The fuse index
Which fuse to use for a dash cam hardwire kit, by model
A dash cam hardwire kit taps a fuse that stays live with the ignition off if you want parking mode, or any switched fuse if you do not need the camera running while the car is parked. Sources disagree on the amperage: generic guides list figures anywhere from 5A to 30A depending on the circuit, while the kit's own inline fuse is commonly rated at just 2A regardless of which slot you tap.
Below is every per-model fuse position we could actually source and date, not a generic diagram. It is a short list, because the honest public record is short. Last reviewed 9 July 2026.
Every fuse position we could source, by model
3 of 4 models confirmed. The rest show you exactly what is missing, and why.
| Make / Model | Fuse slot | Amperage | Live with ignition off? | Confidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vauxhall Corsa E | Fuse 38 | Not stated | No | Forum sourced | Vauxhall Owners Network forum |
| Volkswagen Golf | Accessory fuse | 10A | Yes | Forum sourced | VW owners forum |
| Skoda Kamiq | Fuse 43 | Not stated | Not stated | Forum sourced | Skoda owners forum |
| Vauxhall Astra | Not identified | Not stated | Not stated | Nothing found | Vauxhall Astra owners forum, thread titled "Fuse Diagram to Fit a Dash Cam: there isn't one" |
Vauxhall Corsa E. The cigarette lighter circuit. Switched, so it dies with the ignition. No good for parking mode on its own.
Volkswagen Golf. Reported as staying live with the car off, which is what parking mode needs. Slot number varies by year and trim.
Vauxhall Astra. Owners report no standard diagram exists for this model. If yours is an Astra, the honest answer is to have an auto electrician identify the circuit.
Why this table is short
No UK resource lists per-model dash cam fuse positions in one place. Every generic guide we checked punts the question back to you. Parkers' guide, dated June 2025, says only that your car's manual includes a diagram of the fuse box. Real fuse positions live scattered across owner-club forums, in inconsistent formats, usually buried inside threads about something else entirely. The table above is everything we could confirm and cite. We will add models as we source them.
Get the wrong fuse and you can disable a safety system
This is not a hypothetical. It has already happened, and it is documented.
One case wired a dash cam into the airbag circuit instead of the cigarette lighter circuit. The cost of putting that right is below, sourced to PistonHeads and dated 19 July 2020.
None of the models above are owner-manual confirmed: they are forum-sourced, or the record is absent entirely. Use an auto electrician rather than guess from a forum post written for a different model or year, if you cannot identify which circuit is live, switched, and safety-critical on your car.
Questions
Which fuse should I use for a dash cam hardwire kit?
It depends on your car and on whether you want parking mode. You need a fuse that stays live with the ignition off for parking mode, or any switched fuse if you only want recording while you drive. We have sourced confirmed positions for three models below. For any other car, check the owner manual first, then search the owner-club forum for that model.
What amperage fuse does a dash cam need?
Sources disagree. Generic guides quote figures anywhere from 5A to 30A depending on the circuit tapped, and the hardwire kit itself usually ships with its own inline fuse rated at 2A, which is the fuse actually protecting the dash cam regardless of the vehicle circuit rating.
Which fuse stays live with the ignition off?
It varies by car. On the models confirmed below, owners report the accessory fuse on a Volkswagen Golf stays live, which is what parking mode needs. The Vauxhall Corsa E cigarette lighter fuse, fuse 38, is switched and dies with the ignition, so it will not run parking mode on its own.
Which fuse should I use on a Vauxhall Astra?
We could not find one. An Astra owners forum thread confirms no standard fuse diagram exists for fitting a dash cam on this model. If you drive an Astra, the honest answer is to have an auto electrician identify the correct circuit rather than guess from a forum post written for a different model.
Can tapping the wrong fuse damage my car?
Yes. It has been documented: a dash cam wired into an airbag circuit instead of the cigarette lighter circuit, which disabled a safety system rather than just the camera. See the cost of putting that right further up this page.
Why does this table only cover a few models?
Because no UK resource lists per-model fuse positions in one place. Generic guides simply say to check the owner manual. Genuine fuse positions live scattered across owner-club forums in inconsistent formats. We publish only what we can source and date, and will add models as we confirm them.
Last reviewed 9 July 2026