What is ADAS calibration and why is it important?

Modern cars are full of intelligent systems that help you drive safely - from automatic braking and lane keeping to adaptive cruise control. Most of them depend on a camera mounted behind the windshield. After glass replacement, ADAS calibration is therefore absolutely essential. Without it, these systems do not work correctly and can endanger you instead of protecting you.

What is ADAS?

ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) is a collective term for advanced driver assistance systems. These are technologies that use cameras, radars and sensors to monitor the vehicle's surroundings and actively intervene in driving in dangerous situations.

The most common ADAS systems include:

• Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) - detects an obstacle in front of the vehicle and brakes automatically if the driver does not react in time.
• Lane Keeping Assist (LKA/LDW) - monitors the vehicle's position in the lane and corrects the direction or alerts the driver.
• Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) - automatically adjusts speed according to the vehicle driving ahead of you.
• Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR) - reads signs and displays the current speed limit on the display.
• Automatic High Beam Assist - automatically switches between high and low beams.
• Head-up Display (HUD) - projects information onto the windshield.

Why is calibration needed after glass replacement?

The ADAS camera is attached directly to the windshield. During replacement, the camera is removed and then reinstalled. Even a minimal change in angle - on the order of tenths of a degree - causes:

• Automatic braking reacts with a delay or not at all
• The lane keeping system "pulls" the car in the wrong direction
• Adaptive cruise control incorrectly evaluates the distance from the vehicle ahead
• The head-up display shows information in the wrong place

Calibration is the process of precisely adjusting the camera so that it "sees" the same as before the glass replacement. Without calibration, ADAS systems are unreliable, which is a serious safety risk.

How does calibration work?

There are two types of calibration:

1. Static calibration

The vehicle stands in a hall in front of a special calibration panel (target). The diagnostic device communicates with the vehicle's control unit and precisely sets the camera parameters. It usually takes 30 - 60 minutes.

2. Dynamic calibration

After static calibration, some vehicles also require driving on a straight road at a constant speed (usually 60 - 100 km/h for 15 - 30 minutes), during which the system "fine-tunes" itself and learns to recognise real road conditions.

At AUTOSKLO H&D, we use state-of-the-art calibration equipment that covers all major vehicle brands including Skoda, Volkswagen, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, Kia, Hyundai and others.

How much does calibration cost?

The price of ADAS calibration ranges from 80 to 350 € depending on the vehicle make and model and the type of calibration required. For some premium brands, the price may be higher.

If you have comprehensive insurance, calibration is usually included in the insurance claim cost along with the glass replacement.

What happens if you skip calibration?

Driving without ADAS calibration after windshield replacement is dangerous:

• Warning lights will be on the dashboard
• Safety systems will be disabled or will function incorrectly
• Your vehicle may fail the technical inspection (ADAS functionality has been checked since 2023)
• In the event of an accident, the insurer may refuse to pay if a non-functional safety system is discovered

How do we handle it at AUTOSKLO H&D?

We perform ADAS calibration directly at our service centres. The process is simple:

1. When you book a glass replacement, we determine whether your car requires calibration
2. We perform the glass replacement and calibration on the same day
3. We test the functionality of all ADAS systems
4. If you have insurance, we handle the insurance claim including calibration