Do you need ADAS calibration after a new windscreen?
If your car has a camera behind the windscreen, it should be checked and calibrated after the glass is replaced. Calibration is from £180 + VAT per calibration with us, in the Glasgow and Edinburgh areas. This guide covers which cars need it, how it is done, what it costs and the other triggers.
Cars with a forward camera or sensors by the mirror usually need ADAS calibration after a new windscreen, because the camera's view of the road changes. Repairers follow the manufacturer's procedure, which is static, dynamic or both. We charge from £180 + VAT per calibration, and some cars need two.
Which cars need calibration after a new windscreen?
Any car where the windscreen carries a camera or sensors. That usually means automatic emergency braking, lane keeping, traffic sign recognition or adaptive cruise control. The camera sits behind the glass, often near the rear-view mirror, and it is set to look at the road from one precise position. A new screen moves that position by a small amount, and the system can then misread distances.
The Thatcham code of practice for repairers, welcomed by the IMI, makes the point plainly: "Even something that seems as simple as a windscreen replacement may involve a whole array of sensors". Your handbook or the manufacturer will say which systems the car has. If you are not sure, ask the fitter before the glass goes in. Our windscreen calibration page covers the service.
What is the difference between static and dynamic calibration?
| Method | How it is done | Who decides |
|---|---|---|
| Static | Done with the car parked, using targets or equipment placed at set distances | Vehicle manufacturer's procedure |
| Dynamic | Done by driving the car, with equipment connected, on suitable roads at set speeds | Vehicle manufacturer's procedure |
| Self-setting | The car recalibrates itself as it is driven | Vehicle manufacturer's design |
The IMI article on the Thatcham code says repairers should determine whether sensors need calibration and of what type: "static, dynamic, self-setting". Some cars need a combination. The manufacturer's procedure decides, not the garage's preference. The same article says calibration must be done by technicians "certified as currently competent".
How much does ADAS calibration cost?
We charge from £180 + VAT per calibration, which is £216 inc VAT. Some cars need two calibrations, which makes £360 + VAT. The price is agreed by phone from the registration before we book, and we will beat any genuine like-for-like quote. Interest-free finance is available.
You may be quoted a calibration price by the windscreen fitter. Compare what it covers, including whether it is a static or dynamic procedure and whether you receive a report.
We work in the Glasgow and Edinburgh areas. See ADAS calibration in Glasgow or in Edinburgh, and bodyshops and glass firms can use our trade ADAS calibration service.
What else can mean the car needs recalibrating?
The windscreen is the common trigger, but the IMI article says calibration is required when repairers are "making any geometry changes or changes to vehicles' suspension or ride height". It also warns that replacing a sensor, or the parts it is fitted to, carries a risk that the sensor "may no longer be calibrated".
That points to other jobs worth asking about:
- A wheel alignment or suspension work that changes the ride height
- A bumper repair or replacement where radar or sensors are fitted
- A camera or sensor swapped or removed
- Accident repair around the front of the car
If any of these have been done and a warning light has appeared, or the lane or braking features behave oddly, ask for a calibration check.
What if the garage could not fix it?
One customer wrote that a garage had the car for a week and could not fix it. They arranged to meet us and, within half an hour, had the car's systems working again after the ADAS system was recalibrated. We cannot promise the same on every car, because it depends on the fault, but it shows why a calibration check belongs on the list when driver-assistance warnings appear.
From our customers
within half an hour had car systems working again ADAS SYSTEM recalibrated and all
Derek M., Google review, August 2026
Rated 5.0 from more than 440 Google reviews. Read them on Google.
Common questions
- How much does ADAS calibration cost in the UK?
- Prices vary by car and provider. We charge from £180 + VAT per calibration (£216 inc VAT), and some cars need two, which is £360 + VAT. We agree the fixed price by phone from your registration before booking and will beat any genuine like-for-like quote.
- Is ADAS an MOT failure?
- We have not found a line in the DVSA MOT manual that fails a car purely for missing calibration, and we will not claim one exists. A driver-assistance system that is faulty or behaves wrongly is a safety concern whatever the test says.
- Do you need ADAS calibration after wheel alignment?
- It can be needed. The IMI article on the Thatcham code says calibration is required when repairers make geometry changes or change the suspension or ride height. Ask the garage whether the car's manufacturer calls for it after the alignment you are having done.
- Can I drive before the camera is calibrated?
- The car will normally still drive, but lane, braking and cruise features that rely on the camera may not read the road correctly. We would not rely on them until calibration is done. Ask the fitter what they recommend for your car.
Sources
Get a fixed price
Send your number and postcode and we'll ring you back, take the registration and give you the price before anything is booked. Or ring 0333 455 9058, Monday to Sunday, 8am to 8pm. You can also message us on WhatsApp.