Glossary

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.

Also called: ADAS, driver-assistance features, driver-assistance systems

Advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) are the electronic safety features that watch the road and help the driver: automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control and rear cross-traffic alert. They rely on cameras, radar, ultrasonic sensors and sometimes lidar mounted in the windshield, bumpers, grille and mirrors.

The systems prevent crashes. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has found that automatic emergency braking cuts rear-end crashes by about half. Some insurers offer discounts for certain features, though the practice is not universal.

The trade-off shows up in repairs. A minor bumper hit or a cracked windshield can damage a sensor that has to be replaced and then aligned through ADAS calibration, adding cost to collision coverage claims and to glass claims under comprehensive coverage. That is one reason repair bills have climbed even for low-speed crashes. When you buy a car, the features that reduce your chance of a crash can also raise the cost of each claim, so the net effect on your premium depends on the model and the insurer.

Last reviewed October 4, 2026

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Related terms

ADAS calibration Re-aiming a car's safety cameras and radar after a repair or windshield replacement so features like emergency braking work correctly. Collision coverage Pays to repair or replace your own car after it hits another vehicle or object, or rolls over, regardless of fault, minus your deductible. 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. Full glass coverage An option that pays for windshield and window repair or replacement with no deductible, usually added to comprehensive coverage. 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. Safety feature and anti-theft discounts Which airbags, brakes, crash-avoidance systems and anti-theft devices earn insurance discounts, which coverages they cut, and when an add-on device pays off. Vehicle safety ratings and insurance costs What IIHS and NHTSA crash ratings measure, how safety shows up in the injury and liability parts of your premium, and why safe does not always mean cheap. What makes a car cheap to insure The traits that keep a car's insurance cost low, from modest price and cheap repairs to low theft appeal, plus a checklist for shortlisting models.

Related insurers

Tesla Insurance Tesla's in-house auto insurance, sold in the Tesla app in 15 states and priced monthly from each car's Safety Score outside California.