Skoda have helpfully fitted a USB-C port in the console that holds the interior mirror. It powered my old Halfords dashcam via a USB-C to USB mini cable (Most older dashcams had a USB mini input port.). My Skoda dealer says that the USB-C port is intended for dashcam connection.

I have ordered a new Viofo dashcam that has USB-C input, They supply a 12volt cigar lighter plug and a USB-A to USB-C cable to power it. Completely useless in the Octavia or any other modern car with no lighter socket, for which only a short USB-C to USB-C cable should be needed. On talking to Viofo via e-mail they tell me that an ordinary USB-C to USB-C cable might not work! They offer a "special" cable which is 3.5 metres long! and they say their shorter cables will not work!

I await delivery of the dashcam. If it does not work from a short USB-C to USB-C cable it is going to be returned. I am not going to wire it in any way that needs me to feed a cable up a windscreen pillar with an airbag in it.

Has anyone found a good make of 4K dashcam with a Sony Starvis2 sensor that is designed to be powered from USB-C and supplied with the right cable?

Hi, I have a Skoda Octy IV and a nextbase dashcam. I bought a short cable and adapter from eBay and it all works perfectly.

Hope this helps

That is just it, My Halfords dashcam worked perfectly connected USB-C to USB Mini. The problem is Viofo being unsure whether their dashcam will work from an ordinary USB-c to USB-C cable.

I have only removed the old Halfords dashcam because the phone ap that you use with it no longer works and cannot be updated or reloaded.

Has anyone ever used Halfords for dashcam fitting? Was considering a nextbase myself, but want it hardwired if I'm gonna get one...

Edited 14 May14 May by scotthugh3s

I have not used Halfords for fitting, but they seem to do a fair number of jobs so they are probably OK. It is best to get it done professionally if cables have to be run up a windscreen pillar where there is an airbag. Hard-wiring is fairly easy, it's the risk of interfering with an airbag you need to avoid. It is that risk that has led manufacturers to fit USB ports at the top of the windscreen.

2 minutes ago, NormanE said:

I have not used Halfords for fitting, but they seem to do a fair number of jobs so they are probably OK. It is best to get it done professionally if cables have to be run up a windscreen pillar where there is an airbag. Hard-wiring is fairly easy, it's the risk of interfering with an airbag you need to avoid. It is that risk that has led manufacturers to fit USB ports at the top of the windscreen.

I'm after one which has parking mode, so needs to be connected to a power source at all times. The USB socket only works when the ignition's on I believe

Most have parking mode, including the Viofo one that I have bought, if you hardwire from the fusebox.

This is what I have ordered as I don't want the wiring complication of a rear camera, but do want a 4K picture from the Sony Starvis2 sensor.

https://viofouk.co.uk/product/viofo-a119m-pro-4k-hdr-voice-control-dash-camera-with-sony-starvis-2-sensor-super-night-vision-ultra-fast-wi-fi-6-precise-gps/

Edited 14 May14 May by NormanE

23 hours ago, NormanE said:

(...) On talking to Viofo via e-mail they tell me that an ordinary USB-C to USB-C cable might not work! They offer a "special" cable which is 3.5 metres long! and they say their shorter cables will not work!

Hi!

I recently wrote about the quirks of USB-C powered dash cams. Long story short: the Viofo dash cam may not work because it isn’t a fully compliant USB Power Delivery (USB-PD) device, while the car’s USB-C port acts as a USB-PD power source.

This can usually be worked around in two ways:

* using a “special” USB-C cable that tells the car it’s powering a legacy 5V device (which is likely what Viofo offered you), or

* using a USB-C to USB-A adapter/dongle (like the one in the attached image) together with a USB-A to USB-C cable.

I explain in my linked post why this workaround functions properly.

Thank you for that. I now have the dashcam and have tested it using my phone charger cable, which does power it. A USB-C to USB-A dongle with a short USB-A to USB-C cable looks like a much better idea.

I will have to be careful because the USB-C socket in the car is an odd one that does not take the plug in very far. A heavy adapter could easily shake loose. I might have to secure it in place.

I think I will try a cable like this first. 18 inch size.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/389792812574?var=657081959012

Edited 16 May16 May by NormanE

Before even buying the cable, I had a hunt and found a very short USB-C to Female USB-A Cable and connected that to a USB-A to USB-C cable about 30cm long and that setup works without any slack cable, and the socket stuck to the plastic cover over the car's radar with stick on Velcro.

