Sensors Recalibrated. Safely.
Modern vehicles depend on cameras, radar, and ultrasonic sensors for lane-keep, adaptive cruise, and automatic emergency braking. After any structural or panel repair, these systems need to be recalibrated to factory specification. Skip this and the systems are off.
What needs recalibrating, and when
If we replace a windshield, a bumper cover, a fender, a quarter panel, a grille, or any panel that holds a sensor or aims a camera — that sensor or camera has to be recalibrated. The same is true after frame straightening, even if the sensors weren't directly damaged. The angle they were measuring against has changed.
Most modern vehicles have between 4 and 12 ADAS sensors. Examples: forward radar (behind the grille), forward camera (behind the windshield), corner radars (behind the bumpers), ultrasonic parking sensors, and 360° camera arrays in the side mirrors and trunk lid. Calibration requirements vary by make and model.
Static vs. dynamic calibration
Static calibration uses calibration targets set up at OEM-specified distances and heights in a controlled bay. Different manufacturers require different target patterns — Honda's targets aren't the same as Toyota's. We have the OEM target sets and the level floor space the procedure requires.
Dynamic calibration is a road test at specified speed and lane conditions, with a scan tool plugged into the OBD port watching the system learn. Some vehicles need only static, some need only dynamic, many need both. We follow the OEM service procedure for your specific vehicle.
Why this isn't optional
An uncalibrated forward camera can read a lane line as 6 inches to the right of where it actually is. That's the difference between a lane-keep system that nudges you back into your lane and one that nudges you across it. Insurance estimates often skip ADAS line items to hit cycle-time targets. We don't.
Frequently Asked
Do I really need ADAS calibration after a small repair?
If a sensor or camera was removed, replaced, or moved — yes. Even a bumper cover replacement disturbs the corner radar mount. The OEM service procedure for your vehicle is the authoritative answer; we follow it.
Will my insurance pay for ADAS calibration?
Yes, when properly documented. We include calibration as a required line item in our supplements with photo evidence and the OEM procedure citation. Most carriers approve it on first pass.
What if my warning lights aren't on?
ADAS systems can be miscalibrated without throwing a code. The car runs fine; the lane-keep is just measuring against a wrong reference. The only way to verify is to recalibrate and test.
How much extra time does calibration add?
Static-only calibration is typically a few hours. Dynamic adds a road test. We schedule the calibration window into the repair timeline, so it doesn't extend your total time at the shop.
Ready to get started?
Walk-in estimates welcome. Free pickup & delivery across South Orange County.