Consumers and auto repair professionals alike are feeling the effects of State Farm’s new calibration pilot program, which began in October 2023. While the program promises to streamline advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) calibrations and reimburse repair facilities accurately, many Colorado-based shops are raising concerns about insufficient payments and challenges meeting manufacturer standards. The situation highlights growing pains not only for the insurance industry but also for consumers navigating post-collision repairs.
What Is State Farm’s Calibration Pilot Program?
State Farm launched its calibration pilot program for Colorado and Michigan, with plans to expand into Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and Wisconsin on March 10, 2025. Through an agreement with Opus IVS, the program collaborates with Select Service repair facilities to identify necessary ADAS calibration operations. These calibrations are critical to ensuring that safety systems, such as collision avoidance and lane-keeping assist, function properly after an accident.
The initiative aims to provide consistent pricing for calibration services while streamlining communication between repair shops and the insurance company. Select Service facilities benefit from tools like the ADAS Map, which uses OEM data to identify calibration needs and document services. Shops are required to pay $3 per VIN to access the database but are not allowed to pass this cost on to State Farm or customers.
While the program initially sounded promising to repair shop owners, its implementation has uncovered significant hurdles, particularly for non-Select Service shops.
Challenges Faced by Independent Repair Shops
Megan Mueller, CEO of Ozzie’s Body Shop in Loveland, Colorado, explains that her excitement for the program quickly turned to frustration. Her shop, not included in the Select Service network, noticed that pricing offered in the program announcements wasn’t extended to non-participating facilities. Even more challenging, State Farm now only approves amounts quoted by two specific aftermarket calibration companies…