Fair Price for Dashcam Installation

kmish on 30/04/2026 - 13:05
Last edited 30/04/2026 - 15:40

Hi team,

I'm looking to get a 3 channel dashcam with parking mode, professionally installed on my BYD Shark 6. I have a Caddy storage canopy on the shark (see photos). This makes the car quite long, and the installers will likely have to drill some holes to run cables (current gromet + heat shrink seems tight).

I have been recommended these 2:

  • viofo-a229-pro-3ch-4k-2k-1080p - installed for $949, retails for 599(amazon), with the HK4 wiring kit and 256gb sd card the retail price is $714 (235 for labour)
  • viofo-a229-plus-3ch-2k2k1080p - installed for $799, retails for 399, with the wiring kit and 256gb sd card the retail price is $513 (286 for labour)

$79 for sd card and $35 for the hardwired kit for parking mode

I am wondering if I'm getting ripped off on the install? How much would you expect to pay for this?

Automotive Dash Camera

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  • bargaino on 30/04/2026 - 16:08
    +3

    "professionally installed" = lazy tax. The easier the job, the more they charge sometimes.

  • JIMB0 on 01/05/2026 - 07:36
    +3

    DIY, it's not hard, just watch a few YouTube videos.

  • Porker on 30/04/2026 - 13:44
    +2

    It'd be nice if manufacturers simply located one of their (sometimes) many USB ports for a car at the rear view mirror panel.

    • joka on 30/04/2026 - 14:19
      +9

      Or better yet, maybe just offer a dashcam from the factory built in.

      • qtr pounder on 30/04/2026 - 21:57
        +2

        One of the best features in a Tesla. Records 6 cameras so very little chance of missing anything. View live and recordings on the mobile app too.

        • tubeidea on 01/05/2026 - 02:30
          +1

          Very useful for dishonest people in the carpark, too, side view often catches them opening the door into your car while normal front/rear cams wouldn't capture it.

      • Euphemistic on 30/04/2026 - 16:06
        +1

        This. Most cars have a reverse camera and nowadays have cameras up front. Some even have 360 cameras. Even if it cost $500 it'd be worth having a factory recorder option using the cars cameras instead of having to rely on fuse taps and cable strung around the car

      • timmof on 30/04/2026 - 16:52

        The BYD Atto2 has the software, wiring and mounting point for a dash cam, but don't install the actual dash cam here in Australia. Ordered online for under $80 and it's a 10 minute install. Average quality, only front facing, and no parking mode, but better than nothing. A bit shite they don't just put the cam in.

    • harveybunnings on 30/04/2026 - 15:34

      GWM have, at least in the Cannon.

    • geekcohen on 01/05/2026 - 06:13

      My Ford Ranger has one and it was a 2022 build. So some are doing it.

  • kingsville on 30/04/2026 - 13:15
    +1

    We paid just over $1k for a UVUE front/rear/parking dashcam installed. They did a much better job than I could have done, so it was worth it on a new vehicle

    • kmish on 30/04/2026 - 14:22

      Could i ask where you got it done from? Do you have a breakdown of the labour cost?

  • AustriaBargain on 30/04/2026 - 18:49
    +1

    Just do it yourself and tape down the cable with sticky tape.

  • orangehead911 on 01/05/2026 - 08:37
    +1

    I just paid $200 to have a 2ch A229 installed in a Mazda 3 in Melbourne 2 weeks ago.

    • kmish on 01/05/2026 - 15:43

      In which case, 235 for labour doesn't sound too bad

  • John Kimble on 02/05/2026 - 15:18
    +1

    $200 -/+ about $100

  • Wiadro on 30/04/2026 - 13:14

    If you're getting just front install id say 0.5 hr labour. If you're doing front and back id say 1-1.5 hrs labour
    i installed front and rear cameras in 45 min

    • kmish on 30/04/2026 - 14:21

      The shark's battery is under the rear seat so i'd consider an extra 10 minutes to get in there as well, but the large difference in the cost of labour is putting me off

      • yabingus on 30/04/2026 - 15:26
        +6

        They will most likely be using fuse taps to get power to the dashcam, so battery access is not necessarily needed.

