Population growth, ADAS technology and changing customer expectations are reshaping how auto glass companies in Austin and San Antonio do business.
by Tom Herron
For JRD Windshield Repair & Replacement in Austin, business has remained relatively strong, and has been growing since 2009.
When Jeremy Driscoll reflects on the Central Texas auto glass market, he says, “Smaller towns are becoming larger towns.”
It’s a simple observation that captures what’s happening across the region. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Austin and San Antonio ranked among the nation’s fastest-growing metropolitan areas between 2024 and 2025.
“Relative to the rest of the country, the auto glass market in Central Texas is strong,” Driscoll says. “It’s been growing since 2009, and it doesn’t show any signs of slowing down.”
Driscoll, owner of JRD Windshield Repair & Replacement in Austin, has watched that growth reshape the market during his 17 years in business.
As vehicles have become more sophisticated, auto glass installation companies spend more time helping customers understand the repair process, the technology involved, and the options available to them.
The ADAS Recalibration Challenge
Much of that conversation centers on Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).
According to the Auto Glass Safety Council (AGSC), windshield replacement on many late-model vehicles may require recalibration of camera-based safety systems. AGSC recommends shops either perform the calibration, subcontract the work, or notify customers when recalibration is needed.
As ADAS becomes more common on newer vehicles, shops continue evaluating whether to invest in calibration equipment and technician training or outsource the work.
Customer behavior is changing, too, Driscoll says. More people research repair options online and use artificial intelligence to compare shops, products and services before deciding where to have work done. They also expect the process to fit their schedules.
Finding quality, reliable technicians is an essential aspect for many Texas businesses.
That expectation is particularly evident in the demand for mobile service, even as increasingly sophisticated vehicles make it more difficult to perform the work outside the shop.
Building Trust
According to Driscoll, shops that succeed as vehicles become more sophisticated take time to understand each customer’s situation, explain increasingly complex repairs and help people understand their options rather than compete on price alone.
“We have to earn their trust,” he says. “Price becomes secondary because they want it done right.”
Understanding how customers use their vehicles is one way companies earn that trust. A parent trying to pick up children from school has different priorities than someone who can leave a vehicle all day. Recognizing those circumstances helps the shop make better decisions for customers.
That philosophy shapes how JRD operates. Rather than outsourcing ADAS calibration, the company performs the work in-house. Controlling the entire repair process allows JRD to deliver the experience it wants customers to have.
“Customers value their time, and they want a turnkey solution,” he says. “We can’t tell them, ‘I don’t know when your car will be ready.'”
Customers still want the reassurance of working with an established business, even as mobile service becomes more common. They may never visit the shop, but they value knowing there is a physical location and a company that will stand behind its work if questions arise.
Delivering on that trust starts with staffing. The Texas Workforce Commission projects that nearly 71 percent of the state’s job growth over the next decade will require education or training beyond high school, reflecting rising demand for skilled labor.
That pressure is playing out across Central Texas, and Driscoll says auto glass companies are feeling it. Many technicians have moved to outlying communities in search of a lower cost of living, shrinking the pool of experienced workers available to shops in Austin.
“Finding quality, reliable and personable technicians is the most difficult and important aspect of the business,” Driscoll says.
The Education Approach
While Driscoll describes the Austin market as consistently strong, Amos Alcala, shop manager at 1st Choice Collision and Automotive Repair in San Antonio, says business fluctuates. Even so, he believes continued population growth will support long-term demand.
Alcala has also seen customer expectations evolve. Many in the San Antonio area don’t realize today’s windshield replacements often require calibration.
“Replacing a windshield is more than just installing the glass,” he says. “Today we’re explaining cameras, calibration and why it matters.”
Customer education has become a routine part of the replacement process. Alcala walks customers through each step, explaining when calibration is required, why it matters and how long the work will take. Many customers are surprised to learn that windshield replacement has become a technology-driven process rather than simply replacing glass.
The company also benefits from steady work with local dealerships, which helps keep technicians busy even during slower periods, and it also offers mobile service, primarily for door glass repairs.
“People appreciate that we can come to them because it does not disrupt their schedule,” Alcala says. “Jobs requiring ADAS calibration are generally completed in the shop because of the specialized equipment required.”
When Outsourcing Makes Sense
Not every shop has chosen to keep ADAS calibration in-house.
Reymundo Menchaca, owner of Auto Glass Pros in San Antonio, says many customers still misunderstand ADAS calibration, estimating that approximately 50% know little about the technology while others assume every windshield replacement requires recalibration. In fact, he says, recalibration isn’t necessary on every vehicle.
Because recalibration isn’t required on every vehicle, the shop spends time explaining each customer’s options before the work begins.
He estimates that 70 to 80 percent of the company’s windshield replacements now require calibration. His shop previously performed ADAS calibration in-house but decided to outsource the work because the equipment requires frequent upgrades.
Most of Auto Glass Pros’ work is mobile. Menchaca estimates that 80 to 90 percent of replacements are completed at customer locations, primarily at dealerships and body shops that refer work to the company.
Outsourcing lets the shop replace windshields faster, allowing technicians to focus on higher-volume replacement work while customers obtain calibration separately. Menchaca says the faster turnaround helps customers get back to their daily routines sooner.
Of course, workforce pressures are a national issue. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of automotive glass installers and repairers nationwide will grow by 3.4 percent from 2024 to 2034, slightly faster than the average for all occupations.
Even with that growth, finding qualified technicians remains a challenge for Menchaca. While he occasionally receives calls from technicians looking for work, he still has trouble finding qualified candidates and chooses to do most windshield replacements himself.
“Doing the work myself is a practical way to keep pace with the changing technology,” he says.
Beyond the Price Quote
In a market where many competitors compete primarily on price, Auto Glass Pros has chosen a different strategy. By focusing on quality products and workmanship, Menchaca says the shop has found that customers prioritize reliability over the lowest price.
“The lowest price doesn’t necessarily result in the best outcome,” he says.
Driscoll sees it the same way. Helping customers understand their options has become just as important as the replacement.
“We’re not just providing quotes anymore,” he says. “We’re helping customers understand their options so they can make informed decisions. When people understand what’s involved, doing the job right matters more than the lowest price.”
Tom Herron is a contributing writer for AGRR magazine.
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