Will your insurance company pay to repair your car with OEM parts over cheaper, less dependable aftermarket parts? The answer varies from case to case! Let’s take a look at what parts your insurer will support and why it matters.
Key Takeaways
- For enhanced performance and reliability, OEM parts are specially designed for your vehicle.
- Aftermarket parts are knock-off versions of OEM parts, designed for use in a much wider range of vehicles. The quality of these parts varies, depending on who made them.
- To cut costs, your insurance company may also utilize either aftermarket or recycled parts.
- While an insurer isn’t required to repair your vehicle with OEM parts, an experienced independent body shop can help you persuade them.
- Preferred-network body shops are bound by an agreement with your insurance company, which likely includes prioritizing aftermarket or used parts.
- A dealer-adjacent collision center is uniquely suited to convince your insurer that using OEM parts is in everyone’s best interests!
What are OEM parts?
Like the name suggests, Original Equipment Manufacturer parts (also known as OEM parts) are produced by a vehicle’s original manufacturer. They’re specially designed for use in specific models, creating the perfect fit and finish — not to mention enhanced performance and dependability!
What are aftermarket parts?
Produced by third-party manufacturers, aftermarket body parts are the generic versions of your car’s original parts. Where OEM parts are uniquely designed for specific models, aftermarket parts are designed for broader use. They’re also cheaper than OEM parts, with cheaper production specs to match. Quality varies from brand to brand. For the unordained, it can be tough to discern the quality of any given aftermarket part!
Will my insurance company use used or recycled parts?
It’s possible, especially if you visit a body shop in your insurance company’s preferred network. These shops operate according to standards set by the insurer, which may include a preference for recycled or reconditioned parts.
How do I know if my insurance company approves OEM parts?
Unfortunately, insurance companies aren’t required to pay for OEM parts, even if you request them. But there’s still hope! You can ensure OEM parts are covered by selecting a policy that specifically endorses them for repairs. If it’s too late for that, there’s a legal loophole that may help you in your quest for high-quality parts.
According to Pennsylvania law, any appraisal for non-OEM parts must clearly state that it’s appraising non-OEM parts. This makes it easy for you to find out how your insurance company plans to proceed. If their damage assessment doesn’t mention OEM parts either way, don’t make assumptions. Specifically ask your insurance rep what parts their estimate covers.
Better still, Pennsylvania state law also states that if using a non-OEM part voids the warranty of the damaged part (or any other part), that non-OEM part must include a warranty that’s at least equal to the voided warranty. The added costs of a warranty may be enough to convince your insurance company to use OEM parts. (Don’t know what your warranty covers? A dealership-adjacent body shop can help you navigate warranty terms!)
Will my insurer’s preferred body shop use OEM parts?
When it comes to OEM parts vs aftermarket parts, insurance companies are thinking more about their bottom line than what’s best for your vehicle. Therefore, when you visit a body shop in the insurer’s preferred network, you can almost certainly expect them to use aftermarket or recycled parts.
Luckily, you can always take your vehicle to a collision center outside your insurance company’s preferred network. In fact, the law gives you the right to choose a body shop you trust. Where a preferred body shop operates under predetermined conditions designed to help your insurer save money, an independent body shop can advocate on your behalf. A dealer-adjacent collision center can go even further, since they’re armed with the most persuasive arguments for OEM parts!
OEM Parts vs. Aftermarket: Insurance Companies vs. Dealership Collision Centers
When you visit a body shop in your insurer’s network, you can pretty much bank on the fact that you’ll end up with insurance-approved parts. Aftermarket or even recycled parts, in other words. But it doesn’t have to be that way. You have the legal right to choose where you want your vehicle repaired!
As a trusted official dealership and community-oriented local business, we understand the importance of OEM parts. And you’ll find that our Bob Weaver collision center locations employ the same high standards. Make the most of your insurance claim — visit us in Pottsville, PA, for an estimate!