How Garages Can Offer ADAS Calibration Without Buying Their Own Equipment
Modern vehicles are increasingly fitted with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, commonly known as ADAS.
These systems can include forward-facing cameras, radar sensors, lane departure warnings, autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and traffic sign recognition.
When a vehicle undergoes certain repairs, its cameras or sensors may need to be checked and calibrated before the vehicle is returned to normal use.
For independent garages and bodyshops, this creates an important question:
Do you need to invest in your own ADAS calibration equipment to continue looking after these vehicles?
The answer is no.
Garages can arrange ADAS calibration support through a specialist provider or calibration network. This allows them to offer customers a more complete repair service without purchasing expensive equipment of their own.
Why ADAS Calibration Is Becoming More Relevant to Garages
ADAS is no longer limited to luxury or specialist vehicles. Cameras, radar units and driver-assistance features are now found on many everyday cars and vans.
A calibration requirement may arise following:
- Windscreen replacement
- Accident or body repair
- Bumper removal or replacement
- Camera or radar sensor replacement
- Steering or suspension work
- Wheel alignment
- Diagnostic faults or ADAS warning lights
The exact requirements will depend on the vehicle, the systems fitted, the work completed and the relevant manufacturer procedure.
For example, vehicles fitted with a forward-facing camera may require ADAS calibration after windscreen replacement. Vehicles that have undergone accident repairs, bumper removal or sensor replacement may need post-accident ADAS calibration.
As more ADAS-equipped vehicles enter independent workshops, garages need a reliable process for identifying and arranging calibration when it may be required.
The Cost of Buying ADAS Calibration Equipment
Purchasing calibration equipment is not always the most practical option for an independent garage.
The investment may involve much more than buying a diagnostic tool or a set of calibration targets. A suitable operation can require:
- Calibration frames and vehicle-specific targets
- Compatible diagnostic equipment and software
- Technical information subscriptions
- Technician training
- Regular equipment and software updates
- Suitable workshop floor space
- Correct lighting and environmental conditions
- Ongoing maintenance and quality-control procedures
Some vehicles require static calibration in a controlled environment. Others may require dynamic calibration carried out while the vehicle is driven under particular conditions. Certain vehicles can require a combination of both procedures.
For a garage that only encounters occasional ADAS work, purchasing and maintaining a complete calibration system may be difficult to justify.
You Do Not Have to Turn the Customer Away
Not owning ADAS calibration equipment does not mean that a garage has to turn away the vehicle or lose the wider repair job.
Instead, the garage can complete the appropriate mechanical, glass or body repair and arrange the required calibration through a suitable specialist.
This allows the garage to remain the customer’s main point of contact.
Rather than telling the customer to locate a calibration provider themselves, the garage can help manage the process as part of the overall repair.
This can provide a smoother experience for the customer and help the garage offer a more complete service.
How ADAS Connect Helps Trade Customers
ADAS Connect provides a route for garages, bodyshops, windscreen companies, repair centres and fleet operators to request ADAS calibration support for customer vehicles.
Approved trade users can access the ADAS Connect Trade Portal to:
- Submit a new calibration job
- Provide the relevant vehicle and repair details
- Explain why calibration may be required
- Monitor the progress of submitted jobs
- Keep job information together in one place
- Track applicable referral-fee progress
The submitted information can then be reviewed so that the most appropriate calibration route can be considered.
This may depend on the vehicle, the ADAS systems fitted, the type of repair completed, the vehicle’s location and whether static, dynamic, mobile or workshop-based calibration is appropriate.
What Information Should a Garage Provide?
Providing accurate information at the beginning of an enquiry makes it easier to assess and arrange the job.
Useful information includes:
- Vehicle registration
- Vehicle make and model
- Garage or vehicle location
- Reason calibration may be needed
- Repair work already completed
- Any cameras, radar units or sensors affected
- ADAS warning lights or diagnostic fault codes
- Whether the vehicle is currently driveable
- The preferred completion date
Photographs or additional repair information may also be helpful for more complicated enquiries.
Can ADAS Calibration Be Completed at the Garage?
Mobile ADAS calibration or on-site support may be possible in some situations, although suitability will depend on the vehicle and the required procedure.
Factors that can affect whether on-site calibration is suitable include:
- Available workshop space
- Floor condition and level
- Lighting conditions
- Target positioning requirements
- Diagnostic and programming requirements
- Wheel alignment or vehicle-geometry condition
- Manufacturer instructions
- Whether a controlled road test is required
Some vehicles may be suitable for calibration at the garage. Others may need to be taken to a properly equipped calibration facility.
This is why every job should be assessed individually rather than assuming that the same procedure applies to every vehicle.
Why Garages Should Have an ADAS Calibration Process
Even when calibration is completed by an external specialist, the garage should have a clear process for dealing with ADAS-equipped vehicles.
That process might include:
- Identifying whether the vehicle has ADAS cameras or radar sensors.
- Checking whether the completed repair could have affected those systems.
- Reviewing the manufacturer’s repair and calibration requirements.
- Arranging calibration through a suitable provider when required.
- Retaining the relevant job information and calibration documentation.
- Explaining the completed work clearly to the customer.
Having a consistent process can help prevent calibration requirements from being missed at the end of a repair.
A Practical Alternative to Purchasing Equipment
For many independent garages, working with a calibration specialist is a sensible alternative to making a major investment in equipment, subscriptions, training and workshop space.
It allows the garage to:
- Accept a wider range of repair work
- Provide customers with a more complete service
- Avoid sending customers away without support
- Access specialist calibration equipment when needed
- Reduce the initial cost of entering the ADAS market
- Build experience before deciding whether future investment is worthwhile
The garage can continue concentrating on its main repair services while bringing in specialist ADAS support when required.
ADAS Calibration Support in Manchester and the North West
ADAS Connect supports enquiries from garages, bodyshops, windscreen companies, repair centres and other automotive businesses.
Our current local focus includes ADAS calibration in Manchester, Greater Manchester and surrounding areas across the North West.
We are also continuing to develop a wider network to support ADAS calibration enquiries across the UK.
Register for ADAS Connect Trade Access
ADAS Connect is inviting garages, bodyshops, windscreen companies, repair centres and other suitable automotive businesses to request access to its trade booking portal.
Once an account has been approved, trade users can log in, submit customer vehicles and monitor the progress of their jobs.
There is no need to purchase your own ADAS calibration equipment simply to begin offering customers access to calibration support.
Offer ADAS Calibration Without Buying Your Own Equipment
Register for ADAS Connect trade access and start submitting calibration jobs for customer vehicles.
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