend the memory card’s lifespan.
Additionally, the GPS module is turned off during Parking Mode, which reduces power consumption.

I have a dual-channel dashcam. Does Parking Mode work for both cameras?

The Parking videos can be triggered by motion detected by either the front or the rear (or interior) camera.
The Event videos are triggered by vibrations detected by the accelerometer located in the front camera.
In either case, the dashcam will save videos recorded by both the front and rear cameras.

Can I deactivate Parking Mode?

Yes, Parking Mode can be deactivated in your camera’s settings.
In this case, the dashcam will continue recording in Normal Mode as long as it is powered, even if the vehicle is stationary for more than five minutes.

What do I need to use Parking Mode?

By default, BlackVue dashcams come with a male cigar lighter power adapter to plug in your vehicle’s cigar socket.
On the majority of vehicles, this cigar lighter socket is not powered unless ignition is on.
For this reason, Parking Mode usually requires to hardwire the dashcam to the vehicle’s battery or to use a dedicated battery pack.

BlackVue provides two options:

  • Power Magic Battery Pack
  • Power Magic Pro (Hardwiring Kit)