Yes the normal for all dashcams is to be powered from the 12 V socket in the dash or console, that will work fine when driving but not support parking guard / mode.
Another problem here, though rare to my understanding is this plug in some cars are live all the time, or in other cases a little while after you left the car, which is just fine the camera just record you leaving.
But if that socket are on all the time and you plug a dashcam into it, it will of course record all the time, and so in the end / given enough time deplete your cars battery.
Also the camera record in normal mode, and so using as much power as it can, and generating as much heat as it will, which will be a problem if you park in the sun, though all cams now have overheat protection which also work in regular mode.
If you have such a socket, some times the dealer can reprogram it to ACC so it is only on when the car is running.
Alternative you can buy a 12 V female socket + fuse adapter, and then wire into a ACC fuse in the fuse box, here you just have to make sure the female and male part can not wiggle loose / apart, but a bit of duct tape on the two will make sure that do not happen.
Some also want their in dash 12 V socket free for other stuff like phone charge ASO, and quite understandable.
So you can use the provided power source and a female plug as i say above, or you can get the hard wire kit, CUZ even with that you of course dont have to use parking guard, but its just a little more expensive way to keep your in dash socket free.
Others use a 12 V socket splitter, but its not nice sitting there in the 12 V socket, alternative you can get 3 port 12 V extensions, i actually have 2 of those in my glove box so i have six 12 V plugs to tap into with dashcams or other low power stuff.
Of course then you have to plug 12 V chargers ASO into the plugs now in your glove box like me, or perhaps under your seat.
I also use to have one of these 3 port splitters in the back in the old days, to power single channel cameras on my rear window, CUZ you DO NOT want to run long USB cables, they have too large power drop.
Using a hard wire kit, well this have a low voltage cut off switch, you use to make sure your battery do net get depleted too deep, 12.2 if generally advised as the lowest voltage you will go, and that's regarded as a 50 % depleted lead acid battery.
The selectable low voltage on hard wire kits are often 11.8 - 12.0 - 12.2 - 12.4 volts.
I prefer to not get to that cuz i have a little car with a little battery ( 55 Ah )
having a viiofo camera you of course have to use the corresponding viofo hardwire kit, generic hard wire kits will not work
Also many dashcams have a parking guard timer that can turn things off no matter the voltage, i use this myself set to 3 hours as that cover all my shopping and elsewhere i am covered by CCTV cameras.
The selectable time durations are often between a hour and up to 48 hours
