Engadget Explains the Difference Between Backup Cameras and Rearview Cameras

A backup camera is mounted on the rear of a vehicle and sends a live video feed to the dashboard showing what is directly behind. It activates only when the vehicle is shifted into reverse. The camera is intended for maneuvering into tight parking spaces and preventing accidents, including backing into poles and other obstacles or tragic incidents involving pets or children. The display often includes guidance lines and sensors that beep when the vehicle gets too close to a potential obstacle. Backup cameras typically use a wide-angle lens with a 150- or 180-degree view of immediate surroundings.

New vehicles have not always included backup cameras. Engadget reports that models from 2018 or later are required to have one in the United States. In May 2018, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued a federal mandate after years of advocacy around back-over accidents involving children and the elderly. The European Union passed a similar law that took effect in 2022. The requirements apply only to backup cameras.

Rearview cameras differ in both function and availability. They are not automatically included in new vehicles. Instead of activating only for backing up, they provide a continuous feed at all times of the traffic behind the car. Unlike backup cameras, rearview cameras typically use a narrower lens that replicates standard vision rather than a fisheye lens for wider visibility. These cameras are included in some models automatically, but they can also be purchased and installed manually.

Backup cameras are useful for any driver who reverses a car, parallel parks, or backs out of a tight spot, and the technology has been proven to save lives, according to Engadget. For vehicles produced before 2018 that do not have a built-in backup camera, drivers can have one installed or buy an add-on wireless camera for prices ranging from $40 to more than $400. Monitors for these add-on cameras can be clipped to a rearview mirror, and old tablet devices can be reused for the purpose.

Dedicated rearview cameras are especially useful for large vehicles such as RVs or for drivers who often haul cargo or trailers that block a standard rearview mirror. They can also be purchased and installed wirelessly in a car. If a car already lacks a backup camera, a rear dash cam can be used as a backup camera. While it may not have the guidelines or sensors included in pre-installed backup cameras, the rear dash cam offers a view of the vehicle backing up for safer driving overall, Engadget reports.