Insurance feels fair until you’re paying for tech your car doesn’t even have. Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS)—the cameras, radars, and sensors that power lane-keep, auto-brake, and blind-spot alerts—turn minor dings into major repair tickets. Even if you drive a 2014 pickup with none of that hardware, pooled risk means your premium helps cover those calibration line items. That’s why the average U.S. full-coverage policy is now cresting two grand a year, and why your renewal hurts even when you never file a claim.
When Safety Tech Drives Up Repair Costs
ADAS cuts some crashes. It also makes repairs slower and more technical. Modern estimates show shops scanning almost every late-model vehicle and adding calibrations to a fast-growing share of repairs. Each extra step adds labor time, specialized equipment, and scheduling delays. That’s how frequency can fall while claim severity keeps pressure on premiums.
Why a Fender Bender Now Costs $1,000 More
Swap a windshield on a 2021 crossover and you’re not done when the glass sets. The forward camera needs calibration on a level surface with targets and OEM procedures. Typical calibration charges sit in the mid-hundreds, and complex jobs go higher. Front-end scrapes that once meant plastic and paint now drag in radar modules and alignment routines. On recent models, ADAS components alone can add well over a grand to otherwise modest repairs.
Why Your 2014 Pickup Pays for 2024 Tech
Insurers price the whole book, not just your beater. When a 2024 compact taps a parking post and triggers camera and radar calibrations, the average claim cost rises. Multiply that across a newer fleet and severity lifts baseline pricing for everyone. That’s why the owner of a sensor-free truck still sees a double-digit jump: the tech tax lives inside the average.
How to Shop Smarter for Insurance
If you’re buying, get quotes by VIN and ask a trusted shop what common ADAS repairs cost on your short list. If you’re keeping your current ride, shop carriers anyway—some underwrite severity trends differently and reward lower-tech repairs with better rates. Either way, understanding ADAS repair costs is the only way to play the game the underwriters are playing.