        • bargaino on 30/04/2026 - 16:10
          +1

          At worst, you are going to the fuse box, not the battery!

      • Dr Phil on 01/05/2026 - 07:50
        -4

        Every car is different, so different labor and cost.

        If you aren't sure just get another quote.

        But if you disagree with the price, what are you going to do about it…argue with them?
        They might tell you where to go.
        let me assure you that installers are not out to rip you off.
        They just want to be paid for the work they do. Dont you?
        A fair days work for a fair days pay…right?

        Alternatively do the job yourself.

        So Im not sure where you are going to get here on OB other than confuson.

  • MS Paint on 30/04/2026 - 14:38

    @DashCam AKA Rolts - how much?

    MS Paint on 30/04/2026 - 14:38 (Collapsed - Offtopic. Show)
  • 87percent on 30/04/2026 - 15:37

    If you’re in Melbourne, the guy I used I would recommend. He’s based in the North, but drove to me in South East

    • kmish on 30/04/2026 - 15:40
      +1

      I'm in south west mate, could you message me his details and i can see what he can do for me

  • Nippa on 02/05/2026 - 03:14

    I recently spoke to an pro electrican who recommended dashcams that run off the ODB2

    I have purchased this

    Gator Dash Cam Hard Wire Kit OBD2
    Detailshttps://www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/gator-gator-dash-cam-hard-wire-kit-obd2/711922.html
    $34.99

    And
    https://autobarn.com.au/ab/Autobarn-Category/In-Car-Tech/Das…

    I think they are great value and these places offer have 20 or 30 % off.

    I did not have a good experience with cheap

    I found an Airtasker who was a young guy who had just started a business. He had done his apprenticeship at a ford drealership.that closed

    It was a terrible experience. He spliced cables and fuse stackers etc. He had to come back several times. 1st it was never connected to power when the battery went flat it stoped working. He had to come back a second time after a wire came loose and then got snagged by my foot. I found that the one of the was not soldered. I asked him why it was not soldered. He said he just missed it.
    It was Just twisted together. Later and could unrelated but auto roof stopped working. The trailer fuse light ll had blown. The car was under warranty and the dealer pushed back on covering these faults related to the fuse box.
    He had all the gear Ie portable soldering iron etc. I treated him very well, drinks, power and setup a des and chair near car.
    He can back 3 time to fix issues with the quality of the install not the dashcam

    About 1 year has and I had forgot about all of this as my daughter drives it.
    A guys was doing a test drive and he gets back said the dashcam does not work. The gift that keeps on giving.

    He even asked me if a potetin customer could call me regarding a recommendation. I told him that would be a very bad idea.

    TLDR
    Don’t let any of them near the fuse box, especially on Miocene EVs hybrids and Phevs.

    I will be isnalling it also myself with the odb2 kit.

    • JIMB0 on 02/05/2026 - 09:31

      ADAATHS

  • Ramrunner on 08/05/2026 - 14:46

    In WA I paid $600 to have 4 x BlackVue 770X 2 Channel installed in 3 hatchbacks and a GLC250 Mercedes SUV. So 4 installations.

    • orangehead911 on 09/05/2026 - 10:13

      That's cheap! Paid $450 for head unit and 2ch dashcam installation in a Mazda 3.

  • boomramada on 30/04/2026 - 13:39
    -1

    If you want to get it done professionally, I would spend more money on the cam, something which is better than VIOFO.

    • Ryanek on 30/04/2026 - 14:31
      +2

      Viofo is great and I would argue, all that you need.

    • tubeidea on 01/05/2026 - 02:28
      +1

      A few years ago, Viofo was top of the range, at least in terms of actual camera quality, Blackvue and Thinkware were just charging heaps because they could, they were still using the same camera sensors as Viofo. I think Linus did a video on it and it turns out all the good dashcams were using the same sensor.

      I haven't looked into it since then, because I've got an A129+ which is still working, but you can't go wrong with Viofo.

    • kmish on 30/04/2026 - 14:20

      Any specific brands you recommend?
      My issue is i'm finding it difficult to find installers in my area, especially ones that offer a fuse tap installation that, does not void a new car warranty

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