When your windshield is replaced, you'll be offered OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) glass or aftermarket glass. The price difference can be $50–$200. Here's what actually matters.
OEM glass is manufactured by the same supplier as your factory windshield — companies like Pilkington, AGC, or Saint-Gobain Sekurit. It's identical to what came on your car from the factory: same thickness, same curvature, same acoustic interlayer, same black ceramic frit border.
Aftermarket glass is manufactured to approximate OEM specs, but not by the original supplier. Quality varies significantly. Top-tier aftermarket brands (Carlite, PGW) are nearly equivalent to OEM. Budget brands may have slight thickness variations or inconsistent UV coating.
Vehicles with forward-facing cameras (Tesla, Honda Sensing, Toyota Safety Sense, etc.) are particularly sensitive to glass thickness and optical quality. A 0.1mm difference in glass thickness can shift the camera's focal point enough to require recalibration. OEM glass minimizes this risk.
For vehicles without ADAS cameras — older cars, trucks without safety systems — quality aftermarket glass performs identically to OEM in safety and durability. The structural integrity (laminated construction, PVB interlayer) is the same. For these vehicles, aftermarket can save $50–$150 without any practical downside.
Auto Renu uses OEM glass by default on all ADAS-equipped vehicles. For non-ADAS vehicles, we use OEM-equivalent aftermarket glass from PGW or Carlite. We never use budget-tier glass. Every installation uses industry-standard urethane adhesive with a 1-hour drive-away time.