The ADAS Technician Hiring Guide: Questions to Ask Before You Trust Someone With Your Customer’s Life
- Casey Brothers
- Apr 2
- 2 min read
You wouldn’t let just anyone replace a frame rail. You wouldn’t trust a random tech to straighten suspension by “feel.” So why are people handing over advanced safety system calibrations to the first guy with a scanner and a smile?
ADAS calibration isn’t a side hustle — it’s a specialized procedure that controls braking, steering, and collision avoidance. If your “expert” gets it wrong, it’s not just a bad repair — it’s a liability disaster.
Here’s your must-ask question list before hiring someone to do ADAS work in or for your shop:
1. “What OEM procedures do you follow?”
If the answer is, “We just follow what the scanner tells us,” send them packing.
Real techs pull manufacturer documentation for every job. Not sometimes. Not when they’re unsure. Every. Time.
2. “What kind of setup do you use for calibration?”
Listen carefully. If they’re using folding chairs, tape measures, and the corner of your parking lot to line up a radar sensor?
No thanks.
Surfaces must be level. Lighting controlled. Measurements precise. If they don’t care about environment, they’re not qualified.
3. “Do you provide pre- and post-scan reports and calibration verification?”
If there’s no paper trail, it didn’t happen.
You need documentation to protect your shop, support supplements, and defend against liability. A real calibration company will hand you a PDF packet with everything inside.
4. “What systems can you calibrate — and what won’t you touch?”
If their answer is “Everything!” with no hesitation?
No one can calibrate every system on every vehicle in every environment. Look for humility and specialization.
5. “What are your credentials, and what continuing training do you do?”
You don’t need a license to do ADAS work (yet), but the legit folks will have:
OEM-specific training (I-CAR, manufacturer certifications, etc.)
A list of supported systems and makes
A healthy fear of doing it wrong
The best ones respect the risk — because they understand what’s at stake.
Final Word: Hire Like Your Shop’s Name Is on the Line — Because It Is
This isn’t just a service. It’s a signature on someone’s safety.
If your ADAS partner can’t pass this interview?Don’t give them access to your bay.Because when something fails — and eventually, it will — the last thing you want to say is,
“We didn’t ask.”
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