Do I Need ADAS Calibration After a New Windshield?
The short answer
If your vehicle has a camera mounted behind the windshield for features like lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, or adaptive cruise control, then yes. Most manufacturers call for the camera to be recalibrated whenever the windshield is replaced, so those safety features keep working correctly.
What ADAS is
ADAS stands for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems: the safety features that help you steer, brake, and keep your distance. Many of them rely on a forward-facing camera mounted at the top of the windshield, behind the rearview mirror.
- Lane departure warning and lane-keep assist
- Automatic emergency braking
- Forward collision warning
- Adaptive cruise control
- Traffic sign recognition and automatic high beams
Why a new windshield affects the camera
The camera looks through the glass and judges where the lane lines and the cars ahead are based on its exact angle. A new windshield can shift that angle by a tiny amount, and even a one-degree change can put the camera's view several feet off at highway distances. Calibration re-aims the camera to the manufacturer's specifications so the system sees the road correctly again.
How calibration works
There are two main methods, and your vehicle's manufacturer decides which one it needs. Some vehicles need both.
- Static calibration: the camera is aimed at special targets placed at precise distances in front of the vehicle.
- Dynamic calibration: the vehicle is driven at set speeds on well-marked roads while the system recalibrates itself.
How to tell if your vehicle needs it
Look for a camera housing at the top of the windshield behind the mirror, or check whether your car has any of the features listed above. The easiest way is to tell us your year, make, and model when you request a quote. We'll check and include calibration in your quote if it's needed.
Not sure what you need?
Send us a photo of the damage or tell us your vehicle, and we'll tell you what it needs and what it'll cost.
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