If you bought a new car in the last several years, there’s a good chance it has a camera mounted at the top of the windshield. You might not think much about it, but that small camera is doing a lot of important work, and when your windshield is replaced, that camera has to be recalibrated before it works properly again.
A lot of Sarasota drivers don’t know this. Some find out the hard way when a safety system malfunctions after a windshield replacement done by a shop that doesn’t handle recalibration. Here’s everything you need to know.
What Is ADAS?
ADAS stands for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, which is the collection of safety and convenience features that have become standard on most vehicles sold since roughly 2018. These include:
- Lane departure warning and lane-keeping assist
- Automatic emergency braking (AEB)
- Adaptive cruise control
- Forward collision warning
- Traffic sign recognition and automatic high beams
Most of these features rely on a forward-facing camera mounted at the top center of the windshield.
Why Windshield Replacement Requires Recalibration
When a windshield is replaced, the camera is temporarily removed from its mount, and the new glass may sit at a very slightly different angle or position than the original. Even a fraction of a degree in the camera’s alignment can cause ADAS features to behave incorrectly, sometimes in ways you can see and sometimes in ways you can’t.
A misaligned camera might cause your lane assist to drift, your emergency braking to trigger too early or too late, or your adaptive cruise control follow distance to be off. Recalibration resets the camera to the correct position and angle so all ADAS features work as designed.
Static vs. Dynamic Recalibration
Static recalibration is done in-shop using a calibration target placed at a precise distance in front of the vehicle. Special software communicates with the vehicle’s systems to align the camera. This typically takes 30–60 minutes and requires a controlled environment.
Dynamic recalibration involves driving the vehicle at a set speed on roads with visible lane markings so the vehicle’s systems can self-calibrate. Some vehicles require dynamic, some require static, and some require both.
At Blue Ribbon Auto Glass, we perform both types of recalibration and have the equipment to handle Toyota, Honda, Volvo, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and all other makes we service.
Which Vehicles Require ADAS Recalibration?
The short answer: most vehicles sold in the past several years. Virtually every mainstream manufacturer, including Toyota, Honda, Ford, Chevrolet, Subaru, Nissan, Mazda, Hyundai, Kia, Volvo, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and Lexus, equips newer models with windshield-mounted cameras that require post-replacement calibration. If your vehicle has any ADAS features, assume it requires recalibration.
Why This Matters When Choosing a Glass Company
Not every auto glass company has the equipment or training to perform ADAS recalibration. Some shops skip it entirely. This is one of the most important questions to ask before choosing a glass company: do they perform full ADAS recalibration, and is it included in the price?
At Blue Ribbon Auto Glass, recalibration is part of the job. It’s one of the reasons auto dealers, insurance agents, and mechanics in Sarasota and Manatee County refer their customers to us.
Have a question about whether your vehicle requires recalibration? Contact us. We’re happy to answer before you commit to anything.
