Does my car need ADAS recalibration after a new windscreen?
If your car has a camera behind the windscreen, the answer is usually yes. Here is how to check, why it matters, and how to make sure it is actually done.
The short answer
If a forward-facing camera is mounted on the windscreen, most vehicle manufacturers require it to be recalibrated after the screen is replaced. If there is no camera or sensor on the glass, there is usually nothing to calibrate. The rest of this guide helps you work out which group your car is in, and what a proper job looks like.
Whether a particular model and year has a camera depends on the trim level and the market it was built for. Two cars with the same badge can differ. That is why the VIN and a look behind the mirror are more reliable than the model name alone.
Five ways to check if your car has a windscreen camera
- From outside, look at the glass behind the rear-view mirror. A black plastic housing with a small clear window in the dotted black border usually means a camera.
- Check the dashboard and settings menus for lane departure warning, lane keep assist, traffic sign recognition, automatic high beams or forward collision warning.
- Look in the owner's manual under driver assistance or safety systems.
- Ask the dealer to check the specification against your VIN.
- Give the VIN to the fitter when you ask for a quote. They can usually identify the exact screen and whether it carries a camera bracket.
Why a correctly fitted screen still moves the camera
The camera is aimed through a small window in the glass at a precise angle to the road. A new screen is bonded in on a fresh bead of adhesive, and no two beads, brackets or pieces of glass are identical. The result is a small change in where the camera points, even after careful work.
The UK's Institute of the Motor Industry has reported industry trainers making the point that no one is immune: windscreen replacement, body repair and wheel alignment can all affect the cameras and radars these systems rely on. The same physics applies on a Pretoria driveway as in a UK workshop.
What can go wrong if calibration is skipped
A camera aimed slightly off can read lane lines in the wrong place or misjudge the gap to the car ahead. Depending on the system, that could mean lane keeping that steers late, warnings that come too early or too late, or emergency braking that does not react as designed. The danger is that the car may show no warning at all, so the driver keeps trusting a system that is no longer seeing the road accurately.
Some faults are obvious. In the case SAMBRA published, warning lights came on as soon as the car was started. But a quiet dashboard is not proof that the camera is aligned. Only a calibration with the right equipment can confirm that.
The shortcut SAMBRA warned about
SAMBRA, part of the Retail Motor Industry Organisation, described an insurer-arranged job where the screen supplied was not the correct one with the ADAS stripes and dots the camera needs. The fitters removed the camera sensor from the old screen, glued it to the new one, and painted the area around the mirror with black primer so it would not be noticed. The vehicle then had to be recalibrated by the dealer.
The association also notes that ADAS sensors and brackets are not always supplied attached to the screen, and that there are many versions. Its advice is to check with an expert before the glass is installed. In practice, that means asking the fitter which part number they are fitting and how they know it matches your car.
Static and dynamic calibration in practice
The manufacturer decides the method. Static calibration is done with the car standing still in front of targets placed at measured positions. Dynamic calibration is done by driving on suitable roads while a diagnostic tool guides the camera through its relearn. Some cars need both.
An industry trainer quoted by the IMI described static calibration as controlled and conclusive, and noted that dynamic calibration on the open road can be affected by heavy rain. Around Pretoria, that means a summer thunderstorm can delay a dynamic run, and faded lane markings can make one harder to complete. Naked says calibration on its claims usually takes an extra day after fitment.
Questions to ask before the job is booked
- Is the screen you are fitting the correct version for my VIN, with the camera window and bracket already on it?
- Does my car need static calibration, dynamic calibration or both?
- Who will do the calibration: your own technician, a calibration specialist or the dealer?
- Will you scan for fault codes before and after the work?
- Will I get a written record or printout showing the calibration was completed?
- If it cannot be finished on the day, what is the plan and can I drive the car meanwhile?
Keep the record
A Bosch technical manager quoted by the IMI made a useful point: even when a vehicle does not need calibration, a record should be kept saying so. Keep whatever document you are given with the car's service history. It helps if you sell the car, if a fault appears later, or if an insurer asks.
SAWRA, a private South African industry association, publishes an ADAS integrity standard and accredits technicians. It is not a regulator, but it gives you a reference point to ask about. For the service itself, see ADAS camera and sensor calibration in Pretoria, or the local pages for ADAS calibration in Centurion and ADAS calibration in Waterkloof.
Frequently asked questions
Does every car need calibration after a windscreen replacement?
No. Only cars with a camera or sensor on the windscreen that the manufacturer requires to be calibrated. Cars without one usually need nothing beyond a proper fitment.
My car shows no warning light after the new screen. Is that enough?
No. A camera can be slightly misaligned without triggering a warning. Calibration with the correct equipment is the only way to confirm it.
Can calibration be done at my home?
Dynamic calibration is done on the road, so sometimes. Static calibration needs a level floor, space and targets, so it is usually done at a workshop.
Do rain sensors and head-up displays need calibration too?
Some do. Naked notes that some cars need calibration so features like rain sensors and head-up displays work properly after a new screen. Ask the fitter about your car.
Who pays for calibration on an insurance claim?
Many insurers include it in the glass claim when the manufacturer requires it. Confirm with your insurer before the work starts.