Backup Camera Installation Cost

Last Updated on December 27, 2023
Written by CPA Alec Pow | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker

Nowadays, there are so many new and innovative features in vehicles that it’s hard to keep up. One of the newer inventions is a backup camera system attached at the back of the car that can guide you when backing up your vehicle by giving you a vision of what obstacles lie behind you. This is already mandatory since 2018 according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration regulations.

Having a backup camera on your vehicle can be an excellent safety precaution. They’re available as third-party products and are often offered at local dealerships or independent retailers.

How much does it cost to install a backup camera?

Like most technology gadgets, a third-party backup camera will usually cost anywhere from $20 to more than $700, depending on the brand behind it, its features, and the shop you buy it from. In the $20 to $50 range, you will usually find a lower-end camera that has little to no wiring or monitor, while higher-end models will come with a large monitor, a lot of additional features, and multiple cameras.

A high-quality Garmin GPS with a backup camera can cost $400 for the part alone. At the same time, the backup cameras with the best grades on Amazon retail for less than $40 and are mounted on license plate frames. They will usually need power from your car’s battery to work and many people recommend hiring an electrician to install them.

The installation will cost an extra $75-$200, depending on the complexity of the work needed. This brings our total to a range between $175 and over $1,150.

Best Buy’s Geek Squad will charge you $99 for a basic rear camera installation, but this price doesn’t include the purchase of the device itself. Crutchfield charges about $159.99 and this bigger cost won’t include the camera either.

You might also like our articles about the cost of fuse box replacement, sunroof installation, or laser fog light installation.

Browsing through the Amazon Home Services quotes, we found out there are many professional services where an installer is willing to put in a back up camera at rates between $180 and $240. According to Edmunds.com you should be prepared to pay somewhere between $150 to $400 for the camera and another $400 to $600 for the installation service.

Details on installing a backup camera

You can find different backup camera models at most electronic and car audio businesses as well as some big-store retailers.

The backup camera is a common accessory for new cars, but if you want to add one as an aftermarket device there are various mounting and screen options available. You can mount the actual camera on your bumper or license plate holder with suction cups (easier) or screws, depending on what type of car you have. The video screen will either replace your existing rear-view mirror or come as a third-party video screen that’s able to mount to your dashboard or as a replacement for your car stereo.

The average installation is about two hours long and the price may or may not include the backup camera, wiring for the vehicle electronics system, materials such as cables or cable ties to secure wires in place. The installer will also conceal all of the wire work from view before moving on to testing everything out by turning your car on with their equipment inside it.

A professional will either install a backup camera to an existing or new video monitor, which can then be installed in the car. All of the wirings are then concealed and secured beneath trim and carpeting so you don’t have to worry about them being seen.

Any additional expenses to consider?

It can cost an additional $30 to $40 for miscellaneous wires, cradles, and brackets for specific car models if any modifications are required.

Lower-end backup cameras won’t always include a monitor, so you have to use your phone with a specific app instead. If you want one of those fancy monitors, then prepare for that extra cost.

Important things to consider

A wireless camera may seem like a good idea, but it often leaves the image quality terrible and wires are still needed to run properly. A small 1.5-inch monitor may be hard to see while driving, so QuickVu Cams recommends a colorful 3 or 4-inch display that will make it easier on your eyes while behind the wheel.

Is there any way to spend less?

Independent shops can usually do this for you much cheaper than a car dealership will. We highly recommend talking with a local shop before working with a dealership.

You may also qualify for discounted rates through insurance companies seeing that such features are often considered safety-related items.

For those living in a populated area, there’s always the chance that you will be able to find audio specialists that can take on such jobs easily. These types of jobs often being pretty straightforward for most of them, many can offer up quotes over phone calls too.