Which Dash Cam Hardwire Kit Fits My Camera?

Which Dash Cam Hardwire Kit Fits My Camera?

You have got your dash cam sorted, you want it running while the car is parked, and now you are staring at a list of hardwire kits wondering which one actually fits your camera. It is one of the most common questions we get, and the good news is the answer is usually simple once you know two things: your camera's brand and the type of power port it uses. This guide walks you through picking the right dash cam hardwire kit for your exact camera, and explains the difference between hardwiring and OBD so you can choose with confidence.

No worries if the wiring side of things feels a bit daunting. By the end of this you will know exactly which kit to grab.

What does a dash cam hardwire kit actually do?

A hardwire kit is a power cable that draws power straight from your car instead of the cigarette socket. It does two jobs. First, it powers your camera without a dangling cable, so the install looks clean and factory-fitted. Second, it unlocks parking mode, which is when your dash cam keeps watching over the car after you have switched off and walked away.

Every good kit includes a low-voltage cut-off. That is a safety feature that switches the camera off before it drains your car battery too far, so you can still start the car in the morning. Some kits show you the live battery voltage on a little display, and the smarter ones let you set exactly how low the battery can go before the camera powers down. This is the part that protects your battery, so it matters.

How to work out which dash cam hardwire kit fits

Two questions sort it out almost every time.

Which brand is your dash cam? Hardwire kits are not universal. A VIOFO kit is built for VIOFO cameras, a Vantrue kit for Vantrue, and so on. Matching the brand first saves you a lot of hard yakka.

What power port does your camera use? Most newer cameras use USB-C. Some older models use Mini-USB. The plug on the kit has to match the socket on your camera, so this is the detail to check before you buy.

Pro Tip: Have a quick look at the cable that came with your dash cam. If the end that plugs into the camera is the small oval USB-C shape, you want a USB-C kit. If it is the older trapezoid Mini-USB shape, you want a Mini-USB kit. That one check clears up most compatibility worries.

VIOFO hardwire kits

VIOFO gives you a kit for almost every model. If you own an A329S or A329 series camera, the VIOFO HK6 hardwire kit is the smart pick, with Bluetooth voltage monitoring and hybrid parking mode support. For most other USB-C VIOFO cameras, including the A229 range and the A119 Mini 2, the HK5 or HK4 do the job, while the HK3-C is the match for the A139 series. Running an older Mini-USB VIOFO model such as the A119 V3? Then the Mini-USB HK3 is the one you need. Prefer to skip the fuse box entirely? VIOFO also make the plug-in OP100 OBD kit, and our OP100 OBD guide walks through the setup.

Vantrue hardwire kits

Vantrue keep it simple with USB-C across their current range. The Vantrue VP05 gives you a live voltage display and three-level battery protection, and the VP01 steps that up to five levels of low-voltage cut-off plus a timer. If you would rather plug straight into the port under your dash, the VP04 OBD cable covers you.

Wolfbox hardwire kits

Wolfbox matching comes down to your model. The WBH40 hardwire kit suits the G900 and TriPro range, and there is a plug-in OBD version for the same cameras. Got a mirror-style X3, X5 or i07? The OBD01 kit is built for those. If you get stuck between Wolfbox options, our guide to picking the right Wolfbox OBD kit lays it out clearly.

Hardwiring vs OBD: what is the difference?

This is the choice that trips people up, so let us clear it up. Both options power your camera for parking mode. They just connect to the car in different ways.

Hardwiring means wiring the kit into your fuse box. You tap into a fuse for power, connect a switched fuse so the camera knows when the ignition is on, and run an earth to bare metal. It is the tidiest, most permanent way to power a dash cam.

The good side of hardwiring:

  • The cleanest finish, with no visible cables and nothing plugged in where a passenger might knock it.
  • Works in every car, including older vehicles that do not have a usable OBD port.
  • Full control over battery protection through the kit's cut-off settings.

The trade-offs:

  • The install takes longer and means getting into the fuse box, which is a bit more involved.
  • You may need a fuse tap to match your fuse type.

OBD means plugging the kit into your car's OBD-II port, the same diagnostic socket a mechanic uses, usually tucked under the steering wheel. It is the plug-and-play route.

The good side of OBD:

  • Quick and easy. You plug it in, tuck the cable away, and you are sorted in minutes.
  • No fuse box work and nothing to wire in.
  • Easy to remove, so it moves to another car without fuss.

The trade-offs:

  • Your car needs a compatible OBD-II port, and the kit has to be matched to your camera brand.
  • The port stays occupied, though a mechanic can still unplug it when needed.
  • On some vehicles the OBD port stays live at all times, so a kit with a proper low-voltage cut-off is essential to protect the battery.

Pro Tip: If you want the neatest possible look and you keep your car for the long haul, hardwiring is the way to go. If you want a fast, no-fuss install you can move between cars, OBD is your mate. Neither one records better footage than the other, they simply power the camera in different ways.

Will hardwiring or OBD void my new car warranty?

This is the worry we hear most from people who have just picked up a new car, and it is a fair one. The short answer is no, a hardwire kit or an OBD kit should not void your new car warranty when it is installed correctly. Under Australian Consumer Law, a manufacturer cannot simply void your whole warranty because you fitted an accessory. They can only decline a claim if the accessory actually caused the specific fault, and a correctly installed dash cam draws a tiny amount of power from a switched circuit, well within what your car is built to handle.

The key words are "installed correctly". A clean install that taps the right circuit and protects the battery keeps you on the safe side. A rushed job that overloads a circuit or drains the battery flat is where trouble starts. We break this down in full, including what the law actually says, in our guide to whether a dash cam voids your car warranty in Australia. For certainty on your particular car, ask your manufacturer or dealer in writing before the work is done.

Still not sure which kit fits your camera?

If you have read this far and you are still not one hundred percent sure which dash cam hardwire kit matches your camera, do not guess. Tell us the make and model of your dash cam and we will point you to the exact kit that fits. You can reach Michael or Harrison directly through our contact page, and we will get you sorted. We would rather spend two minutes getting it right than have you order the wrong plug.

You can also browse the full range any time on our Shop All Hardwire Kits page.

Last reviewed: 19 August 2026. This page describes Australian law and consumer guarantees as we understood them at that date, and it is general information rather than legal advice. Legislation, ACCC guidance and manufacturer warranty policies change, so check the current source or get your own advice before you rely on it. We do not install cameras ourselves; the wiring notes here are guidance for whoever does the work. If a specification, a feature or a price on this page is wrong or has gone out of date, tell us and we will correct it.