Most people don't know this – yet – but replacing a new car's windshield can cost as much as a new transmission used to cost.

Sometimes, more.

Because it's not just glass you're replacing.

Embedded in the glass – part of the "assembly" – is saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaafety technology. It's usually part of the rearview mirror, technically – but that's now part of the windshield assembly in more and more new cars.

It's no longer the simple – and generic/universal – glue it in place rearview mirror cars used to have.

The rearview mirror is almost an afterthought.

The rest of the assembly – that huge chunk of plastic that's glued to the glass – contains sensors and cameras, integral to saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaafety systems such as Lane Keep Assist, Automated Emergency Braking and so on. Some keep track of what's happening outside the car and some (like Subaru's EyeSight system) also keep track of what's going on inside the car.