A VITAL STEP IN REPAIRING VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ADAS SYSTEMS
When you go into an OEM’s electronic service manual — Toyota TIS, Nissan TechInfo, Volkswagen erWin — you will see terms like “action test drive” or “test drive scan.” These steps are not optional. They exist so the vehicle can achieve what OEMs call the set conditions. Set conditions are the exact parameters under which an ADAS component activates and verifies its operation.
Every system has its own requirements. A blind spot monitor may only activate above a certain speed. A windshieldmounted compass may require three figure eight movements below a set speed after a windshield replacement. A backup camera or rear parking sensor may only perform its selfcheck in reverse under specific conditions. If those conditions are not met, the calibration may not complete — or worse, it may appear to complete even though the system never actually verified itself.
A proper test drive means thinking deliberately about speed, direction, pattern and time. Do I need to drive above or below a certain speed? Do I need to drive forward or in reverse? Do I need to drive in a straightline, a circle or a figure eight? Do I need to maintain that condition for seconds or for minutes?
Environmental factors matter as well. Some systems need to see signage. Some cannot be verified near overpasses or large powerlines. GM systems like Super Cruise only function on mapped divided highways. I have also seen EV procedures stating that if the battery charge is above a set level before refinishing, the technician must drive the vehicle with accessories on until the charge drops. These requirements are written into OEM documentation — they are not suggestions.
Because the conditions vary, the time required varies. I cannot tell you what to charge for a test drive because of antitrust rules, but I can tell you this: it is not a onetenth operation. A straight-line drive of 15 feet after a battery disconnect may take 10 minutes. A drive that requires highway speeds, specific road types or multiple patterns can take far longer — especially if those roads are not close to your shop. Location, road access and time of day all affect what is required. This is real labour that has to be planned and accounted for.
The idea that a test drive is simply checking whether the steering wheel is centred or the vehicle pulls no longer reflects reality. Today’s test drives are part of the calibration process itself. They are how the vehicle confirms that each system has had the opportunity to operate under the conditions the OEM requires. If that step is skipped or rushed, the repair is incomplete and the consumer is put at risk.
Going forward, I want this space to address the issues you care about. In my Ask Mike work in the United States, the best topics come directly from technicians, managers and owners. We can talk about average sales per collision tech. We can talk about accident trends — in the United States more than half of all accidents now happen after traditional business hours, which makes digital accessibility critical. We can talk about AI estimating, documentation or customer communication. There is no shortage of topics that matter.
For now, the takeaway is simple. The test drive is not the last quick step before delivery. It is a required part of a proper repair, and it has to be performed exactly as the OEM spells it out. The customer may never see that work, but they are relying on it. That responsibility has never been greater.
