I know Halfords doesn't have a stellar reputation on here but I wondered how much trust people would give them for installing (hard wiring) front & rear dash cam?

My Octavia has lane assist so I'm aware that consideration has to be made for this so as to avoid interference and that rear camera wiring would need to be routed through headlining.

I'm assuming they know what they're doing...?

Ps

They currently have an offer on Nextbase 522 bundle which looks pretty good - anyone have on opinion on this or other recommendations?

Thanks in advance.

No, just no. Please, no.

Halfords are absolutely useless. My girlfriend insisted on Halfords doing hers, and the guy ran the rear cable in the boot seal (so it's pinched when the boot is shut) rather than under the seal or, god forbid, through the wiring grommet/boot.

They do not know what they are doing. I honestly wouldn't let them put a dust cap on my wheel. This is not bias, but rather experience (from dropping the wiper arm on a windscreen, cracking it, to some muppet trying to put power through the OBD port on a car with a dead battery, frying something). Your Occy has an airbag in the pillar, and you want that done properly (I.E. routed carefully behind it).

I've done quite a few cars, and even went as far on my Octavia to Dremel a small hole in the mirror housing, so there isn't a single cm of cable visible. I promise it isn't that hard! If you'd like, I can spend 15 mins tonight, grab some photos and do you a little step by step of what's needed? The only tools you need are a 50p trim removal tool, some zip ties and a screwdriver. The tools you want to do a proper job are the trim removal tool, some cloth tape, some washers (depending on where you ground it), some electrical tape, Torx bits, etc. Cloth tape is a nice touch as it stops anything rubbing/rattling over time. The goal of a dash cam install is to have something you don't see, hear or think about, until you need it.

Hardwiring may sound quite daunting, but if you can replace a fuse and loosen a screw, you're qualified for the job.

My Octavia took me a good day or so to do, but that's because I was extremely anal in making it perfect. I recently did a 2024 Ibiza FR and it took about 40 minutes for the front, and about 20 for the rear. You don't need to worry about lane assist - the camera is in the mirror and physically cannot be interfered with. I had the whole mirror/camera housing off when I did mine, and routed the cable behind the camera unit to keep everything tidy. The headliner isn't the most resistant thing, and I'd far rather do it myself, carefully, than have Halfords break it. The only issue you might run into is that you may have DAB interference. I'm 21 and don't remember the last time I used the radio, but YMMV.

If you really don't want to do it, you can get companies to install it for you (or even Nextbase IIRC).

The 522GW is a good camera. I've tried Amazon ones, Viofo and Nextbase. Currently I use a 622GW, but you only really need a 322GW. I use mine to record track days, so wanted 4K with the extra stabilisation - I don't use the Alexa stuff. I chose Nextbase over Viofo as I can hide the camera completely behind my mirror, whereas the Viofo line are a bit bulkier. The Nextbase app is a bit rubbish, and I've had a wifi card die on my old 322GW, but otherwise I've covered probably 100,000 miles without issue. The Garmin line are also worth a look - I just already had the Nextbase wiring in my car when I upgraded to the 622GW and couldn't be bothered to change it all.

15 hours ago, OccyVRS said:

No, just no. Please, no.

That's all you need to know about Halfords.

15 hours ago, OccyVRS said:

Viofo as I can hide the camera completely behind my mirror, whereas the Viofo line are a bit bulkier

I would echo that, but also warn you that Viofo don't shutdown properly like a NextBase camera. This resulted in a Terminal 15 staying high error message due to the current draw when the car was switched off. I disconnected all that gubbins and the error went away.

Thanks guys.

That's pretty unequivocal!

Rest assured, I won't be going there.

1 hour ago, Al__Bundy said:

Thanks guys.

That's pretty unequivocal!

Rest assured, I won't be going there.

It’s a shame because the service could be absolutely brilliant, with 95% of most peoples car needs being sourced, fixed or fitted by Halfords.

Of course, you will find that some places do a good job and have proper staff! It’s just that most of them don’t, and it’s too late by the time you find your bloke is 17/isn't trained/doesn’t care.

I noticed that Nextbase do a fitting service themselves.

Better proposition?

Yes, that would be an option, although I haven't experienced their service before.

On 25/03/2025 at 17:39, OccyVRS said:

(or even Nextbase IIRC)

Yep!

I've no experience with Nextbase, but I don't doubt they'll do a good job. Somewhere like this might also be worth looking at - I've heard good things.