Purchasing flip down monitors for your car can be pretty useful especially during long road trips where you just need a little bit of entertainment to keep yourself from getting too bored. These monitors are commonly found in larger vehicles like minivans but they can just as easily be purchased for sedans as well. If you purchase these from the dealership, then you can easily spend well over a thousand dollars as options like these are quite expensive.

Fortunately, there are other alternatives that are available to you that are much cheaper but you would have to purchase these on your own and do the installation for yourself. It is definitely not as hard as it sounds but one of the things that might be overwhelming at first is which one to choose. This can be especially tedious and time consuming since there are many different brands and models that you can purchase.

The following are reviews taken from an online retail store of different flip down monitors that were highly rated by other customers. Keep in mind that these reviews are for research purposes and that this website does not specifically endorse any brands and models.

Valor RM-921C 9.2 inch overhead monitor with DVD/USB and SD card reader

This product from Valor is probably the best that money can buy and there plenty of online reviews to testify to that. This particular model features a 9.2 inch flip down LCD TFT display that offers an 800 x 480 pixel resolution for excellent viewing. This one offers playback of DVD, DVD-R, CD, SVCD, VCD and even MP3 discs. There is an even a USB and an SD slot for added convenience in addition to a wireless remote that comes included.

If you are looking for a way to add multimedia to your car, then purchasing the Valor RM-921C is a great way to doing so as this can easily provide entertainment for hours on end. You can even view JPEG images and MPEG4 videos from either a disc or using one of the two external readers. A full functional wireless remote control is also included so you can quickly switch to your favorite video or audio. Installation hardwires, wiring harnesses and a user’s manual are also included with your purchase.

The price of this might seem a bit steep at first at about $280 for a brand new unit but the price is definitely justified considering the kind of quality that you will get. This one has received very positive reviews which seem to agree that the display is clear and bright. Another plus are the sheer amount of options and features that are readily available. Overall, this one is a great flip down monitor that is very easy and simple to install.

Pyle PLVW-R8000 wide screen roof mount flip down monitor

If you want something that still offers great quality but cost a lot less, then this monitor from Pyle is a great alternative as you can find them for under a hundred dollars at most online retail stores. The screen is a little bit smaller compared to the Valor model as reviewed above at 8 inches but is still plenty to watch a movie.

The TFT LCD color monitor features widescreen display with a resolution of 1448 x 234. What makes this particular model rather convenient is that it can also be used with a car backup camera to transmit a video feed of what is behind you. However, before you even purchase a reversing camera you want to ensure that it will be compatible with this screen. If you are not sure, then it is best that you contact the company. In case you are wondering, this one has excellent audio and video output considering the price you pay.

Boss Audio BV12.1BGT flip down widescreen TFT monitor

If you do not mind spending a little bit more money on a quality unit, then this one is simply a must have as it features a huge 12.1 inch screen with crystal clear display. It even has a built in DVD player so that you can quickly play your favorite movies while on a trip. One of the downsides is that this model costs about $350 which is a lot more compared to the Valor flip down car monitor but always remember that you get what you pay for.

Like the Valor, this one is able to play DVD, DVD-R, CD, VCD and is even MP3 and MP4 compatible. For easier viewing, it also comes with a swivel bracket that allows you to rotate it 30 degrees in either direction. There is even a built in infrared transmitted along with an FM modulator. There is also a USB port and a SD/MMC memory card port for added convenience.

Actual customer reviews of this product have been extremely positive with the only complaint that it could be a little cheaper. A few customers have mentioned that you should take your car to get this flip down monitor professionally installed as it may be difficult to do on your own. Other than that, one of the cool features is that the DVD player sends the audio transmission via an FM signal to your radio. There is also another feature where rear passengers can use headphones and the people in the front can be able to listen to the radio using the front speakers. Overall, a great product that is definitely worth the extra cost.

Many other options to choose from

When it comes to flip down monitors or other car video monitors to choose from, there are actually a lot of other brands that you can choose from including TKO, XO Vision, Panasonic and many others. However, the ones as reviewed here come highly recommended by others so they are a great place to start your research. One of the good things to owning these too is that you can easily connect them with your car backup camera. You may or may not need to but at least the option is there in case you need it.

One of the good things about getting a flip down DVD player is for the simple fact that it can be used to entertain back seat passengers. However, keep in mind that these units do not come cheap as they are rather expensive. If you want to find some great deals, then you would have to compare prices at online retail stores. Another alternative you have is by doing a worldwide search to finding suppliers but this option is only if you are interested in selling the product as you can easily find a manufacturer in China.

