Different Types of Car Video Monitors to Choose From



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.