Don’t Just Buy ADAS Equipment. Buy Advice, Accuracy, and Accountability

ADAS expert, Iain Molloy, looks at what questions you need to ask before investing in calibration equipment

Don’t Just Buy ADAS Equipment. Buy Advice, Accuracy, and Accountability

In the third of our series of articles on ADAS, Garage Wire columnist and ADAS expert, Iain Molloy, looks at what questions you need to ask before investing in calibration equipment – and why the right system should give you more than just a ‘green tick’.

With the number of ADAS-enabled vehicles on UK roads increasing year on year, more workshops are finding they need to make a decision: invest in calibration equipment or rely on a trusted partner.

Not every site will have the space to accommodate a rig, but for those that can, knowing exactly why you’re buying it is as important as what you’re buying. In an area as safety critical as ADAS, what you’re looking to invest in isn’t just hardware; it’s confidence, accountability, and the ability to prove the job was done right.

Buying ADAS equipment isn’t like buying a new ramp – it’s a whole new level. So choose who you buy it from wisely.

What are you really paying for?

If one rig costs £10k and another £20k, there’s a reason. Maybe it’s the type of cameras used, the level of automation, or the additional features like guided setup and integrated reporting. The key isn’t to assume the cheaper one is lacking – it might actually be the best fit for you – but to understand why the price difference exists.

Are you paying for genuine added value? Or just features you’ll never use? That’s where proper advice comes in.

Seek guidance from someone who isn’t tied to one brand. The best support doesn’t always come from someone trying to meet sales targets. It comes from those whose only vested interest is to understand your business, your workshop’s needs, your technician’s strengths and capabilities, and who can help you make a decision based on function, not brand bias.

Before investing in any ADAS equipment, find out what level of ongoing support and real-world technical assistance you’ll get. This is just as important as choosing which rig to go for.

Without a skilled ADAS team supporting the sale – one with daily hands-on experience – you might find that calibrations take too long. Even a recently ADAS-qualified, bright-minded technician will encounter issues that training didn’t cover, so ongoing technical support is essential.

Get Proof – Not Just a Green Tick

The right equipment should do more than complete a calibration. It should confirm it was done under the right conditions, with the correct positioning, and to a level you can evidence.

Some brands, like Autel, now provide built-in rig validation. If your setup isn’t square, the system will flag it and guide you to correct it. Then, once the calibration is complete, it can produce a full report with images, target distances, and confirmation that the calibration conditions were correct.

As we move towards an autonomous car parc, liability will come further into focus when things go wrong. If that happens to a vehicle you’ve worked on, proving what was done and evidencing it will be a must.

The equipment also needs to ensure technicians can’t hide behind a poor, rushed, or inaccurate calibration – it’s vital for the technician themselves, the workshop owner, and crucially, the driver relying on their vehicle’s ADAS as a safety system.

In short, if the system you’re using can’t prove the calibration was accurate, you might want to ask why.

Getting it Right from the Start

ADAS calibration isn’t a job to take lightly. It’s a safety-critical procedure and your choice of equipment needs to reflect that. You’re not just investing in hardware. You’re investing in accuracy, in evidence, and in your own peace of mind.

Ask the right questions, get independent advice, and choose the system that gives you confidence not just on the day, but if the work is ever called into question later.

Because with ADAS equipment, ‘that’ll do’ doesn’t cut it. Only ‘this gets it right’ will.

Iain Molloy is Managing Director at A1 ADAS Group. Contact him here.

Have your say!

2 0

Lost Password

Please enter your username or email address. You will receive a link to create a new password via email.