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ADAS recalibration economy is here. How to price it and protect your margin.
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The calibration economy arrives; here's how to bill it
Wednesday, June 17 · #31
~2 min read
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Markets
Mobileye$9.62+0.94%YTD -7.85%
Aptiv$65.68-1.41%YTD -13.68%
Tesla$404.66-1.58%YTD -10.02%
Nvidia$207.41-2.37%YTD +11.21%
LKQ Corp$26.23+0.36%YTD -13.13%
Nvidia led the tech names lower while Mobileye bucked the slide, finishing the only real winner in a mostly red day across the board.
Data via Yahoo Finance
🎯 Carrier of the Week
Allstate

Allstate's DRP pricing schedule is cutting your calibrations short

What they're cutting
  • Bundling pre-scan and post-scan into labor ops already on the estimate, paying zero separate line
  • Denying static calibration as 'included in alignment' when the OEM procedure is a standalone op
  • Flagging sublet calibration invoices as excessive and pushing shops to absorb at DRP rate ceilings
Rebuttal that's flipping it
OEM calibration procedures are discrete, documented operations with their own time values, and I-CAR's position is clear that pre- and post-repair scans are separate, required steps, not incidental labor. When Allstate's schedule rolls them into existing ops, put the OEM procedure page in the file and write it as a required operation, not a courtesy.
▶ Play this weekPull the OEM repair procedure page for the specific ADAS system touched, attach it to your next Allstate supplement, and write pre-scan, post-scan, and calibration as three separate required line items with the procedure citation right on the estimat
Good morning, {{firstName}}.

ADAS calibrations are no longer optional add-ons. Every windshield, suspension tweak, bumper repair, and mirror R&I now triggers a recalibration requirement on modern vehicles. Shops that don't price and position this work correctly are leaving margin on the table.

OEM

1. The Calibration Economy Is Here

Windshield replacement, suspension work, bumper repair, and mirror R&I all require ADAS recalibration on current vehicles. This is no longer edge case work. The industry is pricing these jobs wrong or bundling them into flat rates when they should be line-item billable. Shops that treat calibration as a separate scope (and charge for it) protect gross margin.

Mark says: Break out calibration as a separate line item on every estimate where collision work triggers it. Don't absorb the cost into labor or paint.

Source: BodyShop Business →

OEM

2. Backup Cameras: Everything Is Connected

Backup cameras aren't standalone parts anymore. They're tied to ADAS modules, other sensors, and calibration requirements. A shop replacing a bumper without understanding the camera integration downstream is setting itself up for comebacks and unhappy customers. Know what's connected before you pick up a wrench.

Mark says: Before R&I a camera or bumper, pull the OEM bulletin for that platform. Treat camera replacement as a calibration trigger every time.

Source: BodyShop Business →

TRAINING

3. I-CAR Apprenticeship Boosts Gold Class Certs 7.1% YoY

I-CAR's new Registered Apprenticeship Program drove a 7.1% year-over-year jump in Gold Class shop certifications in 2025. The apprenticeship model is accelerating technician throughput and helping shops meet the demand for certified hands. If you're still short on trained staff, this is a pathway worth exploring.

Mark says: Check I-CAR's apprenticeship program if you're struggling to hire certified techs. It's moving faster than traditional training routes.

Source: Repairer Driven News →

INSURANCE

4. Massachusetts Reaffirms Licensed-Appraiser Rule for Shops

Massachusetts' Appraiser Board has moved to reaffirm its own licensed-appraiser requirement for repair shops, even after the state's Division of Standards relaxed the mandate for shop registration. The board believes the stricter standard protects quality. Public comment is open until July 1. This could signal similar moves in other states.

Mark says: If you operate in Mass, assume the stricter rule will stick. Make sure your estimators are licensed or get compliant before July 1.

Source: CollisionWeek →

TRAINING

5. ASE Survey: Training Topics Aren't Available When Needed

Fifty-three percent of technicians cite lack of available training on the right topics as the top barrier to skill development, according to ASE's 2026 benchmarks. ADAS and hybrid diagnostics are high on the want list. Shops investing in targeted calibration and hybrid training now will have a competitive edge in 18 months.

Mark says: Budget for ADAS and hybrid EV training this quarter. The skills shortage is real and your competitors are already filling the gap.

Source: SCRS →

Rejected a calibration charge on a supplement? Run it through our free Calibration Denial Audit. Reply with the denied claim and get an OEM-cited rebuttal in 60 seconds. No pitch.

Get a free audit →
📬 Hit reply. Reply: are you line-iteming calibration separately on bumper and mirror jobs, or is it still buried in the flat rate?

📤 Know a shop that should read this?

One forward could save them three hours of denial fights this month.

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Published by Absolute ADAS. Mark Fowler, owner. Mobile ADAS calibration in Western Washington. 50,000+ calibrations on the floor.

👀 Tomorrow: Massachusetts public comment closes July 1 and we're tracking whether two other states have similar appraiser board moves queued.
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