Understanding ADAS Calibrations: The Critical Process Behind Safe Driving

Your customer pulls into the bay for what appears to be a simple windshield replacement on their 2023 Honda Accord. Before, this would be a simple process of quite simply replacing the glass, but this isn’t the case anymore.

Now, in vehicles equipped with ADAS systems, that windshield houses a forward-facing camera responsible for automatic emergency braking, lane departure warnings, and collision avoidance systems. 

And with so many systems—and each vehicle manufacturer having their own processes—even minor repairs can trigger the need for calibration to ensure they’re working correctly. 

As ADAS features become more commonplace, ensuring that they’re functioning correctly is imperative. It’s even gaining more attention, with members of Congress recently proposing standardization of frameworks for vehicle owners to ensure their systems were functioning correctly. 

In this post, we’ll discuss the importance of accurate ADAS calibrations to keep roads (and drivers) safe, and what your shop can do to offer these essential services. 

What ADAS calibration means

ADAS calibration is the precise process of ensuring that a vehicle’s ADAS safety features are properly aligned and calibrated. This may involve ensuring that the safety systems understand their exact position relative to the road and potential hazards.

Modern vehicles rely on cameras and different types of sensors that must know exactly where they're positioned to make accurate safety decisions.

The process establishes critical reference points through either static calibration (controlled shop environment using specific targets and measurements) or dynamic calibration (driving under specific conditions while systems learn and adjust). Many vehicles require both types to ensure complete system accuracy.

Keep in mind that even minor deviations matter. Being off by just a single degree could result in the sensor missing a target or object by feet, rendering the system potentially dangerously ineffective.

Why proper calibration saves lives

The safety impact of ADAS systems is substantial… when they function correctly. And there’s plenty of data to show this:

• NHTSA projects that the requirement to make automatic emergency braking standard in new vehicles could prevent 360 fatalities and 24,000 injuries annually. 
• An AAA study found that ADAS systems would save an estimated 250,000 lives over the next 30-year period thanks to features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. 
• Additional research found that vehicles with ADAS systems saw decreases in car-to-pedestrian and car-to-bicycle accidents. 

However, these benefits only exist when systems are correctly calibrated. If that forward-facing camera in your clients’ windshield isn’t aligned properly, for example, it may miss potential hazards or miscalculate their distance. This could cause the system to fail to brake in time. 

When calibration is required

ADAS calibration is necessary after many common repairs that might not seem directly related to safety systems:

• Windshield replacement often requires calibration because forward-facing cameras mount behind the windshield. Even identical OEM glass can have thickness variations that affect camera accuracy.
• Suspension and alignment work changes vehicle ride height, altering how cameras and sensors view the road environment.
• Body work and collision repairs can shift sensor mounting points or change vehicle geometry.
• Bumper repairs affect radar and ultrasonic sensors, while quarter panel work impacts blind spot monitoring systems.

Manufacturers specify different calibration requirements, making it essential to access current OEM procedures for each repair.

The cost of skipping calibration

Despite calibration's importance, calibrations can be missed by repair and collision shops. This creates serious risks beyond safety concerns.

From a liability perspective, shops face significant risks when required calibrations aren't performed. Insurance companies increasingly require proof that OEM procedures were followed, and claims can be delayed or denied without proper documentation.

The revenue impact is also substantial. Depending on the type of recalibration required, calibration services for a single repair could range from $250 to over $600 per feature in additional revenue. Failing to identify all billable calibrations can cost you revenue and become a potential liability all at once. 

And, most importantly: If you’re failing to calibrate a client’s ADAS features that they depend on regularly, it could put them and those around them in danger. That’s not something you want on your conscience. 

Streamline your ADAS calibrations with Revv

As more vehicles are introducing ADAS systems, keeping up with new changes in necessary calibrations can feel overwhelming. 

There are over 500,000 different combinations of ADAS components across vehicle makes and models. Identifying required calibrations can be overwhelming, so it’s no surprise that calibrations can easily be missed. 

Fortunately, there are tools that can help. Revv eliminates this complexity by instantly identifying every ADAS system that needs calibration using VIN-specific data and AI-powered analysis.

Revv integrates seamlessly with major estimating systems like CCC and Mitchell, automatically generating comprehensive calibration reports with OEM procedures, pricing guidance, and insurance compliance documentation. Rather than spending hours researching manufacturer requirements, shops access everything needed in seconds.

Our hardware-agnostic solution works with existing calibration equipment while helping shops capture an average of up to $1,250 in additional revenue per RO by ensuring no required calibrations are missed.

Book a demo today to see how Revv can help your shop maximize ADAS calibration revenue while ensuring every vehicle returns to the road with properly functioning safety systems.