Why the camera needs re-aiming
The forward camera sits in a bracket glued to the inside of the windshield, just behind the rearview mirror. When the glass changes, the camera's angle can shift slightly, enough for the car to misjudge where the lane lines or the car ahead really are. Calibration puts the camera back on its target, so the safety systems you paid for keep working.
The camera housing and mirror go back on the new windshieldTwo ways it's done
- In a static calibration, a printed target is set up at a measured distance and height in front of the car, on level ground. A scan tool tells the camera to find the target and store its position.
- In a dynamic calibration, a scan tool is plugged in and the car is driven at set speeds on roads with clear lane markings until the camera reports that it has learned its position.
Some cars need one, some need both. We look up your car before the visit and tell you which it needs.
What it adds to the price
AAA's 2023 study of ADAS repair costs looked at windshield replacement on cars with a forward camera. Replacing the ADAS parts and calibrating them added an average of $360, about a quarter of the average total.
ADAS parts and calibration
$360
Average added to a windshield job
AAA ADAS repair study · 2023 · national
Average windshield job with ADAS
$1,439.78
Average total estimate in the study
AAA ADAS repair study · 2023 · national
The glass matters too
AAA's cost guide says OEM or OEM-equivalent glass is especially important on cars with ADAS, because cameras and sensors need precise optical clarity. We match the glass to your car's camera and sensor package before ordering it.
