Start by looking cameras specifically designed to capture license plates. Cameras specifically designed to capture license plates are really not good for anything else. Inversely, cameras designed for general video will not give you good quality when capturing license plates. Even expensive general use cameras will struggle giving you a legible image of a license plate. Especially when fighting head lights, tail lights, and motion blur from a moving vehicle.

There are some factors you should consider before you are looking at license plate cameras.

First is the resolution which is usually measured in "lines" with the higher being better.

Second is the angle - Try to locate the camera in a position to look directly at the rear of the vehicle. This is sometimes best accomplished by using the existing turns or narrow spots in the road.

Third, the cameras should be framed in as close as possible. Most cameras will not capture license plates across two lanes of traffic. You need to make sure that the camera will zoom in close enough that the image is about the width of a standard vehicle. The power of the zoom is often measured in millimeters.

Forth, most license cameras will have infrared LEDs to illuminate the plate. The camera actually tries to use the infrared exclusively and ignores ambient lighting. In this way headlights and taillight do not "wash out" the image and the camera can capture images in zero light conditions.

Fifth, a good license plate camera needs the extra power for the internal chipset and also to power the LEDs. If you are in a cold weather environment, the extra power can also be used to power an internal camera heater.

As for Car License Plate Capture Cameras, we do have a few that are highly recommended as following:

(SKU: PZ0436) 1/3 SONY SUPER HAD CCD 540TVL 40m IR Outdoor IP Car License Camera

Features:

1. Unique single CCD dual program chipset technology
2. 35 pcs white LED, 40 meters night view distance.
3. Lens: 8mm, 12mm, 16mm, 25mm optional, by default, 12mm
4. 540TVL ,High Picture Quality
5. 1/3 SONY SUPER HAD CCD
6. H.264 compression format
7. D1 High resolution
8. Waterproof grade: IP65

(SKU: PL0809) 480TVL Sony CCD Camera Waterproof Car License Plate Camera 100m IR

Features:

• Pick up element: 1/3 inch CCD image sensor
• Lens mount: CS mount vari-focal lens 6-60mm F1.6 Auto IRIS (DC)
• Horizontal resolution: 480 TV Lines
• Weatherproof standard: IP-68
• IR range: 100m
• Wavelength: 850 nm