How to Choose the Best Parking Mode on a BlackVue Dashcam

When your vehicle is parked, choosing the right parking mode on your dashcam ensures you don’t miss a critical moment—whether it’s a hit-and-run or suspicious movement nearby. BlackVue offers two powerful Parking Mode options: Time Lapse and Motion & Impact Detection. Here's how each works, and how to decide which best fits your needs.

Time Lapse Mode:
Time Lapse mode records continuously while your car is parked, but efficiently. It captures video at 1 frame per second (1FPS), compressing 30 minutes of real-time into a 1-minute clip (played at 30FPS). This mode allows for extended recording time—up to approximately 110 hours on a 64GB microSD card for a dual-channel model at the highest (Extreme) quality setting, compared to just 3 hours and 40 minutes in Motion Detection mode.
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Why it's useful:
• Saves significant storage space.
• Enables long recording durations.
• Automatically switches to full-frame Event recording when impact is detected—complete with up to 10 seconds of pre-event footage.

It’s ideal for busy areas where constant activity may otherwise fill up your storage quickly.

Note: You can view Time Lapse videos at a slower speed using the BlackVue Windows Viewer.

​Motion Detection: ​
​This mode often referred to as Motion and Impact Detection, detects movement around your parked car and triggers recording. Impact detection captures sudden hits, while motion detection is helpful for catching mischief or light bumps that may not activate the G-sensor.
Unlike Time Lapse, this mode records audio—providing valuable context in case of disputes or damage claims.

Comparison Table:

Parking Mode	Time Lapse	Motion Detection
Recording Frame Rate	1fps	Up to 30fps
1-minute Compressed Footage	= 30 minutes footage	None
Impact Detection (Event File)	Yes	Yes
Buffered Event Recording	Up to 10 seconds	Up to 10 seconds
Audio Recording	Only upon impact	Yes

​​💡Which Mode Should You Use?

Here are a few practical tips to help you choose:

• Using a small-capacity microSD card (below 128GB)?
  👉 Time Lapse is your best bet—it conserves space efficiently.
• Using a high-capacity card (128GB and above)?
  👉 You have the flexibility to choose either mode.
• Need audio during Parking Mode?
  👉 Choose Motion & Impact Detection. Time Lapse clips don’t include audio, though Event files do.
• Parking in a quiet location with minimal activity?
  👉 Motion & Impact Detection helps avoid unnecessary recordings.
• Parking in high-traffic areas or public streets?
  👉 Time Lapse ensures constant coverage, ideal for environments with frequent motion.
• Want a visual timeline of everything that happened while parked?
  👉 Time Lapse gives you a quick and efficient overview.
• Only interested in capturing real impact events?
  👉 Use Motion & Impact Detection and disable motion via:
  Firmware > Sensitivity > Motion detection (Parking Mode)

Need more recording time?
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All current BlackVue Dashcams support up to 512GB microSD cards, providing ample storage for extended Parking Mode use.
🎯 To learn more about the recording time specific to your dashcam model, [Click here]. 
🎯 Looking for compatible microSD cards? [Shop here].