Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A vehicle-based wireless device may receive a calibration availability message from a roadside unit identifying one or more calibration characteristics of a calibration object associated with the roadside unit. The vehicle-based wireless device may determine one or more sensor characteristics for a sensor of the vehicle and the vehicle. The vehicle-based wireless device may measure the one or more calibration characteristics of the calibration object using the sensor while the vehicle is within a defined range of the calibration object. The vehicle-based wireless device may perform a calibration procedure to calibrate the sensor based at least in part on the identified one or more calibration characteristics, the measured one or more calibration characteristics, and the one or more sensor characteristics.