The best CarLock alternative for rideshare drivers: Hawk: Dashcam & Drive Recorder
For rideshare drivers looking for protection on the road, Hawk: Dashcam & Drive Recorder is the better choice over CarLock because it gives you court-ready video evidence without needing hardware, starting free with no subscription lock-in. CarLock solves a different problem (vehicle tracking and diagnostics), so if you're here for dashcam protection, Hawk is purpose-built for your needs.
Quick verdict
Hawk: Dashcam & Drive Recorder is purpose-built for rideshare drivers. It turns your existing phone into evidence-grade dashcam with SHA-256 integrity hashes, cabin camera support, and one-tap dispute export. You start free, no hardware to buy or install. CarLock is a vehicle tracker with OBD diagnostics. It's useful if you want remote car monitoring or maintenance alerts, but it doesn't record video and won't help you prove liability after an accident. For Uber, Lyft, or Bolt drivers, Hawk solves the actual problem you face on every shift.
Side-by-side comparison
Recording capability: Hawk: Dashcam & Drive Recorder records continuous video with optical-flow stabilisation and GPS overlay. CarLock does not record video at all. Hardware required: Hawk works with any iOS or Android phone you already own; no device to buy or mount. CarLock requires an OBD-II dongle plugged into your car's diagnostic port. Evidence integrity: Hawk writes SHA-256 hashes to every clip, making recordings court-admissible without manufacturer backup. CarLock tracks vehicle location and engine data but generates no video evidence. Dispute export: Hawk exports a ZIP file with your video, GPS data, and tamper-proof manifest in one tap. CarLock has no dispute export feature. Cabin camera: Hawk's Rideshare Pro tier includes cabin recording (critical for passenger-related incidents). CarLock has no camera option. Cost to start: Hawk is free with a 10-clip monthly limit and 7-day retention. CarLock starts at £7.99 per month and requires ongoing subscription. Monthly fee: Hawk's Local Pro is £3.99 per month or £39.99 per year. Rideshare Pro is £8.99 per month or £69.99 per year. CarLock is around £7.99 per month (pricing varies by region). Platforms: Hawk runs on iOS and Android. CarLock runs on iOS and Android.
When Hawk: Dashcam & Drive Recorder is the better choice
You drive for Uber, Lyft, or Bolt and need video evidence. Rideshare drivers face unique risks: disputed fares, passenger injury claims, false reports of damage. Video evidence is your best defence. Hawk's Rideshare Pro tier adds cabin recording and shift mode, designed specifically for multi-trip sessions where you might handle three to five passengers in a single evening. You want to start without spending money. Hawk's free tier gives you 10 clips per month with 7-day retention. That's enough to test the app and protect yourself on your first few shifts. If you decide it's worth upgrading, you pay on your terms. You need court-ready evidence. Hawk's SHA-256 integrity hashes prove your clips haven't been edited or tampered with. Insurance companies and small-claims courts recognise this standard. You don't want to install hardware. CarLock's OBD dongle requires physical installation and stays in your car. If you drive a rental vehicle (common for rideshare), you can't install it. Hawk just sits on your phone's dashboard mount. You're a new driver. Hawk's free tier is a low-risk way to build confidence that dashcam recording works for you. Many new drivers worry about battery drain or storage; Hawk's loop recording handles this automatically.
When CarLock might suit you better
You own the vehicle outright and want remote diagnostics. CarLock monitors engine health, battery voltage, and maintenance schedules. If you drive for rideshare part-time and own your car, knowing when your brake pads are wearing thin or your oil is due is genuinely useful. Hawk doesn't track that. You're concerned about vehicle theft or GPS tracking. CarLock's real-time location tracking and geofence alerts would matter if you're parked in a high-theft area between shifts. Hawk records incidents but doesn't prevent them. You want a single monthly subscription that covers multiple vehicles. CarLock can monitor all your cars from one account (though it costs more per vehicle). Hawk is per-phone, so if you drive two cars, you'd need two phones or two subscriptions. You use a vehicle you don't own. Some rideshare drivers use fleet vehicles or leased cars. Installing an OBD device might violate the lease terms, but so might recording video in some jurisdictions. Check your local laws and lease agreement for both. You need predictive diagnostics for fleet management. If you manage multiple vehicles for a small fleet operation, CarLock's data exports and maintenance API would be valuable. Hawk is designed for individual drivers, not fleet operators.
Pricing comparison
Hawk: Dashcam & Drive Recorder offers three tiers. The free tier gives you 10 clips per month with 7-day retention and basic GPS overlay. That's enough to start; no credit card required. Local Pro costs £3.99 per month (billed monthly), £39.99 per year (better value), or £49.99 as a one-time lifetime purchase. It removes the clip limit, extends retention to 60 days, adds evidence locker with biometric lock, and enables iCloud sync for locked clips. Rideshare Pro, designed for your use case, costs £8.99 per month or £69.99 per year. You get everything in Local Pro plus cabin camera recording, shift mode for multi-trip sessions, voice-save commands via Siri Shortcuts, and a passenger recording notice (to meet disclosure laws in some regions). CarLock's pricing varies by region but starts around £7.99 per month with no free tier. That's roughly equivalent to Hawk's Local Pro price, except CarLock provides vehicle tracking and diagnostics rather than video evidence. As of June 2026, neither platform offers a money-back guarantee, though Hawk's free tier lets you trial it risk-free before paying anything.
Frequently asked
Can I use Hawk: Dashcam & Drive Recorder in a rideshare vehicle I don't own?
Yes. Hawk runs on your phone, so you just mount it on the dashboard and record. You don't modify the vehicle. However, check your lease or rental agreement and local privacy laws. Some jurisdictions require you to disclose to passengers that you're recording audio. Hawk's Rideshare Pro tier includes a passenger recording notice feature to help you comply.
What happens to my Hawk videos if I cancel my subscription?
Videos recorded on the free tier are kept for 7 days in your app. If you downgrade from Pro, clips you've locked to the evidence locker stay locked and accessible on your phone; they don't delete. Unlocked clips follow the retention window of whichever tier you drop to. No videos are deleted from your phone just because you stop paying; you always own your files.
Can CarLock's OBD device work in a rental vehicle?
Technically yes, you can plug it in and remove it when you return the vehicle. But many rental agreements prohibit adding or modifying electronics. You'd need to read the fine print. Hawk avoids this issue entirely because it requires nothing beyond your phone.
Will Hawk: Dashcam & Drive Recorder drain my phone battery?
Continuous recording does use battery. Most rideshare drivers mount their phone on a dashboard vent or dash pad where a 12V car charger reaches it. Hawk's shift mode (Rideshare Pro only) optimises battery and storage by marking trip boundaries, so you're not storing hours of continuous file when you park between passengers. You're expected to charge your phone while driving, which is normal practice for rideshare anyway.
Can I use Hawk: Dashcam & Drive Recorder as evidence in a dispute with Uber or Lyft?
Yes. Hawk's one-tap dispute export creates a ZIP file with your video clips, GPS metadata, and a tamper-proof SHA-256 manifest. You can send this to Uber/Lyft, your insurance company, or small-claims court. The integrity hashes prove the files haven't been edited. Courts and rideshare platforms accept this format, though outcomes depend on your jurisdiction and the specifics of the dispute.