The dashcam works very well, but to view the videos on a PC I have to take the dashcam out of the car and connect it by USB cable. If I just take out the memory card and put it in a card reader, Windows does not recognise it and says it has no recognised file system, and will not format it either. It clearly is formatted by the dashcam, though in what file system I cannot tell. Tried on two different Windows PCs. and one LInux

On 14/05/2026 at 18:19, NormanE said:

Skoda have helpfully fitted a USB-C port in the console that holds the interior mirror. It powered my old Halfords dashcam via a USB-C to USB mini cable (Most older dashcams had a USB mini input port.). My Skoda dealer says that the USB-C port is intended for dashcam connection.

I have ordered a new Viofo dashcam that has USB-C input, They supply a 12volt cigar lighter plug and a USB-A to USB-C cable to power it. Completely useless in the Octavia or any other modern car with no lighter socket, for which only a short USB-C to USB-C cable should be needed. On talking to Viofo via e-mail they tell me that an ordinary USB-C to USB-C cable might not work! They offer a "special" cable which is 3.5 metres long! and they say their shorter cables will not work!

I await delivery of the dashcam. If it does not work from a short USB-C to USB-C cable it is going to be returned. I am not going to wire it in any way that needs me to feed a cable up a windscreen pillar with an airbag in it.

Has anyone found a good make of 4K dashcam with a Sony Starvis2 sensor that is designed to be powered from USB-C and supplied with the right cable?

You’re absolutely fine to hardwire the dashcam and route the cable inside the pillar, as long as the trim is removed and the cable is routed behind the airbag.

Absolutely 100% fine. The reason for not stuffing the cable into the pillar isn’t because the airbag will fail to deploy - it definitely will. If you put the cable over the top of the airbag, there is a strong possibility it will snap the cable upon deployment and whip you in the face.

Viofo works just fine with any usb-c to usb-c cable there, I took the cheapest from aliexpress. You only need to wire it for parking mode, since power on rear mirror usb port is only available when ignition is on.

The dashcam is actually working fine, the issue is that the memory card can only be read from the dashcam itself. If removed and put in a card reader connected to a PC (Windows or Linux) or inserted directly into a built-in card reader in a linux laptop, it cannot be read and Windows 11 cannot format it either, and gives a message that the volume does not contain any recognised file system.

Viofo are looking for a solution. The obvious inference from the symptoms displayed is that Viofo formats the card in a way that only it can read and translate to Windows readable files.

Edited 18 May18 May by NormanE

I've got a Viofo A229 Pro dashcam in a Golf 8 with a hardwire kit. The camera records in MP4 file format that can be viewed by VLC player. I can't get footage to play reliably using their phone app though, and have to take to SD card out of the camera to play on my computer instead.

21 hours ago, NormanE said:

The dashcam is actually working fine, the issue is that the memory card can only be read from the dashcam itself. If removed and put in a card reader connected to a PC (Windows or Linux) or inserted directly into a built-in card reader in a linux laptop, it cannot be read and Windows 11 cannot format it either, and gives a message that the volume does not contain any recognised file system.

Viofo are looking for a solution. The obvious inference from the symptoms displayed is that Viofo formats the card in a way that only it can read and translate to Windows readable files.

Do you have a codec pack installed on your PC? I've used K-Lite for years, it's compatible with all kinds of file extensions. Could be worth trying to install that then see if you can view media on your PC

It is not a playback issue, The movies play back perfectly if I leave the card in the camera and connect that to the PC, but if I remove the card and put it in a card reader neither Windows nor Linux PCs can even find a recognised file system on the card.

Check this site https://fitcamx.com/collections/for-seat-cupra/products/fitcamx-dash-cam-for-skoda-octavia-4-iv-2020-2023?variant=42868199391404

I looked at this for my Golf 8, it doesn't have GPS so footage isn't geolocated, which is not good if it is to be submitted as evidence to police / insurance company.

My strange issue with the Viofo dashcam has been resolved. The company were very helpful. Power proved to be no problem, but the odd issue of the memory card working perfectly well recording, and playing back if the card was left in the camera and the camera was connected to the PC, but not if the card was put into a USB card reader persisted. Formatting the card in the camera did not help. My Windows 11 and Linux PCs could not read it or format it. Rufus and Mini Tool Partition Wizard both reported the 256GB card as only 8GB!

To clear all my test footage I formatted the card in the dashcam for probably the 5th or 6th time, and made a short test film. This time the card played back from the USB reader. Rufus now reported it as 256MB. Mini Tool, now showed 232.19GB formatted as exFAT. All correct and everything now works.

Things I like about the Viofo dashcam are its small size, very clear Video footage, and the fact that power is taken to the GPS unit which is stuck to the windscreen, whilst the camera can be detached. The latter is very useful if you visit Portugal where dashcams are illegal.