How to find a sublet for ADAS calibrations

Subletting ADAS calibrations is still common, even in shops handling a lot of ADAS volume. 

A Revv study proves this, with 43% of respondents saying that all ADAS calibrations are outsourced. 

Choosing the wrong sublet partner presents both obvious and hidden risks such as serious liability concerns, workflow delays, and hidden costs. If you’re currently outsourcing some ADAS, consider this your guide to vetting sublet partners, protecting your shop, and recognizing when it may be time to bring ADAS in-house.

Why shops sublet ADAS calibrations

Deciding to sublet boils down to a few factors: cost, volume, facility and equipment limitations, and staff knowledge. 

Shops must weigh these factors in choosing between outsourcing and investing in in-house ADAS, but ultimately, increasing ADAS market penetration will make this decision for you.

High costs is the major barrier of entry for many shops as initial investment is valued over $50,000. And that’s just the initial investment. Shops that are currently conducting some ADAS calibrations in-house may not be able to justify additional investment in equipment or training due to lack of demand. 

Facility limitations also play a role in deciding to sublet. Tight OEM environmental standards force huge investment into adequate ADAS-dedicated spaces, or even altogether negate the possibility for some shops to perform OEM-compliant calibrations.

While the ROI on ADAS investment is potentially lucrative, it doesn’t make sense for some shops for a few reasons, such as low volume, facility limitations, or financial restraints. Subletting makes more sense for some shops at this point of time. But how do you find the right partner?

What makes a legitimate ADAS sublet partner?

When liability exposure is at play, trustworthiness leads the way. After all, subletting calibration is also subletting risk. Taking care to evaluate a potential partner’s ADAS practices is a way to mitigate the risk.. 

Legitimate ADAS sublet partners are well-developed in areas such as:

• Technical requirements 
  
  • They always follow OEM-approved procedures
  • Use of the proper equipment and tooling
  • No manual short cuts
• Facility requirements
  
  • Ample space
  • Controlled lighting
  • Level floors
  • Environmental consistency (heat, humidity, etc.)
• Personnel qualifications 
  
  • Their techs are certified and experienced in ADAS
  • Competent and able to clearly explain workflows
• Record-keeping requirements 
  
  • They keep track of all of the above with OEM-compliant documentation including:
    
    • Pre- and post-scan reports
    • Proof of procedure
    • Confirmations and verifications

These are bare minimum requirements to find a legitimate sublet before you even consider cost. In the long-run you will thank yourself for choosing compliance over low cost as this strategy of choosing the right partner will keep your shop and customers safe.

Red flags to watch for when vetting sublets

On the flip side, there are things that automatically disqualify a shop from winning your sublets. These are practices that put your shop and your customers in direct risk.

Signs to watch out for include:

• Lack of OEM-compliant documentation
• One-size-fits-all or manual calibration claims
• Inability to explain calibration methodology
• No post-calibration verification process
• Resistance to sharing documentation or pricing processes

All of these red flags boil down to increased physical risk for your customers and liability exposure for you. Don’t let low prices fog your decision-making.

Questions to ask a potential ADAS sublet partner

Here are some additional questions to help you filter out shops not worth the risk of subletting. These are designed to ensure they know what they’re doing and reduce risk for your shop:

• What type of OEM coverage limitations do you have? 
• How much liability insurance coverage does your business have?
• What are the SLA guidelines and service timeline expectations? 
• What if we don't have enough space to perform a static calibration? 
• How do you handle warranty issues?
• Which type of diagnostic scanners do you use and how often do you update them?
  
  • You are looking for those that only use OEM-approved equipment with regular reviews and updates
• How do you determine which calibrations are required?
  
  • Look for the lack of manual processes in their answer, bonus points for shops that use diagnostic software like Revv
• Who performs the calibration, and what training do they have?
  
  • Staff that's highly educated and experienced in ADAS matters
• What documentation do you provide after calibration?
  
  • Understanding their documentation strategy is vital to keeping you safe

This is not an exhaustive list but highlights how you should be selective with who you choose to work with. Their answers should be specific, confident, and transparent.

Documentation: Protecting your shop

Documentation matters as much to your shop as completing the actual calibration itself. When subletting, you open a can of worms when it comes to responsibility and liability so you have to cover all of your bases. 

For this reason you want to make sure your and the sublettor’s documentation is airtight to prove that every step was followed properly. 

For them this looks like:

• Proper OEM procedure confirmation
• Pre- and post-scan results
• Calibration confirmations

Meanwhile, you’ll want to add:

• Your own diagnostic records
• Signed authorization from both parties to sublet
• Formal agreement with your sublettor

Poor documentation by you or your sublettor opens the door for legal issues and delays in insurance claim cycles. 

Workflow realities of subletting

Subletting also comes with new time constraints as you no longer are in complete control of workflow. On any given outsourced ADAS calibration, you need to work around another shop's workflow.

With subletting, you also lose control of:

• Scheduling
• Quality control
• Price estimates
• Supplements 

This plays a large factor in communication accuracy with customers and insurers as turnaround times and prices become less predictable. The key to integrate a sublet into your workflow is open communication centered on expectations. 

Asking for an ADAS tutorial to see how they run their operation is a good way to see who you’re doing business with. Finding a partner that has a good reputation with time commitments and is open about their diagnostic and price estimation practices will help you in your day-to-day.

When to consider bringing ADAS in-house

Subletting works until it doesn’t. For some, that day may never come—and that works just fine. 

For others, there are signs that you are ready to bring more ADAS in-house, including:

• Increasing ADAS volume
• Repeated scheduling delays with sublettors
• Growing supplements tied to calibrations
• Margin loss from outsourced work
• Frustration over lack of control

ADAS is soon to be standard with the coming FMVSS 127 regulation. The decision will shift from “Who should I choose to sublet to?” to “What do I invest in first?”

Choosing a sublet partner that protects your business

When choosing a sublet partner, the cheapest option is rarely the safest. Positioning your shop as ADAS-aware and liability-conscious finds you partners that are compliance-first, keeping you safety-focused and safe from liability.

Revv can help you see calibration volume, revenue, cycle times, and claim approval rates for each partner as well as in-house.

Set up a call with an ADAS expert at Revv to see a personalized demo.