The popularity of overhead monitors has steadily been on the rise in addition to other technology like GPS capabilities. Fortunately, these units have no effect on your stereo and these can actually complement your current set up. As expensive as these products might be, they are definitely well worth the price.

The use of car video monitors have steadily been on the rise in recent years and since then there have been many different types of screens that were introduced on the market. In fact, you have probably seen these for yourself as either an overhead of a flip down monitor. While these screens and monitors are commonly seen in SUVs and vans, they are starting to become much more popular for sedan and coupe vehicles as well.

One of the downsides do these monitor screens is that they have a tendency to be rather expensive especially if you purchase them straight from the dealership. You can definitely expect to pay a lot more especially if it has features like GPS navigation functions, an MP3 player or even a DVD player. Fortunately, you can always purchase aftermarket units from brands like Kenwood, Alpine, Pyle, Clarion, Pioneer, etc. that are much cheaper and sometimes even better when you compare them to the factory models.

You would actually be surprised as to how useful they can really be especially during long road trips with the children who otherwise would be loud and annoying if they did not have some form of entertainment in the car. Of course, the uses are limited to this alone as you can use these car monitors for business presentations to clients on the way to a meeting. They can even be used to catch up on your favorite television show before heading in for a long day at work.

Whatever you may decide to use these players they are extremely beneficial indeed. The following is just a brief overview of the choices that you have available to you which include: overhead, flip down, in-dash, headrest, sun visor and rear view mirror car video monitors. These choices might seem rather overwhelming at first but you will be glad to have these choices later on depending on what your needs are.

Overhead car video monitors

You have probably seen one of these types just by looking at other cars but as the name suggests, these screens are typically attached to the ceiling of the automobile. These are actually commonly used in bigger vehicles like sport utility vehicles and minivans. The reason is because there needs to be a lot of headroom available for these to get properly installed. The benefit of these digital screens is that they are typically much larger compared to the other types.

Flip down car monitors

These types are actually identical to the one as described above with the exception that these are able to flip up and down for viewing purposes and when you are not using it. These ones are rather useful as they can be used to provide some entertainment for your backseat passengers. You might think that the quality would not be very good but the resolution is actually not that bad when you compare them to other types like the rearview mirror or in-dash monitors.

In-dash monitors for vehicles

When driving a car, the front passenger might get a little bored but fortunately there is a solution that is readily available and that is with the use of in dash LCD screens that mount near the radio controls. These ones typically have more features and accessories but usually cost more depending on the brand you choose. Some manufacturers actually have this available as an option but the driver will need to be especially careful when driving and not to get distracted for obvious reasons. If you are the type to get lost a lot, then getting one of these monitors that have GPS capability is a must.

Headrest video monitors for cars

As the name suggests, these ones get mounted onto the back of your headrest by using mounting brackets. If you want something that is sleeker, then you can always purchase those aftermarket products from places like ebay that literally has a screen built inside the headrest. These are typically 7 inches or less but is definitely sufficient for watching movies or anything else. Even if you already have an overhead monitor, the headrest types can still be used in conjunction.

Sun visor car video monitors

Believe it or not, you can actually have a screen built inside your sun visor but the only downside is that these have a tendency to be rather small. If you plan to use these monitors in conjunction with a car backup camera, then it is highly suggested that you use an in-dash screen instead for better viewing. These products can easily be purchased online for great prices. In addition, they are available in different colors and textures so you can easily find one that matches the interior of your car.

Rear view mirror video monitors

Finally, the last choice that you have available is to get an LCD display installed in your rear view mirror. You can even purchase an aftermarket unit that fits directly over the mirror that you currently have. These are generally really small though but can still be rather useful for other things like using it with a wireless backup camera for vehicles.

So which one is best?

So how do you determine which one to choose? Well, this will ultimately depend on what your needs are so it is important that you first consider that before making the purchase. You might think that these car video monitors are expensive but they are actually more affordable than you think as you can find some great deals by shopping at online retail stores.

Another thing to consider is what kind of options that you want whether you want a widescreen display that also doubles as a car DVD player. While some of these units use Bluetooth as a transmitter keep in mind that these are usually very hard to find great deals on. Getting a car video monitor that allows for easy installation is a must especially if you plan to install it yourself. If not, then you can always get a professional mechanic to do it for you. Regardless of how you plan to use these monitors, they are extremely beneficial to have and are very much affordable.