What is the camera behind the rearview mirror?
Reviewed by the Skyview Auto Glass technical team — NWRD-, ASE- and DINITROL-trained technicians · Updated November 2026
Quick answer
It is usually the forward camera for the driver-assist systems, mounted against the glass just behind the rearview mirror. Beside it may sit a rain-and-light sensor and, on some vehicles, a humidity sensor. Together they read the road, the weather, and the cabin. Nothing should block them — no stickers, mounts, or toll tags over the lens.
What is the box behind my rearview mirror
The housing pressed against the windshield behind the rearview mirror is, on most modern vehicles, the forward camera. It feeds the lane-keeping, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise systems — the camera is their eyes. On a windshield replacement, this is the part that gets removed with the old glass, rebonded to the new pane, and recalibrated.
It rarely sits alone. The same housing often holds the rain-and-light sensor, which reads rain on the glass to trigger the wipers and measures light to switch the headlights. Some vehicles add a humidity sensor that helps manage the climate system. Each has a job, and each needs a clear view through the glass.
What sensors are on a windshield
- Forward camera — sees lane markings, vehicles, and pedestrians for the driver-assist systems.
- Rain-and-light sensor — triggers wipers in rain and switches headlights with the light level.
- Humidity sensor — helps the climate system manage cabin air and defogging.
- Camera bracket — the mount bonded to the glass that holds the forward camera in its exact position.
What you can and cannot put near the camera
A toll tag or sticker near the camera is fine.
Anything over the camera lens blocks its view of the road. Mount toll tags and stickers in the approved spot the manufacturer marks, away from the camera housing.
A dash cam suction-cupped next to the camera won’t matter.
A mount directly in front of the camera blocks its view and can interfere with recalibration. Keep mounts below or beside the housing, not over it.
The camera sees through anything clear.
The camera is tuned to read through clean glass. A sticker, tint, or residue in its view area changes what it sees and can affect the systems it feeds.
More questions about the windshield camera
What does the windshield camera do?
It reads lane markings, vehicles, and pedestrians for lane keeping, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise. It is the forward eye for the driver-assist systems, which is why it is recalibrated after a windshield replacement.
Can I put a dash cam near the rearview mirror?
Yes, as long as it does not sit in front of the forward camera lens. Mount it below or to the side of the camera housing so the driver-assist camera keeps a clear view of the road.
Does the camera need cleaning?
The glass in front of it does. A clean windshield keeps the camera’s view clear; the camera itself is sealed behind the glass and is not something you clean directly.
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