Glossary

ADAS calibration

Re-aiming a car's safety cameras and radar after a repair or windshield replacement so features like emergency braking work correctly.

Also called: ADAS recalibration, sensor calibration, camera calibration

ADAS calibration is the process of aligning the cameras, radar and other sensors behind a car's driver-assistance features so they see the road where the software expects. A camera that is off by a fraction of a degree can misjudge distance or lane position, which can make automatic emergency braking or lane-keeping assist react late, early or not at all.

Calibration is often needed after a windshield replacement (forward cameras usually mount on the glass), bumper or grille repairs, a wheel alignment or an airbag deployment. Shops follow the automaker's procedures and use one of two methods: static calibration with targets set up in the shop, or dynamic calibration done on a test drive at specified speeds. Some vehicles need both.

For insurance, calibration is part of the cost of a proper repair and should appear on the estimate. Kentucky's glass statute, for example, covers camera recalibration along with no-deductible glass replacement, a version of full glass coverage. If an estimate leaves calibration out, ask the shop and the insurer why, and request documentation that it was done before you rely on the features again.

Last reviewed October 4, 2026

In the index now

Related terms

Advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) Camera-, radar- and sensor-based safety features, such as automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assist, that help drivers avoid crashes. Full glass coverage An option that pays for windshield and window repair or replacement with no deductible, usually added to comprehensive coverage. Comprehensive coverage Pays for damage to your car from causes other than a crash, such as theft, fire, hail, flood, falling objects, vandalism or hitting an animal. Direct repair program An arrangement between an insurer and approved body shops that accept its pricing and procedures in exchange for referred repair work. OEM parts Replacement parts made by or for the vehicle's own automaker, as opposed to aftermarket parts from other makers or recycled parts.

Related guides

Driver-assistance sensors and the cost of repairs Why cameras and radar in bumpers and windshields raise repair bills, what calibration involves, and why equipped cars still cost insurers less overall. Choosing a repair shop: direct repair programs and your rights Your right to pick the body shop, how insurer direct repair networks work, the trade-offs of each choice, and what to ask any shop before it starts work. Full glass coverage and zero-deductible windshield repair Which states require zero-deductible glass claims (Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina), where it's optional, and how to handle a cracked windshield. Why car repairs cost so much more than they used to The sensors, materials, bigger vehicles, labor, parts and tariff pressures behind higher repair bills, how they reach premiums, and what you can do. Windshield and glass claims Which coverage pays for a chipped or broken windshield, the states that waive the deductible, how glass claim networks work, and why camera calibration matters.