Does Tesla Have a Dash Cam?

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

If you’re a Tesla owner, you may be wondering if your car comes equipped with a dash cam. The good news is that Tesla vehicles do have built-in cameras, but whether or not they function as a dash cam depends on the specific model and software version.

Tesla’s built-in cameras are part of the Autopilot system, which uses them for various safety features such as lane departure warnings and automatic emergency braking. However, some Tesla models also have a feature called “TeslaCam,” which turns the cameras into a dash cam for recording video footage while driving. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at which Tesla models have TeslaCam and how to use it.

Tesla’s Dash Cam Feature

If you are a Tesla owner, you may be wondering if your car comes equipped with a dash cam. The good news is that Tesla does have a built-in dash cam feature, which can be quite useful in the event of an accident or other incident on the road.

Functionality

Tesla’s dash cam feature uses the car’s built-in cameras to record video footage while you are driving. The footage is stored on a USB drive that you can plug into the car’s front console. This allows you to easily access the footage if you need it later.

One of the most useful aspects of Tesla’s dash cam feature is that it can record footage from multiple angles. The car has cameras mounted on the front, back, and sides, which means that you can capture a complete picture of what is happening around you on the road.

Availability

Tesla’s dash cam feature is available on all Model S, Model X, and Model 3 vehicles that were built after August 2017. If you have an older Tesla model, you may not have access to this feature.

To access the dash cam feature, you will need to make sure that your car’s software is up to date. You can check for updates in the car’s settings menu. Once your car is updated, you can enable the dash cam feature by plugging in a USB drive and selecting the “Dashcam” option in the car’s settings.

Overall, Tesla’s dash cam feature is a useful tool for any Tesla owner. It provides an extra level of security and peace of mind while you are on the road.

Accessing and Using Tesla Dash Cam

If you own a Tesla vehicle, you have access to a built-in dash cam that can record footage from the front, rear, and side cameras of your car. In this section, we’ll walk you through the process of accessing and using the Tesla dash cam.

Step-by-Step Guide

To access the Tesla dash cam, you’ll need to follow these steps:

1. Insert a USB drive into one of the USB ports in your Tesla vehicle.
2. On the main screen, tap on the camera icon located at the top of the screen.
3. A menu will appear, allowing you to select which camera you want to view or record from.
4. To begin recording, simply tap on the red record button.
5. To stop recording, tap the red record button again.

It’s important to note that the Tesla dash cam only records when the car is in drive or park mode. Additionally, the dash cam will automatically stop recording once the USB drive is full.

File Storage and Retrieval

Once you’ve recorded footage with the Tesla dash cam, you can retrieve the files by following these steps:

1. Remove the USB drive from your Tesla vehicle.
2. Insert the USB drive into your computer.
3. Open the USB drive folder and navigate to the “TeslaCam” folder.
4. Inside the “TeslaCam” folder, you’ll find subfolders for each camera (front, rear, and side).
5. The recorded footage will be saved in these subfolders as individual video files.

It’s important to note that the Tesla dash cam files are saved in a specific format (.mp4) and cannot be played on all media players. However, there are a variety of third-party software options available that can convert the files to a more widely compatible format.

In conclusion, the Tesla dash cam is a useful tool for recording footage while driving or parked. By following the step-by-step guide and understanding how to retrieve the files, you can take full advantage of this feature in your Tesla vehicle.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Tesla vehicles do have dash cams installed in them. These cameras are capable of recording footage from the front, rear, and sides of the car. The footage is stored on a USB drive that can be easily accessed by the owner.

The dash cam feature is a valuable asset for Tesla owners, as it provides an extra layer of security and protection. In the event of an accident or incident, the footage captured by the dash cam can be used as evidence to support insurance claims or legal proceedings.

It is important to note that the dash cam feature is not enabled by default and must be manually activated in the vehicle’s settings. Additionally, Tesla owners have the option to purchase an additional camera for the interior of the car, which can be useful for monitoring passengers or capturing footage of break-ins.

Overall, the dash cam feature in Tesla vehicles is a useful and practical addition that provides peace of mind for owners. With the ability to capture high-quality footage from multiple angles, Tesla owners can feel confident knowing that they have an extra layer of security while on the road.