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Dash Cam Basics product guide

Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3 (010-02899-00)

Drivers wanting a very small 1080p camera run from a phone app

Garmin's ultra-compact 1080p camera with a 140-degree view and polarizer, set up and viewed in the Garmin Drive app. Buy a Class 10 card up to 512GB separately, add a constant-power accessory for parking recording, and expect a paid Vault plan for remote viewing, cloud storage and parking alerts.

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Published specifications

  • Garmin page: 1080p, 140° field of view, built-in polarizer
  • Listing: part 010-02899-00; adhesive mount, power cable and adapter
  • Manual: microSDHC/SDXC 8-512GB, Class 10+; listing: none in box
  • Manual: operating -4°F to 140°F; 2.4GHz radio
  • Manual: parking needs Constant Power Cable or parking mode cable
  • Manual: remote Wi-Fi and Vault features need paid subscription

Fit and limits

Strengths

  • Very small, with voice commands to save clips
  • Detailed Garmin owner's manual for the exact model
  • Can join a multi-camera network for picture-in-picture videos

Caveats

  • Remote viewing, cloud storage and parking alerts need a paid Vault plan
  • No memory card included
  • Parking recording needs a separately sold constant-power accessory

An ultra-compact 1080p camera with no power button

The listing's part number, 010-02899-00, is the one Garmin shows for the Dash Cam Mini 3 edition on its product page, which describes it as a 1080p ultra-compact camera with a 140-degree field of view and a built-in polarizer. The box list is the camera, a low-profile adhesive mount, a vehicle power cable, a dual-USB power adapter and documentation.

Garmin's manual says the camera has no power button: it turns on and starts recording when it receives power and turns off when power stops. You view footage, change settings and save clips through the Garmin Drive phone app, which pairs within about three metres of the camera.

You need to buy a memory card

No card appears in the listing's box list, and the manual says you must install a compatible card to record. Garmin's specification is microSDHC or microSDXC from 8 to 512GB, Class 10 or faster, formatted FAT32; a brand-new card must be formatted, which you do by holding the camera's button for eight seconds.

The manual asks you to disconnect power and wait for the LEDs to go out before removing the card, and to format at least once every six months. A new card must be formatted before use, so budget a few minutes for that on first install.

Several app features need a paid Vault subscription

The manual and listing both say remote Wi-Fi features and Vault features require a paid subscription. That covers automatic upload of incident videos to Garmin's online Vault, secure sharing links, and remote Live View over a Wi-Fi network. Without a subscription, the listing says you can view and download files only when you are near the camera.

Parking Guard notifications to your phone also need Vault, an active Wi-Fi connection and constant power, per the listing. Voice control works without a subscription: say OK, Garmin, then Save Video, Record Audio or Stop Audio. The listing names English, German, French, Spanish, Italian and Swedish as supported languages.

Parking recording needs constant power

Garmin's manual says that before the camera can record while parked, it must be connected to an always-on 12V supply, either Garmin's Constant Power Cable for the OBD II port or the hardwired parking mode cable accessory. Neither is in the box. The manual strongly recommends an experienced installer for the parking mode cable.

For the Constant Power Cable, the manual gives a time switch of 10 minutes, 24 hours or always on, 12V low-battery protection and an operating range of -4°F to 113°F. It warns to stop using OBD II power if engine performance changes and to check whether it affects your vehicle warranty.

Power it from the included adapter, not a car USB port

The manual says to use the included vehicle power adapter rather than a vehicle USB port, which may not supply enough power, and warns that a data-capable cable can put the camera into USB mass storage mode, where it cannot record. If your 12V socket stays live with the engine off, the manual suggests unplugging the camera when parked.

The camera's operating temperature is -20°C to 60°C, or -4°F to 140°F, and its wireless radio is listed at 2.4GHz. Garmin's troubleshooting page says the camera can feel warm or hot in full sun and that the device itself can exceed the maximum ambient figure while remaining safe for use.

Recording, saving and warranty details

By default the camera saves footage before, during and after a detected incident, and you can save manually by pressing the button or by voice. Unsaved video can be kept until the card is full or deleted after three minutes and at every power-off. Viewing clips in the app pauses recording and alerts.

Several Garmin dash cameras can be paired in one app to make picture-in-picture videos, and the manual says location can be added to all cameras' clips when a GPS-connected camera is in the network. The listing's warranty field says one year limited; check the Important Safety and Product Information guide in the box for Garmin's full terms.

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Primary sources

  1. Garmin product page for Dash Cam Mini 3 (part 010-02899-00)
  2. Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3 Owner's Manual (PDF)

Primary sources checked .

Compare with

Side-by-side pages, this model next to: Garmin Dash Cam X310 (010-02860-00), Garmin Dash Cam X210 (010-02859-00).

Keep comparing

Use the Dash Cam Basics product index to compare other models, or read the full buying guide for category-level advice.