If your fleet has been updated in the last few years, chances are your vehicles are fitted with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) — lane departure warnings, autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and forward collision alerts. These systems rely on cameras and sensors mounted around the vehicle, often built into or around the windscreen, front grille, and mirrors.
Here’s the part a lot of fleet operators don’t realise: any time that windscreen is replaced, or the vehicle has been in a collision, those systems need to be recalibrated. Skip this step, and you could be sending a driver back out on the road with safety systems that look like they’re working — but aren’t reading the road correctly.
What Is ADAS Calibration, Exactly?
ADAS calibration is the process of realigning a vehicle’s cameras and sensors so they accurately “see” the road again after any disturbance to their position. Even a few millimetres of misalignment — the kind that can happen during a windscreen swap, a bumper replacement, or a structural repair — can throw off how the system reads lane markings, distances, or obstacles.
There are two main approaches:
- Static calibration — carried out in a controlled workshop environment using calibration targets and diagnostic equipment, with the vehicle stationary.
- Dynamic calibration — carried out by driving the vehicle under specific conditions so the system can recalibrate itself in real-world driving.
Many vehicles need a combination of both, depending on the manufacturer and the system involved.
Why It Matters More for HGVs and Commercial Vans
Passenger cars get plenty of attention when it comes to ADAS, but commercial vehicles carry the same risk — arguably more, given the weight, stopping distances, and time these vehicles spend on the road. A few reasons this should be front of mind for fleet managers:
- Driver and public safety. A miscalibrated braking or lane-assist system isn’t a minor inconvenience — it’s a system that could fail to intervene when it matters most.
- Insurance and liability. If a vehicle is involved in an incident after a repair where ADAS wasn’t recalibrated, questions will be asked. Being able to show a calibration certificate protects your business.
- MOT and compliance. ADAS-related faults are increasingly picked up during inspections, and non-compliant systems can result in vehicles being taken off the road unexpectedly — the exact downtime every fleet manager is trying to avoid.
- It’s easy to miss. A windscreen replacement is often treated as a routine job. Unless your repairer flags it, ADAS recalibration can simply get forgotten.
When Should You Ask About Calibration?
As a rule of thumb, ask whether recalibration is needed any time a vehicle has had:
- A windscreen or glazing replacement
- Front-end or bumper collision repair
- Suspension, ride-height, or wheel alignment work
- Any structural or chassis repair
- Work near cameras, radar units, or sensors (mirrors, grille, badge area)
If your repairer isn’t asking these questions before handing the vehicle back, that’s worth a conversation.
How Big Truck Repairs Handles ADAS Calibration
At our Leeds facility, ADAS calibration is built into our repair process, not treated as an optional extra. Whenever a job involves glazing, collision, or structural repair on a system fitted with ADAS, our technicians carry out the appropriate calibration using manufacturer-approved equipment and procedures — so the vehicle goes back to your driver with the same safety systems it left with, working exactly as they should.
Combined with our VBRA Elite Certification and manufacturer approvals from Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, it means fleet operators get a repair that’s been done properly from every angle — bodywork, structure, and the technology that keeps drivers safe.
Had a windscreen replaced or a collision repair recently and not sure if ADAS calibration was included? Get in touch with our team or request an estimate — we’re happy to check.