How to Install a Rear Camera

Connect the cable from the front dash cam and power source. If you purchased a two-channel dash camera from us, it will come with a rear camera cable.

Next to do is to connect the rear camera cable to the front camera. The wire will be routed along the headliner, past the A, B, and C pillars.

Pillars are the vertical supports on a car that are lettered from A to D – from front to rear. The frontmost pillar, for example, is the A-pillar, which frequently keeps the windshield in place. The B-pillar is positioned behind the A-pillar and divides the front and back seats. The passenger compartment behind the rear seats is referred to as the C-pillar. Lastly, D-pillars are typical in larger vehicles like trucks and vans.

For hatchbacks and SUVs, you would have to pass through A, B, and C only.

We understand that routing the wires from the front to the rear can be challenging, and messy – that’s why we suggest going through the hoses instead of allowing them to dangle inside the car.

Note: Before routing the cable, gently squeeze the hoses that link to the liftgate to see which one has more wiggle room. Some cars' tubes will have enough "wiggle room" for the wire to be run through by hand without the use of any additional tools or techniques.

On some cars, the shape of the hose and the tighter fit make running this wire by hand extremely difficult. In these cases, you can take a thin piece of wire (needs to be rigid enough to maintain its shape) and thread it through the hose first. The thinner wire should go through the hose fairly easily but also give you the leverage needed to pull the connecting cable through. You can also use coat hangers, fishing wire, and long zip-ties to pull the dash cam’s wire through as well.

Once your thin wire or fishing wire has been threaded through, get some electrical tape and attach the camera's connecting cable to the thin wire. The tape needs to cover the tip or plug of the wire entirely to protect the pins of the cable from damage.

Pull as much wire through as you need and reclip all the trim back in, hiding the wire behind it. Again, be careful with the plastic push clips and ensure they are completely lined up; they break easily but can be replaced if you make a mistake. Reattach the rubber tubing and double-check the seal. This is supposed to be WATERPROOF as it is exposed to the elements, so make sure it is plugged back up like it came in.

Note: For some cameras there are dedicated front and rear ends of the plug. For example, some models have a rear plug with a straight tip versus the front which has a right-angle tip, the straight tip is easier to pull through these hoses. Make sure you are running the correct cable end before installation.

Of course, you need to make sure that the windows are clean. We recommend you use a professional glass cleaner, and install a BlackboxMyCar Aqua Shield to keep your dash cam footage free from raindrops and other harsh environmental elements. Learn how the windshield affects your dash cam footage here.

Aside from ensuring clear vision, a clear rear windshield will also aid in making a strong adhesive bond when mounting the rear dash cam.

Now, it’s time to mount the rear dash cam. Every package comes with an adhesive mount which you can attach to the rear windshield to stick your dash cam. We recommend you attach it at the center of the rear windshield, avoiding the rear defroster grid lines.

Just make sure to mount the camera in a location where it will not move or provide enough slack for the camera to travel up and down. For best results, check the live view of your rear dash cam straight on the smartphone app to determine if the rear dash cam angle covers well enough, and isn’t obstructed by any defrosting lines. We recommend mounting to the top center of your windshield unless obstructed, in which case either side of the vehicle will do. Mounting on defroster lines is fine, as long as you are careful with removal at a later date.

Alternatively, you can also install the rear dash camera on top of the roof on the rear instead of placing it on the window. This is especially useful for rear windows that can be lifted independently, aside from your trunk hatch. However, the basic headliner fabric of your vehicle is not suitable for standard adhesives. This means you’ll need to install a platform on your headliner with suitable material for your Dash Cam adhesive to rest on. You can do so by clipping the rear dash cam on the trim near the roof. One method is, you can take a basic large binder clip, remove the metal prongs, and wedge it horizontally between your headliner and roof. Then you can fix the Dash Cam adhesive to the broad side of the binder Clip. Another more professional alternative is to use a magnetic coin mount. For more information on Magnet Mounting, check out our article here. 

Of course, after the mounting and wiring, we want to test the rear dash cam to make sure it's working properly. Turn on the car engine and check if the dash cam turns on automatically. If it doesn't turn on, check the power connections and make sure the dash cam is properly mounted.

Finally, now that the cameras are installed, it’s time to clean up the wires. You can use electrical tapes or cable clips to keep the cables bundled up in the interior of your headliner, tuck them away, and put the cover back. Ensure there are no kinks or rough corners in the cable as it’s run along its way, these could prove problematic in the long run.

And that’s how you install a rear dash camera on your vehicle with a liftgate. If you have other questions, feel free to contact our product experts and we’ll be happy to help! For more dash cam installation guides, visit our Dash Cam Installation Guide here.