ADAS Camera Calibration

What ADAS Cameras Do

Lane Departure and Lane Keeping

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, lane departure warning systems use cameras to track the vehicle’s position in the lane. Lane keeping goes a step further and steers gently back toward the center.

Automatic Emergency Braking

Front crash prevention uses cameras, radar or lidar to detect a vehicle ahead, warns the driver and, on most systems, brakes if the driver does not. IIHS research found that forward collision warning with automatic braking cut rear-end crashes in half.

Adaptive Cruise and Sign Reading

Adaptive cruise keeps a set gap to the car in front, often using the camera together with a front radar. Many cars also read speed limit signs through the same windshield camera.

Why a New Windshield Means Calibration

The camera is fixed to a bracket on the glass. When a windshield is replaced, the camera comes off with the old glass and goes back on the new one, and a fraction of a degree of difference becomes a large error many yards down the road. I-CAR, the collision repair training body, lists removing the windshield as one of the events that may require the forward camera to be aimed. Accident repair and suspension work can also call for it. Incorrect calibration can cause false warnings or let the system miss an obstacle, so calibration is part of doing the windshield job properly, not an extra.

Static vs Dynamic Calibration

Static: Targets in a Controlled Bay

In a static calibration, targets are set at measured points in front of the car and a scan tool runs the aiming procedure while the car stands still. It needs a level floor, good light and space around the targets.

Dynamic: A Set Road Drive

In a dynamic calibration, the car is driven at or below a set speed for a set time or distance, sometimes with a scan tool connected, while the camera learns the lane lines. It needs clear roads with visible markings and no heavy rain or traffic.

Vehicles That Need Both

Some vehicles need a static calibration followed by a dynamic one, which is called dual calibration. The carmaker’s procedure for your vehicle decides which method applies.

Calibration in the Same Visit as Your Windshield

At Impex Auto Glass, we perform ADAS calibration on site immediately after the windshield replacement. Our facilities are equipped with advanced calibration equipment and manufacturer-specific technology, and our certified technicians complete both static and dynamic calibrations in one visit. Your safety systems are aligned and ready before you leave. Book the windshield and calibration at our Greensboro shop, or tell us your car when you book mobile service with one of our 48 technicians placed within 40 miles of every town we serve, from Charlotte to the coast and we confirm what it needs.

Does Insurance Pay for Calibration?

In most cases, yes. When calibration is required after a glass replacement, it is typically covered by comprehensive insurance along with the glass. Our team works directly with all major insurance providers. Read more in our auto glass insurance claims guide.