“We’re Not Paying to Tow It” — Cool, But That Doesn’t Make It Safe to Drive Just Because It Starts Doesn’t Mean It Should Be Moving

Here’s what we hear from insurance companies all the time:

“We’re not paying to tow or transport the car to a calibration facility. It’s drivable.”

Yeah… so is a motorcycle in a blizzard. Doesn’t mean it’s a good idea.

When a vehicle requires ADAS calibration to restore emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, or lane centering after a repair — and you tell the customer or shop to “just drive it over” — you’re asking them to take that car on the road with potentially dangerous systems engaged.

Let’s Talk About Emergency Braking and Forward Radar

If a forward-facing radar is off — even slightly — it can misinterpret things like:

• Overhead bridges

• Shadows

• Road signs

• Other cars merging nearby

And what does the system do when it’s confused?

It hits the brakes. Hard.

Not a light tap. Not a suggestion.

We’re talking full panic stop at 70+ mph. On the highway.With a semi behind you who doesn’t know your car just freaked out over an overpass.

“The Driver Should Be Paying Attention” Doesn’t Hold Up

This isn’t about distracted driving. This is about a system failure that can be triggered no matter how alert the driver is.

You can’t out-react a computer with a mind of its own.And when it decides to slam the brakes for a ghost car — the driver can’t override it in time.

Final Word: If You Refuse to Tow It, You Own the Risk of Moving It

If the vehicle isn’t calibrated, it isn’t safe.And if your reason for not towing it is “because mobile said they could do it in the lot” — then you’d better hope nothing happens between here and there.

Because if it does?That liability could land on you.