Bottom line: pre- and post-repair scans aren't a suggestion anymore — most automakers now require them, in writing. But "the OEM requires it" and "the insurer pays for it" are two different conversations, and what bridges them is documentation. Here's what actually gets a scan and calibration reimbursed, and how we hand you paperwork that holds up.
Where the OEMs landed
Back in 2016, only a handful of automakers had position statements on collision scanning. Now most do — and the recent trend is tightening the language. In the last year, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, and GM have all updated their statements, moving from soft words like "should" to "required" and "must": a pre-scan to properly scope the repair, and a post-scan to verify the faults are fixed and no new ones were introduced.
Two things worth knowing:
- Even minor damage counts. Several OEMs now note that even light body damage or a glass replacement can affect safety-related systems — so "it was just a bumper" doesn't get you out of it.
- A clean scan isn't the whole story. ADAS systems often won't set a trouble code even when they need aiming or calibration. So scanning alone can miss it; the OEM procedure may call for calibration regardless of what the scan shows.
The reimbursement reality
Here's where shops get squeezed: the automaker requires the scan and calibration, but the insurer doesn't always pay for it without pushback. What substantiates the charge is documentation — specifically:
- The pre-scan report identifying what the repair needs
- The OEM position statement and the repair procedure you followed
- The calibration documentation for any ADAS work
- The post-scan showing the fix, with no new codes
That package is your leverage. "The manufacturer requires it, here's the statement, here's the procedure, here's proof it was done right" is a much stronger position than a line item with nothing behind it.
What we provide
We do the scan and the calibration correctly, and we hand you the documentation to go with it — position-statement references, the procedures followed, and before-and-after results — so you can support the line on your estimate and get your customer a safe, complete repair.
How to work with us
Mobile to your shop within our dispatch area, or coordinate the vehicle to us. We handle the scan and calibration and give you the paperwork. Call (210) 439-7905 or reach out through the site.
4715 N Stahl Park, Suite 105, San Antonio, TX 78217.