The insurance industry's relationship with ADAS calibration has evolved significantly over the last five years. Where insurers once pushed back on calibration line items, most major carriers now recognize ADAS calibration as a required, billable procedure -provided it's properly documented and billed correctly. Here's what collision shops need to know about getting paid for calibration work.
Calibration Is a Billable Procedure
ADAS calibration is a legitimate, billable operation on every applicable repair order. Most major insurers -including State Farm, GEICO, Allstate, and others -will pay for properly documented ADAS calibration when it's included in the supplement with the appropriate operation code, time, and documentation. The key word is "documented." Without a calibration report from an OEM-level tool, the claim is difficult to substantiate.
How to Write a Supplement That Gets Approved
When writing a supplement for ADAS calibration, include the specific system being calibrated, the OEM procedure number or reference, the time required, and attach the calibration report as supporting documentation. Some shops use a separate line for the calibration service itself and a separate line for the documentation fee. Being specific about what was calibrated and why -tied to the specific damage and repair -gives the adjuster what they need to approve the line item.
When Insurers Push Back
Some adjusters still push back on calibration line items, particularly for systems they perceive as unrelated to the damage. When this happens, the OEM repair procedure is your argument. If the manufacturer requires calibration after the specific repair performed, that requirement is not negotiable and not optional. Having the OEM procedure on file -and being able to reference it in the supplement -typically resolves adjuster pushback.
The Audit Risk Is Real
Insurance carriers are increasingly auditing repair records for ADAS-equipped vehicles. Shops that cannot demonstrate that required calibrations were performed -with documentation -face potential clawback of previously paid claims and removal from preferred provider networks. Building a calibration documentation process into every applicable repair order protects both your shop and your carrier relationships.