If you’ve recently requested a windshield quote and experienced a bit of “sticker shock,” you likely have ADAS to blame—or thank, depending on how you look at it.
What is ADAS?
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) is a fancy name for the “guardian angels” built into your car. We’re talking about:
- Lane Departure Warning
- Automatic Emergency Braking
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Forward Collision Warning
Most of these systems “see” the road through a camera mounted directly to the inside of your windshield.
Why does it make my quote higher?
In the old days, a windshield was just a piece of glass. Today, it’s a high-tech housing for your car’s brain. There are two reasons the price goes up:
- Specialized Glass: ADAS cameras require “Optical Grade” glass. If the glass has even a tiny distortion you can’t see, the camera might “see” the lane lines incorrectly.
- Calibration: This is the big one. When a new windshield is installed, the camera is moved by a fraction of a millimeter. If it isn’t recalibrated, your car might think an obstacle is 40 feet away when it’s actually 35 feet away.
Is Calibration really necessary?
Short answer: Yes. Think of it like this: If your eyes were moved half an inch to the left, you’d have a hard time catching a baseball. Calibration ensures your safety features work exactly the way the manufacturer intended. Skipping it could mean your emergency braking doesn’t fire when it should—or fires when it shouldn’t.
The Bottom Line: When comparing quotes on our site, don’t just look at the lowest number. Check if recalibration is included. It’s not just a “recommendation”—it’s a vital step in keeping you and your family safe on the road.