OEM repair procedures are the legal standard for every collision repair in the United States. When a vehicle is repaired to OEM specification -with documentation to prove it -the shop is on defensible ground. When a repair deviates from OEM procedures without documentation of why, the shop is exposed. For ADAS specifically, OEM procedures are the definitive source for what calibration is required, when it's required, and what it looks like when it's done correctly. Here's how to access them and use them effectively.
The Major OEM Information Sources
ALLDATA and Mitchell both aggregate OEM repair procedures across most major manufacturers and are the most commonly used platforms in collision shops. OEM direct portals -Toyota TIS, Ford ETIS, GM SI, Honda Service Express, and others -provide manufacturer-direct access but require individual subscriptions for each brand. For shops seeing a wide variety of vehicles, a comprehensive platform like ALLDATA is typically more practical than maintaining subscriptions to a dozen manufacturer portals.
How to Use OEM Procedures for ADAS
When a vehicle comes in for collision repair, look up the repair procedures for the specific year, make, model, and affected systems before finalizing the estimate. Search for "ADAS calibration," "camera calibration," or the specific system name (e.g., "Pre-Collision System," "Honda Sensing," "Ford Co-Pilot360"). The procedure will specify what calibration is required, what equipment is needed, and what the correct sequence is. Print the relevant pages and keep them with the repair file.
OEM Position Statements Are Your Insurance
Beyond vehicle-specific repair procedures, every major manufacturer has published position statements on post-repair requirements -including ADAS calibration. These statements are available through the manufacturers' websites, the Collision Industry Conference (CIC), and organizations like SCRS. They're the documents that support supplement requests and back up calibration charges when an insurer questions them. Download and maintain a library of these statements for the manufacturers you most frequently work on.
Making OEM Procedures Part of Every Estimate
The shops that use OEM procedures most effectively treat them as a non-optional part of the estimating process -not a reference tool pulled out only when there's a dispute. Building OEM procedure review into your estimating workflow ensures you catch every calibration requirement before the estimate is finalized, supports your billing from the start, and positions your shop as one that repairs to OEM standards as a matter of practice, not exception.